Halloween Horror Nights (Hollywood)
| Halloween Horror Nights | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Universal Studios Florida | |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | October 25, 1991 |
| Universal Studios Hollywood | |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | 1997 |
| Universal Studios Singapore | |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | October 21, 2011 |
| Universal Studios Japan | |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | 2012 |
| General statistics | |
| Season | Halloween (September – October) |
| Owner | Universal Parks & Resorts |
| Website | Official website |
 Universal Express available |
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Halloween Horror Nights is an annual event that occurs at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Singapore, and Universal Studios Japan. Universal Studios remains operational during the day and transitions to Halloween Horror Nights at night. The event features haunted houses, "scare zones", and live entertainments; many of which utilize Universal's characters and other licenses.
The event is not recommended for children under 12 years old because it contains themes of terror and violence, as well as strong language.
Halloween Horror Nights began at Universal Studios Florida in 1991 under the title "Fright Nights", created by Julie Zimmerman and John Paul Geurts. The event was renamed "Halloween Horror Nights" in 1992 and advertised as the "Second Annual Halloween Horror Nights". It began as a three-night event, but has now been extended to 30 nights, spanning from Wednesday through Sunday night each week.
The first year, the admission price was only $19.00. "Scareactors", a term used by Julie Zimmerman to identify the performers during Halloween Horror Nights, had little experience with such a large event and were required to provide their own costumes and makeup. Julie Zimmerman orchestrated a scareactors camp called "Ghoul School," where the actors were taught scaring techniques.
From 1991–2001, the event was held at Universal Studios Florida. Halloween Horror Nights moved to Universal's Islands of Adventure in 2002. In 2004, the resort experimented with a dual-park format, which connected and utilized parts of both parks. In 2006, the event made a return to Universal Studios Florida.
Halloween Horror Nights officially launched at Universal Studios Hollywood in 1997, although the park had featured Halloween attractions in 1986 and 1992. From 2001 to 2005, Halloween Horror Nights went on hiatus at Universal Studios Hollywood and returned in 2006.
Halloween Horror Nights XI, coming so close after the events of September 11, 2001, caused Universal to make many changes to tone the event down. Lots of gore was scrapped from the event, and blood was replaced with green "goop". The names of several houses, scare zones, and shows were changed. The original icon character "Eddie" was scrapped. Edgar Sawyer was conceived as a demented, chainsaw-wielding horror movie buff that had been disfigured by a fire. He was supposed to be a threat to previous icon Jack and the tagline "No more clowning around" was used and even seen on early advertisements and merchandise. Eddie was ultimately removed from the event before it began, although he was still appearing on that year's logo and merchandise with the official "I.C.U." tagline. As a hurried replacement, Jack would return along with a line of merchandise bearing the tagline "Jack's Back." Eddie's back-story was changed, and his name was changed to Eddie Schmidt, Jack's younger brother. He later appeared with other icons at Halloween Horror Nights XIV in Horror Nights Nightmares, and with his own house for Halloween Horror Nights XVI, "Run: Hostile Territory".
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