Universal Studios' Ghostbusters Attractions

This page contains various bits of information, multimedia, and links about the Ghostbusters attractions and shows that was at Universal Studios Florida in the 1990s. This is NOT meant to be a comprehensive source of information for this subject, and much of the information (especially dates) is speculative, as is the case over on the Ghostbusters Wiki, too. The list of shows/attractions is based on the June 5, 1991 Show Schedule.

Spook Central VIPs can download DVD-quality files of the Magic of the Movies souvenir video (see below for low-quality clips) and the 1990 and 1995 Electronic Press Kit.

Wayne Brady was one of several actors to play Winston in the early 1990s as part of the first cast. He mentioned this to Orlando Family Magazine in a 2019 interview. He was among the cast members photographed with Ernie Hudson on June 5, 1990 (photo below). Sadly, Wayne did not mention his stint as a ghostbuster when a contestant was dressed as one on his game show Let's Make a Deal. (To avoid copyright issues, the No Ghost logos on his costume were covered with stickers bearing the show's logo.)

• CHARACTERS: Female Host, Peter, Ray, Egon, Winston, Gozer, Stay Puft, Slimer, various original ghosts.
• LOCATION: [to be added later]
• DESCRIPTION: A female host introduces the audience to the Temple of Gozer set and explains Ghostbusters. Eventually, the set is inundated with ghosts, leading to the arrival of Gozer. The host calls out for help and the Ghostbusters arrive.
• SHOWTIMES (JUNE 5, 1991): Continuous shows throughout the day from 9:30 am to 8:30 pm.
• NOTES: The main stage show.

• CHARACTERS: Louis Tully, Walter Peck, Peter, Ray, Egon, Winston, Gozer.
• LOCATION: [to be added later]
• DESCRIPTION: Louis Tully appears on the "Be a Ghostbuster" set showing audience members the equipment that he is trying to sell to potential franchises. Walter Peck barges in, tells him that the Ghostbusters are shut down, and pulls a lever shutting off the Containment Unit. Everything goes dark, Gozer arrives, then the Ghostbusters come in to save the day.
• SHOWTIMES: unknown.
• NOTES: The main stage show. When it ended, it was replaced with "Twister...Ride it Out!". For more information, see the Ghostbusters Wiki.

• CHARACTERS: Beetlejuice, the four Ghostbusters, Female in Peril.
• LOCATION: New York Street.
• DESCRIPTION: When Beetlejuice causes problems for a lovely young lady, she calls the Ghostbusters to rid herself of the Ghost With the Most.
• SHOWTIMES: unknown.
• NOTES: After this street show ended, the Dead... In Concert! show took its place. For more information, see the Ghostbusters Wiki.

• CHARACTERS: Beetlejuice, the four Ghostbusters.
• LOCATION: New York Street, on the steps of the New York Public Library, just a few feet from the Ghostbusters Firehouse facade.
• OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION: Beetlejuice hypnotizes New York with hideous lullabyes, as the Ghostbusters and Slimer come to the rescue! On the steps of the New York Public Library.
• SHOWTIMES (JUNE 5, 1991): 11:30 am, 12:45 pm, 2:15 pm, 5:00 pm, 6:45 pm.
• NOTES: This show was re-branded as "Extreme Ghostbusters: The Great Fright Way". You will notice that the description mentions Slimer coming to the rescue. At some point in the 1991 incarnation, a puppet Slimer popped out of the window of their replica Ecto-1.

• CHARACTERS: Beetlejuice, the four "Extreme Ghostbusters".
• LOCATION: New York Street, on the steps of the New York Public Library, just a few feet from the Ghostbusters Firehouse facade.
• DESCRIPTION: The Ghostbusters arrive at the steps of the New York Library to investigate paranormal activities. They find the cause to be Beetlejuice and chaos ensues as Beetlejuice possess the Ghostbusters to a series of lip-sync musical dance numbers.
• SHOWTIMES: unknown.
• NOTES: The four "Extreme Ghostbusters" in this show are not the same as the animated characters. They are regular Ghostbusters in colored jumpsuits.

* Full video /w v2 street scene - in 8 parts (uploaded by ExtraTERRORestrial) (street scene in Part 3 at 7:09, stage show in Part 7 at 0:32) The links above are for the full video. There are two different versions of the Universal Studios Florida: The Magic Of Movies documentary (1991). One is 1 min 19 sec longer than the other, with some different footage/scenes. A copy released on fan-made DVD by the former ExtinctAttractions.com website (which runs 1 hr 13 min) has Beetlejuice with the Ghostbusters in a street scene, while a copy uploaded to YouTube has a few quick different shots of the Ghostbusters on the street - without Beetlejuice (but with Wayne Brady as Winston). Also, during the Ghostbusters stage show scene, three times different shots are used; though the rest of the footage, the runtime for the segment, and the audio track are exactly the same The YouTube copy has a somewhat different opening (with production credits at the start), and scenes with a movie monsters concert, the Star Trek photo "ride", and the Nickelodeon "Family Double Dare" set. The documentary was original sold on VHS at the park gift shop for $19.95. Three different VHS copies have popped up on eBay (excluding an alternate purple-colored variant of "version 1"). The first two have a 1991 copyright date on the case, while the third is dated 1994. It is my belief that the 1994 VHS is an updated version of the others, which would explain the two versions noted above - but I could be wrong about that since I've never watched any of these VHS tapes themselves.
* I bought the v1 version on DVD-R from eBay user "ipalpatine".

Universal Studios Florida 1990 Press Kit (GB Segments)
* Streaming Video
* Image Gallery

Universal Studios Florida 1995 Press Kit (GB Segment)
[the other GB segment was just a cutdown of the 1990 EPK]
* Streaming Video
* Image Gallery (last four images)

Home Movies

• Universal Studios Ghostbusters Home Movies (April 4, 1991 and other dates)
  Various shows and years. Includes footage of original show, as well as EGB show.
  [dead link removed]
  
  
• Ghostbusters Spooktacular Show, Universal Studios Florida (March 12, 1992) (11:36, 28.1 Mb)
  This is the first version of the show, featuring a lady on the Temple stage telling the audience facts about the movie, only to be interrupted by Slimer and Gozer. Time stamp on footage: March 12, 1992 (12:23 PM to 12:35 PM). Provided/recorded by www.theuniversalevolution.com
  [dead link removed]
  
  
• Ghostbusters at Universal Studios (17:36, 42.3 Mb)
  This is the second version of the show, hosted by Louis Tully, featuring an audience participation pre-show, and Walter Peck mid-show, and the Temple stage finale with the Ghostbusters and Gozer. Video provided/recorded by www.sfmghostbusters.com
  [dead link removed]
  
  
• Beetlejuice, Dead... In Concert! - with Wayne Brady (March 12, 1992) (7:01, 57.6 Mb)
  
  
• Extreme Ghostbusters: The Great Fright Way
  * Part 1 (7:19, 17.5 Mb) / Part 2 (5:22, 12.5 Mb)
  
  
  

Outside Links

• 1988 Universal Studios Florida promotional video starring Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown (also on YouTube) - Doc travels into the future (1990) to videotape the still-under-construction theme park, which when complete, featured the Ghostbusters Spooktacular, as well as the Back to the Future ride. It's not clear what the video was for, having been made two years before the park opened. It might have been made for shareholders or travel brokers. At 6:28 in the video, Doc Brown is edited into the Mr. Stay Puft attack at the end of the first movie. It is a fantastic slice of cheese.
  
  
• Bloody Disgusting - How The Killer Klowns Creators Brought Universal's Ghostbusters Spooktacular To Life (November 9, 2017)
  
  
• Ghostbusters Spooktacular - YouTube Forensic Reconstruction by Proton Charging (12:26)
  
  
• Ghostbusters: A Live Action Spooktacular - Universal Studios Florida Handbook
  
  
• Ghostbusters Headquarters (archive)
  
  
• Doors (22 feet high) from Ghost Busters live action show at Universal Sudios, Florida.
  
  
• Terror Dog & Big "Mask" For Horny Beast, Ghostbusters Show (archive)
  
  
• Attraction Recreation - Version 1 (by Chris Stewart)
  Using the small handful of videos of the show, which can be found on YouTube, Chris Stewart was able to stitch together an entire run of the show. It's not great video or audio in places, but the availability of a couple of Universal promotional videos allowed for a unique version of the show, not unlike watching a stage play on PBS. I apologize in advance for the sight and sound quality in places, but I hope those of you that never got to attend to show will find this illuminating and I hope that those of you that did get to attend find it reminiscent of your visit. (Chris is currently working on a version of the second version of the show. In time, he might even attempt the final version of the Ghostbusters at Universal Studios, their Great Fright Way show, which ran outside until 2005.)