The UK’s Strange Abandoned Universal Studios: The History Of Granada Studios Tour Theme Park

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  • Опубликовано: 27 сен 2024
  • Join us on a new Expedition as we look at the abandoned history of Granada Studios Tour. This Manchester theme park was inspired by Universal Studios Hollywood and was the first tour attraction outside of North America to take guests into the world of TV and Movies and the real sets of Coronation Street. After many major additions over the years, including RoboCop the Ride and Aliens: The Ride it closed after just over a decade before being left abandoned.
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    Please check out the original full videos below.
    Credits -
    Marni1971 - • Granada Studios Tour 1...
    Kevin Mullarkey - • Granada Studios Tour 1992
    Malcolm Drew - • Granada Studios Tour 1...
    VHS Video Vault - www.youtube.co...
    JCRoweCwll - • Coronation Street and ...
    Bobthefurby - • Bob's Granada Studio Tour
    Phil auld - • PART2/CHRISTMAS1988.PH...
    Nostalgasm - • Granada Studios Tour J...
    Geekster - • Video
    Colin Prosser - • Granada Studios Corona...
    Big Al - • Special Granada TV Stu...
    Arfer - • Granada TV Studios in ...
    Alan Benns - • Making of Sooty
    CMPG2909 - • GRANADA STUDIO TOUR 1995
    Shaun Abbott - • Coronation Street Set ...
    David Taylor - • Coronation Street The ...
    ByJosh - • 24HRS AT THE ABANDONED...
    Britain’s Decays - • URBEX UK: Abandoned O...
    Thumbnail photo by - Paul Donoghue
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Комментарии • 553

  • @ExpeditionThemePark
    @ExpeditionThemePark  2 года назад +37

    What Expedition Extinct would you like to see next? Let me know and I will choose one!

    • @iitzfizz
      @iitzfizz 2 года назад +5

      I think it's still there so wouldn't be for an extinct but did you ever visit the Eureka science museum? That place is so nostalgic for me so many memories there!

    • @86RSJag
      @86RSJag 2 года назад +4

      Thank you for making this documentary. Visited as a child and wish it was still around.

    • @paulswain3958
      @paulswain3958 2 года назад +5

      Frontier Land, Morcambe Bay.

    • @nothingcankilldagrimace
      @nothingcankilldagrimace 2 года назад

      Log Jammer at Six Flags Magic Mountain. It was an original and then it was gone. No fanefare from the park or anything. I couldn’t find any reasons either. I had good memories of it.

    • @melissajensen3166
      @melissajensen3166 2 года назад +2

      In San Francisco was a place called PlayLand at the Beach. It’s been gone since the early 70’s. I went there at maybe 5-6 years old. I think you would love the history of it.

  • @Adam3Sixty
    @Adam3Sixty 2 года назад +252

    Speaking as someone who went there, multiple times, the one thing that was missed out of this video was the OFFICIAL Post Office, that u could sent a letter or postcard from, that would feature the post stamp of "Weatherfield" that was the fictional area that Coronation Street was in.

    • @ExpeditionThemePark
      @ExpeditionThemePark  2 года назад +27

      Oh yeah I forgot about that!

    • @Adam3Sixty
      @Adam3Sixty 2 года назад +7

      @@ExpeditionThemePark ha ha, I remembered something correctly!! My family is from Manchester, so used to do the studios tour loads, was always a good day out.

    • @jamesmason3348
      @jamesmason3348 2 года назад +10

      Was there a doll's House with a giant cat that came through the roof, or did I imagine that.

    • @Adam3Sixty
      @Adam3Sixty 2 года назад +12

      @@jamesmason3348 I'm pretty sure that was in The Borrowers section, where everything was giant furniture and stuff.

    • @user-ng9gd4vl9s
      @user-ng9gd4vl9s 2 года назад +2

      @@jamesmason3348 yeap! The Borrowers!

  • @jamesbrooking1287
    @jamesbrooking1287 2 года назад +121

    I remember going on the Granada TV studio tour, my family went on the robocop ride and we saw a sooty show. It was really underrated

    • @ExpeditionThemePark
      @ExpeditionThemePark  2 года назад +6

      I agree!

    • @samuelpoulston2964
      @samuelpoulston2964 2 года назад +4

      Do you remember the escaped alien ride? That lighting freaked me out as a kid.

    • @martingibbons2488
      @martingibbons2488 2 года назад +3

      @@samuelpoulston2964 there were some epic hydraulic leaks on that ride over the years back stage 😁. In the late 90s it was soooo rough!

    • @samuelpoulston2964
      @samuelpoulston2964 2 года назад

      @@martingibbons2488 Yeah it was very bumpy haha. Did it have like a holograph at the end when you finally see the alien? That was the bit that sicks in my mind.

    • @j9lorna
      @j9lorna 2 года назад +2

      Loved sooty, remember almost passing myself laughing when I was younger. Sweep makes me roll laughing even now in my mid 40s

  • @AmberTheFangirl
    @AmberTheFangirl 2 года назад +51

    My mum has a recording on a VHS tape of her, my elder sister and my grandma at the studios in 1993, dancing outside with a costumed Sooty and O.B. and this random guy was MC'ing it all. Seemed like a great trip.

  • @bigaspidistra
    @bigaspidistra 2 года назад +98

    What they did in such a small space and a modest budget was quite remarkable but I think the constraints of both would have led to it being ended sometime, even without the financial troubles of the late 1990s. Plus the production demand on the Coronation Street set from the extra episodes would have needed more space and weekdays as well. The current set can on!y be visited on the weekends by prior booking. Good while it lasted though.

    • @ExpeditionThemePark
      @ExpeditionThemePark  2 года назад +4

      It was a lot in a small space!

    • @ascelot
      @ascelot 11 месяцев назад

      Defo, loved the UFO Zone ride, wish there was a recording of what the ride was.

  • @snowmanbuzzfm
    @snowmanbuzzfm 2 года назад +31

    My friend used to work as a cook at GST and thus at the time...I had a lot of free tickets to this place. I remember it really well. Great video...and can I just say...the research editing and presentation in this and all your other videos are absolutely brilliant. Big respect. Snow.

  • @eddienhp
    @eddienhp 2 года назад +29

    Grananda Studios Tour is a great and underrated theme park during that time. So sad it was closed in 1999. But it will forever be remembered in our hearts! Great Video! 👍👍👍👍

  • @GoetiaTV
    @GoetiaTV 2 года назад +76

    I never could’ve imagined a House of Commons attraction would be appealing, but… it looked fun. Oh and young Hugh Laurie yes please

    • @ExpeditionThemePark
      @ExpeditionThemePark  2 года назад +2

      Ahah right?!

    • @dizzydevil547
      @dizzydevil547 2 года назад +2

      i did that on one of the tours ..tbh i didn't find it that great but then again I'm not one for standing up in public and speaking, etc as when I went you were split into 2 sides of the commons and had to argue / debate on something was interesting but i wouldn't have called it fun BUT each to thier own as they say! 😉

    • @yakacm
      @yakacm 2 года назад

      Youngish, lol, he was probably in his 40's in the ad?

    • @StoutProper
      @StoutProper 2 года назад +1

      @@yakacm 30s

    • @teamfgbc
      @teamfgbc 2 года назад +2

      He looked like such a baby! But man he’s aged well.

  • @Clay3613
    @Clay3613 2 года назад +11

    Them tearing down and abandoning the old set pisses me off so much! So few attractions are themed after real places now! Disney tore down it's NY street and studio tour, the one in Paris is now ruined by CARS.

  • @petermconnolly
    @petermconnolly 2 года назад +31

    It was really cool seeing the "Real" Coronation Street. When I visited they were still filming on the set. It was amazing how you couldn't really feel the scale change. A true gem, and for any Coronation Street fan of my age or older, it was an absolute visit to the Stars! Also, Manchester is such a great city, with really friendly people, shitty weather, an amazing Art scene, drama and dance, off the scale, and its got soul, something the millionaires, and oligarchs have sucked out of London. The Tour may have gone, but the World already knows something about Manchester, the thing to do, is go there and see for yourselves!

  • @wobaguk
    @wobaguk 2 года назад +6

    I went on a coach trip there post Skytrack addition (it wasnt working). I realise now how much it was probably on the downslide already at the time, as much of the theatricality of the tour was absent, no people in character, or studio insight, just a limp walk through a couple of sets, then being dropped off in the central area whith an opportunity to spend money in restaurants or visit shows and attractions at your own pace.

  • @beccah461
    @beccah461 2 года назад +26

    I used to love this place! Especially the alien ride. When the old abandoned Corrie set was there you could see it from some of the back windows at MOSI, I always made a point of going looking for it.

    • @ExpeditionThemePark
      @ExpeditionThemePark  2 года назад

      I would too

    • @downfromtheattic
      @downfromtheattic 2 года назад

      Only thing left to indicate Coronation Street was ever there is the painted arches on the side of the building Crystal Maze is now in. I'm kind of sad Granada relocated to Media City, but it made sense to make a new set. Granada Studio was incredible. And Similar, if you got the steam train ride at MOSI you could get a good view into the park, happy days

  • @coreyhiggins3475
    @coreyhiggins3475 2 года назад +19

    Friend, your reviews on UK attractions and parks make me want to plan a trip across the pond not for the history and culture of Britain, But for the amusement park life! Great review!

  • @TM-jg9xs
    @TM-jg9xs 2 года назад +2

    I was fortunate enough to work at Granada Studio Tours in 2001-02 for a 6 month period after it had closed down and was recruited as the Management accountant with responsibility for selling off a lot of the old studio tour's inventory (including the Giant room props, theme park rides etc) and merchandising stock (Coronation Street or 'Corrie' for short). I vividly remember starting work there the day before the September 11 twin tower attacks occurred in America and all of us at the Granada offices on the day watching it all unfold in disbelief on the tv sets in the 3sixtymedia team area. My family were big Corrie fans and I loved entering the studio tour site for work early each morning via the turnstile at the main tour entrance off Quay Street, with my work desk situated in the bonded warehouse area adjacent to the old Corrie filming set.
    Every day working at Granada studios was a blast and I would see various well known tv personalities in the canteen at lunch breaks. However, the best day there by far was when we organised a Christmas stock sale of all the Corrie and other old tour merchandise on site and quite a few of the Corrie actors from the show at the time popped into our temporary festive store that we had set up for the week, it was really surreal seeing all the actors in the flesh after watching them on the box for years. A young Tyrone Dobbs from the show and his mate (Andy Whyment who also used to be in the Royle Family tv comedy show) stood and chatted to me about football for a few minutes which was cool and made my day, good times 😀

  • @cherylmaden5989
    @cherylmaden5989 2 года назад +3

    All I could think of was " OMG that Dr. House!" After watching the intro commercial 🤣

  • @chrisssiiy
    @chrisssiiy 2 года назад +2

    Wowzers! This place must have great, I felt a strange sense of nostalgia watching this, turns out I visited at about 3 yrs old, must have been a crazy experience if a 3 yr old can recall it 😬

  • @michaelbartle7354
    @michaelbartle7354 2 года назад +2

    We went a few times when visiting the fine city of Manchester. It was a wonderful day out that , as you say , developed year in year . A shame it closed down .
    A fantastic video that rekindled old memories.

  • @SquishyRogue
    @SquishyRogue 2 года назад +2

    I used to work at Granada on Quay Street. Was always a weird place to walk into honestly. This was fun to watch.

  • @babyleafsaladd5322
    @babyleafsaladd5322 7 месяцев назад +1

    My parents went to this on a date one time before I was born. There used to be an attraction where you could ‘star’ in your own short episode of Coronation Street by reading out lines that would be spliced into a pre-filmed scene from the show. My parents still have the souvenir VHS somewhere I’m sure of it!!

  • @nightw4tchman
    @nightw4tchman 2 года назад +1

    3:21 Oh my god that's so refreshing to hear instead of some bs philanthropic nonsense or proclaiming how you are better.
    Showing you respect the competition and hope you can live up to it, beautiful.

  • @timerbunneh
    @timerbunneh 4 месяца назад

    I have never seen any of these shows but man, this looks like it was the best thing ever.

  • @LoveTwoExplore
    @LoveTwoExplore 2 года назад +8

    Great watch, big fan of the due diligence made with research and in depth background to the origin story of the attraction.

    • @ExpeditionThemePark
      @ExpeditionThemePark  2 года назад +2

      Thank you. I was worried it was too much not about the park so I appreciate that

    • @LoveTwoExplore
      @LoveTwoExplore 2 года назад

      @@ExpeditionThemePark I find all the extra information interesting, especially as it’s an attraction not many people knew about/got to experience.

  • @lizmadhead
    @lizmadhead 2 года назад +2

    Thanks for covering this! I went loads as a kid, and was there serving coffees when the street re-opened for the last time

  • @Mauser_.
    @Mauser_. 2 года назад +1

    How come you don't have 100 million subscribers? The quality and uniqueness of these videos are off the charts, and your knowledge and research are unprecedented. Thank you.

  • @adamwillis5013
    @adamwillis5013 2 года назад +5

    This place was fantastic. Still can't believe Manchester demolished the Coronation Street set. Wish I’d known about this video I have quite a fair bit of footage of the place in the late and early 90s. Great video!

    • @ExpeditionThemePark
      @ExpeditionThemePark  2 года назад +3

      Ahhh dang. It was quite tough looking for footage, had a small amount of my own but not much. Have you got anything of skyTrak?

    • @adamwillis5013
      @adamwillis5013 2 года назад

      @@ExpeditionThemePark sadly no SkyTrak it really was short lived! 😄

    • @jimsmith1998
      @jimsmith1998 2 года назад

      the set itself needed to be made bigger, as hd tv was coming and the old set was tiny, i remember going there on a school trip

    • @adamwillis5013
      @adamwillis5013 2 года назад

      @@jimsmith1998 makes me wonder even more why they couldn’t have just left it and built around the set seeing as it was so small. It would have made for a lovely little heritage sight in the city.

    • @jimsmith1998
      @jimsmith1998 2 года назад

      @@adamwillis5013 it was strange where it was located, Is the new media city built on the site now?

  • @valley_robot
    @valley_robot 2 года назад +29

    Loved this place in the 90s , every attraction inside was free after the initial door fee, the food was really nice and tasty , the staff and actors were fantastic , 5.50 was in the reach of people on benefits to go out for the day , so many cool things to see there , 3D laser cinema with music by U2 , an alien cinema ride complete with cold steam being jetted at you , etc , I could go on , the coronation street bit was the boring bit for me as I could not give a shit about the show , the rest of it was incredible , being stopped by German soldiers at checkpoint Charlie was a highlight . So sad it closed down, it was the jewel of Manchester

  • @FairlySadPanda
    @FairlySadPanda 2 года назад +15

    Interesting to think that UK TV started as this London-centric thing and now MediaCity is the hub of a huge chunk of it. Great area too, although I doubt there'll ever be a rollercoaster out that way.

  • @David-xu3yk
    @David-xu3yk 2 года назад +1

    Lucky to have been one who visited in primary school in the 90s. I remember meeting Ken Barlow as one of the surprise celebs in the indoor sets, I think it was his livingroom.

  • @thedanielstraight
    @thedanielstraight 2 года назад +3

    I've subscribed, this was extremely well done. Seeing those studios, you can't help but feel nostalgic. There is something quintessentially British about this!!

  • @lukegreen5341
    @lukegreen5341 2 года назад +1

    14:50 Great Scotland Yard. It's Sooty And Co. I've Used To Love Watching Sooty And Co When I Was A Kid And Since Then I'm A Huge Sooty Fanatic. Thanks A Lot Expedition Theme Park Mate. X

  • @Grayvorn
    @Grayvorn 2 года назад +1

    I loved it, actually called my grandparents from the phone box on Coronation Street.

  • @kateramsay7180
    @kateramsay7180 14 дней назад

    I love your channel so much! Thank you for everything you put into it! Thank you! ❤️

  • @melasnexperience
    @melasnexperience 2 года назад +12

    Came for the extinct theme park history, stayed for the really interesting British broadcasting history.

  • @DIEMLtdTV
    @DIEMLtdTV 2 года назад +1

    I visited twice, once in the late 80’s/early 90’s (I think) then just before it closed. The sky ride wasn’t working on either visit and I don’t recall a team working.
    It was a decent day out but wasn’t not at all busy on either visit. The highlight was getting chased by an East German border guard!
    As a contrast, I went on a tour of the new Coronation Street nearing the end of the construction. It was really noticeable, all those years later, how different the full sized new set looked than the old scaled down one.

  • @alfiemeadows3541
    @alfiemeadows3541 2 года назад +2

    Yesss been waiting for this! Thanks for the brilliant vid mate!

  • @RobboAndGent
    @RobboAndGent 2 года назад +5

    Treat on the Street was a great thing that they did in the early noughties. To have all the studios become bars and dance areas for the Manchester Pride was amazing. Was very surreal to be drinking and dancing on the cobbles of coronation street, or in the Baker Street set. We were sad to see it close as it was truly unique

  • @josephallington6838
    @josephallington6838 2 года назад +2

    So much UK content. Thank you expedition

  • @dagga07
    @dagga07 2 года назад +1

    Great Video, i work in the bonded warehouse now we have a radio station there and next door is also the home of the crystal maze attraction, so the site is still being made good use of. also we had our radio station in the old granada studio for a couple years before moving to the bonded warehouse. although the site was shut to the public it was still being used for media production and still to this day!

  • @ThisIsMeUK
    @ThisIsMeUK 2 года назад +3

    Talk about timing. I’ve spent the past week watching old episodes of Corrie, then this video pops up! 😂

  • @02proctera2
    @02proctera2 2 года назад +2

    I've been waiting ages for this one!

    • @ExpeditionThemePark
      @ExpeditionThemePark  2 года назад +2

      Hope you enjoy

    • @02proctera2
      @02proctera2 2 года назад

      @@ExpeditionThemePark yeah mate fantastic! I have a vivid...sort of single frame memory of the Alien ride from when I was maybe 5/6. Must have been scary haha

    • @mikekaraoke
      @mikekaraoke 2 года назад

      @@02proctera2 What other clear memories do you have on that day?

  • @jilliandavis5945
    @jilliandavis5945 2 года назад +3

    I really didn’t expect to be so emotional watching a theme parks video! 🤣 I lived 50 mins from Manchester so was fortunate to visit GS most years of my childhood and see all the evolution - I remember the simulator film changing, the UFO zone arriving and the sky track arriving (which I rode many times!). We did the tour every time, even when we knew it so well we could probably have presented it too! This place was incredible and would have been now. The live shows were also great! I went with my dad who has now passed away and mainly my great aunt who is very frail now. Incredible memories of my childhood with them. Thanks for a great video x

  • @johnphazzleton
    @johnphazzleton 2 года назад

    Living in greater manchester, i went to this once or twice as a kid.. The tour incl a room with a ghost... always freeked me out!! Remember seeing the corrie indoor sets. Great vid Sam.

  • @jakemuss3805
    @jakemuss3805 2 года назад +1

    That one really took me back to the 90's! Excellent vid as always

  • @akumasan42
    @akumasan42 2 года назад +1

    I'm from Manchester and went to Granada Studios a few times as a kid and it was a blast. The Alien and Robocor motion master rides were great and the UFO Zone scared the crap out of me. So wish I had been able to ride Skytrak when it was there but sadly missed out on it. A cherished memory of a place sadly lost to time. Watching this and 24 hour party people this week has given me such warm nostalgia for a Manchester that just doesn't exist any more.

    • @mikekaraoke
      @mikekaraoke 2 года назад

      Please tell me you went when part of the original theme park - was temporarily re-opened to the public in April 2014 for a six-month period, and its popularity meant it stayed open until December 2015??

    • @akumasan42
      @akumasan42 2 года назад

      @@mikekaraoke I actually didn't know that they had reopened the tour until this video. I went back in the late 90's.

    • @mikekaraoke
      @mikekaraoke 2 года назад

      @@akumasan42 Really how?
      It was in loads of media etc
      + your also from Manchester, you would of seen it open lol

    • @akumasan42
      @akumasan42 2 года назад

      @@mikekaraoke I was studying and didn't have a TV license or read newspapers, so guess it just passed me by.

    • @mikekaraoke
      @mikekaraoke 2 года назад

      @@akumasan42 But it is in your town area, also posters!
      Posters on buses/trains, I don't read newspapers but would see stuff on the front page and read it quiclky as walking past + other stuff like over hearing people talking bout it and loads on social media etc
      So still very confused Chris, howi t passed you by lol

  • @RenegadeStreetBadd
    @RenegadeStreetBadd 2 года назад

    Until watching this episode I didn't realise Grenada studios was there for such a short time, I remember going when I was in school and I went again 2 more times, I have fond memories or the place and it is sadly missed.
    You do excellent work and go into fantastic detail, I enjoy your videos (especially the UK based) thank you and please keep up the great work!

  • @lucyann1573
    @lucyann1573 2 года назад

    Oh wow I grew up in Manchester and went there when I was a kid. Aw you unlocked a memory. Thanks 😊

  • @dancedecker
    @dancedecker 2 года назад +1

    Thank you for an excellent video of an excellent and truly magical attraction.
    It brought back such incredible memories.
    What it didn't show and why would it, as it isn't as obvious, is what other benefits the tour brought to other types of business, not only in the area, but much further afield as well. In my case I went there nearly daily as I ran buses and coaches from Blackpool to there.
    Some days there could be four or five "dupes" or extra vehicles fully loaded just for Granada Studios Tour. Some companies even invested in new or upgraded vehicles, just for that one attraction, which is almost unheard-of.
    In fact when it closed, which it did very quickly with virtually no warning if I recall correctly, it did effectively virtually shut some transport companies down and certainly made a great impact into their viability.
    Many years later I got to ask someone who was one of the tour's board of directors why it shut so quickly.
    Whilst I'm sure having to divest some investments to fill the hole that ON digital/ ITV Digital left was a part of it, but the lady told me that as "Corrie" was stepping up the number of episodes and therefore shooting schedules, it simply wasn't able to be open enough when filming didn't require it, to make it sustainable.
    Whether that was actually the case, I wouldn't like to say, but it was around then that it did step.up a lot and it was also around then that a lot more investment would have been needed, so maybe it was part of it. Who knows? All I do know is that it was excellent and is very sadly missed, so many thanks for putting this up for me to enjoy.
    Cheers.
    Ps.I loved the Baker Street "trams" which were fake tramcar bodies mostly built on Ford Transit chassis. The magic of television eh?

  • @martingibbons2488
    @martingibbons2488 2 года назад +1

    Wow this brought back some memories. I know it really well behind the scenes as I used to supply techs and the AV systems for rentals and conferences there.
    Sadly it went to ruins with many attractions badly run down, out of date and poorly maintained. They took more money for events meaning attractions to the paying public we're not available.
    I remember the gladiator ride barely running and then being hastily removed.
    Sad they didn't modernise and invest in it.
    If you want to know more give me a shout.

  • @mrlister2000
    @mrlister2000 2 года назад +1

    I don't know why I never went to this, but after seeing your video it makes me feel sad that I didn't, because it looked amazing!

  • @rol1517
    @rol1517 9 месяцев назад

    I had the experience of visiting Coronation Street the Tour in August 2014 & 2015.
    It was brilliant.

  • @sambywater9334
    @sambywater9334 2 года назад +1

    I remember my sister going on a school trip here and talking about the coaster and the alien ride. I was SO jealous and often felt since I'd imagined the place ever existing!

  • @anthonyellis987
    @anthonyellis987 2 года назад +1

    I went there twice and still have the guides. It was a great place to go and it's a shame most has been demolished.

  • @tinahart4586
    @tinahart4586 2 года назад

    Used to live in Manchester ifor thirteen years and went there once thank you for the upload brought back memories love from Wales

  • @chrisandcroker
    @chrisandcroker 2 года назад +1

    Really great video can tell how much research has gone into it too.

  • @fletchforever82
    @fletchforever82 2 года назад

    Thankyou so much for this one. Had Many a school trip to Granada studios. So many cool childhood memories

  • @MarkLomas1
    @MarkLomas1 2 года назад +1

    Great video, I remember visiting the tour in the late 90s, I remember the motion ride and check point charlie, downing street etc. I also got to go in 2014 and saw the old Coronation Street set one last time.

  • @Persephone01
    @Persephone01 2 года назад +1

    Apparently the Corrie set is haunted. There was an inside number 9 episide based around it. Its sad to see stuff like this being lost to time :(

  • @Ian-gw2vx
    @Ian-gw2vx 2 года назад

    I went in 1988 both as a visitor to the attraction with family and on another occasion as a photography student in their photography department in the real studios not open to public, the real Coronation street sets etc. Glad I had that insight back then.

  • @Gooner333333333
    @Gooner333333333 2 года назад

    I don't know why this video was recommended to me, but I'm so glad it was. I wasn't into many Granada shows but I found this so interesting

  • @JonathanJamesHarrison
    @JonathanJamesHarrison 2 года назад

    It was great. Really inspired me as a child.

  • @heene
    @heene 2 года назад

    23:40 Amazing to see it like that, but still recognisable.

  • @repboy1
    @repboy1 2 года назад +1

    I remember going in the 90’s and thinking what a great place , loved it and wanted to work there , I now work at Universal so I managed to work at a studios eventually.

  • @mikekaraoke
    @mikekaraoke 2 года назад +4

    OMG you finalllllllyyyyy did a video on it, I remember asking you years ago to do this!
    When will the video be up for Phantasialand? as you have had the logo up for months now?!
    Also please tell me you came back to this as part of the original theme park - was temporarily re-opened to the public in April 2014 for a six-month period, and its popularity meant it stayed open until December 2015. I still have my merch from late Summer of 2015 😊
    Please do one for the MOMI Museum as well mate 🙏

    • @ExpeditionThemePark
      @ExpeditionThemePark  2 года назад +2

      Aha Mikey you should know it by now I will get to them eventually 😂

    • @mikekaraoke
      @mikekaraoke 2 года назад +2

      @@ExpeditionThemePark Yea I know, I know 😂
      Better late than never mate-and as I said please do one for the MOMI Museum(The Museum of the Moving Image)

  • @vernonhowe4997
    @vernonhowe4997 2 года назад

    i remember going there when it first opened , thankyou so much for sharing

  • @joshthemoviecollector9273
    @joshthemoviecollector9273 Год назад

    Great job as always Sam.

  • @mechellehuber5352
    @mechellehuber5352 Год назад +1

    All right, the surprise Hugh Laurie demands this to be one of my new favorite YT videos. Thanks.
    Awesome video nonetheless!

    • @erikaswanson7072
      @erikaswanson7072 3 месяца назад

      I was waiting to see if I was going crazy.. almost expected to hear Stephen Fry in there too! I'm in the States, but I love watching Fry and Laurie whenever they're on.

  • @FatNorthernBigot
    @FatNorthernBigot 2 года назад

    A very entertaining video. Thank you!

  • @simonpowell9975
    @simonpowell9975 2 года назад +1

    It's a really small thing, but it wasn't channel 3 back then, was it - it was just ITV. BBC 2 didn't launch until the mid-60s. I still remember my Nana's telly from the mid-70s had labelled push-buttons on it: BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, ITV2 on the assumption they'd launch their own second channel one day.

  • @keithwellens
    @keithwellens Год назад

    Great video. I absolutely loved Granada Studios. Such a shame it closed. Really was a great place to visit.

  • @beechy006
    @beechy006 2 года назад

    Really enjoyed this revisit, I remember going on a school trip and the one real memory I have is of the sky track ride not working properly!

  • @eoz182
    @eoz182 2 года назад +1

    Great video as always, thank you. I wanted to go here but never did, I remember the advert so clearly! My partner went and we were both saying we think it would have done well today as UK leisure appears to be having a resurgence :) Shame this, Camelot and American Adventure are no more. I also have a video suggestion if thats OK: Pleasure Island/Festival Gardens in Liverpool 🤞

  • @dougherty1980
    @dougherty1980 2 года назад

    I remember going there on a school trip back in 1990 remember seeing the new York Street yellow cabs and cop cars 👍

  • @DPNCO
    @DPNCO 6 месяцев назад

    Good video. Very well researched. Was that Katy Hill?

  • @christophernagy1711
    @christophernagy1711 2 года назад +5

    Another smashing great video. Excellent historical research and context.
    In relations to having a function at the attractions, I fear it wouldn't bode well if a wedding was held in a House of Commons debating chambers especially if the opposition side was full.

  • @31wozza
    @31wozza 2 года назад

    great times in my life thanks so much for the upload xx

  • @oliverkelly4018
    @oliverkelly4018 2 года назад

    Amazing video! Loved this place in the 90’s. Nearly 30 years later I work in the Bonded Warehouse and walk past the old cobbles everyday.

  • @nilly666
    @nilly666 2 года назад

    this jogged some seriously old memories for me!! i barely just remember going, i was still in a pushchair!! all i do remember was the corrie set and the sooty show and thats about it 😅

  • @CaptainKeyForge
    @CaptainKeyForge 2 года назад +1

    I was fortunate enough to visit this when I was 12 years old in 1991. I’ve lived in the UK all my life. Alton Towers, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, American Adventure. Done them all. As an adult I’ve even made Disney Paris, Disneyland & all the parks of Orlando (Disney / Universal etc). It’s not quite up there with the best that the USA can offer. I’ll say this though. TO THIS DAY it is the best attraction in the UK I’ve ever been to. I’d rather go to this than 2022 Alton Towers, 2022 Pleasure Beach or anything else in Britain right now. This had imagination. It had shows, sets, simulators (the motion master cinema was almost on a par with Soarin’) and interactivity. Most UK parks are just one stomach churning roller coaster after another and nothing else at all. This is what sets the US apart from us and why I always go there not here. Imagination. Granada Studios tour had it. I sorely miss it as an attraction and long for the day when a theme park comes to Britain with just 1 rollercoaster but loads of other dark rides, simulators, shows and interactive entertainment like this used to offer but with more of it. The problem is we’ll never get it.

  • @kif1983
    @kif1983 2 года назад +4

    My parents dragged me to that place, it sucked. Given that they live about an hour away from Poole or Devon, I can only imagine that place was the only reason they wanted to holiday up there that year.
    I probably disliked it cause I had no interest in the shows, plus was probably told theme park and assumed something like Alton Towers. All I remember is being stopped by an actor cop, which I didn't enjoy. And for some reason I also remember the debate hall and some info about how it differs from the real one.

  • @yetanotheruser1989
    @yetanotheruser1989 2 года назад

    I went here a bunch of times as a kid and it was brilliant. Fond memories, and really a shame it closed down.

  • @bobo577
    @bobo577 6 месяцев назад +1

    26:54. Tom Baker's voice. The Tom Baker, the definite article you might say.

  • @Mawo3pg
    @Mawo3pg 2 года назад +1

    Remember this place fondly!

  • @SociallyDistancedGamer
    @SociallyDistancedGamer 2 года назад +1

    Loved it! Some of this place is absolutely carved into my mind. The room where you’re made to feel tiny with the giant furniture especially. Does anyone remember as well going into a room and the ceiling being lifted off by a giant cat?!? Surely I’m not dreaming that! As a regular visitor to Universal Florida (and having been once to Hollywood), I have to say I really feel this was of a similar level in the early 90’s albeit at a smaller scale. A real shame it closed, with investment in more thrill attractions (that worked!) it could have lasted, albeit it did have a tiny footprint to work with. Great video as ever Sam, enjoyed it.

    • @veehowarth7045
      @veehowarth7045 2 года назад +3

      I used to work there, and you are definitely not imagining the cat! That was on the tour before you went into the giants room (set from Return of the Antelope). The line in the script was 'how's that for a cat flap'

    • @SociallyDistancedGamer
      @SociallyDistancedGamer 2 года назад +1

      @@veehowarth7045 Thankyou for confirming it! How I wish someone had filmed that so I could see if it looked as gigantic and impressive as it does in my mind.

  • @aperson9576
    @aperson9576 2 года назад

    Oh I'm early on one of your videos. I know nothing about the park but that's what makes these videos fun. Learning about places and rides I never knew existed.

  • @gregvideo07
    @gregvideo07 2 года назад

    This was an amazing place. Great memories of it, great video thank you

  • @561jeffkelly
    @561jeffkelly 2 года назад

    Great Vlog 👍👍👍
    I have been to Florida 15 times since 1995 but I remember going to this place first.
    I am a train driver based at Liverpool and would go through the town centre of Manchester and I remember the flying coaster being built and not lasting long ha ha 🤣🤣.
    I remember the actor Tony Curtis doing the advert for Granada Studios.
    I remember going here the year before I first went to Florida and thinking it was rubbish.
    There was a replica of parliament and I remember the comedian Peter Kay was one of the actors in the set. He stood out like a saw finger he was so funny. I remember my ex saying he was wasted and later on in the 90s there he was on our TV.
    I also remember the UFO ride.
    Keep up the good work 👍👍👍👍

  • @aquatic_donut
    @aquatic_donut 2 года назад

    I'm from London and I barely remember Granada studios as a thing (born in 86) and none of my friends went/were interested. I did however go to euro Disney in 1992 for the opening and it was amazing!

  • @streamsofconsciousness8651
    @streamsofconsciousness8651 2 года назад

    Never forget taking mum to the Granada Studios Tour. She loved it as she was a big coronation street fan. We need it back again really, other than the Harry Potter tour theres nothing like it.

  • @peterpurpleheartparade5357
    @peterpurpleheartparade5357 Год назад

    I used to work on the phone lines at Granada. On one occasion working on the Studio Tour site, I watched a bit of Sooty being filmed on the Baker Street set for a future episode. I ended up in the pub later on with Mathew Corbett and the rest of the crew getting pissed lol.
    So many great memories of the place 💜

  • @Kyle-xv5kv
    @Kyle-xv5kv 2 года назад

    I remember going here as a child, I recall in the giants section there was a huge animatronic cat. It was nice to remember and see that place one more time.

  • @alice_mation
    @alice_mation 2 года назад +3

    I vaguely remember this place as a kid. I swear there was a giant cat in the large room!

  • @sandijerome
    @sandijerome 2 года назад

    Fascinating piece of history- thank you!

  • @TheBabie113
    @TheBabie113 Год назад

    when I was around 9 I went here on a school field trip all I remember was the houses of parliament and the room with huge furniture and a swinging ship ride. and like a ghost trick.

  • @MrBunghole666
    @MrBunghole666 2 года назад

    Yeah, it brings back memories this Simon Russel, bud. Dave.

  • @paulroberts3686
    @paulroberts3686 2 года назад

    I did the first advert as part of Oldham theatre workshop not sure weather it got aired but I was on the main poster going into Manchester City centre . Great times

  • @Travelmatt23
    @Travelmatt23 2 года назад

    Definitely heard of this place. The history and experiences heard looked highly interesting.

  • @nickmetroid
    @nickmetroid 2 года назад

    I remember the Granda Studio Tours very well, particularly the old/future cinema section. When I was there as a bairn in 1993, the classic film was the OG King Kong and ended with an animatronic arm of Kong coming out of the ceiling with Anne Darrow in hand (this was the year of Kong's 60th anniversary so likely the reason it was being shown) before we were then ushered into the motion cinema ride right next door.

  • @VanessaDownen
    @VanessaDownen 2 года назад

    One of my all time favorite shows "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", was filmed there. I have very fond memories when I see and hear about Granada Studios 😊💙

  • @princesskristan
    @princesskristan 2 года назад +2

    That place looked pretty fun! I love Aliens and I would love to ride a ride based on that movie

    • @ExpeditionThemePark
      @ExpeditionThemePark  2 года назад

      Right?!

    • @JeffreyPiatt
      @JeffreyPiatt 2 года назад +2

      Disney might build one finally. Eisner wanted to build one but the Imagners revolted .

  • @ghostmark2005
    @ghostmark2005 2 года назад +1

    Oh my goodness no way! I went here several times as a kid and was terrified of the cat on the walking tour and the alien ride. Wow this brought back memories I didn't know I had

    • @ExpeditionThemePark
      @ExpeditionThemePark  2 года назад +1

      It was scary!!

    • @honeycyanide
      @honeycyanide 2 года назад

      My mum had nightmares about that cat for weeks, I thought it was hilarious

    • @ghostmark2005
      @ghostmark2005 2 года назад

      @@honeycyanide so it's not just me going mad? I was probably like 4 or 5 when I saw it and I have such a weird foggy memory of it