the Political
Aficionado’s Guide to ...
FILM
How the Florida film industry
got slimed:
The rise and fall of Nickelodeon BY RYAN L. TERRY
I
t’s no secret Florida was once rich in television and film production. In fact, Disney’s Hollywood Studios (formerly Disney-MGM) and Universal Studios Florida were both built as counterparts to their main locations in southern California. So why did it all but disappear? In short: government and unions. Thanks to iconic features like “The Creature from the Black Lagoon” (1954) and TV shows like “Flipper” (1960s), there was a solid foundation upon which to build a TV/film industry. For five seasons starting in 1984, the iconic cop series “Miami Vice” not only showcased (and revived) the Art Deco aesthetic of South Beach, the show was a huge driver in popular music and fashion. From the late 1980s through the early 2000s, Central Florida was in its “Hollywood” golden age. When it comes to the rise and fall of the film industry in Florida, we can look at Universal Studios Florida and Nickelodeon Studios as microcosms of the larger intersection of cinema and politics in the Sunshine State.
A variety of productions took place on and around the sound stages of the working studio theme park. This provided additional revenue and advertising opportunities, as locations and sets could double as theme park attractions. The park opened with the filming of “Psycho IV”, with the infamous Bates Motel and home recreated as the shooting location and attraction. But perhaps the biggest draw of all was Nickelodeon Studios. In November 1988, Nickelodeon (founded in 1979) moved to its colorful office building, featuring the big orange logo and iconic slime geyser. Although the production facilities were already in use prior to the park’s opening day, the official opening coincided with the theme park’s on June 7, 1990. Guests could tour the studio, audition for a show or join the studio audience during taping. More than a dozen kid/teen sitcoms, 20 game shows, and five children’s shows were shot at the main studios including: “Double Dare,” “Figure It Out,” “Legends of the Hidden Temple,” “Clarissa Explains
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