The JAWS section of the Universal Studios Tram Tour opened on April 10th 1976, a year after the release of Steven Spielberg's 1975 smash-hit film.

As the red and white striped Universal Glamor Tram rounds the bend out of 'Six Points' we come face to face with the 'Welcome to Amity' billboard. To the right of the tram quaint little fishing houses appear. 'Quints Bait and Tackle Shop' makes way for the Amity Motel which sits on the lake front. Sound effects of a foghorn and bell from a buoy can be heard throughout the area.
The tour guide points out the fact that George - the lone fisherman in the water - is very brave for fishing in an area where a killer shark has been spotted. Cue John Williams 'JAWS' theme as we now spot a dorsal fin slicing through the water. It submerges as George and his dinghy disappear in an explosion of foamy water and squirting blood. "He sure had a lot of guts...and there they are" remarks the guide with typically stilted delivery.

Construction of the set and the mechanical shark

The tram has now boarded a pier. The guide then promises to catch the shark with bait - a yellow barrel. Soon the unseen shark pulls the barrel which unwinds a massive chain (like the JAWS pier scene!) This causes the pier to lean precariously close to the water about 20 degrees. Tour guests scream in delight as the pier breaks away causing a small explosion.
With the tram leaning in the shark then breaks the surface coming dangerously close to the tram as we zoom away through various 'JAWS' props including replicas of the red and white cabanas, the "Help Shark!" billboard and the actual ORCA. You have just survived the "JAWS Attack!" announces the tour guide to the giddy and giggly guests.

Later visitors would be dropped off at the Visitor Entertainment Center where they could take a picture with an exact replica of Bruce the shark.

From the huge success of the movie in 1975, Universal put on display a replica of Bruce the shark. The 25 feet long, 12.5 feet wide, and 8 feet high fiberglass shark wasn’t used in the movie, however it was cut from the mold of the original mechanical versions.

Steven Spielberg named the notoriously unreliable mechanical shark used in the production of JAWS “Bruce” after his lawyer at the time. This Bruce replica from the movie JAWS was on display on the upper lot known as the Visitor Entertainment Center from 1975 to 1990. A dark day in the year of 1990 saw Bruce removed from the park and replaced by a shark not seen in any JAWS movie.

Located next to KITT car from Knight Rider on the Upper Lot

In 1991 the Universal Studios Hollywood display was the last remaining copy of Bruce the shark, but somehow he was given away with a bunch of cars to a junkyard owner in Sun Valley, California. According to the junkyard owner, the shark was sitting in the back lot ready for the dumpster or the sledgehammer when it was offered to him.

Bruce high in the sky at U-Pick Parts

For decades Bruce soared high above the junkyard with only palm trees and birds for company. So when the junkyard closed doors in 2016 Bruce had to move on, but where? After considering auctioning off the shark to the highest bidder, the junkyard owner decided to donate Bruce to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (AMMP).

Restoration process (2018) and final look on display at the AMMP (2021)

This is the original Orca, the boat used during all the major scenes requiring a moving, floating boat. The Orca was on display in the amity lagoon for all to watch and admire as the tram pulled away from the JAWS attack.

The Orca, on display in the recreated village of Amity, is the actual vessel from the film (1976)

After the film wrapped, the studio sold off nearly everything from the film, as they had no faith it would turn a profit. The boat was purchased by a special-effects technician, who restored the boat and later used it for sword fishing up and down the California coast. However, after the film was released and became a huge box-office success, word got out that the former "ORCA" was still in operation on the coast, and the would-be swordfisherman spent many afternoons being chased by curious fans and fellow boaters! With the success of the film, the studio approached the former tech and purchased the boat back from him for use at the Universal Studios Tour and allowed him to keep a few mementos of his ownership of the boat, the metal letters 'ORCA' (orignally mounted on the stern of the boat) and a life preserver (orignally fastened to the pilot house).

The life preserver and metal letters sold together at auction on 28th July 2006 for US$30,000.

The Orca sat in the lagoon for 20 years before the hull rotted, which flooded the lower cabin and inevitably sank in the shallow water. In 1996 Universal tried lifting the boat out with a harness and the hull was so rotted that she simply broke in half. So, they took a couple of chainsaws and cut her up for timber. Not all was lost though, Steven Spielberg recovered some mementos for himself, both twin screws, propeller blades and the pilot wheel.

JAWS Attack Shark Mark I is remembered as 'Carrot Tooth'. According to JAWS Production Designer Joe Alves 'Carrot Tooth' came out of a meeting in which the studio execs wanted a shark with long teeth 'like the poster'. It was more goofy than scary. Its giant teeth resembled icicles from the doomed avalanche attraction more than killer shark teeth.

The body of the attraction shark is actually struck from the Bruce sea-sled mold. Look closely and you will see that the bottom is missing. This same body is still in use today. The head is a caricatured resculpt of Bruce with less pronounced jowls. Bob Mattey was embarrassed by the jowls of the movie shark so these were toned down while an improved mouth was created which allowed for greater water scoopage. This cartoon head would only exist on the Mark I fish.

It was expensive to build and maintain, the shark required $250,000 per year in maintenance. Uinversal sought the help of submarine builders General Dynamics to understand how to create things to last in water.

Carrot Tooth with the Psycho House in the background (1977)

With the release of 'JAWS 2' in 1978, the attraction shark was changed to look like the new movie shark. This second shark lost it's carrot like teeth and gained even more fake looking teeth. The head was widened and the eyes were made completely black..

Since 1980 there have been numerous repaints and various dentures put in to replace the silly version that first appeared. These photos show the progression the shark has taken over the years

Don Adams filming The Nude Bomb on Universal's back lot (1980)

Ben Gardner's Boat featured in the film JAWS, the scene which Richard Dreyfuss went under water to look for the missing fisherman, when suddenly Ben's head appeared in that hole!
Because of THAT hole the boat had to be supported by wooden frames unseen by park guests, unless of course you were lucky to see the lake drained of water. In 1981 the boat lost its original blue colour and was re-painted white.

For unknown reasons Ben Gardner's Boat was removed and dumped into a skip during a major rehab in May 2005, the photos below thanks to Dennis Dickens show the sad truth, the boat in a skip whilst the lake was drained.

So where is Ben Gardner's Boat now? Well I hope it wasn't truly trashed and instead was stored somewhere. Maybe someone saved it at the last minute and Ben Gardner's boat now lives a new life like Junkyard Bruce. I'm trying to find out if every last piece is gone for good or not. Remember this is an actual piece of movie history!.

Ben Gardner's Boat in a skip bin (2005)

George, the lonely fisherman, used to fish the waters of Amity every day, but he became the only catch of the day. His boat was attached to a pulley system, which caused it to be dragged under the water when the shark's fin approached.

George noticeably changed his appearance at least four times, the original George was sporting shorts, cap and sunglasses in 1976. It was 9 years until George had a makeover wearing a yellow mac. He had a couple of minor costume changes until 1990 George turned into a what looked like a garden gnome. Finally in the mid 90's George wore yellow overalls and a red lifejacket.

After 24 years in service George the fisherman was replaced by an Amity Police Diver in 2000 when the attraction received an upgrade to JAWS on fire.

Before it was Amity Island and the JAWS attraction, it was originally known as Singapore Lake.

Hurricane Set, Singapore Lake (1960)

During the 1960's Singapore Lake thrilled Glamor Tram riders by creating a "full-blown hurricane." This effect was created utilizing a wave machine, wind and rain makers exploding bursts of fine aluminum powder.

The idea was to upgrade JAWS into the 21st century, obviously Universal saw this part of the Studio Tour lacking special effects and so fire effects were brought back into the attraction.

So After a two week rehab including draining the lagoon and removing a few props, the 30th of May 2000 saw the day that 'The JAWS Attack' became 'JAWS on fire'. George the fisherman was removed and replaced by an Amity police diver. Also a few boats from JAWS 2 were dragged out of a shed and used as set dressing for the Cabot Cove/Amity Island facade.

In 2010 the dock tilting mechanism was removed, apparently due to maintenance issues. The dock unfortunately now remains stationery and no longer tilts. The tilt helped all visitors on the far side of the tram to get a good view of the shark, as well as adding to the peril of the situation. In 2014, it was decided to drain the lake to create a completely solid roadway for the tram.

The JAWS Lake featured in several park maps and souvenir brochures through the years.

[1] 1983, [2] 1976, [3] 1985, [4] 1978

You can find JAWS goodies to buy in the 'Universal Studio Store', located on the left after walking through the front gates. The collectable pennies machine can be found next to the Studio Tour queue area and restrooms.

Studio Store JAWS Merchandise April 2025