TMZ got hold of the 911 call when the fire Universal Studios was reported. It's amazing how calm everything sounds. &righticonhover=0x333232&text=0x333232&slider=0xF2F2F2&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0xFFFFFF&loader=0x838383&soundFile=http://www.aolcdn.com/tmz_audio/060308_universal_911.mp3"> It's interesting to note that Universal Studios is never mentioned in this call, only Universal City, which is often incorrectly thought of as Universal Studios and the neighborhood of Cahuenga Pass (it's only a general area). The reason she asks for the address first is that she can easily dispatch fire engines to the......

Debris clutters the New York Street facade at the Universal Studios Hollywood back lot, Monday June 2, 2008, in the Universal City section of Los Angeles, a day after a fire destroyed the sets of iconic films. (AP Photo/Ric Francis) The fire at Universal Studios on Sunday that ripped through two "city blocks" was deemed an accident yesterday, but was not clarified until later. Now officials are saying a welders' blowtorch started the fire:......

Fire fighters examine the scene on the fire damaged lot of Universal Studios today (AP Photo/Nick Ut) The gates of Universal Studios opened back up today after yesterday's fire, which burned a two-block area of film sets for more than 12 hours. The incident forced them to close the doors for the day at the theme park and CityWalk. Areas destroyed or damaged included New York Street, a part of Back to the Future's......

Universal Music Group's audio masters were not damaged in Sunday's fire at the Universal Studios backlot, contrary to one report, according to a UMG spokesperson. "We had no loss, thankfully," said Peter Lofrumento, Universal Music Group’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications. "We moved most of what was formerly stored there earlier this year to our other facilities. Of the small amount that was still there and awaiting to be moved, it had already been......

See more photos here | Photo by Tom Andrews/LAist Yesterday's all-day fire at Universal Studios, which engulfed two city movie-set blocks (destroying a part of the King Kong tour and one of the Back to the Future sets), was finally knocked down late in the afternoon. An investigation will be going into what caused the blaze, but also one is being called to look into the low-pressure water system that ultimately hindered firefighters in......

As of shortly before 4 p.m. Sunday, no knockdown of the massive fire at Universal Studios had been announced. "We expect containment in about a half hour," explained Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Ron Haralson. "We are concentrating on one sructure, the film vault." Haralson said 10 people were injured, nine of them that are firefighters with a "wide range" of injuries. The other person injured was a Los Angeles County Sheriff. Earlier, Universal Studios'......

The charred remains of structures on the Universal backlot are not too far from the Gibson Ampitheatre | AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian Universal Studios opened to the public early this afternoon, is expected to open tomorrow despite the blaze that destroyed portions of the local landmark and darkened the skies with thick smoke. With concern for the well-being of many iconic and well-known parts of the decades-old theme park on the forefront of many minds,......

For residents of the South East San Fernando Valley and adjacent environs, the stench and sight of smoke from the fire that broke out in the early morning hours on the backlot of Universal Studios has dominated the skies today; for most everyone else in Los Angeles this story has dominated the news. LAist photographer Tom Andrews captured these images of the Universal Studios area; the site remains closed to the public while fire crews......

The Entrance to Universal is dominated by a massive plume of smoke and firefighters | AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian The fire that broke out early this morning continues to burn on the Universal Studios backlot in Universal City. Per a press conference held near the scene just after nine this morning, the fire began between 4:30-4:45 this morning on a soundstage. No shooting was underway when the fire broke out, and rumors of bomb threats......

It was a fun-filled day Saturday at Universal Studios in spite of the relentless heat. Stars posed on the yellow carpet, stiltwalkers danced, fireworks exploded, kids feasted on cupcakes and cotton candy, and a human cannonball shot out over the crowd. And all this before the ride even opened! Also check out our ride preview, and videos from the opening gala!......

Today is the long-awaited official opening of the Simpsons ride at Universal Studios! (See lots of photos of the ride here) Check out the following videos of Kelsey Grammer, Matt Groening, and a human cannonball from the Universal Studios Gala Party last Saturday, Kelsey Grammer was an extremely good sport, humoring our request to do Sideshow Bob's evil laugh. More photos of the festivities, Kwik-E-Mart and "yellow carpet" to come!......

Universal Studios has just unveiled Krustyland, a magical theme park within a theme park. Monday will be the official opening of The Simpsons Ride, the area's main attraction. The Simpsons Ride is a virtual adventure much like the Back to the Future ride that previously occupied the location. Dome screens, measuring an expansive 80-ft in diameter, and a groundbreaking digital projection system bring the viewer right into the ride. The vehicles elevate nine feet on......

KNBC Broadcaster: "Well Ed, is it one of these matters where the Kenyans and Ethiopians, let's be honest here, they see a white guy out front and they don't take him seriously?" Ed: .......................................... Cue circus music. While we're not sure who this particular broadcaster is, here's an earlier press release from the event's owner, Devine Racing: NBC’s Fred Roggin, L.A. Marathon broadcast veteran Toni Reavis (who has broadcast all 23 races in L.A.)......

A verbal spat turned into a shooting incident today on the 101 Freeway. The disagreement began between the occupants of two vehicles on a surface street in Hollywood, says cbs2.com, and the "suspect's car followed the other vehicle as it traveled onto the northbound Hollywood Freeway." The heated exchange escalated into gunfire, as the occupants of one vehicle fired shots while on the road, "wounding one passenger and grazing the other." With the gunfire bringing......

To have a continuous bike path along the LA River, it must pass next to Universal Studios. The maroon line marks the disputed path. Back in an October 2006 interview with the mysterious LA City Nerd, we asked a question of hope: when can we realistically bike commute via the LA River Trail from the Valley to Downtown LA? The nerd was not optimistic saying that "the LA River trail may never connect completely......

Since the recent opening of LACMA's Broad Contemporary (BCAM) a flurry of international eyes have been on Los Angeles, and an ensuing flurry of words have issued forth in review. It seems irresistible to review the Broad without also reviewing the city that houses it, which was precisely the tact taken by Chris Haslam in London's Sunday Times today. It takes Haslam seven paragraphs into his article to even mention the precise reason he......

Approximately 5,000 people came to the Gibson in Universal City and paid between $25-$250 to hear presidential hopeful (and TRAILS the California frontrunner, if you believe recent polls) Barack Obama explain why he's in the race. His speech brought tears from women, commanded several standing ovations, and even made this little kid near us shut his trap for 45 minutes. Bon Jovi wannabe's The Goo Goo Dolls played, James Brown wannabe Ne-Yo performed, and......

Quick, yet deadly: this weekend's Malibu Fire is 90% contained. We thought NBC had a policy of not giving car chases attention, a respectable position to take. Those days must be over. Anyway, it's always interesting when a car chase gets off freeway at the exit by your house like the one this morning on the 101. That would make number eight on our list for witnessed car chases. More cost effective and more......

My high school drama club participated in our local haunted house, and we were merciless. One woman had to be taken away in an ambulance after an actor concealed in a hole in the ground grabbed her foot. So these things really freak me out. I don't believe in zombies and monsters, but I do believe in unpredictable aspiring actors. THE BIG ONES: Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights looked so intense I turned down an......

Have you entered LAist's contest to win Arcade Fire tickets yet? Head on over and comment to become eligible: are you a wine drinker or a beer drinker when at the Bowl? Or, are you like some people we know who bring in a couple of forties and a bucket of fried chicken? An infant was shot and killed last night in MacArthur Park; the baby was hit by a stray bullet while his......

KCBS and its KCAL affiliate picked up seven awards at the Los Angeles Emmy Awards last night, with the award for live coverage of an unannounced event going to the team for the Esperanza fire. Let's all share in a joyous chorus of "Hell yeah!!": teen drivers may be barred from using cell phones while driving, under state legislation passed today. And while we're at it, give another whoop of joy for the resignation......

Studio City may actually be what out-of-state folks are talking about when they imagine L.A. (I personally had always wondered...) Wide boulevards lined with palm trees and shops, neighborhoods yielding houses used on TV sitcoms, plaques on the sidewalk commemorating John Wayne films, and filming going on around nearly every corner; as Vankman said to Vigo, it's "the sweet life out in Southern California's beautiful San Fernando valley". For Los Angelenos, it's either a......

After covering Wicked Wednesday, I realized that I didn't have to work until later that night. The PR person had said, "Just go wherever you want." I think she meant within the stage area, but I thought I'd wander around a little. The last time I went to Universal Studios they had just gotten Jaws, and they were still doing an avalanche with big cheesy-looking styrofoam boulders. I went on "Back to the Future"......

This summer, Universal Studios has been presenting a special series called Wicked Wednesdays, featuring performers from the hit musical, Wicked. It is a rare opportunity to hear the hit songs performed in an intimate venue. The Wizard and I, Popular, As Long as You're Mine and For Good were sung yesterday by Julie Reiber (in the role of Elphaba) Emily Rozek (in the role of Glinda), and Adam Lambert (Fiyero). The Wizard, John Rubinstein......

A Memorial Weekend BBQ in East Hollywood was my destination yesterday. And since my recent habit has been to use public transit mixed with the bike, that's what I set out to do from my Sherman Oaks flat. First, I was off to Ralphs Fresh Fare at Ventura and Coldwater to pick up some food. I shop, exit and head to my bike. Right then, an escalade pulls up and parks in the fire......

Congratulations to our Keane winner Stephanie. She will be seeing Keane tonight at the Gibson, not the Greek, the Gibson. After the fire a few concerts had to be moved from the Greek to the Gibson, so if you have tickets to the show tonight head to Universal Studios, not the smoldering hills of Los Feliz. We're also being told not to miss Anjani @ Hotel Cafe tonight where she will be being presented......

Minibar bills itself as a stylish haven for those with a curious palate for epicurean treats and tasty cocktails. Here are the five reasons we like Minibar: 5. The ambiance Tucked into an otherwise non-descript patch of Cahuenga near Universal Studios and the end-point of Lankershim Boulevard, Minibar's colorfully cozy atmosphere makes it a great place to take a date, to have a girls' night, or host a soiree in their back "treehouse" room.......

In case you missed the banners on every major street in town and the commercials on KNBC, it's time for the LA Marathon. Even if your idea of a workout is walking to the TV when the batteries in your remote die, this event is likely to have an impact on your life. About 26,000 runners will pound 26.2 miles of pavement on Sunday morning. That's right, 26.2 miles of street closures for just the......

- Our good friends at Gawker seem to have some unwelcome guests - Wired - Jillian Barberie is expecting - Celebrity Baby Blog - Macaca wins Most Politically Incorrect Word - Reuters - Know some University of Michigan fans coming to town for the Rose Bowl? Wolverine Day will go down 12/20 at Universal Studios (where we like to keep our tourists), and if they act now they can get $15 off a ticket......

Helicopters Today, LAPD's Air Support Division (ASD) celebrates its 50th anniversary of continuous flight operation. Did you know that the City of Los Angeles has the largest non-military air force in the nation? 18 helicopters is why we always hear them floating around. Universal City Today at 3:00 p.m., Mayor Villaraigosa and Universal Studios President Ron Meyer will announce a blueprint plan for shaping the future of the property, which hosts the world’s largest working......