Did the Universal Studios Fire destroy the Back to the Future CourtHouse in todays fire?

Question

Did the Universal Studios Fire destroy the Back to the Future CourtHouse in todays fire?

Answer 1

I've heard the Courthouse court and the bell tower were destroyed, as well as King Kong's exhibit, about 3 blocks worth of sets, including the set for War of the Worlds, and about 40,000 reels from tv shows and movies were totally destroyed.  The good news though, there are copies of the reels located somewhere else.  I'm still trying to find info on anything else.  I haven't heard anything about the Leave it to Beaver set, Seinfeld, and Ally McBeal sets, although I'm sure they're still trying to figure out what exactly was destroyed right now.  Such a sad thing to happen.  So far, no reports of anyone being injured or killed, so that's good news.

Answer 2

I haven't been able to find definitive proof that the courthouse itself was destroyed.  Almost every site refers to the courthouse SQUARE being severely damaged, and a lot point out that the courthouse was used for BTTF, but it's hard to tell if the courthouse itself is totally gone.  I know for sure that at least some of the surrounding buildings have been completely decimated; the photo I've linked to shows the wreckage of some of the buildings directly opposite the courthouse, on the other side of the square.  That same site shows lots of photos in which the courthouse is still standing, and some in which the entire area is totally obscured by smoke, making it unlikely that it "survived", but I still haven't seen photos that show the courthouse burned to the ground.

One site reported that the courthouse building was destroyed or severely damaged, but that the detachable clock tower itself was somewhere else, and so it was only minimally damaged.

In any case, this is definitely sad.  =(  The King Kong show building from the tram tour is in really bad shape.  The roof appears to have entirely collapsed, and it's all rubble inside.  Pretty tragic, though we should be thankful no one was killed or badly hurt.

Ryanalexander, I haven't heard anything about the Bates motel and Leave It To Beaver house and the other areas you mentioned being affected.  If you look at aerial photos from before and during the fire, you'll see they're very far from the fire itself, so unless you can produce a source, I'm pretty skeptical.  Maybe you're thinking of New York street, and a few other surrounding "neighborhoods"?  Those were leveled by the blaze.

Also, Flowergal, those are indeed photos of the fire, but none of them show the courthouse area.

Answer 3

Yes, unfortunately.

The courthouse is completely destroyed, as well as the Bates Motel from Psycho. Several other sets such as the street where they filmed the outdoor scenes for Seinfeld & Alley McBeal, along with the Leave it to Beaver house.

This is really a sad day in Hollywood.

Answer 4

yes.you can see the pics here too.

Answer 5

Yes, it did.  I'm very sorry.

Answer 6

Sets can be rebuilt.  My concern was for the reels of old shows.  This underlines how important it is to get them released on DVD and in the hands of thousands of people instead of sitting in a vault.  

I am glad that most had copies elsewhere.  I am sure, though, that some obscure footage was probably lost forever.

Answer 7

Sadly yes.  And the King Kong attraction, too.