1
Credit: Stein FamilyIn the 1980s, the Walt Disney World Resort was the only game in town in Central Florida. While Universal Studios had its theme park in Hollywood, California, it had yet to make the move to the Sunshine State to rival Disney.
While Universal had the rights to some of the biggest movies of the decade, it did not have a visionary like Disney had in Walt. That’s when Universal turned to Jay Stein.
Stein started his career in the mailroom at MCA (Musical Corporation of America), a recreation service group, formerly known as the Universal Music Group. Eventually, MCA acquired Universal Pictures, and Stein began working on expanding Universal Studios’ Backlot Tour, which would ultimately morph into the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park.
So, when Universal went looking for someone to help design its new Florida theme park, it turned to Stein. He would work with director Steven Spielberg to design the Jaws, E.T., and Back to the Future attractions at the original park. He also helped to create Universal Studios’ Backlot Tour.
With so much of Stein in the original park, it was with great sadness that Universal announced that Stein died on November 7. He was 88.
Most recently, Stein worked with Universal’s creative team to help design Epic Universe. Sam Gennawey, who wrote Stein’s biography, said that his influence is still all over Universal’s theme park.
“Mark Woodbury, who runs the theme parks over in Universal, was hired by Jay Stein. He’s a Jay Stein protege. So and everybody who I’ve talked to who were designers at Epic Universe constantly kept telling me that the whole Jay bangs concept and the attitude that Jay the DNA of the Theme Parks was constantly reinforced to them, which is why that park turned out so so well,” Gennawey said. “I’m glad that we’re celebrating the life of somebody who really deserves a celebration.”
The legendary Stein is survived by his wife, brother, and daughter.