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= Universal Studios =
= Universal Studios =


'''Universal Studios''' is the entertainment company and production facility that co-produced the television series ''[[Quincy, M.E.]]'' alongside Glen A. Larson Productions. The series was filmed primarily on the '''Universal Studios Backlot''' in Universal City, California, where both interior and exterior sets—such as the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, Quincy’s sailboat, and Danny’s Place—were constructed or staged.
'''Universal Studios''' was the primary production site for ''[[Quincy, M.E.]]'', co-produced with '''Glen A. Larson Productions'''. The series was largely filmed on the '''Universal Studios Backlot''' in Universal City, California, using a mix of interior sound stages and outdoor street sets. These facilities provided the visual backdrop for key locations such as the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, Quincy's sailboat, Danny’s Place, and city streets throughout the show's run from 1976 to 1983.


As a major player in American television production during the 1970s and 1980s, Universal Studios was instrumental in bringing ''Quincy, M.E.'' to life, contributing studio space, backlot environments, and production support.
As a major television production hub, Universal Studios played a central role in shaping the visual identity and practical logistics of the series.


== Filming Stages and Sets ==
== Filming Stages and Sets ==


* '''Stage 25''' – Served as the primary soundstage for interior sequences. This included detailed sets for the Coroner’s Office, Quincy's sailboat cabin, and frequently used locations such as Danny’s Place (the bar/restaurant).
* '''Stage 25''' – Served as the main soundstage for ''Quincy, M.E.'' Interiors such as the Coroner’s Office, Quincy's boat cabin, and Danny’s Place were all constructed and filmed here.
* '''Colonial Street''' – Featured in multiple episodes for exterior suburban homes. It is part of the Universal backlot and was also known for housing the Munster house, which appeared in at least one Quincy episode.
* '''Colonial Street''' – Used for various residential and suburban exteriors. Featured in multiple episodes for neighbor scenes, including the appearance of the iconic "Munster house."
* '''Denver Street''' – Used frequently for downtown and apartment building exteriors.
* '''Denver Street''' – Stood in for urban apartment exteriors and police station entrances.
* '''Brownstone Street''' – Provided urban backdrops for scenes meant to reflect denser East Coast-style environments or back alleys.
* '''Brownstone Street''' – Used to simulate East Coast city blocks, alleys, and institutional buildings.


== Universal Studios Backlot ==
=== Stage 25 Photo Gallery ===
<gallery mode="slideshow" widths="250" heights="180">
File:Stage25_Quincy_Set1.jpg|Interior set: Coroner's Office layout (Stage 25)
File:Stage25_Quincy_Set2.jpg|Stage 25 behind-the-scenes during filming
File:Stage25_Quincy_Sailboat.jpg|Quincy’s sailboat interior built on Stage 25
</gallery>


The Universal City backlot stood in for a variety of Los Angeles city locations, allowing ''Quincy, M.E.'' to simulate numerous civic and residential settings without leaving the studio lot.
*Note: Images must be uploaded to the wiki with proper licensing before appearing here.*


* '''New York Street''' – A curved façade street used in several episodes to mimic large urban sprawl and gritty downtown neighborhoods.
== Backlot Filming at Universal Studios ==
* '''Courthouse Square''' – Occasionally seen in episodes requiring government or civic buildings; the same iconic set used in other Universal productions like *Back to the Future*.
 
* '''Colonial Street''' – Used for its quiet suburban look and accessible layout for staging emergency vehicles, press scenes, or neighbor interactions.
The Universal Studios backlot offered flexible street settings used throughout the series:
 
* '''New York Street''' – Featured in many downtown or crime scene sequences; curved layout provided the illusion of a larger city.
* '''Courthouse Square''' – Used for episodes set around city government or legal proceedings.
* '''Colonial Street''' – Redressed regularly for different episodes to serve as suburban homes, clinics, or public offices.


== On-Location Filming ==
== On-Location Filming ==


In addition to studio shooting, ''Quincy, M.E.'' made frequent use of Los Angeles-area locations for realism:
While much of the series was filmed on the lot, notable scenes were also shot on location:


* '''Marina del Rey''' – Quincy's home was a sailboat docked here, and many waterfront scenes, including romantic and social moments, were shot on-location in this harbor community.
* '''Marina del Rey''' – Quincy's sailboat home was docked here; many personal and social scenes were filmed at the marina.
* '''City Hall (Inglewood)''' – Used in civic-themed episodes for courtroom steps, press conferences, and local government offices.
* '''Inglewood City Hall''' – Used in legal-themed episodes for authentic government architecture.
* '''Larchmont Boulevard''' – Real-world L.A. street where drive-by and vehicle scenes were staged, including ambulance routes and pursuit scenes.
* '''Larchmont Boulevard''' – Provided real urban streetscapes for vehicle scenes and emergency response sequences.


== Production Notes ==
== Production Techniques ==


Universal Studios' backlot was specifically designed to offer flexibility and realism in television production. For ''Quincy, M.E.'':
Universal Studios enhanced production realism through:
* Street façades like '''New York Street''' were curved at both ends to create the illusion of longer streets on screen.
 
* Wet-down techniques and nighttime lighting setups were commonly used to enhance visual drama during forensic investigations or late-night crime scenes.
* Wet-down streets for nighttime ambiance.
* The ability to quickly redress façades and reuse streets allowed for a variety of looks within a single production day.
* Facade versatility — multiple redresses across episodes.
* Strategic lighting rigs to simulate time-of-day changes on indoor sets.


== See Also ==
== See Also ==
* [[Quincy, M.E.]]
* [[Quincy, M.E.]]
* [[Glen A. Larson Productions]]
* [[Companies and Organizations]]
* [[Companies and Organizations]]
* [[Glen A. Larson Productions]]


[[Category:Production Companies]]
[[Category:Production Companies]]

Latest revision as of 15:33, 21 June 2025

Universal Studios

Universal Studios was the primary production site for Quincy, M.E., co-produced with Glen A. Larson Productions. The series was largely filmed on the Universal Studios Backlot in Universal City, California, using a mix of interior sound stages and outdoor street sets. These facilities provided the visual backdrop for key locations such as the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, Quincy's sailboat, Danny’s Place, and city streets throughout the show's run from 1976 to 1983.

As a major television production hub, Universal Studios played a central role in shaping the visual identity and practical logistics of the series.

Filming Stages and Sets

  • Stage 25 – Served as the main soundstage for Quincy, M.E. Interiors such as the Coroner’s Office, Quincy's boat cabin, and Danny’s Place were all constructed and filmed here.
  • Colonial Street – Used for various residential and suburban exteriors. Featured in multiple episodes for neighbor scenes, including the appearance of the iconic "Munster house."
  • Denver Street – Stood in for urban apartment exteriors and police station entrances.
  • Brownstone Street – Used to simulate East Coast city blocks, alleys, and institutional buildings.

Stage 25 Photo Gallery

  • Note: Images must be uploaded to the wiki with proper licensing before appearing here.*

Backlot Filming at Universal Studios

The Universal Studios backlot offered flexible street settings used throughout the series:

  • New York Street – Featured in many downtown or crime scene sequences; curved layout provided the illusion of a larger city.
  • Courthouse Square – Used for episodes set around city government or legal proceedings.
  • Colonial Street – Redressed regularly for different episodes to serve as suburban homes, clinics, or public offices.

On-Location Filming

While much of the series was filmed on the lot, notable scenes were also shot on location:

  • Marina del Rey – Quincy's sailboat home was docked here; many personal and social scenes were filmed at the marina.
  • Inglewood City Hall – Used in legal-themed episodes for authentic government architecture.
  • Larchmont Boulevard – Provided real urban streetscapes for vehicle scenes and emergency response sequences.

Production Techniques

Universal Studios enhanced production realism through:

  • Wet-down streets for nighttime ambiance.
  • Facade versatility — multiple redresses across episodes.
  • Strategic lighting rigs to simulate time-of-day changes on indoor sets.

See Also

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