Wausau Daily Herald from Wausau, Wisconsin • 47

Travel Money Editor Jackie Pride, 845-0655 7E "Wausau Daily Herald, Sunday, April 4, 1 993 mrnwmimm mmm mmr mmm Studio eaten ours take you path sound effects, and see the monitor-filled video control room. When shows are in production, however, the sets are closed to visitors. KCET is at 4401 Sunset two blocks east of Vermont Avenue. Tours are offered Tuesday and Thursdays at 10 a.m., and reservations are required. Call the upcoming sequel "Addams Family II" were tagged and had been pulled to the front, ready to be moved to a sound stage.

On this day, Newhart was the only celebrity spotted. But the tour guide, Cindy Garrison, said that who you see depends on the day, time and, most of all, pure luck. For more information about the two-hour tour, call 1-213-956-5575 or 1-213-956-4848. NBC Studio Tour ship PBS stations, also offers public tours of its Hollywood studios. The 90-minute tour offers less glitz and is a bit more technical than the other three.

It's also free. The KCET site on Sunset Boulevard has been in continuous use as a studio since 1912. Prior to KCET moving here in 1970, the studios were owned by Allied Artists and Monogram Pictures, which used to churn out movies by the hundreds. Today, visitors can see two sound stages, learn about TV lighting and IN THE KNOW Barney makes theme park debut Watch out, Mickey Mouse. Barney, the popular purple "dinosaur from PBS, makes his first foray into amusement parks Look ourVyindow i for the ISlffTrefl Deals inTravel Gall for informa Cdon Courtesy pawl inc.

842-2 1 84 or I -800-423-1 882 $25 per person, and children 10-years-old and younger are not admitted. Cameras also are prohibited. Tour times are at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and advance reservations are required.

The studio is at the comer of Hollywood Way and Olive Avenue, just south of the 134 Freeway in Bur-bank. Call 1-818-954-1744. Paramount Studio Tour Paramount's tour is similar to the one at Warner Bros, in that it's primarily a historical and technical look behind the scenes. Reservations aren't required. You simply show up 15 minutes prior to regularly scheduled tour times, which are at 11 a.m.

and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Paramount Visitor Center, 860 N. Gower between Melrose and Santa Monica boulevards in Hollywood. Groups of a dozen or so people are taken on a walking tour of Paramount's 65-acre back lot.

Like at Warner you get to wander down streets lined with building facades resembling New York, Europe you name it. On this particular day, the first stop was the set of "Entertainment Tonight," which tapes daily at Paramount. Next up was the set for Bob Newhart's new series, "Bob." Producers, writers and others were bustling around the set, although no taping was scheduled this day. Newhart, however, was on hand. The tour continued with a look at the Scoring Stage, where orchestras record movie soundtracks, and the Foley Stage, where sound effects are created.

A visit to the prop department somewhat resembled a trip to an antique store. On this day, props for By Mike Stephens Gannett News Service Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to be a tourist to take in the magic of Hollywood. Yep, even cynical locals can get a kick out of an inside look at the workings of Tinseltown but you have to know where to look. A trip to Universal Studios? Well, uh no, not quite. You and two bazillion other people tromping through a variety of theme park rides isn't quite the ticket at least for those dedicated to really discovering the hidden Hollywood.

Instead, try the other studio tours in Southern California that offer a very different look at the nuts and bolts of movie and TV production. They're not flashy and they're not glittery. They're also not well-publicized and most of them seem to want to keep it that way. On at least one such tour the Warner Bros. VIP Tour smaller is better.

Tour size is limited and advance reservations are required. Tour groups are very small, which means the guide often can squeeze visitors into places and situations you'd never be able to see at the Universal Studios Tour. That's just one example. Here's a look at when, where and how to take one of Hollywood's lesser-known public tours and the type of things you'll likely see. Warner Bros.

VIP Tour "Every day is different because we don't use routes," says Dick Mason, who conceived the tour and serves as its director. "It changes all the time." It also changes hour to hour. For example, on one recent weekday there were just 14 guests. After a short talk from Mason on the history of the studio and its back lot, the group was split into two and each NEW SUMMER PRICES Affordable Airfares to gH If KS-CDAHICI IDTI5S3 Departures out of Minneapolis The long-running NBC Studio Tour in Burbank resumed last year (it had been discontinued at the height of the Gulf War). This tour takes visitors on a behind-the-scenes look at NBC's premier West Coast facility, where several game shows, talk shows and other productions are based.

The facility is home to the network's flagship late-night program, "The Tonight Show." On the walking tour, guests visit several sets, including the set for "The Tonight Show." Tours leave intermittently between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Ticket prices are $6 adults, $3.75 children. It's often possible to pick up free audience tickets so you can catch a TV taping after your tour. Tickets are available beginning at 8 a.m.

each day on a first-come, first-served basis, with tickets to "The Tonight Show" being the most popular (and hardest to get). The schedule varies depending on the day. The NBC complex is at 3000 W. Alameda at the corner of Olive Avenue. It's two blocks east of Warner Bros.

Studios. Call 1-818-840-3537. KCET 28 Studio Tour KCET, one of the country's flag- 209 Las Vegas $189 Alaska 439 MALL OF AMERICA April 24th 25th Overnight Trip Seats Stif Available Cat! for Details 'SomeRestrictlons Apply Direct flights from from "I MinneapolisSt. Paul dj 4k 1 Departs June 6 or 13 ftLU Restriction Apply iW Jm SSSKK" BOOK EARLY! ly OPEN: oPHrt62Ah. Wftl! PLAZA Mall 1 330 3rd St WAUSAU, Wl 715-845-7327 54401 1 umxm TRAVKI.SKRVHT.

INT. 300 Knox St Wausau 675-6799 1-800-242-2305 half took off for a rolling tour via golf cart (some days involve more walk ing, Mason says). 381750367 Heart' of Europe By Image Tours AJully-escorted 15-day tow of Holland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France Belgium. AAn)uiidflie Corner or Around Driving through the back lot, the facades of buildings look eerily famil iar, in a generic sort of way. On the zNOhi Hi a.

IRE TR4 Gets You $2314 4 departures per week AG! left, New York City. On the right, a quiet cul-de-sac in a neighborhood from Anytown, U.S.A. The guide explains the technical aspects behind creating the faux buildings and he tells which sets were used for which movies or TV series (the mental bells from Apr. 27 thru Dec. 04, 1 993 Mon.

tkra Fri. 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., Sot. a.m. I p.m. 355-5775 Summer price Spring Fall prices are lower.

start ringing at this point). Includes air fare from Wausau, all transportation in Europe, sightseeing, hotels and 26 meals. For information please call Emhage Travel Tours at 1800968-9089. The real treat this day, however, Htkhtu fllraiif Serhtte was a firsthand look inside the sound stage where the NBC-TV series "Rea A urnnii UADCUCICI UfAIICAll WAUSAU sonable Doubts is shot. 536-9491 384-5508 800-982-9682 848-2924 800-448-2079 The guide checks with the director, then got an OK to take the group of Do you want to enjoy the scenery when traveling? seven inside to watch rehearsals.

Spectators watched quietly from only Spirit Travel and Adventure, Inc. 1310 4th St Tomahawk, WI 54487 1-800-932-3111 jT TryAmtrak about 10 feet away as stars Mark Harmon and Marlee Matlin ran over Sl Special Connections From Wausau their lines in preparation for a scene, Rates Vary Make Your Reservations Early The Warner Bros. VIP Tour costs some Hestrictions Apply 4 HALL OF AMERICA -this week, at Universal parks on both coasts. The dinostar, the latest rage among preschoolers, hit Universal Studios Florida on Saturday in the "Barney Street Celebration." The daily musical street show, three times a day on the park's Hollywood Boulevard, features Barney, companion Baby Bop and a group of child performers singing and dancing. Universal Studios Hollywood gets "Barney on Parade," also began Saturday.

The procession, four times daily, includes Barney, his friends, floats and the Barney Marching Band. Both shows end April 18, but the parks say Barney will very likely return. Euro Disney: Speaking of theme parks, Euro Disney, the new Disney park near Paris, apparently found favor with quite a few of the French and others, drawing 10 million visitors in its first year. Still, that's below the park's 11 million target, and will result in a financial loss this year. This summer, the park will open six new attractions, including a loop-de-loop roller coaster and Dutch windmill Ferris wheel.

During the summer, prices will jump from 225 francs ($40.60) to 250 francs However, in the off-season, November to February, prices will drop to 175 francs Travel guides: Now travelers who rely on Consumer Reports Travel Letter's advice and observations in the United States can turn to a similar group, the Association of Consumer Research, for thorough critiques of "The Best Hotels of Great Britain" (Globe Pequot Press, Unlike many guides, it's independently researched: No freebies for the writers and no blurbs written by hoteliers. The companion volume, "The Best Restaurants of Great Britain," (also is done Zagat-style with readers sending in descriptions and ratings. Safety seats: Should airlines require safety seats for kids weighing less than 40 pounds? Government agencies are disagreeing once more. After a Jan. 5 incident in which two children were tossed from their parents' arms during turbulence, the National Transportation Safety Board has renewed efforts to require restraints.

Last October, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a new regulation that airlines must allow parents to use safety seats but seats are not mandatory. Carl Vogt, NTSB chairman, calls this "unacceptable" and asks that the rules be reconsidered. ON THE GO Spinach festival: Alma, April 16 and 17: Celebrate spinach during two days of fun including an arts and crafts show, an antique car parade, a carnival, music, square dancing and more. Call 1-501-632-4127. Seafood festival: Mount Pleasant, S.C., April 25: This seaside community pays tribute to seafood with a food fair, arts and crafts and local entertainment.

Call 1-803-884-2528. MUSiC est: Port Arthur, Texas, April 24 and 25: Celebrate the music and ethnic heritage of Southeast Texas with two days of fun at Pleasure Island and Logan Music Park. Events include arts and crafts fair, a bike race, children's area, ethnic food and more. Renaissance fest: Fairburn, April 24 to June 13 (weekends): Mingle with hundreds of Renaissance performers and merrymakers ranging from minstrels, magicians, kissing wenches and jesters during this annual event. Also plenty of food, dancing and more.

Call 1-404-964-8575. Southwest fest: Cape Coral, April 25: Entertaining for the entire family, this festival has a Western theme with overtones of jazz that includes a taste fair, live bands, game booths, a Western saloon, arts and crafts, belly dancers and doggers. Call 1-813-574-0801. Gannett News Service SUPER BARGAIN Philadelphia exhibit probes Mars frontier SHOPPING AND THEATER TRIP APRIL 24-25, 1993 We will depart Wausau at 8:45 on Saturday and leave from Minneapolis at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.

COST PER PERSON: -Double: $1 1 4.00 -Triple: $1 04.00 -Quad: $1 00.00 -Single: $1 45.00 By Phil Milford Gannett News Service Mars the planet most similar to 915 S. Superior St. Antigo, WI 54409 CUTLASS MOTOR LODGE Advance reservations required. Not valid with other discounts or coupons. Milwaukee Ballet and Orchestra in a benefit performance for Tlte Dance Company Earth is the subject of a new show at the Franklin Institute's Fels Planetarium in Philadelphia, The show explores the options scientists have to investigate Mars, the time it will take to get there and what astronauts might find when they arrive.

Looking at Mars as "The Next Frontier," the show examines the possibility of launching a Mars mission from Space Station Freedom, when it's built; or setting up a moon base as a first step in reaching Mars. Some scientists believe the vast amounts of money needed would be better spent sending robotic spacecraft to the Red Planet. But others think manned missions will yield better data, including information about mineral distribution, availability of water and possible life forms. Visitors also will learn how astronauts plan to set up a self-sustaining colony on Mars. And part of the show involves a manned mission scenario in the year 2008, using the planetarium's new, computerized Digistar pro wan Special Summer Starring-Peter Schetter Mireille Favarel y.

Fares to Europe. Minneapolis Frankfurt from $649 Chicago Frkfurt $599 Chicago London $599 For stays of three weeks or less. Add $34 for taxes. Leave Sundays Return Mondays. Safe ends April 16 so book now.

Fares subject ot change uithout notice. jection system Mars is the fourth planet from the sun, after Earth. It is a mean 141 million miles from the sun and comes as close as 34 million miles to Earth. While the red sandy landscape on y- rC. "The stroneest dollar since 1986 Mars looks like Earth's deserts, the climate is much more hostile, according to reference works.

Temperatures range from a high of 81 degrees Fahrenheit to a low of almost 200 degrees below zero. translates into less expensive hotel rooms and restaurant meals for American's planning European vacations this summer." Business Week March 29, 1 993. No One Oversees You Overseas Like MarathonTravel Shops, Or cJ td-free l-800-AW-NCW i linages. 1 Fels Planetarium's Mars show The Franklin Institute Science Museum, 20th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia Tickets: $6, adults; $5 children and senior citizens. Times vary, seven days a week.

For more information: Call MARATHON TRAVEL SHOPS WuisauSSt.) 845-7201 Wausau (Stewart Ac) 848-2971 Stevens Point 344-3040 W'is. Rapids 424-1520 Ointonville 823-5902 CWA 693-6655 University Travel 345-1776 Marshfield 387-3727 Wautoma 787-7113 Open SaturrJav am to noon. May 13 14, 1993 7:30 pm Weidner Center for the Performing Arts Green Bay, Wisconsin 1-800-328-8587 Tickets Currently Available This tour proudly presented by EMPLOYERS HEALTH I INSURANCE wic LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION A USTravtl Affiliate 217 Scott Street Wausau, WI 54401.