"It doesn't look like it."

Does anyone have any idea why they had that goofy looking toy shark in Fade In To Murder instead of the actual Jaws attraction at Universal Studios?

I've always wondered what was going on there. If they just wanted a gag involving Jaws why not the real deal? Maybe the Jaws attraction had teething problems and that was they joke? Maybe there was a rip off of the Jaws ride and that is what they are satirising here, since it's not established that they are on the Universal studio lot.

If they were using Columbo to promote the Jaws attraction then you'd think they'd show it in a good light.

Any clues?

I think back then that was what Universal had. The movie had better effects but the Studio Tour used what you saw in the episode. It wasn't bad for its time.

Yes that was the real JAWS shark at the time.

This scene also has a very famous GOOF pointed out on this website's GOOFS section.

The Chalk circle is already on the back of Columbo's raincoat, yet it wasn't drawn on until later, when he's showing how a bullet hole would rise if your hands were up.