The world film encyclopedia (1933)

386 Round the Studios the writing of whose biography was a task worthy of tne pen of John Drinkwater. The Universal studio is the largest in the world. It covers an area of two hundred and thirty acres on the site of the most celebrated battle of the Spanish-Mexican War. The studio was opened in 1915, and it holds the industry's record for productions. In 1919 no fewer than forty-two companies were at work in Universal City sim.ultaneously. In 1932 more than twenty-five fuU-length feature-films, five serials, and one hundred and fifty " shorts " were produced, and the studio budget for 1932 was nearly three and a half milhon pounds sterling. Universal City gives regular employment to one thousand workers. It has its own government post-office, as seems fitting and proper for a " city." There is a zoo, with elephants and lions, monkeys and tigers ; there is a poultry fann, with several thousands of chickens. There is large stabling, with many horses. At one time, when " westerns " were at the height of their popularity, Universal City's inhabitants included a number of cowboys. They were a permanent staff, known as the " Universal Ranch Riders." They still keep, on the lot, the largest permanent set in any studio — the huge cathedral replica originally built for The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It might be thought that to keep such a set standing for years is mere waste of space, but it should be noted that it has paid for itself many times over in rentals from other companies who have used it for subsequent productions. There is a recreation hall for employees. There is a golf course. There is a huge and noisy restaurant, the only one in any studio which is open to the public. Prior to 1915, Universal had been making pictures in a Uttle studio in Hollywood itself, situated where Gower Street joins Sunset Boulevard. That studio later became the home of Century Comedies until it was bmrnt down. Carl Laemmle foresaw the vast growth of the film industry. He foresaw the need of more room and so he moved to what was then a barren bit of desert. He was laughed at by those who considered his action a folly of waste, but 45,000 people came in special trains to see the new wonder ! Thomas Edison and Henry Ford motored down, that first summer, to dedicate the first artificially-Ut stage. . On the Universal roster of stars of those days you will find such names as Harry Csirey, Mae Murray, Mary MacLaren, IMonroe Salisbury, Marie Walcamp, EUa Hall, Fritzi Brunette, Herbert Rawhnson, and Dorothy Phillips ; Universal produced one of the first woman directors, Lois Weber. After the war Universal embarked on a series of super-productions. Erich von Stroheim proved the value of film spectacle with Blind Husbands ; and followed it up with Foolish Wives, the first film to be heralded as a " million-dollar picture," Lon Chancy became famous in a night as J' he Hunchback of Notre Dame. Hoot Gibson began to build up his reputation as a cowboy star. When talkies came, Universal City was plunged headlong into the new medium, and was re-equipped with every latest device and mechanism that the new medium demands. But Hollywood veterans sigh for the