Universal City, California

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View of the city
View of the city

Universal City is the 415 acre (1.7 km²) property of Universal Studios in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles County, California. Approximately 70% is in an unincorporated area of the county surrounded by the City of Los Angeles, and the remaining area is in the city itself[1]. It continues to be home to Universal Studios. Located here are 10 Universal City Plaza (a 36-floor office building for Universal and NBC), the Sheraton Universal, the Universal Hilton, Universal Studios Hollywood (the theme park), Universal CityWalk (a shopping and entertainment center), Gibson Amphitheatre (host to concerts and other events), and Universal's studios, sets, and lots. A Metro Rail Red Line station that serves Universal City is located across the street from 10 Universal Plaza. A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department station is located at Universal CityWalk.

Universal City is unincorporated to avoid City of Los Angeles business taxes and regulations (the community has a building permit office on site [2], simplifying the building process).

Contents

[edit] History

Universal City (Lankershim Blvd) was officially opened by Carl Laemmle in 1915 on a 230 acre (0.9 km²) property that had been the Oak Crest Ranch.

[edit] History before 1915

[edit] Sources:

1. "The Life and Adventures of Carl Laemmle" By John Drinkwater [Chapter IX Universal City]

2. "UNIVERSAL CITY MOVES :[The Moving Picture World] Movie Making locations by Jerry L. Schneider

3. "Building Universal City" [October 3, 1914, The Moving Picture World] Movie Making locations by Jerry L. Schneider

4. "Oak Crest," two articles quoted [The Moving Picture World]Movie Making locations by Jerry L. Schneider

5. " Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)" wikipedia/Forest_Lawn_Hollywood_Hills

[edit] Universal City - 1912

  • In 1912, Carl Laemmle toured his Pacific coast operations. He renamed the Nestor Studio - "Universal Studios" - and the leased Nestor Ranch - Universal City. He also took control property in Encino.
  • Carl Laemmle thought the Providencia ranch area was too small for this his ideas of "Universal City". He ordered the purchase the Lankershism land Water Company property.

[edit] Lankershism Ranch and Water Company's

  • Subdivision of the east 12 000 Acres of the south one half of the Rancho Ex Mission of San Fernando
  • Purchased lots 276, 277, 278, also a small portion of Lot 279 marked Mary L. Carhart ( left side of the lankershim bridge)
  • Only 230 acres of northern part lot 278 became official studios front lot in 1915. The zoo and other stage were constructed on the nortern sections of Lot 277 and 278.
  • The mountain portions above 600 feet were not incorported into studio use until MCA Universals master plan to level the hills and create the Universal Studio Tour Center and City walk

[edit] Universal City Moves

  • Between 1914 and 1915 "Universal City" assets where moved to the lankershism Location.
  • [3] Movie Making locations by Jerry L. Schneider

[edit] Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) History Before - 1917

Early map of Burbank, California with Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills on the bottom left.
Early map of Burbank, California with Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills on the bottom left.

The Providencia Land and Water Development Company property was used as a location for some early motion pictures. In particular, it was used for the battle scenes in Birth of a Nation.

In 1912, Carl Laemmle (IMP) Universal Pictures took over the assets of Nestor Studios and named this area Universal City. The photograph of this area can be seen in Los Angeles Library archives: "A Birds Eye View of Universal City":

[edit] External links

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