Universal Pictures was founded by a German immigrant, Carl Laemmle, who opened his first cinema in Chicago in 1906. In the early days, other studio chiefs laughed at Carl’s haphazard Universal City and nicknamed it “Laemmle’s Folly”. But the ambitious film pioneer would become responsible for creating the “star system”, rather than just using anonymous actors in films, and with 300 movie hands and actors however, he made hundreds of silent westerns in the San Fernando Valley. His city continued to grow, with entire faux streets that were open to the public so they could observe the magic of moviemaking…
When talking pictures came about in the 1920s, and “quiet on the set” became an absolute, the public was no longer welcome to roam around backstage. A year before Universal City finally re-opened again in 1964 to tourists, LIFE magazine took a tour through John Dominis’ lens. I almost wish these photographs were in colour but they’re fascinating none the less…
