By R.L. Cultrona
History of Universal Studios in Hollywood
Universal Studios in Hollywood, California, is one of the oldest and most famous movie studios. Its rich history is ripe with the magic of film making.
Founding
Universal Studios was started in 1912 by a German immigrant, Carl Laemmle. By 1915 it had built a facility on the site of an old chicken farm. It made its foray into studio tours by charging tourists 25 cents to watch silent films being made.
Movie Monsters
In the 1930s Universal began to make movies about classic monsters. It began with "Frankenstein" and "Dracula" in 1931 and "The Wolf Man" in 1941.
1940s Through 1960s
The studio continued to produce classic movies after World War II. Films such as "The Birds," Sweet Charity" and "To Kill a Mockingbird" were all produced by Universal during this time. However, Universal struggled to procure talented directors and actors.
New Leaf
In 1969, Universal signed Steven Spielberg. Spielberg filmed such classics as "Jaws," "1941" and "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" at the studio, which finally put it on the map.
Tours
Universal brought back the studio tour in the mid-1950s and has continued to expand it to include new exhibits and attractions. Today, the tour features state-of-the-art LCD screens, on-board video cameras and DVD players.
Resources
About the Author:
R.L. Cultrona is a San Diego native and a graduate of San Diego State University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in theater, television and film with a minor in communications and political science. She began writing online instructional articles in June 2009.
Photo Credits:
http://www.clarionanaheim.com/images/apg_1164931767.jpg
