1915 Universal City Hollywood Movie Studio Brochure Carl Laemmle Silent Era

Date: 1915
Artist: Unknown     
Size (in): 28” x 9.25” (unfolded) 
Size (cm): 71 x 23.5
Condition: B
Linen backed: No

This is an original and scarce 1915 brochure promoting Carl Laemmle’s Universal City film studio complex as a tourist attraction in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California.   This brochure is a single piece with seven panels printed both sides that measures about 4” x 9.25” folded and folds open to about 28” x 9.25”.  This brochure has a 1915 copyright by the Universal Film Manufacturing Company and the text makes reference to the opening of Universal City on March 15, 1915.   The front cover panel reads in part: 

THE CRAZIEST CITY IN THE WORLD – Universal City California Near Los Angeles Where Universal Moving Pictures Are Made 

This brochure gives “…an interesting little history in five spasms” of a sort of whimsical account of how Carl Laemmle’s vision for Universal City came to be.   One panel of the brochure features a montage of photographic views of Universal City and the brochure touts “...you can see how Universal Movies are made at Universal City, California”.  

Carl Laemmle was a visionary and one of the most important of the early film industry pioneers.  Laemmle’s Universal Film Manufacturing Company was the first to give screen credit to actors thus greatly influencing the development of the “Star System” in Hollywood.  Laemmle was also the first to open his film production studios as a tourist attraction to further promote interest in the actors they hired and films they produced.   This brochure is undoubtedly the first ever produced to promote a movie studio as a tourist attraction.  

This antique original brochure is fully complete with moderate handling wear and some toning from age.  There are several inches of separation neatly along one of the fold lines but no missing paper and the brochure is otherwise well intact.  Overall condition is very good.   This is a rare item as a Worldcat search locates no copies and we trace none at auction.