Best Desmond Serial Ever Made! -- January 30, 2025

Universal Weekly, 10-January-1925

The Riddle Rider (great title) was a movie serial produced by Universal. William Desmond and Eileen Sedgwick starred and William Craft directed. 

The New Electric Light Studio at Universal City -- November 10, 2015

Moving Picture World, 27-November-1915

Universal was building a new indoor studio at Universal City.  Thomas A Edison laid the cornerstone. 

Open Your Shutters, You Screen Bugs -- May 26, 2015

Washington Times, 26-May-1915

"Open your shutters, you screen bugs, and let this breeze sweep through your attics.  We've got the film world by the hair.  We're going to make you eat, drink, dream and scream UNIVERSAL.  We'll make your eyes pop, your nerves tingle and minds dance whenever you see or hear the word."

In this ad, they stopped the weekly advice to take Santa Fe to Los Angeles, take a trolley to Universal City and "SEE HOW THE MOVIES ARE MADE." 

Side Whiskers as Art -- May 19, 2015

Francis Ford was the older brother of future director John Ford. He was a star and director at Universal. 

With expositions in both San Francisco and San Diego dedicated to the newly opened Panama Canal, and with tourism to Europe cut off, Universal hoped to attract visitors to its new studio, Universal City.  "If you are going to California this Spring, go to your favorite theatre first, see some Universal moving-pictures, then drop in at Universal city and

SEE HOW THE MOVIES ARE MADE

Universal City is a brief trolley ride from Los Angeles whichon the direct line of the Santa Fe Railroad." 

We've Every Kind of Animal From the Ookyzook to the Filmazee -- May 12, 2015

Washington Times, 12-May-1915

"We've got a menagerie at Universal City that makes Central Park Zoo look like a toy Noah's ark."

With expositions in both San Francisco and San Diego dedicated to the newly opened Panama Canal, and with tourism to Europe cut off, Universal hoped to attract visitors to its new studio, Universal City.  "It's only a few miles from Los Angeles.  Take the Santa Fe direct to Los Angeles, drive down to Universal City and See How The Movies are Made."

Pick 'em Out -- May 10, 2015

Washington Times, 05-May-1915

"You'll find in this list all of the top-notchers of the moving-picture world."  I can recognize Billie Ritchie.  He's the only one. 

With expositions in both San Francisco and San Diego dedicated to the newly opened Panama Canal, and with tourism to Europe cut off, Universal hoped to attract visitors to its new studio, Universal City.  "Take the SANTA FE to Los Angeles and thence by trolly to Universal City.  SEE HOW THE MOVIES ARE MADE."

D'Ye Wanta See Warren Kerrigan Work? -- April 28, 2015

Washington Times, 28-April-1915

"D'ye wanta see Warren Kerrigan work?  Come on out to Universal City, then, and see how he earns his dough." 

J Warren Kerrigan was a popular actor until he made an unfortunate comment about the draft during World War One. 

With expositions in both San Francisco and San Diego dedicated to the newly opened Panama Canal, and with tourism to Europe cut off, Universal hoped to attract visitors to its new studio, Universal City.

"Take the Santa Fe to Los Angeles.  Universal city is only a few minutes from there and you can See How the Movies are Made."

Blowing Up the Scenery -- April 21, 2015

Washington Times, 21-April-1915

"Some days we blow the scenery up.  Some days we smash locomotives and hold an earthquake."

With expositions in both San Francisco and San Diego dedicated to the newly opened Panama Canal, and with tourism to Europe cut off, Universal hoped to attract visitors to its new studio, Universal City. "It's only a few minutes from Los Angeles and Los Angeles is on the direct line of the Santa Fe." 

Eat a Piece of Mince Pie and Sleep on Your Back -- April 14, 2015

Washington Times, 14-April-1915

"Eat a Piece of Mince Pie and Sleep on Your Back -- and you'll dream of a city like Universal City -- out in California -- where the movies are made." 

The blonde-haired girl in the foreground is pretty creepy looking. 

With expositions in both San Francisco and San Diego dedicated to the newly opened Panama Canal, and with tourism to Europe cut off, Universal hoped to attract visitors to its new studio, Universal City.  "Take the Santa Fe to Los Angeles and a trolley from there.  See How the Movies are Made."
"Go to Los Angeles on the Santa Fe and run from there down to Universal City -- the only moving picture city in the world where theatrical insanity reaches its greatest height." 

Bob Leonard and Ella Hall Have Nearly Worn Themselves Out -- April 7, 2015

Washington Times, 07-April-1915

"Did you see the great battle at the mines?  Well, that was taken at Universal City, where most of Universal's great pictures are made."

Bob Leonard and Ella Hall starred in the Universal Serial The Master Key. 

With expositions in both San Francisco and San Diego dedicated to the newly opened Panama Canal, and with tourism to Europe cut off, Universal hoped to attract visitors to its new studio, Universal City.   "Take the Santa Fe direct to Los Angeles, get off there and run down to Universal City for a few minutes and See How the Movies are Made."

Motion Picture World, 19-December-1915

They Ain't No Place Like It Nowhere -- March 31, 2015

Washington Times, 31-March-1915

"Come on out to Universal City and see all these maniacs earning their salaries."

With expositions in both San Francisco and San Diego dedicated to the newly opened Panama Canal, and with tourism to Europe cut off, Universal hoped to attract visitors to its new studio, Universal City.  "Stop off if you are going to the San Francisco and San Diego expositions.  Take the SANTA FE to Los Angeles.  It's only a step from there.  See How the Movies Are Made." 

Mary, Mary, I'm all for You -- March 24, 2015

Washington Times, 24-March-1915

"This is a still of Mary Fuller.  Aw, what's a still?  Why, a still picture...This is a still of Our Mary -- Universal Mary -- Queen Mary -- Tomboy Mary and she's not married."  I guess this was meant to distinguish Mary Fuller from Mary Pickford. 

With expositions in both San Francisco and San Diego dedicated to the newly opened Panama Canal, and with tourism to Europe cut off, Universal hoped to attract visitors to its new studio, Universal City.  "Take the Santa Fe to Los Angeles and a trolley from there.  See How the Movies are Made."

Mary Fuller had appeared in many Edison films including the 1910 "Frankenstein."  She was the title character in "What Happened to Mary," which is often called the first movie serial.  Later she starred in the Edison series "The Active Life of Dolly of the Dailies."  By 1915, she had moved to Universal.  Her career ended a few years later. 

www.listal.com

Kick a Cripple and Get a Laugh -- March 17, 2015

Washington Times, 17-March-1915

"Any guy who can kick a cripple out of bed in a hospital and create spasms of mirth is some comedian.  That's real humor."  I'll bet. 

With expositions in both San Francisco and San Diego dedicated to the newly opened Panama Canal, and with tourism to Europe cut off, Universal hoped to attract visitors to its new studio, Universal City.  "Take the SANTA FE direct to Los Angeles.  Universal is only a few minutes from there Come out and See How the Movies are Made."

Billie Ritchie dressed in a tramp costume and wore a small moustache.  Ritchie claimed he was wearing the tramp costume two or three years before Charlie Chaplin was born in 1889, and that Chaplin was imitating his act.

Moving Picture World, November 11, 1916

See How the Movies Are Made -- March 10, 2015

Washington Times, 10-March-1915

"The Buildings at Universal City have different architectures on the four sides."  This ad talks about how that allows multiple companies to shoot films at the same time. 

With expositions in both San Francisco and San Diego dedicated to the newly opened Panama Canal, and with tourism to Europe cut off, Universal hoped to attract visitors to its new studio, Universal City.  "Universal City is only a trolley ride from Los Angeles and Los Angeles is on the direct line of the Santa Fe.  Go to you favorite theater, see some Universal pictures, then come out to Universal City and See How the Movies Are Made."
 

Come Out and See Cleo Madison Weep -- March 3, 2015

Washington Times, 03-March-1915

"If you're out in California this season, drop down to UNIVERSAL CITY and see Cleo Madison cry."  This ad claims that actress Cleo Madison held the movie record for length of time crying. 

With expositions in both San Francisco and San Diego dedicated to the newly opened Panama Canal, and with tourism to Europe cut off, Universal hoped to attract visitors to its new studio, Universal City.  Everyone was invited to "Come out and See How the Movies are Made." 

Cleo Madison was a popular actress who began directing her own movies in 1915. 

www.listal.com

Panoramic View of the New Universal City -- December 2, 2014

Motography, 26-December-1914

A panoramic view of the New Universal City.  Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version. 

Universal's old Los Angeles studio had burned earlier in the year: http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2014/05/after-recent-fire-may-6-2014.html

A detailed article about the building of the new studio:
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2014/11/building-universal-city-november-2-2014.html

Building Universal City -- November 2, 2014

Moving Picture World, 03-October-1914

Universal built a city for its new studio.  They got a lot of publicity from it:
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2014/09/universal-city-september-28-2014.html

Universal City -- September 28, 2014

Moving Picture World, 26-September-1914

In this six-page ad, Universal announced the building of its new studio, Universal City.  Be sure to click on the images to see larger versions. 

Universal's old Los Angeles studio had burned earlier in the year: http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2014/05/after-recent-fire-may-6-2014.html

"THE UNIVERSAL is now spending A MILLION DOLLARS in the construction of AN ENTIRE CITY -- a City large enough to hold a population of 15,000. A City to be devoted exlusively to the making of Motion Pictures."