Albert A. Dorskind Collection of Universal City Photographs: Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Diann Benti and Suzanne Oatey.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

Photo Archives

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2191

Email: reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Overview of the Collection

Title: Albert A. Dorskind Collection of Universal City Photographs

Dates (inclusive): approximately 1910s - 1994

Bulk dates: 1950s-1970s

Collection Number: photCL 240

Collector: Dorskind, Albert A.

Extent: 6 boxes and 1 oversize folder

Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Photo Archives

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2191

Email: reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Abstract: This collection chiefly contains studio-produced press photographs of the development of the Universal Pictures movie studio, MCA-Universal Studios, the Universal Studios Tour, and Universal City in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California, 1910s - 1990s.

Language: English.

Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Administrative Information

Publication Rights

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Albert A. Dorskind Collection of Universal City Photographs, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Gift of Albert A. Dorskind 1982, 1991, 1994.

Biographical Note

Albert A. Dorskind (1922-2004) was a former executive at MCA Inc. who created the modern Universal Studios Tour and guided the construction and growth of Universal City in Los Angeles, California.

Scope and Content

This collection chiefly contains studio-produced press photographs covering the development of Universal Pictures, MCA Inc. and Universal Studios, the Universal Studios Tour, and photographs and materials showing the development of Universal City, California in the late 1950s-1970s. These materials were acquired and collected by Albert A. Dorskind (1922-2004) during his tenure as an executive at MCA Inc. While many of the photographs depict locations and events of the 1910s-1960s, they are all 8x10-inch reproduction photographs most likely made in the 1970s-1990s. The images include views of early filmmaking, street sets and backlots, studio facilities and buildings, personnel, and photographs of architectural drawings.

The collection includes a portfolio of photographs of concept designs and models by William L. Pereira Associates for the MCA Sheraton Hotel No. 2 (later known as the Sheraton Premiere Hotel) in Universal City. When it was built in 1984, the hotel was considered among the most luxurious in Los Angeles, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times, July 11, 1986. There is also a bound book of photographs of Universal Studios backlot locations, and five VHS-format audiovisual cassette tapes of Universal Studios history and 80th Anniversary celebrations (1985; 1994).

Related materials in the Huntington Library

Albert A. Dorskind Papers (Call number: 605999)

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the following order:

Box 1: Photographs
Box 2: Universal City Studios location site book (Volume 1); loose photographs (duplicates)
Box 3: Ephemera; Photographs; Reports (Volumes 4-5)
Box 4: Loose photographs (chiefly duplicates)
Box 5: William L. Pereira Associates, MCA Sheraton Hotel No. 2, Universal City, California [presentation portfolio]
Box 6: VHS cassette tapes
Oversize folder

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.

Subjects

Dorskind, Albert A.

MCA Inc.

MCA Inc -- Photographs.

Universal Pictures (Firm) -- Photographs.

Universal City Studios -- Photographs.

Hotels –- California –- Universal City.

Motion picture industry -- California -- Universal City -- Photographs.

Motion picture industry -- United States -- History -- 20th century.

Motion picture studios -- California -- Universal City -- Photographs.

Tourism –- California –- Universal City.

Universal City (Calif.) -- Photographs.

Universal Studios Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.) -- Photographs.

Forms/Genres

Photographs.

Ephemera.

VHS.

Contributors

MCA Inc.

Universal Pictures (Firm)

William L. Pereira Associates-Planners-Architects-Engineers

Photographs, ephemera and bound portfolios

Box 1

Items 1-168

Items 1-72

Various views of Universal Pictures studios, backlots, filmmaking, and environs. 1916-1980s

All 8 x 10-inch black-and-white publicity photographs. All have the imprint: "© Universal Pictures" and a "UC-" photograph number written on the image. Includes images of Carl Laemmle, Lew Wasserman and other personnel, and scenes of the development of Universal City Plaza in 1964.

Items 73-93

Early views of Universal Studios studio personnel and various buildings on the lot [reproductions]. Bulk approximately 1910s

8 x 10-inch black-and-white publicity photographs chiefly made in the 1970s-1980s of early views. All have the imprint: "© Universal Pictures" and a "UC-" photograph number written on the image.

Items 94-105

Construction views of Universal Studios backlot. Approximately 1950s-1960s

Items 106-131

Various buildings in and around Universal Studios. 1960s-1970s

Item 106. Railway of Universal City Studios trolley
Items 107-118. Promotional color photographs of Victoria Station railroad themed restaurant. 1970s
Items 119-123. Architectural models and drawings
Items 124-128. Bank of America
Item 129. Lankershim Boulevard near Cahuenga Boulevard
Item 130. Sheraton-Universal building.
Item 131. Contact sheet of views of Universal City

Items 132-168

Aerial views of Universal City and Universal Studios, the freeways, and surrounding areas. Approximately 1950s-1960s

8 x 10-inch chiefly black-and-white publicity photographs with imprint: "© Universal Pictures" and a "UC-" photograph number written on the image. Items 151-168 are color photographs.

Box 2

Volumes 1-2

Volume 1

Universal City Studios : back lot and front lot location sites. Over 400 acres comprised of various streets, stages, office and recreational areas, lakes and open country photographed in progression from east to west end of lot. Approximately 1970s

Bound volume containing various views of location sites.

Volume 2

Early views of Universal Studios various buildings on the lot [reproductions]. Bulk approximately 1910s

Thirty-four 8 x 10-inch black-and-white publicity photographs of aerial views of buildings and grounds. Many duplicates of Items 21-40.

Box 3

Volumes 3-5 and Ephemera

Ephemera and brochures. 1968-1978

Includes "Universal City Plaza" promotional booklet with map, late 1970s; a 1978 Universal Studios Tour press kit, "Your Studio Tour Guide to Universal City California" pamphlet, 1966; two Universal Studios brochures, 1966 and 1968, and a brochure for the Sheraton-Universal Hotel, 1968.

Volume 3

Aerial and various views of Universal City and the surrounding area. Approximately 1954-1981

Previously a bound volume with additional photographs at end.

Volume 4

Universal City Recreation Development Report. 1957

Volume 5

Master Plan for Universal City Plaza - South Tower. 1960s

Contains aerial maps and photographic views of Bank of America and the MCA tower.

Box 4

Miscellaneous loose photographs (chiefly duplicating content in Box 1)

Approximately 150 8 x 10-inch black-and-white publicity photographs.

Box 5

William L. Pereira Associates, MCA Sheraton Hotel No. 2, Universal City, California. Approximately 1980

Scope and Content Note

Presentation portfolio for William L. Pereira Associates, MCA Sheraton Hotel No. 2, Universal City, California, containing 28 8 x 10-inch prints of models and architectural renderings and drawings of the hotel.

Box 6

VHS-format audiovisual cassette tapes: Universal City Tours 1985, 1994

Access Information

NOT AVAILABLE. Not available for paging until reformatted. Please contact Reader Services for more information.

Consists of five VHS audiovisual tapes:

Universal Studios. Universal City AV Presentation, 1985 June 26. Runtime: 11:45.
U.C.S. 80th Anniversary. "City of Stars." 1994 September 29. Runtime: 21:43 (2 copies)
U.C.S. 80th Anniversary. Behind the Scenes Studio Tour. 1994 October 3. Runtime: 10:54 (2 copies)

Oversize folder

Oversize images

Contains reproductions of three panoramic aerial images of Universal City and a photostat copy of the March 16, 1915, Los Angeles Daily Times article "Universal City Opens."