Providencia Ranch - Universal City (1913 - 1914)

1914)

Carl Laemmle, founder of Universal, saw the Oak Crest site as too small to consolidate all the west coast operations. He ordered the purchase of larger property from the Lankershism Land, Water Development Co. The Lankershism site contained several tracts of land, including Taylor Ranch. Consolidation began in 1914, with the relocation of several small buildings from the Sunset Gower Studios (former Blondeau Tavern) studio and Oak Crest Ranch property. The three sections of the Lankershism property were referred to as the Universal Back Ranch and contained a zoo, cafe, horse corral and stage 2. The Taylor ranch bordering on Lankershism Blvd. was divided by a stream. The Taylor ranch contained the studio front lot and the backlot on the east side of the stream.

The photographs of the Providencia Ranch land can be seen in the a "A Birds Eye View of Universal City".

The alternate names of this filming site include Providencia flats; Nestor Ranch; Oak Ranch; Oak Crest Ranch; Universal Ranch/Universal City ; 1916 Lasky Ranch; and Paramount Ranch (until Nov. 1927). Today this area is Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).