1910
's
As the twentieth century began, so did the meteoric rise of the film industry, and moving pictures became a mass entertainment medium. Playing a key role was a German immigrant from Chicago (by way of Laupheim) named Carl Laemmle. Laemmle went on to found the Universal Film Manufacturing Company, a business that would evolve and eventually merge with NBC to become NBCUniversal.
1912
Carl Laemmle founds Universal
Carl Laemmle's Independent Moving Pictures Company merged with five other film companies to create the Universal Film Manufacturing Company, headed by Laemmle. For the first time, a single entity encompassed all facets of the movie industry: production, distribution, and exhibition.
1914
Film production begins for Universal
Film production begins on the iconic Universal City lot, and Damon and Pythias becomes the first film to be completed on a Universal lot.
1915
Universal City opens its gates
At its opening, Universal City was billed as "the only moving-picture city in the world."
1917
Noble Johnson signs with Universal
Noble Johnson is the first Black actor to sign a major studio contract with Universal. He went on to become a renowned film industry pioneer, with his beginnings at Universal chronicled through his employee time cards in the Universal Archive Collections.
