Little-known fact: Universal Studios has long celebrated March 15, 1915 — the opening day of Universal City — as the date when the company began. But Universal Film Mfg. Co. was organized three years earlier. March 15 represents the opening of the current studio site on Lankershim Boulevard, which is actually the second Universal City. The original was on the Oak Crest Ranch, where Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills is today, and was formally named Universal City on July 10, 1913. That's just a sample of the knowledge film historian Robert S. Birchard will share about Hollywood’s largest, longest-operating movie studio at his book signing of Early Universal City (Images of America Series) tonight at Hollywood Heritage Museum. It's your opportunity to ask about all the Universal classics: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923), All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), Dracula (1930), Inside Deep Throat (2005), Hot Fuzz (2007) and Hellboy II (2008). Hey, even megastudios gotta eat.

Thu., Jan. 14, 7:30 p.m., 2010

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