Providencia Ranch facts for kids
Providencia Ranch was a large piece of land in California, USA. It was part of the Providencia Land and Water Development Company property. This ranch became famous because it was used as a filming location for many early movies. For example, battle scenes for the movie The Birth of a Nation (1915) were filmed here. In 1914, Universal Studios also used parts of this land for their movie-making operations on the West Coast.
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Universal Studios' Early Ranch (1912-1914)
This filming spot had many names, like Providencia Flats, Nestor Ranch, Oak Ranch, and Universal's Old Ranch. It was different from the main Universal City site in Lankershim.
In 1912, Universal Film Manufacturing Company took over the movie-making business of Nestor Studios. This included a studio in Hollywood and ranch land in the San Fernando Valley. The Nestor Ranch was on the Providencia Land and Water Development Company's land. It was located east of the river, near Cahuenga Peak. The land they leased was about 1,299 acres.
Filming areas were set up on the 'Oak Crest Ranch' part of the property. They started making western movies at the old Nestor Ranch site in 1912. On December 6, 1912, a small opening event was held at the Oak Crest property. The public was invited to visit the ranch and watch a fake battle between Bison Pictures cowboys and Native Americans.
Carl Laemmle, who started Universal, thought the Oak Crest site was too small. He wanted a bigger place to bring all of Universal's West Coast operations together. So, he decided to buy a much larger property from the Lankershim Land, Water Development Co. This new Lankershim site included several pieces of land, like the Taylor Ranch.
Universal began moving things in 1914. They moved several small buildings from the Sunset Gower Studios and the Oak Crest Ranch.
The movie sets at the Providencia Ranch were taken down, and the site was left empty in 1914. However, Universal bought it back in 1915.
After the new Universal City opened officially in Lankershim in 1915, the Providencia ranch (Oak Crest) became known simply as the Universal Ranch.
The Lankershim property had three main parts. One part was called the Universal Back Ranch. It had the Universal City Zoo, a cafe, a place for horses, and a movie stage.
The Taylor Ranch was next to Lankershim Boulevard. A stream divided it. The studio's front lot was on one side, and the backlot was on the east side of the stream. You can see old photos of the Providencia Ranch land, titled "A Birds Eye View of Universal City," in the Los Angeles Image Archives.
Universal still owned this property in March 1917.
Since the 1950s, this area has been home to Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
The Birth of a Nation Filming (1915)
The Providencia Land and Water Development Company property was used for the big battle scenes in the famous movie The Birth of a Nation. The movie's cameraman, Billy Bitzer, even drew a map by hand to show where these battle scenes were filmed.
Lasky Ranch (1918)
In 1918, the Famous Players - Lasky Corporation bought the old Universal Ranch. This was a 1,000-acre piece of land very close to Hollywood. It was said to cost $1,000,000. They planned to use this land for permanent movie sets. The first movie filmed there was a new version of The Squaw Man, directed by Cecil B. DeMille.
Paramount Ranch
The Los Angeles Times announced on November 20, 1927, that a 1,000-acre ranch was being left empty. This was likely referring to the Paramount Ranch, another large filming location.
