Founded as IMP in 1912, Universal Studios grew under the leadership of Irving Thalberg, producing classic silents from John Ford, Erich Von Stroheim, and Lon Chaney. The studio prospered in the Sound Era, with films like "All Quiet on The Western Front," "Showboat," and iconic monster franchises "Frankenstein" and "Dracula." The Leammle's loss of the studio was covered up through a merger with International Pictures in the 1940s. The 1950s introduced the star development program with Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis, and a star/studio profit-sharing policy starting with James Stewart. The studio's modern era began in the 1960s with MCA's takeover and the creative leadership of Lew Wasserman, partnering with filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock, Stephen Spielberg, and Clint Eastwood.
The Universal Story
Universal Pictures: A Century of Cinematic Excellence
