Albert A. Dorskind

A movie executive at MCA, in 1957 Dorskind negotiated the purchase of the big "back lot" from Universal Studios. (MCA bought the rest of Universal in 1961.) Included on the 378 acres of movie sets was a commissary, which was losing $100,000 per year. Dorskind was trying to figure out how to stem the negative cash flow when, while at the Farmer's Market one weekend, he saw tour buses unloading people. He got an idea: buses could bring in tourists at $1 each to see the movie sets. They could then eat at the studio commissary, bringing it more business. The Universal Studios Tour was born, and it was such a quick success the studio spent $4 million in 1964 on expansions and renovations, making the site even more popular. It's now a major tourist attraction -- and the price has increased to $47. Dorskind also developed part of the property into "Universal City", which includes the company's headquarters building, hotels, a movie complex, and the popular "Universal CityWalk". Dorskind died November 28 from prostate cancer. He was 82. From This is True for 28 November 2004 Suggestions for further reading: To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Perennial Modern Classics) by Harper Lee Amazon Price: $10.87 Customer Review: Harper Lee's book is perhaphs one of the most moving, touching nd genuinley charming tales in literature. The central themes, prejudice, honor and bravery, could come off as moralistic or dry in the hands of someless skilled, but Lee delivers with p...   Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth's Last Days (Left Behind No. 1) by Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins Amazon Price: $10.19 Customer Review: This may be listed as a fiction, but it is a must read for anyone who reads and believes the Bible!   Fodor's Walt Disney World with Kids 2011: with Universal Orlando, SeaWorld & ... by Kim Wright Wiley Amazon Price: $12.91 Customer Review: This is a very useful book in an easy to read format. The author clearly knows her stuff, and her bio states that she has been to the Disney parks at least 50 times. This experience shows in the many nuggets of information peppered throughout the boo...   Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy of Horror by Michael Mallory Amazon Price: $26.40 Customer Review: So, in times when computers and massive special effects seem to dominate movie making, taking a glimpse back to the times when real artists made real works of art. If you like cinema this book is one "must". These artists built hollywood and you have...   Fodor's Walt Disney World® with Kids 2010: with Universal Orlando and SeaWor... by Kim Wright Wiley Amazon Price: $12.23 Customer Review: I found this book very easy and quick to read. I bought it. Lost it. found it. read it on the 3 hour plane ride. Had a game plan by the time the plane landed. Easy to read and jump to the parts that interest you. Thanks!   Newsfeed display by CaRP

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