THE DAY THEY TORE DOWN HORROR HISTORY

“The Opera ghost really existed. He was not, as long believed, a creature of the imagination...”

– Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera

Since today is the last day of the year, I am dedicating one more post to the 100th anniversary of Lon Chaney's legendary film, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, one of the greatest achievements of the silent film era.

Carl Laemmle and Gaston Leroux in Paris.

After visiting author Gaston Leroux in Paris, Carl Laemmle secured the rights to his novel. Upon his return to Hollywood he began the process of bringing the story to the screen. Laemmle spared no expense and ordered an authentic replica of the famed Paris Opera House, built as Stage 28 on the Universal lot.

During the building of the Opera House, edifices, statues and other decorations were constructed by a crew of eleven craftsmen. One of them was Charles Gemora, who just a few years earlier had stowed away on a ship in his native Philippines bound for the United States, disembarked in San Francisco and eventually settled in Hollywood. While sketching portraits outside the Universal lot, he was “discovered” and put to work as a sculptor on THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME and THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD. Similarly, he plied his talent assisting with the Opera House set design.

Construction of Stage 28 in 1924.

[Images source: thestudiotour.com]

Over the ensuing years, Stage 28 was used in many films, including DRACULA, BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, PSYCHO, THE BIRDS, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1943) and MAN OF A THOUSAND FACES (1957).

In 2014, Stage 28, the oldest set still standing in Hollywood, was demolished to make way for an expanded Nintendo attraction. Word was the building had been designated as a historical landmark, but a records search by Antonia Carlotta of the Universally Me YouTube channel and Laemmle family member came up empty.

Stage 28 before demolition.

[Images source: thestudiotour.com]

Universal assured concerned parties that the Paris Opera House edifices would be "carefully" removed and stored "safely" away to perhaps be used later as a feature for Universal Studios Florida. So far, the public has not been notified where these precious cinema artifacts are being held. One theory is that they are still somewhere on the Universal lot, but there has been no official confirmation.

So, we'll just have to wait that one out. I'm not holding my breath, though. In the meantime, one of the most famous sets in cinema history, including that of the Universal monsters has virtually disappeared. Chalk another one up to progress.

Antonia Carlotta/Universally Me Stage 28 episode (4:08):

LON CHANEY SHALL NOT DIE!