'Strangest city in the world': The LA ZIP code with a population of 38

"It would be more than just soundstages - it would be a bona fide city with its own residents, its own flag, its own municipal services, its own mayor and its own zoo. Universal City would be so grand and impressive that it would draw tourists from Los Angeles and beyond to pay admission for a glimpse of movie magic. His detractors criticized the idea as fantasy, calling the project "Carl's folly," just as naysayers called Walt Disney's vision for a theme park "Walt's folly.""

"His detractors criticized the idea as fantasy, calling the project "Carl's folly," just as naysayers called Walt Disney's vision for a theme park "Walt's folly." But just like Disneyland, Laemmle's vision for Universal City came to life, complete with its own theme park; Universal Studios Hollywood has an annual attendance of nearly 10 million visitors. Today, the studio complex has its own ZIP code, 91608, and to this day, a population of 38."

"In 1912, Laemmle leased land just north of the Cahuenga Pass, a few miles outside of what was then Los Angeles's city limits. A German immigrant, he had opened movie theaters in Chicago, but the future of filmmaking was in California - and Laemmle was determined to make them in the biggest, splashiest way possible: by building a city totally dedicated to the film industry and letting the public in to see it."

Carl Laemmle acquired land north of the Cahuenga Pass in 1912 and envisioned a studio complex operating as a self-contained city devoted to filmmaking. The complex combined soundstages with municipal services, a mayor, a zoo, and public attractions intended to draw paying tourists. The project used large publicity stunts, celebrity 'mayors', and extensive promotion across decades while facing skepticism and mishaps. Universal Studios Hollywood evolved into a major tourist destination with nearly 10 million annual visitors, its own ZIP code 91608, and an official population of 38. Early investments included families such as the Cochrane brothers.

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