1915 Universal Film Mfg Co Studio Pass
I have recently acquired a vintage studio pass from Universal Film Mfg Co, signed by Isadore Bernstein and dated Jan 31, 1915. I have attempted to find items of similar pedigree online; however, I am having some difficultly finding a studio pass from this early in the company’s production history. I see some passes from much later going for decent money, and I wanted to know more about this.
About 2 inches from top to bottom, and 2.5 inches in length
Inherited
Yes
Hi Nick,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
Vintage or antique studio passes granted access to the famous backlots and productions and provide a fascinating glimpse both at the history of those studios as well as their dual role as working studio and theme park.
Later in the 20th Century, the look of Universal's film passes changed, incorporating different logos and typefaces.
Isadore Bernstein (1876-1944) worked for Carl Laemmle and the Universal company on the West Coast in the 1910s. He served as Universal’s West Coast studio manager / general manager and is identified in period photos of the grand opening of Universal City (1915) as the company’s general manager.
In researching possible comparable auction lots (excluding Ebay, Etsy [where sellers can list whatever prices they like regardless of true market value] and some retail websites), I've found a couple of auction results that can help establish some guideposts for what this might sell for at auction. Here's what I've found:
- In April 2024, Heritage Auctions sold for $625 two early 1930s studio passes to the Tarzan sets (one for Metro Goldwyn Mayer, the other to FBO studios) to "Edgar Rice Burroughs and party" (Burroughs being the creator of the Tarzan franchise). I suspect the value would not have been so high if this were not connected to Burroughs.
- in December 2020, Heritage Auctions sold for $504 a group of four Walt Disney productions passes dated from the 1940s-60s. All were issued to one individual, no unique productions were specified.
Considering these two sales, vintage passes suggest a ballpark range of about $125-$300 each, though the provenance to Burroughs inflates the value on the one record.
Given that this is earlier than either of those two mentioned lots, this would be worth MORE but because there isn't a connection to a particular production, that won't add (could even diminish interest).
Unless the name of EW Backert is relevant, in this case, an auction house with an entertainment memorabilia department would likely estimate this at between $150 and $250.
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia
