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Show II STUDIO IS SWEPT BK FIRE BACK RANCH" OF UNIVERSAL CITY ALMOST WIPED OUT BY FLAMES Loss Estimated at Many Thousands; Wild Animals Roar As Zoo Is Warmed Up By Intense In-tense Heat Los Angeles, Sweeping through the flimsy sets on the big "black ranch" of Universal City, the largest motion picture studio in the Hollywood Holly-wood district, flames early Friday destroyed stages, properties and equipment valued at more than $230,-000. $230,-000. Starting from nn unknown origin after midnight the fire had gained great headway before it was discovered. discover-ed. Barking of a dog in the zoo aroused arous-ed by the cracking and the light, awakened studio watchmen who Bounded a general alarm. Raging through the big 230x110 foot stage, the fire swept from existence sets for three serial and two future pictures upon which work was under way ; destroyed two $15,000 generators, gener-ators, scores of smaller lights and spread into the property room. One of the greatest items of loss was the destruction of hundreds of uniforms of Austrian guards, secured by Universal for the filming of "Merry-GocRound," which were loan-by loan-by the Austrian government under insurance by Lloyds. Spreading from the stage, the fire approaahed the well known Universal New England set, where many pictures pic-tures have been taken and burned "The Courthouse" to the ground. Other backgrounds nearby were also destroyed. The fire fighters centered their efforts ef-forts to prevent the flames from spreading to the oil room, containing hundreds of gallons of fuel oil and gasoline. Despite their efforts, the blaze reached the edge of the structure struc-ture but it did not ignite. The fight to save the oil room was made the more dramatic because ol the fact that adjoining it on the other side is located the studio zoo, containing twenty-four lions and fifty leopards, elephants, tigers and other animals which roared their -fright and attempted to break through their bars to freedom. Trainers mingled with the animals, attempting to pacify them and fearful of the consequences should they escape. |