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Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

#1
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6/1/08 at 12:48pm
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Fire burns at Universal Studios

Contents of the studio's video-library vault were damaged, but the vault contained only digital copies of more than 40,000 film and TV titles. No negatives or film masters were affected.

Guess this means they have start from scrach making masters

Fire rages at Universal Studios - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety

The studio's film vault, which is lined in concrete and lead and contains irreplaceable film negatives, was not affected.
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#2
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6/1/08 at 12:55pm
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

What does this mean for stuff that originated on videotape, or stuff that was shot on film but edited on tape? Gone for good? I hope not.

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#3
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6/1/08 at 1:03pm
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

I can still see the smoke as I write this, a terrible fire. Thankfully no one was hurt and according to the Uni spokesperson on the local news nothing that was lost in the video vault was "irreplaceable."
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#4
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6/1/08 at 2:28pm
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

They said there are duplicates of the movies and films at a different location, so it appears nothing was lost "for good."

Jack
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#5
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6/1/08 at 3:52pm
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

Quote:
Contents of the studio's video-library vault were damaged, but the vault contained only digital copies of more than 40,000 film and TV titles. No negatives or film masters were affected.
DAVE/Memphis, TN

...Want to see your favorite show on DVD?
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#6
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6/1/08 at 4:37pm
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

just another excuse why they move so slow putting out Universal titles on DVD.

glad that nobody was killed after seeing the shot of the soundstage roof collapsing.

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#7
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6/1/08 at 4:45pm
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

It's good that no one was killed.

Regarding the lost tapes, they might have to remaster their stuff just to have a video master. Then maybe something good can come out of this catastrophe.

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#8
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6/1/08 at 5:25pm
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

ICAM, Matthew- maybe they'll actually find some titles worth releasing!
Bring "The continuing story of PEYTON PLACE" home on DVD: the one that started it all- from Dallas and Dynasty to Desperate Housewives and Gossip Girl!!! Starting this May, see the legendary saga starring Mia Farrow, Ryan O'Neal, Barbara Parkins, and Oscar-winner Dorothy Malone on DVD thru Shout!...
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#9
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6/1/08 at 5:55pm
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

Yuk it up, guys, but if the "Adam-12" and "Ironside" masters Shout was gonna source for upcoming DVD releases were in that vault, or the "Night Gallery" S2 masters that may or may not be on the slate for Halloween, or the "Laredo" and "Laramie" that Timeless is tapping into, this could hurt.
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#10
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6/1/08 at 6:27pm
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen Bowie
Yuk it up, guys, but if the "Adam-12" and "Ironside" masters Shout was gonna source for upcoming DVD releases were in that vault, or the "Night Gallery" S2 masters that may or may not be on the slate for Halloween, or the "Laredo" and "Laramie" that Timeless is tapping into, this could hurt.

Thats what insurance is for. The master film prints are safe. So insurance will buy Universal new digital copies.
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#11
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6/1/08 at 7:25pm
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

Quote:
Originally Posted by RickER
Thats what insurance is for. The master film prints are safe. So insurance will buy Universal new digital copies.

I don't think it's that simple. I and a friend were talking about the fire earlier this evening and came to exactly the same fearful conclusion that Stephen did. We can't assume Universal would go to the trouble of remastering those older shows again, even if Shout or Timeless wanted them. I'm not going to rest easy until I hear that none of the shows Stephen mentioned, as well as others, are safe.

Gary "very insightful comments, Stephen" O.
"Do not challenge supernatural unless armed with sword of truth"
                                             ...CHARLIE CHAN ON TREASURE ISLAND

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#12
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6/1/08 at 8:01pm
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

One hopes that there are clones of every tape master stored in a separate facility (there are certainly much smaller film companies than Uni that take that basic precaution) ... but even if that's the case, you have to imagine that retrieving the backup copies of 40 year old TV shows so that a third-party licensee can make its release dates is probably about 11,000th on their priority list right now.
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#13
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6/1/08 at 8:15pm
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

From Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily.com

Quote:
UPDATE: Uni Blaze Burns Musical History

It looks like more was damaged or destroyed in today’s Universal Studios fire than anyone previously thought. I've learned that Universal Music, which is a completely separate company and owned by Vivendi (which owns 20% of NBC Universal), rents space in the huge video vault housed on the studio lot. But one source tells me that, as a consequence, inside the video vault that was billowing thick black smoke were 1000's of original Decca, MCA, ABC recording masters from the last century including a wide range of music from Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters to Judy Garland and The Carpenters. "This is a tremendous loss in music history. A very sad day indeed. It's too bad they saved the videos that they have backups on instead of the master recordings in which they do not, although they may not have had a choice since the fire had already engulfed much of the music side of the vault," a source just told me. Universal Studios can't confirm what has been damaged or destroyed music-wise at this point because it doesn't yet know what exactly was housed in the storage rented to Universal Music.

Regards,
Brian W. Ralston

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#14
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6/1/08 at 9:00pm
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian W. Ralston
From Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily.com

Uni Blaze Burns Musical History

It looks like more was damaged or destroyed in today’s Universal Studios fire than anyone previously thought. I've learned that Universal Music, which is a completely separate company and owned by Vivendi (which owns 20% of NBC Universal), rents space in the huge video vault housed on the studio lot. But one source tells me that, as a consequence, inside the video vault that was billowing thick black smoke were 1000's of original Decca, MCA, ABC recording masters from the last century including a wide range of music from Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters to Judy Garland and The Carpenters. "This is a tremendous loss in music history. A very sad day indeed. It's too bad they saved the videos that they have backups on instead of the master recordings in which they do not, although they may not have had a choice since the fire had already engulfed much of the music side of the vault," a source just told me. Universal Studios can't confirm what has been damaged or destroyed music-wise at this point because it doesn't yet know what exactly was housed in the storage rented to Universal Music.

THAT TOTALLY SUCKS!
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#15
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6/1/08 at 9:14pm
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary OS
I don't think it's that simple. I and a friend were talking about the fire earlier this evening and came to exactly the same fearful conclusion that Stephen did. We can't assume Universal would go to the trouble of remastering those older shows again, even if Shout or Timeless wanted them. I'm not going to rest easy until I hear that none of the shows Stephen mentioned, as well as others, are safe.

Gary "very insightful comments, Stephen" O.

Same here
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#16
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6/1/08 at 10:15pm
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

Totally sucks is putting it mildly. Think of what could be lost if they were not backed up, including the legendary Motown back catalog. All I can think of is the fire in the 1970s that wiped out a lot of Atlantic Records masters. The amount of stuff that is likely to be gone is much greater.

Is it overstating it to think this could be pop music's answer to the Alexandria library fire?

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#17
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6/1/08 at 10:38pm
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

In photos I've seen firefighters carrying out DigiBeta tapes, single-reel film cans and multiple-reel film cans (the kind that are used to deliver films to theaters).

-Jay

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#18
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6/1/08 at 10:48pm
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

Quote:
Originally Posted by MatthewA
Totally sucks is putting it mildly. Think of what could be lost if they were not backed up, including the legendary Motown back catalog. All I can think of is the fire in the 1970s that wiped out a lot of Atlantic Records masters. The amount of stuff that is likely to be gone is much greater.

Is it overstating it to think this could be pop music's answer to the Alexandria library fire?


Motown is stored in New Jersey as are the Polydor labels that are part of Universal music, like Mercury. What I'm hearing was destroyed was Decca, Dot, Kapp, ABC, Dunhill, Uni, A&M and many of the other Universal owned labels. And unlike film/video, they don't have backup master tapes.
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#19
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6/1/08 at 10:56pm
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hank Dearborn
Motown is stored in New Jersey as are the Polydor labels that are part of Universal music, like Mercury. What I'm hearing was destroyed was Decca, Dot, Kapp, ABC, Dunhill, Uni and many of the other Universal owned labels. And unlike film/video, they don't have backup master tapes.

I didn't know that about the Polydor labels. It's still distressing, and when I think of the absence of backups, all I want to do is shout "YOU FOOLS!"

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#20
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6/2/08 at 12:35am
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

I can't beleive that Vivendi didn't have back-ups on the audio masters - it's like the only thing they really kept after selling most of MCA/Universal to NBC/GE!

Hopefully Richard Carpenter and Herb Albert have back-up master tapes on all their A&M Material in their personal collections.
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#21
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6/2/08 at 1:47am
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

Isn't there a way to store such important material in fire-proof vaults ?
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#22
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6/2/08 at 7:27am
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

Quote:
Originally Posted by DeWilson
I can't beleive that Vivendi didn't have back-ups on the audio masters - it's like the only thing they really kept after selling most of MCA/Universal to NBC/GE!

Hopefully Richard Carpenter and Herb Albert have back-up master tapes on all their A&M Material in their personal collections.


The big, major acts are probably looked after with backups elsewhere and in other countries. What is going to be lost forever are the many smaller, less popular artists whose material may not have been released overseas. I'm currently working on a CD release for one such act and I fear their masters may be gone for good, including several unreleased songs.
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#23
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6/2/08 at 8:01am
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

How do we even know if this is true? Let's wait for the smoke to clear (literally and figuratively), and then the damages can be accessed. BTW, all the TV reports make NO MENTION of any audio material damages.

Another thing- why would Universal store so much audio/video material so close to the rides and the soundstages? Logically the vaults should be far away from those areas. Tsk, tsk, tsk!
Bring "The continuing story of PEYTON PLACE" home on DVD: the one that started it all- from Dallas and Dynasty to Desperate Housewives and Gossip Girl!!! Starting this May, see the legendary saga starring Mia Farrow, Ryan O'Neal, Barbara Parkins, and Oscar-winner Dorothy Malone on DVD thru Shout!...
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#24
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6/2/08 at 8:24am
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Rain
Isn't there a way to store such important material in fire-proof vaults ?


Why yes!

Underground Vaults & Storage - Secure Storage

Bring back John Doe! Or at least resolve the cliff-hanger with a 2hr movie or as an extra on a dvd release.

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#25
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6/2/08 at 9:02am
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles Ellis
How do we even know if this is true? Let's wait for the smoke to clear (literally and figuratively), and then the damages can be accessed. BTW, all the TV reports make NO MENTION of any audio material damages.

Another thing- why would Universal store so much audio/video material so close to the rides and the soundstages? Logically the vaults should be far away from those areas. Tsk, tsk, tsk!

beancounters see a warehouse is a warehouse. They want to squeeze as much stuff into a space and save a dime so the bosses can get their million dollar bonuses. A building with this much valuable content shouldn't be stuffed next to theme park rides and active locations.

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#26
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6/2/08 at 9:16am
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

Quote:
Originally Posted by DeWilson
I can't beleive that Vivendi didn't have back-ups on the audio masters - it's like the only thing they really kept after selling most of MCA/Universal to NBC/GE!

Hopefully Richard Carpenter and Herb Albert have back-up master tapes on all their A&M Material in their personal collections.

Richard Carpenter saved everything; I know him personally and keep in mind that he's digitally remastered his catalog in the past few years. The biggest loss from this fire is--to my mind--the Clock Tower set from "Back to the Future." I just keep thinking of that old lady from the first movie shouting "SAVE THE CLOCK TOWER!" ...for all the good it did her...
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/...74#post2754974
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#27
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6/2/08 at 9:28am
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ethan Riley
The biggest loss from this fire is--to my mind--the Clock Tower set from "Back to the Future." I just keep thinking of that old lady from the first movie shouting "SAVE THE CLOCK TOWER!" ...for all the good it did her...

That's among the least of the potential losses, being made of plywood, brick and mortar which can be rebuilt in a matter of weeks. But none of the artists from Al Jolson to Buddy Holly have any plans to return from the grave anytime soon to re-record any unreleased tracks that may have been stored there.
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#28
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6/2/08 at 9:35am
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

Interesting sidenote . . . . Universal Studios has its own fire station, Station 51, named after the fire station in the 1970s series Emergency! which Universal produced.

the studiotour.com - Stage 12 - Universal Studios Hollywood

From Uni's own site:

the studiotour.com - 2008 Fire
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#29
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6/2/08 at 9:48am
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

reports are now that UMG had moved their Masters from that vault so that nothing was lost. Hits magazine has posted:

MASTERS NOT DESTROYED BY UNIVERSAL FIRE: Reports that this weekend’s fire on the Universal Studios back lot destroyed a video vault which housed thousands of original Decca, MCA and ABC recording masters, including a wide range of music from Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters to Judy Garland and the Carpenters, are unfounded. A UMG spokesperson insists: "Thankfully, there was little lost from UMG's vault. A majority of what was formerly stored there was moved earlier this year to our other facilities. Of the small amount that was still there and waiting to be moved, it had already been digitized so the music will still be around for many years to come. And in addition to being digitized, physical back-up copies of what was still left at that location were made and stored elsewhere." (6/2a)

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#30
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6/2/08 at 10:18am
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Re: Fire at Universal Damages Video Vault!

WHEW! Saved by the bell! A few more months in that place and so many audio masters would've been lost!
Bring "The continuing story of PEYTON PLACE" home on DVD: the one that started it all- from Dallas and Dynasty to Desperate Housewives and Gossip Girl!!! Starting this May, see the legendary saga starring Mia Farrow, Ryan O'Neal, Barbara Parkins, and Oscar-winner Dorothy Malone on DVD thru Shout!...
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