Rick Atkins - Among the Rugged Peaks: An Intimate Biography of Carla Laemmle

Some movie fans may ask, who is Carla Laemmle? Lets begin at the beginning. Nearly 100 years ago she was born Rebekah Isabelle Laemmle, the only daughter of Joseph and Carrie Belle Norton Laemmle, who were residents of Chicago, Illinois. It is this period of American history that sets her story apart from other film bios, for Rebekah Isabelle, or Carla as she became known, is the niece of the late movie mogul, Carl Laemmle, founder of Universal Pictures Corporation.

Carl Laemmle and his older brother, Joseph, were German immigrants who had successfully made good in America. However, as Joseph advanced in years, his brother, Carl, asked that he and his family relocate to California.

In January 1921, at the age of 11, young Carla with her parents and maternal grandmother, Emogene Isabelle Norton, made the big move from Chicago to Universal City, California, a fledgling six-year-old incorporated community on 230 acres of land in Lankershim Township, which is on the north side of the Hollywood Hills. Mr. Laemmle purchased it for $165.000.00. Universal City was dedicated solely to the making of motion pictures.

Carla had studied dance since the age of six and won notoriety in Chicago as a prodigious success. Upon arrival in California, she was enrolled in the Ernest Belcher School of Dance. At the age of 16, then known as Beth Laemmle, she was cast in a small part as the Prima Ballerina in the 1925 Universal production, The Phantom of the Opera starring Lon Chaney, the man of a thousand faces. Her greatest claim to fame was summed up this way:

Uncle Carls poor brother Joes little girl, Rebekah, Beth, Carla, has become the last surviving member of that illustrious branch of the Laemmle family and the mantle of celebrity has thereby fallen upon me!

Growing up at Universal was a life-changing experience for Miss Laemmle. She witnessed the filming of several of her uncles classic movie productions, many of which took place on the backlot. A small part in a 1931 Universal movie would earn Carla Laemmle a cult following. The movie was Dracula, which starred Bela Lugosi. Carla appears as one of the passengers in the opening scene, whose coach travels through the Carpathian Mountains. Carlas one line is now a classic bit of fanboy trivia, Among the rugged peaks that frown down upon the Borgo Pass, are found crumbling castles of a bygone age.

Carla remained with Universal Pictures until the studio was sold in 1936. Carla and her family moved from Universal in April 1937. She credits her Uncle Carl Laemmle for much in her life and shares her memories of him between these covers. Until 1949 Carla worked as a dancer in films for a variety of studios.

I have had the privilege of becoming Carla Laemmles official biographer since befriending her on her 87th birthday. We first began a written correspondence, thanks to Stanley Bergerman (son-in-law to Mr. Carl Laemmle), who suggested that I write to Carla. In fact, it was Stanley and his charming wife, Fay Bergerman, who arranged for the first of what became double birthday celebrations. Although I had an association with the Laemmle family for many years, I had never met Carla. Through correspondence we discovered our birthdays were one day apart, Carlas on October 20 and mine on October 21, although 49 years separates us.

The Sunday morning I met Miss Laemmle, I saw an extremely agile woman walking resolutely toward my car. Her years as a professional dancer had kept her spry and agile. As I opened the passenger door for Carla and she removed her sunglasses, I was quite taken by her beauty. She began directing the way to San Vincente Boulevard and before you know it, we had become so caught up in conversation that we realized we had missed our exit. In fact, we were lost several times over! Asking others for directions became routine before we ultimately found our destination.

The Bergermans were singing Happy Birthday to us when we finally made it into the banquet room at the Brentwood Country Club. We still laugh about that day. My very first autograph from Carla was inscribed with the following.

October 20, 1996 my birthday Dear Rick, Meeting you and enjoying this happy day with you was the most fun of all, especially getting lost! We must do it again. Love, Carla Laemmle.

Our written correspondence began mushrooming soon thereafter, week after week, month after month, and year after year. More visits and double-birthday celebrations continued to enhance our growing friendship. The most memorable time spent with Carla Laemmle was in the summer of 1999. We found ourselves boarding an airplane en route to Europe. Five months prior, Carla had invited me to be her guest in the Province of Baden Laupheim, Wrttemberg, Germany.

At the invitation of then-Mayor Otmar Schick, Carla and I spent nine unforgettable days in the homeland of the Laemmle family. We were houseguests of Dr. Udo Bayer, co-curator of the Laupheim Museum [SchloBGroBlaupheim Museum zur Geschichte von Christen & Juden] and his charming wife, Gabriele. It was Udo Bayer who suggested I write Carlas biography. In fact, Dr. Bayer encouraged me to write it. Having another manuscript in the works, I hesitated until it was completed. Finally, I phoned Carla and asked her if she would consider allowing me to write her story. Instead of an answer, Carlas question to me was, Why me? No one is going to know who I am? Then I explained Udo Bayer had suggested the idea. Carla said with a chuckle, Oh, I guess Udo thinks I am going to die soon! What do you really think about writing it Rick? I answered, Of course, I would love to write your story.