A movie executive at MCA, in 1957 Dorskind negotiated the purchase of the big “back lot” from Universal Studios. (MCA bought the rest of Universal in 1961.) Included on the 378 acres of movie sets was a commissary, which was losing $100,000 per year. Dorskind was trying to figure out how to stem the negative cash flow when, while at the Farmer’s Market one weekend, he saw tour buses unloading people.
He got an idea: buses could bring in tourists at $1 each to see the movie sets. They could then eat at the studio commissary, bringing it more business. The Universal Studios Tour was born, and it was such a quick success the studio spent $4 million in 1964 on expansions and renovations, making the site even more popular. It’s now a major tourist attraction — and the price has increased to $47. Dorskind also developed part of the property into “Universal City”, which includes the company’s headquarters building, hotels, a movie complex, and the popular “Universal CityWalk”. Dorskind died November 28 from prostate cancer. He was 82.