Established in 1946, the Universal City Coffee Shop was open 24 hours a day at the request of cast and crew members of the many round-the-clock productions happening at Universal Studios.

Sally Gibbs and her chef husband Casey were in charge, and 80 customers could be seated at the counter or in booths.

The front cover illustration of this 1974 menu features the comedian W C Fields and another unnamed actor – we hope someone recognizes him and can tell us who he is.

William Claude Dukenfield (1880-1946) was born in Philadelphia. Known for his bulbous nose, raspy voice and know-it-all persona, he was one of Hollywood’s best-loved comics.

Two of his biggest film successes were at Universal in 1940, one alongside Mae West in the frivolous comedy My Little Chickadee and the other in the title role in slapstick comedy The Bank Dick, still one of his best-known films today.

His last film was Never Give a Sucker An Even Break in 1941. He secured almost complete artistic control over this production and the finished product, with many critical references to Hollywood, enraged Universal.

Thereafter, he took guest roles in films and appeared on radio shows but his struggles with alcohol caught up with him. He passed away in Pasadena in 1946, his death occurring on Christmas Day, a holiday he always said he despised.

WC Fields was clearly a regular at this coffee shop - the house specialty was an omelette named after him. We also enjoyed hearing about the ‘favorite wake-me-upper of many famous Hollywood Celebrities.’  This was half a peach submerged in a ‘glass of bubbling California champagne.’

We discovered ads offering the University City Coffee Shop for sale in 1975 and we assume it closed shortly afterwards.