Skull Island and King Kong in Ashes

There was a odd little twist of fate in the fire at Universal Studios that destroyed, among other things, the animatronic King Kong attraction that drew tourists like tse-tse flies.

Investigators are still looking into the latest fire - but the first big blaze at the studio was set on purpose. In 1938, David O. Selznik torched the back lots at Universal to stand in for the burning of Atlanta, create the most dazzling scenes in Gone With the Wind, and find his leading lady Vivian Leigh among the Hollywood glitterati that came to see the spectacle.

Clearly visible in the conflagration is the gigantic wall from the Skull Island set of the original 1933 King Kong classic movie, the wall that protected Kong's prehistoric island from the outside world.

Poor big ape just can't seem to catch a break.

Investigators search for clues in the rubble - by David McNew, Getty Images