Laurel & Hardy Hit The Skids
During their ride home from the hospital in County Hospital (1932), Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy (well, their stunt doubles) skid at a wide intersection beside a Gothic-windowed auto garage. The zig-zag detailing remains on the garage wall.
This unusual intersection also appeared in the Hal Roach “Taxi Boys” comedies Thundering Taxis (1932) and What Price Taxi? (1932). The curb in the latter film says “TILDEN AVE,” identifying the spot as where Washington Place, Tilden Avenue, and Washington Boulevard meet. The two skid stunts depicted here were likely staged at this spot (red oval below) because the intersection was unusually wide, providing an extra measure of safety.
The Culver City Rollerdrome skating rink (yellow box, left) stood near the wide intersection, and for a time a mini-golf course (green box) stood on the corner. The Rollerdrome (1929-1970) was a local landmark for decades. The mini-golf course sign appears in the movie frame below.
The Culver City Rollerdrome stood by the short-lived mini-golf course (notice the Golf sign)
Below, these vintage aerial photo details show the large skating rink beside a flat patch of earth where the mini-golf course stood. The garage with the Gothic windows stands near the corner – the skid area marked with a red oval.
Marc Wanamaker – Bison Archives
Tellefson Park stands today on the site of the former Rollerdrome and mini-golf course, and the corner garage still services cars.
(C) Hal Roach Studios, Inc.
View Larger Map
Filed under: Laurel and Hardy Tagged: Culver City, Hal Roach, Laurel and Hardy film locations, Silent Comedians, Silent Comedies, Silent Movie Locations, then and now
