Claudia B.
Yelp
My parents were huuuuuuuuge film buffs as far back as I can remember, so it isn't a surprise that my 2 brothers and I adopted this same love for all things movies... esp. living in the movie capital of the world. We were exposed to every genre of film and definitely dating back to the beginning of when film makers first emerged. Sure, I have my favorite movies that came out since I've been around, but I also have a strong love for movies of a bygone era. Charlie Chaplin's movies are probably my favorite, but I also adore Harold Lloyd films, and I can't go without mentioning
Laurel & Hardy, Marx Bros, the list is truly endless. I grew up with these people, and they all are near and dear to my heart.
The thing about loving movies and living in Los Angeles is that every now and again, I hear about something (related to a specific movie I might like), and then, I take myself on a wild goose chase to track it down, see it, experience it, whatever it is. It might be where a particular celebrity is known to hang out. I would never bother any of them, but the momentary chance to see one in person, well, I'm a sucker for that. It might also be where they now live, or if it was a film star of yesteryear, then maybe where they once lived. I love doing that, too. Then again, it might be where a famous scene from a favorite movie was filmed, and that brings me to what I did a few days ago.
One of the greatest films I've ever seen is a Laurel & Hardy short, entitled THE MUSIC BOX. Many of you have probably heard of it, and maybe you haven't..... but if you haven't, do yourself a favor and watch it. (It's on YouTube.) It's brilliant, it's hilarious, and it's short, so you can go on about your day without too much commitment this movie. It involves a piano and some 133 steep steps, and it involved Laurel & Hardy hoisting this piano up these steps with hilarity, comedic gags, and that's all you need to know. The rest is a visual joy.
It was filmed in 1932 (!!) at a real location in the Silverlake district of Los Angeles where the hills were amazingly steep, the homes were (and some still are) VERY VERY old, street paths extremely narrow, and as you drive around this area, you get caught in a definite time warp, hurling you back in time to 1932 (and likely earlier). Just imagine those old cars trying to navigate this area. So, we found these steps thanks to WAZE, and they are marked with a street sign, and there's even a plaque at the bottom of these steps on Vendome Street (albeit an extremely scratched up plaque... (who felt the need to vandalize it? Seriously?) If you are looking up the stairs towards Descanso Drive, the building on the RIGHT of it was there in 1932 and part of the movie. The building to the left of it has since been added because it was a grassy open hill when the movie was made..... but ALL 133 steps are there, and that wonderful, funny movie was filmed RIGHT THERE !!!!!! My love for this movie is not isolated to just me because it's clearly marked (if one is looking for it), and it's been identified by film societies, movie geeks like me who love finding stuff like this, and well, it was a bucket list moment for me.
I immediately texted my brothers the pictures of my discovery, and just as I had expected, they were totally excited by it. I knew they would be. I'm just sorry my parents aren't alive for me to share this with them. After all, it was because of them that this was all a moment of joy for me. Who knows, maybe they're up in heaven with Laurel & Hardy watching down as we paid homage to the once great comedy team and their wonderful film short, The Music Box.