
1922 – Lloyd at top at Yucca and Vine. Keaton at bottom near Hollywood and Cahuenga. HollywoodPhotographs.com
Just a quick post here about this aerial view taken in 1922 as the prominent Security Bank Building, at the NE corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Cahuenga, nears completion. I could point out so many filming spots in this photo, but will limit it to just two. Harold Lloyd’s runaway trolley stunt in Girl Shy (1924) (top oval), and Buster Keaton’s one-handed passing car grab in Cops (1922) (bottom oval). [Other Cops posts]

Click to enlarge. Buster Keaton grabs a passing car in Cops. The alley still stands south of Hollywood Blvd.
HAROLD LLOYD images and the names of Mr. Lloyd’s films are all trademarks and/or service marks of Harold Lloyd Entertainment Inc. Images and movie frame images reproduced courtesy of The Harold Lloyd Trust and Harold Lloyd Entertainment Inc.
Cops licensed by Douris UK, Ltd. Below, the Cops alley. The building to the left was rebuilt in the 1930s, and today the alley is a bit more narrow.
Photo from HollywoodPhotographs.com
Thanks for all your work on these historic sites. While I was in the Hollywood area a few years ago, I used your book, Silent Echoes, to help me find filming sites. I also enjoy the new posts you put here for all to enjoy.
Connie Gloyer
LikeLike
Pingback: Front and Back Cameos – 100 years of a Hollywood landmark | Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd film locations (and more)
Pingback: Cops and Safety Last! – the Cosmo Alley Connection | Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd film locations (and more)
I’m guessing that Chaplin and maybe the others were aware that this was the location of the original Hollywood Passenger Station of the Los Angeles-Pacific Railway (merged into New Pacific Electric in 1911). If they did, it might explain their infatuation with the location. Notice the tree halfway down the alley might be old enough to have stood behind the station site.
LikeLiked by 1 person
One factor that slowly became apparent after more and more discoveries is that there were few other convenient “urban” places to film at the time, especially in the early to mid teens. Hollywood was so undeveloped back then, so that’s where everyone filmed, what was commonly known by all of the filmmakers.
LikeLike