Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd Alley

Hollywood Heritage celebrated the Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd Alley on 9-29-2021, National Silent Movie Day, by dedicating a special plaque (see below).

Three of the greatest comedies of all time, Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid (1921), Buster Keaton’s Cops (1922), and Harold Lloyd’s Safety Last! (1923), were filmed in the Heart of Hollywood at the unnamed alley running just south of Hollywood Boulevard from Cahuenga to Cosmo. Each film has been inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress as a work of enduring importance to American culture. This humble spot honors three of Hollywood’s brightest stars in three of their most famous movies – a 6-in-1 constellation absolutely unique in Hollywood history. See stories in The Hollywood Reporter HERE, in London’s The Guardian HERE, in Atlas Obscura HERE, and in The Los Angeles Times HERE.

Above, step by silent footstep, clues from a dozen silent films collectively reveal the century old secret that is the Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd Alley, with a beautiful score composed and performed by Jon C. Mirsalis.

It was here Charlie’s Little Tramp discovers the abandoned infant he will raise as his son (portrayed as a child by Jackie Coogan) during the opening scenes from The Kid. This main view looks south, where a patio dining area blocks some of the view today. A reverse view (right) shows Charlie running north towards the same spot. As posted HERE, Charlie and Jackie Coogan reunite emotionally later in the film at Olvera Street downtown.

The west end of the alley on Cahuenga appears in Keaton’s most famous short film Cops. Chased by a mob of angry police, Buster stops in the street and grabs a passing car one-handed that whisks him out of frame to safety (left – click to enlarge). At back appears the extant Palmer Building on Cosmo, still under construction at the time, that would become the future home of the now defunct Hollywood Citizen newspaper. The art deco building on Cahuenga now standing to the left of the alley was completed in 1935 (designed by noted LA architects Morgan, Walls & Clements), making the alley slightly more narrow today.

Lloyd is best remembered for hanging from a skyscraper clock in the stunt climbing thrill comedy Safety Last! Harold plays a department store salesman in this film, shown above calculating how to sneak in late to work. The east end of the alley portrayed the back of Harold’s store, where Lloyd filmed many scenes, with the Palmer Building on Cosmo forming a backdrop.

Several other posts expand the history of this alley. Further details about Chaplin, Keaton, and Lloyd filming at the alley HERE. Pioneering female director Lois Weber filmed Where Are My Children (1916) HERE. Pioneering women filmmakers Grace Cunnard, Cleo Madison, and Gale Henry also filmed HERE. Harry Houdini staged his 1919 feature The Grim Game HERE. The site appears in the 1994 Johnny Depp/Tim Burton movie Ed Wood HERE. The alley appears in newly discovered footage from Keaton’s 1922 short My Wife’s Relations HERE.

All images from Chaplin films made from 1918 onwards, copyright © Roy Export Company Establishment. CHARLES CHAPLIN, CHAPLIN, and the LITTLE TRAMP, photographs from and the names of Mr. Chaplin’s films are trademarks and/or service marks of Bubbles Incorporated SA and/or Roy Export Company Establishment. Used with permission.

Cops (1922) licensed by Douris UK, Ltd. 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. Hollywood map detail © 1938 Thomas Bros. – David Rumsey Map Collection. Aerial photos courtesy HollywoodPhotographs.com and Marc Wanamaker – Bison Archives.

This link provides a comprehensive PDF tour of Cahuenga, where more silent movies were filmed by more stars than at any other spot in town. Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd Alley Celebration and Cahuenga Tour.

This link provides a comprehensive PDF tour of over 50 silent movie locations across Hollywood. Hollywood’s Silent Echoes Tour – Cinecon 2016 – John Bengtson.

Cheers to Hollywood Heritage – a California nonprofit public benefit 501(c)(3) corporation, for celebrating the Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd Alley. If you want to honor a favorite star, or to recognize Hollywood’s origins and hidden history, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to this wonderful organization.

Please help support the Chaplin Keaton Lloyd alley by posting a review on Google maps below. Prototype sign design – Piet Schreuders. Download a 4-page brochure HERE. If you can, please share these videos and leave a thumbs up.