Known famously as the stairs leading up to “1127 Walnut Avenue” in Laurel and Hardy’s classic short film The Music Box, these steps are a must-see for any old comedy fan. Located between 923 and 935 Vendome Street in Los Angeles, CA, this staircase has been on my comedy bucket list ever since I learned it still existed. Who better to drag along than my friend Marc, who’s just as obsessed with vintage laughs as I am?
Why The Music Box Stairs Matter
The plot of The Music Box is simple and hysterical. Mrs. Theodore von Schwartzenhoffen buys her husband (Professor Theodore von Schwartzenhoffen, M.D., A.D., D.D.S., F.L.D., F-F-F-and-F) a surprise birthday gift: a piano. Laurel and Hardy, working for the moving company, learn that the delivery address, 1127 Walnut Avenue, is up a ridiculously long flight of stairs. Several failed attempts, countless slips, and lots of bruised egos later, the piano somehow keeps ending up at the bottom. I won’t spoil the ending — but trust me, it’s worth every second.
A Short Film with Big Achievements
Produced by Hal Roach, The Music Box made comedy history. It was the first film to win the Academy Award for Live Action Short Film (Comedy) in 1932. Back then, the Oscars had two Short Film categories: Comedy and Novelty. This split only lasted four years, but hey — comedy had its moment at the Oscars!
In 1997, The Music Box was added to the United States National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” It was directed by James Parrott, a talented comedy actor, writer, and director. Parrott also directed Laurel and Hardy in Helpmates, The Chimp, and County Hospital — all released in 1932 — plus four Charlie Chase comedies that same year. Although Parrott’s life was tragically cut short at age 41, his work still makes people laugh nearly a century later.
The Steps That Keep Going (And Going…)
Fun fact: The Music Box is actually a remake of Laurel and Hardy’s 1927 film Hats Off. The plot is nearly identical, except they’re delivering a washing machine instead of a piano. Hats Off helped launch the duo’s stardom but is now sadly considered a lost film. The last known screening was in Germany in 1930. One day, maybe we’ll find it and compare the two.
The Stairs from Laurel and Hardy’s “The Music Box”, view from the top
Location
923-925 Vendome Street, Los Angeles CA; near the intersection of Del Monte Street in the Silver Lake District
Number of Steps
133, it doesn’t sound like a lot but it is with a camera and tripod
Films Recorded Here
“Isn’t Life Terrible” (1925), “The Ice Cold Cocos” (1926), “Hats Off” (1927) & “The Music Box” (1932)
Released:April 16, 1932; Runtime: 29:16; Country: United States; Released: Metro-Godwyn-Mayer
Marc and I doing our “best” Laurel and Hardy impression
A Photo, a Piano, and a Friend
As a lifelong fan of this iconic comedy team (and maybe a bit of an impersonator myself), I had to visit these famous stairs with my pal Marc. Some say our duo, Chip and Bernie (I play Chip), has a few Laurel and Hardy vibes. We couldn’t resist snapping a photo on those historic steps. What a fun day — and nobody dropped a piano!