Thelma Todd and Zasu Pitts - Sneak Easily (1932) - Filming Locations

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Featured Filming Location Photo

When Streetcars Connected Los Angeles Neighborhoods
A scene from the Thelma Todd and Zasu Pitts movie Sneak Easily

The Famous Pacific Electric Railway Fletcher Viaduct

Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly are in an ambulance speeding to the hospital when somehow it ends up on the Pacific Electric Railway's Fletcher Viaduct in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles! In the frame from the movie on the left, you can just barely make out the ambulance at the extreme left of the image, with a Pacific Electric streetcar in the middle of the bridge.

The Fletcher Viaduct was originally an all wood trestle, built in 1904. The middle section directly over Fletcher Drive was replaced with a steel span in 1928. The bridge remained in this configuration until it was demolished in 1959. The concrete footings of the old viaduct still exist and have been designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 770.

Historical Production & Location Reference

Film: Sneak Easily (1932)
Stars: Thelma Todd, Zasu Pitts
Studio: Hal Roach Studios
Featured Historical Landmarks:
  • Beverly Hills City Hall: A prominent, recently opened landmark at the time of filming, showcased in the movie.
  • Fletcher Viaduct: The historic Pacific Electric Railway structure, providing a distinct architectural backdrop.

Production & Preservation Note: Hal Roach’s attempt to pair Thelma Todd and Zasu Pitts as a female counterpart to Laurel and Hardy resulted in Sneak Easily, a film that serves as a high-quality visual record of Los Angeles area landmarks in 1932. The Beverly Hills City Hall, in particular, retains much of its original splendor, making it a perfect subject for analyzing how these civic structures have aged and been maintained over the last century.

In the early 1930s when the popularity of Laurel and Hardy was at its peak, producer Hal Roach had the idea that he could offer a series of films with a female version of the Laurel and Hardy characters. Thelma Todd and Zasu Pitts were chosen, with Todd assuming the Hardy role and Pitts the Laurel character.

This movie is one of the best in the series and gives us some great views of the recently opened Beverly Hills City Hall building, along with the old Pacific Electric Railway's historic Fletcher Viaduct.

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