I’m not exactly sure when I met Joe Rock at Hollywood ’80. His autograph is wedged into my little album right between the technical stars and the Our Gang stars. It would make more sense for him to be on the technical panel, but I have a faint memory that he was actually hanging around the Our Gang meet-and-greet. In any case, I know that I met him since he signed my autograph album – and that is good enough for me!
Joe Rock is a giant in Laurel and Hardy history, as I later came to find out. When I met him, I’m sure I had little idea how so. In a nutshell, he produced twelve Stan Laurel solo comedy films in 1924 and 25. Some of those famous silent film titles like Dr. Pickle and Mr. Pride, Half a Man, West of Hot Dog, Monsieur Don’t Care, and West of Hot Dog were some of the Laurel films that he helped create. He was also a good friend of Stan’s at the time and actually introduced him to his first wife Lois Sr. Mr. Rock later won an Academy Award for the 1933 documentary Krakatoa.
I don’t remember it. I didn’t know it. But golly, I’m glad I can say that I once met Joe Rock.
Autographs from Hollywood ’80 will continue…
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