Visiting the Ernie Kovacs Crash Site on Route 66 in Beverly Hills

Рет қаралды 26,547

Жыл бұрын

Ernie Kovacs was a comedian, actor, and pioneer of television comedy who has been credited as an influence from everyone from Johnny Carson and Chevy Chase to Jim Henson and Captain Kangaroo, among numerous others.
In the early morning hours on January 13, 1962, Kovacs was leaving a baby shower held for Milton Berle's newly adopted son in Beverly Hills. Kovacs drove down Beverly Glen, making a left on Santa Monica Blvd, which was then Route 66, in Beverly Hills and moments later he was dead. His car lost control and struck a pole.
In this video we visit the intersection on Route 66 where Kovacs' fatal crash happened and look to see if there is anything memorializing the site.
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Пікірлер: 130

@TheRealDrJoey Жыл бұрын

Correction: Corvair did not really have a "poor safety record," Ralph Nader had a poor accuracy record.

@hatednyc

It’s sad how Little people know about Ernie Kovacs today. He deserves so much better.

@R32R38 Жыл бұрын

Kovacs had offered a ride home from the party to the famous French actor Yves Montand, who ended up going with someone else. Had Montand accepted he might have died too, or in his presence Kovacs might have driven more safely. We will never know.

@CanesTech Жыл бұрын

Ernie bought Edie Adams a big diamond engagement ring and told her to wear it while she made up her mind on whether or not to marry him -- Ernie was an original.

@OsbornTramain

just a comment, you stated, "the poor safety record" of the Chevy Corvair. This is a bit of a myth, there is no one single thing that is unsafe about a chevy Corvair, It's technology was very similar to the VW and Porsche vehicles of the day. Just like a VW or a Porsche, you can over drive the car and make them flip. They are no more unsafe than any other car of the time. Ralph Nadar's book was very political and charged with claims that in reality were sensational and overblown.

@wormrose01 2 сағат бұрын

I was 17 when it happened and Ernie Kovacs was the funniest person around. I never missed his show but I have missed him terribly ever since.

@UncaDave Жыл бұрын

I got to see him in NYC as a kid in 1960 at Radio City Music Hall. He had the Ernie Kovacs Show and he was my favorite comedian at the time. When he came up into the audience to talk to people I said “Hi Ernie!!!” He turned and looked at me and said “Hiya kid!”. Boy that made my trip to NYC! It really made my day. My Dad and I had taken the train in from Stratford, CT and he took me all over to see the sights, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, etc. and even the Horn & Hardart eating place you put coins in a slot, opened a little door and pulled out your food, even a piece of pie. My Dad was always my hero! What a time that was. It was a big loss when he died in that accident. Edit: Oh yeah, thanks for another good video!

@boomtownrat5106 Жыл бұрын

This is what you do best. Bring us the obscure and make it come to life. How many times I’ve been at that intersection and never knew about Mr Kovac’s accident there. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley, and many times we’d travel Beverly Glen over the Hollywood Hills to get into Beverly Hills and the west side. This was before the creation of the San Diego Freeway (the 405). I was seven when he died, but I remember my parents enjoyed Ernie Kovacs and Edie Adams. I have specific memories of Edie Adams during the 60s. She use to do commercials for Muriel Cigars. This was the time when tobacco was advertised on television and in newsprint.

@jerroldkazynski5480 Жыл бұрын

During '84 Olympics in LA, I was drilling monitoring wells in the parkway along Santa Monica Blvd through BH. Never heard about Mr. Kovacs dying nearby. Sure enjoyed his humor when I saw him on TV. Thanks for the video.

@Juliaflo

Twenty years after Mr. Kovacs's accident, his daughter, Mia Susan, met a similar fate.

@jackieneill594

I adored him when he would be on the panel of, What’s My Line? His smile could light up a room.

@PRR5406

Edie said, "Ernie didn't drive a car, he DROVE a car". Your explanation of what happened is exactly correct and kudos to you for getting the story correct. The rain had been only a drizzle and the oil on the pavement had risen making friction less between tire and pavement. The Corvair "Lakewood" was rear engined and at speed it bolted around, pivoting on the center of mass. When it hit the curb it jump and slammed the Corvair into the pole. Ernie's head hit inside the car and his skull fractured. He wasn't wearing a seat belt as they were not standard in cars at that time. Probably on the rebound from impact, Ernie was thrown across the front seat and partially hung out of the car with an unlit cigar on the ground. It's questionable whether he was holding the cigar at the moment of collision. It was Jack Lemmon who identified Ernie at the morgue. Ernie may have had aortic injuries as well.

@kevingleason1051 2 сағат бұрын

I remember vividly where I was when I heard the news on WCBS radio. I was 10 and had recently discovered Ernie's ABC show. It would be too many years before I saw some of his TV work again, but now I have almost all the DVDs that Josh Mills has issued. Sincere thanks Josh !! 😊

@MyLittlePinhead

It's a crime how much thanks and kudos Ernie doesn't get for pioneering rudimentary techniques back then while his peers get remembered.

@dannovack1364 Жыл бұрын

Possibly the best information available for the accident. A shame no one ever made the effort since then.Thanks for sharing.

@armandolopez8983 Сағат бұрын

I pass this intersection almost every day. I never realized that this happened there. Kovacs really had much influence in using props and wry humor.

@FRANKSNAKE71 Жыл бұрын

One of the most innovative comedians of his day. Loved his show! Great video.

@scottvaughn7062 6 сағат бұрын

Loved him with Kim Novak and Jimmy Stewart in "Bell,Book and Candle"😂

@JMVideos7676 Жыл бұрын

Sidetrack Adventures has become one of my favorite travel, history and biography KZfaq channels along with History Hunters, Mobile Instinct, Pin In The Atlas with honorable mention to Wonderhussy Adventures. What makes them all good is great video quality, good sound quality, interesting subject matter and great narration.