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Recreating Ernie Kovacs' FINAL Drive: Walking His Last Steps/FINAL Resting Place!
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- Опубликовано: 14 ноя 2021
- Recreating Ernie Kovacs' FINAL Drive: Walking His Last Steps/FINAL Resting Place!
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This is so awesome! Glad the algorithm got me here
The algorithm does wonders sometimes my friend. So glad you enjoyed it! Hope you enjoy the other videos I have on my channel
I'm trying to picture where that's at ... I used to live off Wilshire near 6th and St Paul for couple years.
The deer there belie the other critter inhabitants of Forest Lawn ... the coyotes
Ya so you’d be about 7 miles due West of this location
@@nomdeplume7537 wow! That is amazing.
I grew up a few blocks from here and this intersection has changed a lot. The Union 76 station was a vacant lot until 1976. The building on the SE corner was a “convalescent hospital” There was a still active train track running through the middle of Santa Monica Blvd. Where the rail line crossed Beverly Glen was actually elevated, meaning you had to drive under it to make the left onto Santa Monica. It was narrow and could have interfered with visibility. The rail overpass disappeared at least 30 years ago and the entire area has been significantly graded, much flatter and wider. Obviously we’ll never know quite what happened but I suspect he may have traveled under the railway overpass a little too fast and then made the left onto “little” Santa Monica not quite seeing how sharp the turn was. This was a nasty intersection back in the day. RIP to a real talent.
Thank you for all the added details. It really helps to understand.
I remember that railroad bridge and the earthen berm supporting it. I made that same left turn onto "Little" Santa Monica Boulevard back in the 80's and can still remember how SHARP a turn it used to be! That, combined with the slight downhill road pitch after the bridge area, the weight distribution of the Corvair wagon and a little too much speed was a recipe for disaster. To get a sense of where that power pole was back in 1962, one should reference the current original concrete sidewalk area. All those brick pavers shown in the video were added after that wide berm was flattened and center roadway area was moved toward the center line. The old railroad berm had a fairly wide base on both sides and the pavement area was somewhat narrow on both sides (two lanes plus parking each way, I'm thinkin'). The loss of Mr. Kovacs was tragic in so many ways.
Yep, grew up basically on Pico and Patricia. Remember the place well.
Nothing was changed due to the accident. However, they ruined the place in the last few decades. Typical Urban blight.
@@jasper3042 I know the 76 station was there in 71. I had friends just a few doors to the north. There was a little diner about a block east on Santa Monica. I think it was called the honey bee. I used to play on the bridge over Beverly Glen.
I am a big fan of Ernie and Edie. They were true pioneers of television. Thanks for that video.
Ernie was so creative. "Gone too soon" is so appropriate. Thanks for paying tribute to him. It was so interesting.
Such a tragedy, he was so young. I think these “on location” videos are my favorites, you do such a great job with them. Forest Lawn is such a beautiful place, when I visited last there were many deer roaming also, it was so lovely. Very well done, Rick, thank you,.😊👍👍👍👍
So glad you like them. They are enjoyable. Lots of work goes into them…so much more than the usual video. Never gets the same views but still so much fun to make
@@ricknineg These are my favorites too. They are perfect :)
@@ricknineg That was a long way to walk! It’s all very much appreciated. Keep them coming.🤗
Rick,
This was a really special episode. I like how you coupled the crash site and the grave site. It was both historical and reverent. And you did it in a very tasteful and respectful manner. You didn't exploit it or make it morbid.
Plus, we all got to see your face, too.
This is why we keep coming back.
Thanks and stay hopeful,
Paul +
It was that very Lucy/Desi Comedy Hour that I first even HEARD of Ernie Kovacs - I even remember it was my mom who told me who he was. I would be about 12 or so at the time. Around 1976 or 1977 PBS did a "Best of Ernie Kovacs" series which made a BIG impression on me. Which is why Rick, if you remember in the past, I suggested many times you watch and discover Ernie Kovacs. He was simply a man ahead of his time. I met Edie Adams twice and she was such a gracious person and answered my questions in such a friendly manner. I will never forget that. So glad you did this video. Oh, and where I suggested you visit Moe Howard's grave, well, I visited Ernie's grave over 30 years ago - and even took my mom there after I had found it. Someone had placed cigars there already. It was such a moving sight. I'm hoping with all the streaming services and such, ALL of Ernie's work will find a home for all of it to be shown. It's tragic that many of his shows were erased, but Edie had assured me there was still hours and hours of work still to be seen by the public. That gives me hope. Good work Rick.
I remember the Ernie Kovacs show as a little kid. The Nairobi Trio is still etched in my memory. Even as an unsophisticated youngster, I knew there was something special about him.
My dad loved Ernie and introduced me to him. I always loved him and Edie with Lucy and Desi, but of course there is an underlying sadness in that episode, too. Thank you for this great tribute to Ernie, a comic genius before his time.
Something you may want to consider that would not be obvious when standing on that intersection today, is that the Pacific Electric Passenger Line and freight train tracks use to run down the middle of the street of Santa Monica Blvd. You add a little moisture, speed, and possible alcohol you have a recipe for a fatal. Also looking at the photo of the accident, it looks like a car that lost control on slick pavement. The tracks would have made the roads worst when wet.
Thank you taking us through the last few hours of Ernie Kovacs' life he was truly a comedic genius.
His tragic end was something I always wondered about. This was a solemn moment for me, to finally see how such a brilliant comedic mind came to a sudden end. My father used to talk about Percy Dovetonsils, and some of the other bits Kovacs had done, so once I got the chance, I binge-watched the episodes. It was a journey to see the creativity he employed in the new medium of video, and how he sought to exploit every aspect of it. This was comedy that had made the leap from vaudeville and took flight on screens in the livingrooms of audiences; many of whom had never seen his antics before. What a terrible thing to be cut short so avruptly! Thank youj Rick, for taking the time to point out these locations, and for showing respect to Ernie, his family, and even the deer. The presence of the deer tells me that they find the cemetary a place of peace, and that is very nice indeed! He and Edie may be gone, but even now, his legacy lives on. Rest easy, Ernie.
Very good story. I did hear it before and speculated what had happened, mostly because my Grandmother had the same model car - a Corvair Lakewood Wagon. Because of the rear engine design of the car, My grandmother had the inherent problem of understeer when going around corners at speed (the heavy rear end of the car would spin around towards the lighter front end). I don't think Earnie did anything wrong while turning and the accident happened because of the bad design of the car. My grandmother almost met the same fate several times in her own car until my Dad and uncles figured out to put a couple of bags of cement in the front trunk, and lower the air pressure in the tires. Too late for Earnie & family, and a big loss of talent to the world. Thanks again for the great story.
The car's design flaw makes sense. The road was slick that night and he probably had the green light so he turned into the left with considerable speed which caused the car to fish tail to the right and then he may have attempted to compensate by turning the wheel to the right which caused the car to smack very hard into the light post.
Thank you for making this video. I'm a big fan of Ernie Kovacs. May he rest in peace.
I didn’t know he died in a car accident. It’s sad that he died so young. This is an excellent video to see the route he took before he passed away. Thank you for the video Rick, keep up the great work and have a great day!
He also appeared in the movie "Bell, Book and Candle" starring Kim Novak and Jimmy Stewart.
Saw that movie when I was six. It made a big impression on me and from then on I wanted to live in Greenwich Village. And now I finally live...near there in Alphabet City. Close enough,lol. I need to watch it again cause I'm remembering the wrong actress in the role
@@lazyhomebody1356, I have it on DVD. All-star cast.
@@BaronessErsatz A friend of mine insists it is about how women are mistreated and feared, not just as witches but modern day
@@lazyhomebody1356, that's a reasonable response.
one of my favorite movies, his character is great!
Thank you Rick. this was a bitter sweet video. Great that you are able to do it. Good to remember those who passed however it’s good to move forward and make more memories for those around us. Thanks again!
Thanks Chad! Always nice hearing from you. Completely agree
Rick, you are amazing! Kovacs was one of the most innovative geniuses of early television…the King of the blackout sketch. What a wonderful tribute,and labor of love to recreate his final journey.
Hi, Rick!
Thanks for the tour and yes he was too young. Unfortunately his wife Eddie was left without a cent and she had to pay the IRS millions Of dollars that he didn't pay and never told her. Very sad story she, actually went back to school just to learn how to keep the books just so it wouldn't happen again. She did good went to work again and managed her own money. She had to work up until her death to pay the IRS. The two things that are certain death and IRS.
Thanks for taking me to a place I’ll never get to see in my lifetime. Ernie and Edie were a wonderful couple with the uncanny ability to make us laugh even to this very day. Gone but never forgotten by the families and friends to the fans of today. You probably made the angels laugh so hard they almost lost their wings rolling all over the clouds.Thank you and Rest in Peace with love.
I loved his tomb stone message.."Nothing in Moderation". I knew he died young But didnt know anything about it. He was very talented and had a major influence on TV yet to come. Thanks for the tour Rick.
Edie was so strong after this terrible event, she was one of the stars in "It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world" that was filmed soon after.
Ernie was supposed to play her husband in the movie. Since he died, Sid Caesar played that part instead.
What an amazing vid. I really enjoyed watching and learning something new.
My pleasure
Watched Ernie Kovac the other night, he was on a Jack Benny.
I believe he was originally going to be in the movie, It’s a Mad Mad Mad World, prior to fatal accident.
He was one of the funniest actors I've ever seen. In the mid 70's a Spokane TV station had a late night tribute to him and showed a number of episodes from the Erie Kovacs Show and I can't remember ever laughing so hard. He was a genius.
I remember when you went to William Frawley's grave I was as touched as I am today. Thank you for that touching moment. I felt intensively your sensibility on that video and the only thing I wanted to was to hug you back in to your car. Sending you love from France.😘 XoXo Your french fan from your very very first videos.
Excellent work on this one Rick. Ernie was a very talented man. RUclips has a lot of his work . Watch for his very dry, deep, humor. Ernie was his own man. Rest in peace for all the Kovacs family. At last, they are together again.
This is a very interesting video that nobody would ever end up doing, but when one has done their homework like you did, you make it factual, and very detailed, that's why I enjoy your videos, you have a way of finding the sort of stuff nobody knows about the world of entertainment, keep up the good work!!!!
Thank you so much James! I’m appreciative to viewers like yourself who understand all the thought and work that goes into it. But it is my pleasure making a video like this because it is so much fun and great to see everyone’s reactions.
This was a beautiful tribute to Ernie, Rick. Ernie was a genius and was way ahead of his time. It's so interesting that he and his wife drove separately to the party. Had he been driving his Bentley, perhaps he would have survived the crash. But that was not meant to be. It's also incredible that his daughter was killed in an auto accident at only 22. Life can be so strange sometimes. Thanks so much for the sensitive way you did this. God bless.
How scary that his daughter also died in a car crash at 22 yrs old. What are the odds of that happening!? Sad. The deer gave the video a peaceful setting. Thank you and great job putting the video together 🙏🏻👍
Thank you kindly!
Considering car crashes are fairly common only a simpleton would think it was some rare bizarre freakish thing. Congratulations, you're a simpleton.
This was great! Keep these coming as their fascinating. Beyond cool how you honored Ernie Kovacs...You're wise well beyond your years.
Such a great comedian! He not typically talked about either, and I’ve always wondered why. Though I admit his humor was definitely against the grain! Another sad point in his life was when his first wife disappeared with the children. The poor man just about depleted his funds hiring PI’s looking for them. Possibly a video you could explore in the future? I believe Jeff Goldblum played him in a movie about it. Ernie Kovaks: Between the Laughter. I saw it on TV years ago. Assuming you don’t know about it, definitely check it out
As a kid, I would sneak and watch his TV show. It was really bizarre! I loved it! I didn't know he was driving a Corvair. My dad had one and got rid of it in less than a month. He didn't feel safe driving it.
A really enjoyed Ernie on TV when I was a kid.. It was so sad when the news came of his death. Thank you for this video.
I worked with Edie twice on Holland America Cruises back around 1980, once on the Statendam and then on the Rotterdam. Her husband at the time, trumpeter Pete Candoli, was with her on the Statendam cruise. I don't remember if he was with her on the Rotterdam. I never met Ernie, but Edie was as close to him as I got.
Thanks for the video! It was bittersweet. My mom would have been 86 yrs. of age yesterday. Always cherish the ones you love because tomorrow is not PROMISED. I can't help but wonder If he'd been driving the heavier Bentley (If he'd survived) That pole bent that car in half. We at least have his wonderful films.
I think he would have likely survived with that Bentley. Plus that was his car and he was used to how it drove. This being his wife car was rear engine and not as familiar to him. Sad events
You mentioned that he was driving his wife's Chevrolet Corvair, right? The Corvair was one of the examples of vehicles that were in Ralph Nader's book, Unsafe at Any Speed.
He may just have saved his wife from the same fate.
You’re exactly right! In fact, this accident was mentioned and is tied closely to Naders work. I found that out During the course of creating this video. I didn’t wanna get into that side of the story but it is definitely fascinating. Safety motor act released in the late 60s was because of this accident as well
His accident saved countless of future lives and auto standards got strict and cars got safer to drive for all
Hey Rick, thank you for such a touching & respectful video. I've been to Forrest Lawn & it is indeed a very scenic & peaceful place. Ernie Kovacs was a genius & he was ahead of his time. His passing is truly tragic. I really enjoy your location videos, I'm glad you had a nice sunny warm day, infact, this week it's been hotter in LA than here in the High Desert, unusual for sure.👍👍🙏
It was nice bc the whole video was a journey to film. I loved it so much. I get attached to the individuals and it makes me feel like I knew them a bit
@@ricknineg I agree about getting attached to these folks & thanks to you I feel like I know them a little better too!!!
Poor Edie was grieving during the filming of Mad Mad Mad World while the whole cast was rallying behind her...
Thank you so much. I really love this type of video and the cemetery visit made it even more amazing.
Erie Kovacs, intellectual/high brow comedian. A smart a dbl. s w/brains. Meant in the best way! Classy sarcasm. Early 50s tv. His wife Edie Adam's quite the dish. Early tv was a lot of 40s+ entertainers/stars. Thanks Rick, bittersweet video. Please do more. Not all of us live in beautiful Ca. 🌞🌴
SO
You know Rick you would think he would have smashed the Corvair on the passenger side. He must have spun out and did may be a couple of donuts going forward. It's certainly a weird accident.
Yeah. You're right!
Yea, it’s def confusing and Many renditions of how he hit the pole and all. I didn’t mention it but his body was thrown towards and out the passenger door and leaned outside. A cigar close by. There are even photos of him that are graphic but I obviously chose not to post them out of respect
@@ricknineg you know if he was driving a car made today he would have survived that accident. Air bags are truly a life saving invention.
That is probably true! Someone else said that he probably saved his wife’s life by using her car. His car was a lot stronger and be fear and would’ve been driven slower. Crazy to think
@@ricknineg I looked up the pictures of the accident. You were right not printing the picture of him hanging out of the passenger side door. It's startling and I'm sure it added to the grief of the family. Lastly the Corvairs were notoriously bad cars and unfortunately they bought one. You are so dedicated to your video topics! A 2 mile hike just to park to show us the accident spot. Thanks for bringing us this. Take care.
I'm the generation that saw many of the original Ernie Kovac's shows, and then during a time in the early 80's when they rebroadcast many of the shows on PBS -- which introduced his humor to a new generation. He was BRILLIANT, a true original who anticipated the later sketch comic material of shows like Laugh-in, SNL & SCTV, BUT still was so unique that he is in a comic category all his own! You can check some of his comedy on youtube -- or Amazon -- you'll be hooked -- BIG time! IN FACT -- I'm going to look at some of those clips RIGHT NOW!
Thank you for this. Always loved Ernie Kovacs.
Rick, your research on this is excellent as always. I was 10 when he died and I remember that headline in the L.A. Times. My mom and I would watch his TV show together and laugh our heads off. He was way ahead of his time with his wacky/improv type of humor. Thanks!
Thank you so much!
From the photo of the wrecked car, it appears that he spun around the pole, and the car was almost cut in half. Obviously speed was a factor. Ernie definitely was a comic genius, way ahead of his time. Thanks for posting.
Ernie is credited with creating the first psychedelic image on T.V., a true television pioneer...another great episode Mate 👏
Kovacs was so way ahead comically..such a funny guy.
SO
Excellent video! Thanks for posting. 👍
Much appreciated! You’re so welcome
Nice on location video! Great work!
Thanks for showing his grave and family. Crazy his daughter died twenty years later at 20 years younger.
My dad loved him and got the whole family watching his show. We all enjoyed it.
How did you find out about the entire back story, & details of that night, & the route he drove? That's a bit of detective work on your part. Well done.
Thank you! Lots of reading of police reports, newspapers and more. 😃 🕵️♂️
He probably lost control due to an oil slick on the road and being possibly inebriated, he lost control. There's a lot of traffic on LA streets and a lot of oil from a lot of cars...mixed with water it gets dangerous, especially if you're going too fast. I noticed an article next to the article of the accident in the newspaper you showed said "light rain hits southland"...so going too fast around the corner, being tipsy and a slick road didn't work work well for Ernie. People tend to get too comfortable on streets they know well. Rest in piece, Kovacs family.
I know of Ernie Kovacs only because of his appearances on "What's my line?", which I, in turn, discovered on RUclips and binge watched. It's a fascinating time capsule of a world I didn't knew existed. And led me to many more discoveries, besides him.
I had read he died young but didn't knew the details.
Rick, love this expose’. Really like to see more like it. Thanks!!!!
Thanks Terry! Glad you enjoyed it
This breaks my heart. I enjoyed him on Lucy. It is my second fav episode besides Tallulah Bankhead episode. I loved Edie singing, “That’s All”. ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Edit Adam's said it was such a terrible time doing that episode because of the Lucy Desi relationship was on a major skid. Lucy and Desi were not speaking and it was just hard for Adams who had to sing a breakup song, That's All.
@@sandrasanders706 yes, I’ve heard her say this in a documentary about them. I’m so glad I got to see the color of her dress that she sung that song. It’s a beautiful brown.
@@leeparks15 I wondered.
Thanks!
@@sandrasanders706 you’re welcome! ♥️
Awesome!
He was so good way ahead of his time. Nice dedication to him.
Handsome Rick, I haven't run across you for a long time!! Love Ernie.
Thank you! Be sure to subscribe so that you never miss a video again 😀
The Nairobi Trio sketch always fascinated me with it's surrealism.
I can still sing the tune..lol
SO
My dad had that same model as a work car commute car only. I was not 4 yet when I heard my parents talk about Ernie Kovacs accident. I was so afraid when my dad drove the Corvai to work after this happened.
Thanks Nick! I know I will never get there, so I thank you so much.
You make great videos...they are always fun to watch.😊😊
Thank you great video.
Thank you for your videos. You are doing what I would love to some time retracing the steps of American greats. That final episode in April of 1960 is one of my favorites, it is so sad watching the faces of Lucy and Ricky and Edie Adam’s as she selected the song “that’s all” I’ve seen various discussions of whether or not (likely not) she knew Lucy and Desi had a court date the next day in the divorce proceedings. Do you ever visit San Diego ?
Looking at crash scene photos he had to driving at a high rate of speed for car to look like it did. Turning normal speed car would not of looked like that. Great vid.
Thank you so much for doing this! Ernie Kovacs was hands down the greatest genius of innovation when it came to the ways he used the medium of television. Marshall McKuen famously said the medium is the message. If that's true, Ernie Kovacs brought a message of joy and absolute fun to the masses. I can't help imagine what sorts of things he'd be thrilling and mystifying us with in the era we live in today and the technology we have available. Thanks again Nick, much appreciated!
My 1st exposure to Ernie Kovacs was on the final episode of the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. I was 6 1/2 years old when he died. So most of my exposure to him came much later. I've seen some of his movies. But my favorite is "It Happenned to Jane" where he played the bad guy, railroad executive Harry Foster Malone.
Wow! I never knew about the car model in which Mr. Kovacs died. There were many lawsuits against Chevrolet for its Corvairs, including one by Ralph Nader. The rear engine placement in the Corvair caused a weight imbalance that resulted in poor handling. As a performance vehicle, many people enjoyed driving the Corvair at high speeds. When combined with poor handling, high speeds could lead to an accident when the driver attempted to correct a steering error. Chevrolet eventually discontinued the model in 1969--7 years after Mr. Kovacs' death.
Actually Nader extended the life of the Corvair indirectly. He wrote "Unsafe at Any Speed" but actually didn't drive. GM had planned to drop the Corvair in 1967 as the Mustang was killing sales of the Corvair, but GM's execs couldn't let some upstart lawyer with no driver's license show them up so production continued two additional years just as a giant corporate middle finger to Nader.
The handling issues were caused by GM bean counters not installing sway bars but, instead, recommending wildly different inflation pressures for front and rear tires. However in those days many people had filling station attendants handle their tires so they were improperly inflated based on GM's recommendations. As such, the cars did handle poorly.
I'm not sure anyone bought the Lakewood (Wagon) for performance but it was a nifty little car at the time that only was in production two years. I've owned a few of them.
Ernie Kovacs' death struck me hard when I heard about it all those years ago. His was the first time that someone who I was familiar with had died. I loved his show. Because of his show, I think that later shows, like Rowan And Martin's Laugh In, and Monty Python's Flying Circus became so popular. (Although, it's possible that the Python's came into their brand of humor on their own, without ever hearing of Ernie Kovacs). Certainly Rowan and Martin had heard of Ernie.
The deer MAY have not reacted to you because you are a gentle soul! Animals let me come right up to them. I've petted skunks, etc. On the other hand, they probably don't allow hunting in the cemetery
I can assure you with 💯 Certainty that Elmer Fudd was NOT there.
Thank you so much for doing another location video. This was so interesting and in-depth. I didn't know he passed from an accident. I loved him in "Bell, book and candle" and "It happened to Jane". What was your favorite Ernie Kovacs show or movie? Have a lovely evening Rick. Blessings - Judith 🎭🎵
The deer and your appreciation really added to the experience. Thank you.
Whoa! Living in LA all my life and being an obsessive Lucy fan, I never knew about this! I've been at that intersection many times and its weird cause its a very simple intersection especially when empty. Great job Rick this video covered EVERYTHING!!
A tragic loss when Ernie Kovacs died. One can only imagine had he been around when shows like Laugh-in & Monty Python's Flying Circus were starting out.
It's so sad that two of Ernie's daughters (Kippie from his first marriage) and Mia (from his marriage to Edie) died so young. It's also incredibly sad that his granddaughter, Keigh (Kippie's daughter) also died at a young age in 2017. This family has seen a lot of tragedy...
A strange confession. In 2002 I scrubbed Ernie's grave with an all purpose cleaner and a metal brush... got it sparkling. I'm the reason that the big loop in Ernie's signature is colored differently... it was impossible to scrub sufficiently... otherwise the entire stone would be that "white" color of oxidation. Interesting that my efforts are still evident somehow 22 years later. I mean, I scrubbed until my arm felt about to fall off. The loop prevented that part of the stone from getting all the effort I was muscling into it. I'm not after any credit... I gave Buster Keaton's stone the same treatment... he's over by that little red chapel in the distance. I am just slightly amazed. Thank you for the interesting video!
very good video and truly wonderful if slightly sad and unique topic full of history and facts thanks as always for a great video
I'm not familiar with Ernie and Eddie thanks for sharing this rick recreating his resting place never knew any of this thanks Rick 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Always so much to learn
Very touching. The deer in the cemetery is very nice. Thank you for doing these.
Great work. I’m a bit confused though. Would he have been completing his turn on what is now the “Extra Wide “ portion of the sidewalk.? Trying to imagine from the photos how one could wrap the car around the pole on the DRIVER’s side while making a left turn, when you would think the impact would be the passenger side. Also the pole is literally splitting the car in half. Seems like a very strange angle of impact under the circumstances. Very interesting for sure.
The streets were different back then and even had a railroad track going down the middle. The sidewalk was enlarged to make it safer for pedestrians and even for the drivers.
@@ricknineg That makes sense. Thanks again
@@davidg4940 I’d guess that the rear of the car started to slide outwards during the left turn, and turning into the skid caused the rear to slide back in the opposite direction, slamming the drivers side into the pole.
I had a similar accident years ago while turning left out of a parking lot on a rainy day. I turned into the skid and the car whipped around into the sidewalk, blowing out my drivers side rear tire.
That evening Ernie left a party in which he and his wife Eddie Adams were attending . Ernie said to Eddie that he w would take the covair home and she took the Rolls. Apparently they arrived to the party separately. The roads that evening were wet and one of this issues with the Covair in which later came out with Ralph Naiders “ Unsafe at any Spead” the car had swing split rear axel which caused the rear wheels when cornering to ride up on the side wall reducing control and causing the rear to fish tail.. This is exactly what happen when he over accelerated the car spun out 180 degrees and hit the pole on his drivers side door killing him. Sadly he left Eddie Adams in terrible debt.? This forced her to take every roll should could vowing to pay back all debt in which she did. Shortly after this is when Ralph Naider started his campaign on the lack of safety our the US auto industry and specifically the Corvair
Such an emotional trip to take.
Thank you for this detailed video Rick.
You are very welcome! Thank you for the support
The Corvair was notorious and infamous for being highly unstable and it killed a lot of people. It was removed from the market shortly after it was introduced because it was so dangerous. If Kovacs took that turn at the same rate as the cars when you were there, it's very possible the car was uncontrollable and he simply could not make the turn. He wouldn't have had to have been going very fast, or driving recklessly. The car was just that bad.
Yes. And as Ralph Nader could tell you, it was "Unsafe At Any Speed"
Very tragic end to a man who was an innovator in comedy. As always, you showed great respect for the subject as well as proving your research skills are still sharp as ever. Just remember it’s pronounced E-dee not Eddie. 😉
Rick, this was so nicely done - you approach a video subject (such as this) with all the respect it deserves - Cheers to the memory of the Kovacs family!
Thank you so much for the compliment and for the support
Thank you for acknowledging the lesser known hollywood talents.
I liked him playing the scoundrel in "North to Alaska"
Thank you this was very interesting.
Knew he died pretty young but didn't know how. Thanks for giving us the details!
Would love to see more of these kinds of videos. Fascinating. Thank you so much.
So glad you liked this! It was fun to make
This is so interesting. Hate that it happened to such a great talent.
Ernie lost his life in a death trap Corvair wagon. The car was labeled by Ralph Nader who wrote a book entitled, " Unsafe at any speed." Those Corvairs were pitiful handling cars even on dry roads. RIP Ernie.
Ernie was great as the antagonist in the John Wayne Western comedy "North to Alaska."
He was so upset and mad in portions of this Lucy episode and he was very believable
Wow Rick, thanks for all you did for this video, I’m very appreciative especially your research and your walking in the heat..I find this history of actors and actresses I’m familiar with so fascinating. Especially since I’ve never been to the west coast..thank you so much!!
So sad, Thankyou for sharing. Here's something interesting, I think Batman TV show payed a easter egg tribute to Ernie, if you watch from Season 1 of the first Joker episode, Batman & Robin visit a museum of comedians, there's a bust of Ernie Kovac. I thought that was a nice tribute to him.
Very sad for any movie stars having to die from car accidents, sad for anyone having to die from car accidents period, makes my heart hurt very much, may he rest in peace and his family and friends that are no longer with us today.
He was born in Trenton nj as was I. I know his area. Eastern Europeans, Poles. Hungarians. Wonderful people.
Nice that you visited his grave, but that's how you are, Mr. Nineg.