Released on December 26, 1931, On the Loose stars the comedy team of Thelma Todd and ZaSu Pitts as two gals whose parade of boyfriends never take them anywhere but Coney Island and they’re sick of it. Giggling as they recall “the refrigerator salesman from Schenectady” and other dates who won the chalkware prizes crowding the mantle in their apartment, they vow that today was their last trip to Coney. Well, of course it wasn’t. By 8:23 in the 20 minute film, the duo are back in Coney Island on a double date with two Englishmen who say it’s “very smart and quite original” and they’re going to do it all.
The gag is that ever since the days of silent movies, Coney Island, with its amusement rides that flung couples into each others arms, has been a popular setting for comedies. Among our faves are Coney Island (1917) with Fatty Arbuckle and Buster Keaton and It (1927), in which Clara Bow plays a shop girl who goes on a first date with her boss to Coney Island, though the film is said to have been made at Ocean Park Pier in California. The Coney Island scenes in Harold Lloyd’s Speedy were shot at four different amusement parks– two in Coney and two in California– according to film historian John Bengtson.
California’s Venice Pier, which like Steeplechase also had a Human Roulette Wheel, rotating Barrel of Love and Giant Slide, was a stand-in for Coney Island in On the Loose. Some of the funniest scenes have ZaSu and Thelma shushing the game attendants who remember them from previous visits and Thelma proving she’s a crack shot at the shooting gallery.
In the last few minutes of the film, Laurel and Hardy make a cameo appearance. We won’t spoil it by telling you what happens when they ask the two woman out on a date to where else but Coney Island. The film was directed and produced by Hal Roach, whose studio also made the Laurel and Hardy and Our Gang comedies.
Related posts on ATZ…
December 8, 2013: Sunday Matinee: Princess Rajah’s Chair Dance (1904)
March 3, 2012: Saturday Matinee: Bluto & Popeye, Kings of Coney’s Mardi Gras
August 16, 2011: Video of the Day: “IT Girl” Clara Bow in Coney Island
January 15, 2011: ATZ Saturday Matinee: Shorty at Coney Island
Amusing the Zillion 
Thanks for posting this… Never heard of “on the Loose”. I wonder if you know about the Silent Film Festival that Ken Gordon hosts & curates at the Brooklyn
Public Library- he’s shown many films that feature Coney Island , including “Speedy. ” All accompanied by live music.
That sounds great — always fun to see the silents with live accompaniment. Will keep an eye out. Thanks!