Down Memory Lane is a 1949 Hollywood compilation film of silent and sound comedies from the library of pioneer producer Mack Sennett.
Phil Karlson had just made a film for Eagle-Lion, The Big Cat, when asked to direct Down Memory Lane.
Steve Allen remembered the film in his first memoir: “[Down Memory Lane] afforded me the unusual opportunity of working with Mack Sennett and Franklin Pangborn, two real experts in the field of comedy.
This was not as weighty a matter as it sounds, however, since most of the picture consisted of ancient Mack Sennett film footage and the scenario ran to only sixteen pages.
Allen fashioned the premise of a TV personality (Allen himself) reviving old Sennett comedies on his live program, only to have everything go wrong: the films arriving late and being shown in random order, with silent footage interrupted by sound footage; hastily improvised musical accompaniment; guest speaker Mack Sennett not showing up on time; and Allen's irate boss (played by Frank Nelson) objecting to the chaotic proceedings.