A short-lived career with Vitagraph Studios as a comedian teamed with Earl Montgomery in countless comedy shorts such as Hash and Havoc (1916), Stowaways and Strategy (1917), Farms and Fumbles (1918), Harems and Hookum (1919), Zip and Zest (1919), Vamps and Variety (1919), Rubes and Robbers (1919), Cave and Coquettes (1919), Throbs and Thrills (1920), Loafers and Lovers (1920), and Sauce and Senoritas (1920).

][citation needed] By 1924, Stan Laurel had forsaken the stage for full-time film work, and was still involved with actress Mae Dahlberg.

Stan next joined the Hal Roach studio as a writer and director, but due to the contract with Joe, could not act in any of the films.

The twelve two-reel comedies were Mandarin Mix-Up (1924), Detained (1924), Monsieur Don't Care (1924), West of Hot Dog (1924), Somewhere in Wrong (1925), Twins (1925), Pie-Eyed (1925), The Snow Hawk (1925), Navy Blue Days (1925), The Sleuth (1925), Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pryde (1925), Half a Man (1925).

From the Joe Rock Studios came the "A Ton Of Fun" series of comedy shorts, promoted at the time as 'starring the three fattest men on the screen'.

Produced by Joe Rock, the shorts were made by Poverty Row studio Standard Cinema Corporation and released by Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.'s Film Booking Offices of America, (F.B.O.).

Built on the premise that three fat men were funnier than one, Rock created a surprising number of outlandish situations for the trio during the series long run.

In that year, an obscure island in Indonesia exploded in one of the biggest volcanic eruptions of recorded history: the explosion was heard thousands of miles away, and many people died.

Making the documentary was a challenge, because Joe had no film footage of the island and he was unable to locate any witnesses who recalled the original 1883 event.

Rock has the unenviable distinction of holding one of filmdom's more bizarre records: the longest wait between winning an Academy Award and actually receiving it.

Almost fifty years later, while sorting out some of his papers, Rock located documents which established his proprietary claim ... and the Academy belatedly gave him his statuette.