Laurel and Hardy wrecked Jimmy Finlayson’s house in “Big Business”
A contractor in Fort Worth spent three days gutting a house, only to discover, after they’d finished, that it was the wrong one ( http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article133378524.html ).
On top of that, the owners were just about ready to close a deal on selling the house. That’s gotta hurt.
Everyone involved is saying it was an honest mistake, no harm intended, and the contractor is expected to make it good with the owners. Which is more than Laurel and Hardy were prepared to do for Jimmy Finlayson, when they trashed his house in Big Business. To film this comedy short, Laurel and Hardy wrecked a real house. There is an urban legend that they wrecked the wrong house; but, as one commentator observed, the story is probably too good to be true.
The moral of the tale: the more power any mortal is given to make mistakes, the more mistakes he will make. Even if he means no harm. Something to keep in mind when you’re setting up a government agency.