Laurel & Hardy

[Mark R]

They played Liverpool on many occasions. Greatest double act ever.

[Ged]

Yeah, better that Toshack and Keegan or Sharp and Heath.

http://www.laurel-and-hardy.com/


The website seems to just cover the Hal Roach years but they made some (possibly less quality) films after leaving his stable (As Stan wasn't allowed his imput)

I have them on 'This is your life' too (available in the shops) and also some home cine footage showing a very thin Hardy shortly before his death (also now widely available)

Their last film 'Utopia' shows a very ill Stan who had collapsed on set a few times.

[Mark R]

Yeah, I've got that copy you mentioned This Is Your Life. I think I have every film they made (with the obvious exceptions Hats Off & The Rogue Song). Some of my favourite films are: (Shorts) Brats, Busy Bodies, Me and My Pal, Dirty Work (I have nothing to say...), & Towed in a Hole. (Features): Sons of the Desert, Blockheads, Our Relations, Fra Diavolo, The Bohemian Girl. I just think everything about their films is fantastic - from the music to the supporting cast.

[Ged]

Yeah, same here. I first got into them as a youngster when they'd be on on saturday mornings. It wasn't until much later that I started collecting their stuff and went up to Ulverston to see Stan's house and the L&H museum. Like all good partnerships, their being came about quite by accident as you'll know and their beginnings couldn't have been in more stark contrast. Is there anything they haven't been? Policemen, bandits, convicts, Legionaires, Bull fighters, Workmen, Sailors ha ha.....

[John(Zappa)]

Speaking of L & H...
The best L & H impersonators will be performing at the Adelphi on 1st December along with...
Sean Styles & Willie Miller plus many more.
Only 250 tickets left.
Wanna go then I may be able to help.:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

[Mark R]

It wasn't until much later that I started collecting their stuff and went up to Ulverston to see Stan's house and the L&H museum.

Yeah, I've been up to Ulverston a few times. They are going to put the statue up apparently some time soon (but we've heard that before...).

[Cadfael]

A Major fan of L&H too with most of their films tucked away here. They crease me laughing and they are the best medicine for when you are feeling down.

I've got down on the floor and beaten my hand on the floor such have I been laughing at some of their 'tricks'.

They were propper comedy people and were amazingly talented and brave. It wasn't just slapstick, it was correct timing and the fact that they took some blows as well.

:PDT11

[The Gardens]

One of my favourite shorts is 'Men of War'. I went to Hollywood this summer and got some lookalikes (pictured with my kids) to recite the 'soda, soda, soda' line, brilliant :)

[ChrisGeorge]

One of my favourite shorts is 'Men of War'. I went to Hollywood this summer and got some lookalikes (pictured with my kids) to recite the 'soda, soda, soda' line, brilliant :)

Laurel better than Hardy in this shot. :handclap:

Chris

[Ged]

They influenced so many of todays sketch comedians and those too in the 70s and 80s such as Little and Large (who impersonated them) as well as the 2 Ronnies, Morecambe and Wise and Russ Abbot. I think Roy Castle or Frank Skinners versions of Stan are the best though.

[Mark R]

I don't know why the BBC don't continue to screen their films.
I think I have every book that has been published on them.

[Ged]

Hear hear Mark. I can put them on anytime and I introduced my kids to their films and now they love them too but I'd like a wider, newer audience to get to see them instead of all the constant repeated films. However, one convention I ventured to did have a lot of 20 - 30 year olds which is a start.

This page is from their site and the extended synopsis gives a detailed account of how and why 'our relations' came about, I imagine it was a nightmare to shoot ha ha, a very intricate story line for the time.

http://www.laurel-and-hardy.com/featureshort/home3.html

[Mark R]

Excellent link Ged. Nice one

[shytalk]

I have got to admit I haven't seen Laurel and Hardy since I was a kid.
Having seen all your comments I have decided to acquire some of their movies. It will take a little while but I will watch them and give you mu opinion. :unibrow:

Any old port
Berth mark
The brat
chimps
Are the ones I am getting.

[Ged]

Hiya Shy - good on yer.

We all have our personal faves and i'd only class one of those 'Brats' as in my top ten but as is usual with anything subjective, one mans food is another mans poison so enjoy.

[Ged]

There's a bloke in our place who claims to do the work of two people - 'yeah, Laurel & Hardy' I tell him.

This picture is entitled 'Sons of the desert - another fine mess'.

[ChrisGeorge]

There's a bloke in our place who claims to do the work of two people - 'yeah, Laurel & Hardy' I tell him.

This picture is entitled 'Sons of the desert - another fine mess'.

Hi Ged

I recognized Tony Blair after I blew the pic up. I guess the other one is meant to be Brown, is that right?

Chris

[Ged]

No Chris, it's meant to be your very own Mr. G.B.

[Mark R]

Yeah, I got that postcard from News From Nowhere on Bold Street. Although I think it is a bit of an insult to L&H :badgrin:

[marky]

Laurel and Hardy were famous enough to appear on the Beatles Sgt. Peppers album cover.
There was also a statue (fibre-glass? ) of them at the International Garden Festival. It's a mystery where this statue is today. I don't think I've seen any pics of it, either.

[The Gardens]

Laurel & Hardy played live in Liverpool on 3 occaisions, including an appearance on the Liverpool Empire, see attached link;

http://members.aol.com/Lahbritishtours/liverpool.html

[John(Zappa)]

Speaking of L & H...
The best L & H impersonators will be performing at the Adelphi on 1st December along with...
Sean Styles & Willie Miller plus many more.
Only 250 tickets left.
Wanna go then I may be able to help.:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

Not many tickets left.All for a good cause.Plenty of other acts.
Not to be missed:PDT_Piratz_26:

[Mark R]

Yes, I think I have a postcard of the Laurel & Hardy statue that was at the Garden Festival in 1984. If I am correct it was called The Walrus and the Carpenter.

[Mark R]

Laurel & Hardy played live in Liverpool on 3 occaisions, including an appearance on the Liverpool Empire, see attached link;

L&H played Liverpool on tour in 1947, 1952 and 1953-54 (appearing at the Empire on all three tours). They stayed at the Adelphi on all three tours.

Stan Laurel as a solo artist played the original Empire, The Hippodrome (West Derby Road, with Chaplin), The Pavilion (Lodge Lane, again, with Chaplin) and the Irving Theatre (over the water in Seacombe).

[Mark R]

The original Empire Theatre on Lime Street as it was when Stan Laurel played there 8 August 1910. Stan was still known as Stan Jefferson then. The production he appeared in was Karno's Jimmy The Fearless.(Thanks to G Walter George)

[Mark R]

Unfortunately Laurel & Hardy were not to visit Liverpool on their 1932 tour. L&H appeared at the Empire from 19th May 1947, again the 19th May 1952 in A Spot of Trouble, and from 26th October 1953 in Birds of a Feather. They stayed at the Adelphi during all three tours.

[Mark R]

The Irving Theatre (Borough Road, Seacombe).
Stan appeared here (as Jefferson) in Levy & Cardwell's The Sleeping Beauty on 24 February 1908. The theatre was named after notable actor Sir Henry Irving, with Irving himself laying the foundation stone.

[Mark R]

The Hippodrome on West Derby Road in 1907. Stan Laurel appeared here in Fred Karno's Skating (with Charlie Chaplin) 7 March 1910.

[Mark R]

The Pavilion (Lodge Lane). Known as 'The Pivvy', Stan appeared at this venue from 10 January 1910 in Karno's Mumming Birds and where, according to A.J. Marriott, Stan probably first met Chaplin.

[Ged]

I've got the footage of their UK visit to the North East where tens of thousands turned out and they were playing up to the cameras and clowning around.

A mini biography on each here:


http://members.aol.com/goodturn1/stlaurel.htm



http://members.aol.com/GoodTurn1/olhardy.htm

[Mark R]

Hi Ged. Yes, I've got footage of some of their appearances from different parts of the country (Edinburgh et al). I have never seen footage of any of their visits to Liverpool though. Disappointment really...I don't even know if there is any...

[Mark R]

Here's a photo I found in a copy of Post & Mercury (dated March 1931). It shows a picture of Chaplin in Mumming Birds (he's on the right holding the paddle). It was taken in Sacramento, California in 1911. I am 99% sure that that is Stan Laurel lying down in the middle (but I could be wrong). He appeared with Chaplin in the production and was known as 'Stan Jefferson' at the time.

[PhilipG]

This is opposite "Funny Girls" (the former Odeon).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2289/2055703101_b066a199ff_o.jpg

[Ged]

A deep Stan pizza topped with olivers.

[lindylou]

Ha,ha, that's good Philip. :D

[Mark R]

One of my favourite photos: Susannah York and Beryl Reid (from the film The Killing of Sister George).

[Cadfael]

The Pavilion (Lodge Lane). Known as 'The Pivvy', Stan appeared at this venue from 10 January 1910 in Karno's Mumming Birds and where, according to A.J. Marriott, Stan probably first met Chaplin.

Is this a rebuilt building? I've a picture of what appears to be the Pavilion on Lodge Lane from a side on view and it's nothing like this - taken during the war.

[Mark R]

Yes, I think the building has seen drastic changes down the years. I have other photos from different eras of it and some of them have a different facade. It is the same location though. There was a fire at the Pavilion around Easter 1986 which caused substantial damage to the building.