Remember STAN LAUREL

54 years ago, we lost Stan Laurel, a comedy genius and my own personal idol.

From Wikipedia:

In January 1965, Stan Laurel underwent a series of x-rays for an infection on the roof of his mouth. He died on 23 February 1965, aged 74, four days after suffering a heart attack on 19 February.  Minutes before his death, he told his nurse that he would not mind going skiing, and she replied that she was not aware that he was a skier. "I'm not," said Laurel, "I'd rather be doing that than this!" A few minutes later, the nurse looked in on him again and found that he had died quietly in his armchair.

At his funeral, silent screen comedian Buster Keaton said, "Chaplin wasn't the funniest, I wasn't the funniest, this man was the funniest."  Dick Van Dyke gave the eulogy as a friend, protégé, and occasional impressionist of Laurel during his later years; he read "The Clown's Prayer".  Laurel had quipped, "If anyone at my funeral has a long face, I'll never speak to him again."  He was interred in Forest Lawn–Hollywood Hills Cemetery.

At Forest Lawn Cemetery, a plaque was placed reading:

STAN LAUREL
1890 - 1965
A MASTER OF COMEDY
HIS GENIUS IN THE ART OF HUMOR BROUGHT GLADNESS TO THE WORLD HE LOVED.

Joining the Laurel and Hardy appreciation society, the Sons Of The Desert, I was fortunate enough to meet Stan Laurel's daughter, Lois Laurel Hawes and visit Stan's final resting place with her, back in 1980, during the Sons of the Desert Second International Convention in Hollywood.

God Bless Stan Laurel!

STAN & OLLIE - The Movie

STAN & OLLIE, the biopic of comedians Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy was released in the US on December 28, 2018 and as of February 14, it had grossed a total of $4, 489,249.
The film earned several award nominations:
John C. Reilly was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for the Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy.
The film was nominated for the BAFTA Film Award for the Outstanding British Film of the Year.
Steve Coogan was nominated for the BAFTA Film Award for Best Leading Actor.

STAN & OLLIE earned praises and cheers from Laurel and Hardy fans all over the world in spite of some resistance early on.  I was lucky enough to be in New York in January and made it to a screening thanks to my son Ricardo, who promptly bought our tickets!

Frankly, I had my doubts about the characterizations and overall treatment of the story but in spite of the historical inaccuracies and factual distortions, the film is excellent, and both Coogan and Reilly give realistic and very moving performances. Shirley Henderson as Lucille Hardy and Nina Arianda as Ida Laurel are magnificently funny and likable. They almost walk away with the film. The rest of the cast is excellent. I do not completely subscribe to the portrayal of Mr. Hal Roach but all in all, this is an exceptional work of movie magic; the period is faithfully recreated and the entire production looks like a top-notch endeavor. Many touching moments and funny bits are edited in a very effective fashion and the film goes by very quickly, never dragging and always keeping you wondering what's coming up next. Some scenes are painfully realistic and you genuinely feel as if you're witnessing the woes and trials of two great comedians trying to recapture their former glory and popularity. 
Their theme song, Dance of the Cuckoos is thankfully present throughout!
If anything, the movie made me realize once again, how great Laurel and Hardy really were...and it reinforced my deep love for these two gentlemen.
The theater was little more than half full and most of the audience was made up of people around my age range. They were all quite appreciative and laughed at the right moments. The comments I overheard as we were walking out of the movie house were all very positive, with people remembering other L & H films and reminiscing about their favorite bits from the original films. The inclusion at the end credits of the actual dance sequence from WAY OUT WEST and photos from the real Laurel and Hardy in the same period of time was a nice surprise for me as was the dedication to Lois Laurel.
All in all, both thumbs way up for this film. 

                                                     

The release of the DVD was announced for March 26, 2019!

Of course, wishful thinking makes one hope that all of this will somehow contribute to a rediscovery and renewed appreciation of Laurel & Hardy's original body of work, for present and future generations to enjoy.

Doubtful, at best...but anyway, the film was a success and we, the old tried and true Laurel & Hardy fans, are simply grateful for it!

Happy Birthday, Oliver Hardy!

Oliver Hardy was born on January 18, 1892 in Harlem, Georgia.  With Stan Laurel, he was one half of the famous comedy team of Laurel & Hardy, active from 1927 to1955. 

He was portrayed by John C. Reilly in the recently released biopic STAN & OLLIE which depicts the pair's last years touring Britain and Ireland. 

The 2018 SONS OF THE DESERT Convention in Cincinnati gets underway today!

UNFORGETTABLE STAN LAUREL!

In Memoriam : Oliver Hardy - (January 18, 1892 - August 7, 1957)

Oliver Norvell Hardy, who was one half of Laurel and Hardy, the unforgettable comic team that began in 1927 and lasted until 1951, passed away on August 7th, 1957. His humor, legacy and enormous talent as a comedian shall keep bringing joy and laughter to all of those lucky enough to watch any of his many, many films. 

REMEMBERING STAN LAUREL...

SONS OF THE DESERT

According to the entry in Wikipedia, THE SONS OF THE DESERT is:
"an international fraternal organization devoted to the lives and films of comedians Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. The group takes its name from a lodge that Laurel and Hardy belonged to in the 1933 movie Sons of the Desert.   In 1964, a few years after the book, Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy, was published, author John McCabe formed a small group of Laurel and Hardy admirers, including Orson Bean, cartoonist Al Kilgore, Chuck McCann, and John Municino. McCabe created a mock-serious “constitution” that satirized the formalities of many social organizations. Stan Laurel endorsed and humorously revised the document; he suggested that members might wear a fez or blazer patch with the motto "Two Minds Without a Single Thought." Founding member Kilgore created a logo with the motto in Latin (in the spirit of Laurel’s dictum that the organization should have “a half-assed dignity” about it) as Duae tabulae rasae in quibus nihil scriptum est (literally: 'Two blank slates on which nothing has been written')."

These are the wonderful caricatures of Stan and Ollie masterfully rendered by the late great Al Kilgore, better known for drawing the Bullwinkle daily comic strip in the 60s.

I joined the club in 1976 and had the great fortune of being able to attend the First International Sons of the Desert Convention in Chicago the following year!

A lot of time has passed since then. Most of the celebrities we met at those first SOD conventions are no longer with us but great memories were left behind and as long as there are Laurel and Hardy fans in the world, their legacy will remain with us for a long while!

Long live Laurel and Hardy!

LAUREL & HARDY : The Magic Behind The Movies - A book by Randy Skretvedt

 Randy Skretvedt's book, "LAUREL & HARDY: The Magic Behind The Movies" is the definitive account of the comedy duo's career! The photos, text, graphic design and information are staggering and amazing. This is likely the most thoroughly researched book on The Boys ever produced. The bonus CD is nostalgic, informative and very entertaining! The entire package surpasses even other similar books in the sheer amount of information presented. Words cannot describe it fully...you HAVE to read it to appreciate the extent of Randy's work. Every Laurel and Hardy buff will be indebted to this man forever! The fact that I am mentioned in the book is the cherry on top of the cake for me!!  This is certainly the Laurel and Hardy book to end all Laurel & Hardy books!

Stan Laurel

I first read the sad news of Stan Laurel's passing on February 23rd, 1965, coming back from school at my grandma's house, where I usually stopped to read the paper before heading home. I was 14 years old at the time, and had been a fan since the mid-fifities when the local TV station began showing their shorts. RIP Stanley!

Stan Laurel, born Arthur Stanley Jefferson (June 16, 1890-February 23, 1965), most famous for his role in the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. With his comedy partner Oliver Hardy he appeared in 107 short films, feature films and cameo roles. Laurel began his career in the British music hall, from where he took a number of his standard comic devices: the bowler hat, the deep comic gravity, and the nonsensical understatement. His performances polished his skills at pantomime and music hall sketches. Laurel was a member of "Fred Karno's Army," where he was Charlie Chaplin's understudy. The two arrived in the US on the same ship from Britain with the Karno troupe. Laurel began his career in films in 1917 and made his last appearance in 1951. From 1928 onwards he appeared exclusively with Oliver Hardy. In August 1957, Oliver Hardy died. Laurel was too ill to attend his funeral and said, "Babe would understand".People who knew Laurel said he was devastated by Hardy's death and never fully recovered from it. He refused to perform on stage, or act in another film without his good friend, although he continued to socialize with his fans. Laurel was a heavy smoker until suddenly quitting around 1960. Stan Laurel died in February 1965, age 74, four days after suffering a heart attack. Just minutes away from death, Laurel told his nurse he would not mind going skiing right at that very moment. Somewhat taken aback, the nurse replied that she was not aware that he was a skier. "I'm not," said Laurel, "I'd rather be doing that than this!" A few minutes later the nurse looked in on him again and found that he had died quietly in his armchair. He is buried at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills.

My Laurel & Hardy Cartoon Collection

I joined the Laurel and Hardy appreciation society known as SONS OF THE DESERT in 1976 and had the fortune to meet Stan Laurel's daughter Lois when she flew to Mexico City on her way to Taxco. A delegation of our SOD branch, The Bullfighters Tent, was at the airport ready to greet her. Thus began a long friendship with Lois Laurel Hawes and many other wonderful members of the club. Most of these drawings were done during the first six years of my membership although I've managed to do a few more since then.

THE LAUREL AND HARDY CHRISTMAS CARDS: