Mum's Monday: Remembering Laurel and Hardy

By Sandra and Roy Hudson

This world famous comedy duo who gave us many years of laughter between 1921 to 1951 still lives on today through various memorabilia, conventions/appreciation societies, Tents, and museums.

Stan Laurel was born in Ulverston Cumbria England in 1890. The house where he was born in Argyle street has a plaque displayed on the front saying that he was born there, and the house opposite is named “Laurel View”. This Is easy to find as part of a Stan Laurel trail around the town of Ulverston starting at the Laurel and Hardy museum and produced by www.visitulverston.com.

Oliver Hardy was born in Harlem Georgia USA in 1892, where there is a Laurel and Hardy museum on N Louisville street. If you are in the area on 1^st October 2016, you will be able to take part in the annual Oliver Hardy Festival where you will can celebrate his life and legacy.

Some places you can visit from their life in the film industry: You can go and see both Laurel and Hardy’s stars on Hollywood Boulevard the Walk of Fame Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. Stan Laurel’s is located on the north side block 7000, and Oliver Hardy’s is located east side block 1500 Vine street. 

Another place you can visit in Hollywood Los Angeles is The music box steps on N Vendome street. These steps were used in the film “The Music Box”, and the lost film, “Hats Off”. These steps are the original steps, although over the years the scene has changed drastically with houses having been built, plants and trees have grown around the area and the road to the top that was also featured in the film no longer exists. There is a sign and a plaque and you can still see it was the place used in the film. If you are interested in Laurel and Hardy and find yourself in the area, the steps are a good place for a good look into history.

Before and after pics of the famous Music Box Steps

Oliver Hardy died in 1957 in North Hollywood and is buried at the Valhalla Memorial Park cemetery. Stan Laurel died in 1965 in Santa Monica and is buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial park. Both are situated in Los Angeles, California.

The Laurel and Hardy legacy lives on through a complete remastered DVD box set of their films, two museums, one in Uverston and one in Harlem, the Stan Laurel Inn in Ulverston, and The Sons of the Desert Appreciation Society, which include over a hundred tents named after their films. They are situated in various places across England and in some places in America. The closest one to us is the Men O’ War Tent in Manningtree of which we are a member of. Throughout most of the year, members get together to watch Laurel and Hardy films and to remember the comedy duo. There was a convention at the museum in Ulverston on the 16^th July 2016. An up incoming film “Stan and Ollie” is in production and will see the duo near the end of their careers in 1953. Stan will be played by Steve Coogan, and Oliver will be played by John C. Reilly.

Jeffrey Holland has a one-man play called “…And this is my Friend, Mr. Laurel”, In the show, he plays Stan Laurel talking to Oliver Hardy whilst his friend has been taken seriously ill and just before he passes away about their life together, and although it is an empty bed you really get the feeling Oliver is there as Jeffrey plays Stan so well.

However, you view this comedy history, whether you visit some places, join a society or just watch one of their films, this comedy duo’s legacy will live on for years to come.