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STANLIO E OLLIE
March 2007
Hi:
Came across your interesting website featuring
these immortal artists.
During 1938 I had the pleasure to participate
with a talented group of youngsters performing for various clubs. I was
Hardy and my brother was Laurel. We traveled all over Italy until the
winds of war became a factor.
I am enclosing a photo of one of our
appearances.
Jonathan
THE BOYS GET PLASTERED
November 2006
I thank you in
advance for taking the time to
read what I'm pretty sure will be an all-too-long email, but for what
it's worth, here goes.
I am in possession of a plaster bust - more of
a hanging plaque, actually - of the boys that, if I believe what has
been told to me, may be rather rare. It is the validity of the story
that I seek comment on. I acquired this large and weighty bust
about twenty five years ago. I first spied it about five years prior
hanging on the wall of a home at which I was conducting some business.
Being a lifelong fan of L & H, I asked the owner about it. This is
what he told me.
Back in the day, he worked for Hal Roach
Studios. He said three busts were commissioned: One for Stan, one for
Oliver, and one for Mr. Roach. What I was looking at was the original
mold. I asked him if he was interested in selling it, and was
politely turned down. I told him if he ever changed his mind, let me
know. Five years later, he did just that. The bust measures 23
1/4" x 29" and has a relief of nearly 6". It weighs 43 pounds. The back
clearly shows the finger strokes used to mold the clay. It is blended
with straw. The front captures the boys' essence better than
anything I've seen, both in their traditional derbys and impish smiles.
So, my question of those who know far more
than I: Is what I think I have in fact what I have? What do you know of
what I've described?
I will be indebted for any enlightening
comments you may make.
Thank you again for taking the time to consider the
contents of this inquiry. You have permission to print my
original letter, pictures and my email address on your website. I'll
keep you updated on any info it may generate.
Don Martin
thtrcrtc@yahoo.com
Editor's note: Readers, any
ideas? You may email Mr. Martin at the address listed above.
GOOD OLD DAYS
March, 2006
Since I grew up in Inglewood, California, I
saw many of the Films that Hal Roach produced. Early in
1962 I had the occasion to visit the Hal Roach lot in Culver City and
wander about the lot. The occasion was to preview the
auction of what was left of the studio. I wish I had stayed the
following days and purchased some items from the lot. I was
especially fond of Laurel And Hardy and also the Our Gang
Comedies. I still have fond memories of that long lost
time. In high school I had the occasion of being in "Brigadoon"
with Gene Kelly and Van Johnson and have fond memories of what the old
lot at MGM was like. I also remember the old back lot
that MGM had about a mile or so south of the main lot. It had a
lake and other out buildings. Ohh for the good memories.
Tom Owens
Cypress Calif.
AND A GREAT BIG HELLO TO YOU, TOO!
August 21st, 2005
A Great big Hello to Laurel and Hardy
Central:
I just found your
site and I must tell you it is a wonderful site!! Thank you so much for
such a fine tribute to L and H. I have been a lover of ‘the boys’ since
I was ten years old and my father took me to see Way Out West at a L and H
revival at City Center in NYC . I started collecting the
Blackhawk 8mm and Super 8 prints not long after that. By the time I was
in High School I had a lot of the boy’s films. My buddy Barry who was
thin and I was heavy so Stan and Ollie where role models to us, we
would dress like them and imitate them on occasion much to the chagrin
of our teachers. Once I graduated college I sort of lost touch with L
and H and moved on to other things. Now a middle-age man I have
rediscovered the boys and have started collecting their films on DVD. I
remember how once they brought such laughs and warmth to my childhood.
This brings me to the main reason I am writing.
It is no secret the
discontent L and H fans are feeling about Hallmark who now own most of
the L and H collection and the horrible versions they have been
releasing. They are doing the same with the Our Gang Comedies which is
a whole other story. It is a shame that American film classics (like L
and H) get more attention and love outside of the U.S than in it. I
just bought the Universal Laurel and Hardy 21 Volume Box set which is
only available in Europe from Amazon UK (region 2). This set is
EVERYTHING people are saying it is. It is a complete film history of
the boys which starts with the boys early silent films (some solo
efforts) and goes though the Hal Roach Features. All the prints are
restored and of pristine quality. It is a truly beautiful set and a
worthy tribute to the boys. There are some missing films (I assume for
copyright reasons) such as Babes in Toyland, The Devils Brother, Bonnie
Scotland and Flying Deuces.
To accommodate these DVDs I bought a region
free DVD player off Amazon, which is the only way to go if you really
want to collect. The DVD player was very cheap, plays beautifully and
is well worth the investment. As a side note if you have a region free
player all the DVDs in the Universal Box set are also available as
single discs, in case you don't want to spend all the money at once or
just want a few of the films. If you love Laurel and Hardy this is the
only way to go! Anything to screw Hallmark and the corporate monster!!
Why did they buy these great films just to sit on them and distribute
half-A prints!!!
Edward R. Fernandez
MR. LEVITY KNOCKS ON OUR PHONE
In a
recent news item, we quoted (without attribution) a newsgroup post
written by Mr. Levity, who is well known in the L&H Usenet
group. We were pleased to hear from him a few days later.
July 20th
Hello Laurel and Hardy Central,
What a surprise it was for me to see one of my
L+H ng posts on your welcome page under the heading: DON'T BELIEVE
EVERYTHING YOU READ ON THE INTERNET. Well, hey, you know how it is when
you read stuff and want to share with other Laurel and Hardy buffs.
Actually on the TCM forum they apologized for the mistake. They say
they really do have an upgraded transfer of WAY OUT WEST but some guy
at the station pulled the old broadcast master from the April first
showings. Who knows. We shall see. Hopefully there really is a better
print source for another broadcast and there will be more prime time
Laurel & Hardy showings soon. Apparently TCM made a digital
broadcast master of WAY OUT WEST from a better 35mm print. If this is
true, why would TCM pay for this and not Hellmark? Anyway, Laurel and
Hardy will always be most welcome on TV as far as I am concerned. You
realize the tapes TCM have from Hellmark are 30 year old analog tapes.
TCM are used to broadcasting digitally mastered tapes. If any of the
films look decent as A CHUMP AT OXFORD does, it doesn't compare with
the crisp clear image I get from my Kinowelt DVD from restored 35mm
pre-print materials. I am delighted to see Stan and Ollie back on TV ,
airing on TCM where they belong. Unfortunately Laurel and Hardy
are still getting the shaft through Hellmark with careless
treatment and outright refusal to properly restore these classics.
Your site is one of the best, I regularly visit and
read the interesting articles and reviews. Keep up the great work guys!
Best
Mister Levity
MEMORIES OF THANKSGIVING
July 4th, 2005
Hi,
I just found your website -
WOW it is
GREAT! I have been an L & H fans for
the last 30
years give or take (I am 43). I started collecting Blackhawk
prints on
Super 8 and then of course I got the Holy Grail of Laurel and Hardy
films on
Super 8, BABES IN TOYLAND, from
England. In the 1980's I actually exchanged Christmas
cards with Hal Roach and to this day I truly love Stan and
Ollie. My most cherished memories of growing up here
in
Long Island is of Thanksgiving Days when I would watch The Macy's
Thanksgiving Day, then switch the channel to watch at 12:30 or
1pm MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS. In fact those
memories inspired me to write a book recently published "MACY'S
THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE"
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK
GUYS!
Warmest regards,
Bob Grippo
WE KEEP 'EM COMING BACK FOR MORE
Hi Guys,
This is a great
site that I didn't even know about until about 3 weeks ago. I
just keep coming back to read more and more. I agree with everything
you have to say about the new Hallmark DVD's. I am happy to have them
but they should have been better. I just recently bought Jitterbugs and
Dancing Masters on DVD from a guy on E-Bay. They are so rare I
thought I should go for it. I didn't pay much so I the sorta
okay picture quality is better than not ever getting them at all.
The sound is good. I don't think they have ever been out at all. I
don't think I have ever seen Dancing Masters before in my entire
53 years. Fox should take there 6 L&H films and put them out like
Universal did with the Ma and Pa Kettle films on DVD.
Lyle
TURN ON, TUNE IN, HEAR THE SOUND DROP OUT
Your website is correct; you are the
central of all things Laurel and Hardy. Anyone who can quickly
review their April Fools marathon or review A-Haunting-We-Will,
is a dedicated fan.
In all my years watching TCM, I have never
witnessed a sound dropout in any film presentation. Was I watching a
“professional broadcast station” or did I accidentally turn on Public
Access TV?
And why twenty-four hours of Laurel and Hardy?
Why not “Laurel and Hardy Stars of the Month?” Every Friday could have
been reserved for some great Laurel and Hardy films.
For now, I’ll check your excellent website,
look at some of my Laurel and Hardy videos, and check out their newest
DVD release: Utopia: The Director’s Cut.
Keep up the great work,
Steve
PS: Did you notice, a sound dropout
occurred at the end of Sons of the Desert when Oliver Hardy
took up a drinking glass and blew in it, making the sound of a horn on
a ship. It’s one of the most creative gags in the film. Too bad, you
couldn’t hear. One word for TCM: No Christmas cards this year!!!
SHORT AND SWEET
February 22, 2005
OK guys, now you've done it!
This may be the best website I've ever seen (and I'm a computer
professional of 30 years). I cannot stop reading it, and it is of such
high quality that I forget I'm reading website content and not the
greatest book ever written about The Boys. I am hooked for life, and
will make a contribution some day.
Chip
SHORT AND SWEET, PART D'OH
January 28, 2005
I've been a fan since a child and just to see their faces -
cheers me up, such comical genius and gentle enfusion of their spirts
make me happy.
John M.
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Copyright © John Larrabee,
John V.
Brennan 2005.
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