1961 Letters
OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 OCEAN AVE., SANTA MONICA, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DECEMBER 1st.'61.
Dear Bill Brown:
Thanks yours, 27th,November with enclose of little snapshot of yourself.
I also recd. the nice card conveying the season's Greetings. I too wish you a Happy & Merry Yuletide, & all the best in the New Year.
Pleased to note you located the L&H book & have placed an order for a few - hope you will fully enjoy & find them interesting. Yes, there are a few illustrations & a fairly accurute listing of ur films, I of course do'nt know all the films Mr Hardy made before we got together, so am not sure if they appear in the listing or not - he started in the films a few years before me, so made many many shorts in his career.
Note you have a few of our comedies in 8mm. The untitled one you mention sounds like an old silent two reeler we made titled "Habeas Corpus", it was a story about a nutty Professor who hired us to go to a graveyard & did up a corpse, he was making an experiment to bring the body back to life. It was really a funny short even tho' the idea was gruesome. - was'nt as had as it sounds, we never accomplished our mission.!
Yes I saw the Jack Paar show you mention & heard his gracious tribute - I was quite touched so unexpected. A couple or his writers had visited me during the time he was in Hollywood - Not his Children (he only has one daughter) I met Rudolph Valentino & Lon Chaney Sr once or twice, & Wally Beery many times, I once made a trip to Mexico City, Mexico with him - he was a nice guy. I had several pictures made with Wally, but never Valentino or Chaney.
Note you are having snow up there, am sure its a wonderful sight, but I still do'nt envy you.!!
Again my regards & best.
Cheerio - God Bless.
As ever:
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.4th.'61.
Dear Rita [Harrison]: Thanks your nice letter. Glad to know all is well with you & your Grandpa Jackie is feeling much better.
Wish you all a very Merry Xmas, lots of good health & happiness in '62.
God Bless.
As ever:
'Uncle'
xxxx
STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
Note you read some article in ‘TV Guide’ about me being unhappy. I assure you I am not in the least unhappy. In fact, I am very happy and content in my retirement.
DEC.7th.'61.
Dear Phil [Heistad]:
Note you read some article in TV GUIDE about me being unhappy, etc., Don't pay attention to those magazine stories. I assure you I am not in the least unhappy, in fact I am very happy and content in my retirement. I don't know why these reporters make such false statements. Anyway, I could'nt care less what they say.
As ever:
STAN LAUREL.
Note from the Editor
Late in life, Stan constantly fought off untrue allegations of unhappiness and poverty started by sensationalized stories in tabloid newspapers. To Stan’s extreme displeasure, many European publications as well as the widely-distributed American magazine, TV Guide, ran similar stories as a result of new attention brought on him by his recent Oscar win.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DECEMBER 8th. '61.
Thanks [Arthur Westwood] for the very nice card - appreciated the kind remembrance. I too wish you & your family a very Merry Yuletide, lots of good health, success & happiness in '62.
Good luck - God Bless.
Note re the L&Hardy book - hope you will enjoy & find it interesting.
Sincerely as ever:
STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.9th.'61.
Dear Tom [Sefton]:
Recd. books today - have autographed & am returning them right away. (Via 4th.Class mail)
Regards & best from us both here.
Haste:
STAN LAUREL.
OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 OCEAN AVE., SANTA MONICA, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DECEMBER 11th.'61.
Dear Dick Sloan:
Many thanks your letter of the 7th.inst. & tape which arrived this AM. I am very happy to have the tape - indeed a pleasant surprise, especially the Charlie Ruggles broadcast, I did'nt know about that one. Appreciate very much your kind thought & the trouble involved in copying & shipping to me.
Re Dick Van Dyke's visit with me - there was no discussion whatsoever as to my preference for him to portray me in the L&H Story which David Susskind intends to produce, the casting will be the producers choice, not mine - Dick is a very clever comic, very talented, he does resemble me facially but thats about all, firstly, he is much taller & his mannerisms are entirely his own style. I enjoyed very much meeting him, a very interesting chap - I understand he bought a home out here & intends to settle here permanently.
I'll try & make you a tape copy (audio) of "this is Your Life", will have to get someone to do it for me am not able to thread up the film in the projector on account of my left arm (affected by the stroke) also have no connection to the loud speaker from the tape recorder. It may take some time.! I have plenty of spare tape so do'nt bother about that.
All for now Dick. Wish you & yours a very Merry Yuletide, lots of health & happiness in '62.
Good luck - God Bless.
Sincerely as ever:
STAN LAUREL.
STAN LAUREL AND DICK VAN DYKE - 1961
Gene Lester Adds
Dick and Stan were doing things that were hilarious. Dick would get up and do some funny schtick as if he were playing a Laurel character, scratching his head and making the distinct Stan Laurel faces. Stan would say, “No, you do it like this,” and he would take Dick’s face and he’d start molding it, and I kept on snapping pictures.
OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN EXCERPT
Marlowe corresponded with me a year or so ago. He has visited me a couple of times. I considered him an acquaintance more than a friend.
DEC.11th.'61.
Dear Steve [Anderson]:
I was indeed surprised to note that Don Marlowe had broadcast a recorded telephone conversation between he & I - He did call me once when he first started on the program & asked me if I would agree to talking on the phone with him during one of his program appearances - I told him I was not in favor of this & declined his request. Sometime later he called me again under the pretense of just a social call, enquiring my health, etc., evidently he was tape recording this second conversation for the purpose of broadcasting without my knowledge - pretty sneaky.
Actually, Marlowe corresponded with me a year or so ago & he has visited me a couple of times, I considered him an acquaintance more than a friend - he certainly took a lot of liberty recording this phone call.
Note from the Editor
Don Marlowe, produced and sold a record of his secretly recorded telephone conversation with Stan after his death. He was also an “acquaintance” of other Hollywood legends including Bela Lugosi. Before that, Marlowe was a bit-player in Hollywood “B” pictures and appeared in a film titled Squad Car in 1961. He also wrote a book in 1969 titled, The Hollywood That Was about his “mis”-adventures in the film business.
OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
They tried to threaten me by teaming Harry Langdon with Mr. Hardy, so I told them that was their privilege.
DEC.12th.'61.
Dear Bill Brown:
Thanks yours 7th.inst. also Postcard views of Winnipeg. Very interesting to see the great changes made since I was there last.
The reason I did'nt appear in that "Zenobia" film - my contract had expired at the studio & I would'nt agree to the terms they offered in a new contract, so they tried to threaten me by teaming Harry Langdon with Mr Hardy, so I told them that was their privilege, the rest of course is history.
Out of the names you mentioned - Tom Kennedy, Billy Gilbert & Walter Wolf-King are still around, - Mae Busch, Ed Kennedy, Charlie Chase & James Finlayson passed on several years ago. The character in the "Ghost Ship" who played the drunk also died sometime ago, I can't recall his name offhand.
Re Hoot Gibson, I believe he died a year or so ago.
With pleasure I'll autograph your book, do'nt worry about return postage or wrapping etc. I'll take care of that.
No I never met Mr Lugosi or Mr Karloff.
Not much else to tell you, so bye for now.
Again, wish you a wonderful Xmas, & a Happy prosperous New Year.
Cheerio.
As ever:
STAN LAUREL.
Note from the Editor
The actor who played the drunken sailor in The Live Ghost (1934) was Arthur Housman (1889-1942). Housman also appeared with Laurel and Hardy in Scram! (1932), and Our Relations (1936).
OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.14th.'61.
Dear Antoinette & Leon Handler:
Many thanks for the very nice card - your kind remembrance is much appreciated. Mrs Laurel too joins in wishing you both a very Merry Yuletide, lots of good health & a Happy prosperous New Year.
The Film that you describe was called "SWISS MISS" - you certainly have a wonderful memory! The line when Mr Hardy said to the waiter "I'll have some apple pie & in the meantime bring me a 'Demi-Tasse' - Laurel said "Bring me a 'Demi-Tasse' too - IN A LARGE CUP."!
It is certainly interesting to read your description of the Occupation year in France - am sure you have enough material to write a book.
Again our thanks & kind thoughts.
God Bless you.
Sincerely as ever:
STAN LAUREL.
OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN EXCERPT
DEC.15th.'61.
Dear Steve [Anderson]:
As I told you in my last, I was writing to Mr. Don Marlowe regarding that recorded telephone conversation with me which you told me was broadcast one Sunday afternoon. He called me by phone last night & flatly denied ever having done such a thing on his program at any time. I did'nt mention your name or address to him, as I do'nt want you to get involved. Would you be kind enough to give me the name of the Station that Marlowe's program is on & roughly the date of this broadcast - also would like to have the name of the columnist & paper who you mention had reviewed this particular show - for some reason I doubt Mr. Marlowe's denial.
POSTCARD - 849 OCEAN AVE., SANTA MONICA, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.16th.'61.
Thank you [Randy Johnson] for the kind remembrance - I wish you too a Merry Xmas, Good luck & happiness in the New Year.
Sincerely:
STAN LAUREL.
NO LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
Bud Abbott seems to have disappeared since he was evicted from his home—poor guy.
DECEMBER 17th.'61.
Dear Earl [Shank, Jr.]:
Thanks yours,I3th.inst. I got a big kick out of the 'Old Gold' Adv. I think that was used in 1929. - first time I saw this display card, we look like a couple of teen-agers.!!
You've certainly had some bad snow storms back there & was'nt that Air disaster in New York shocking, what a tragedy, a sad Xmas for all those relatives - I imagine a lot of people will be cancelling their Air travel this season.
Terribly sorry to hear the deal did'nt materialize, thats sure discouraging - I know Walter will be very disappointed - well lets hope you'll finally get a live prospect.
Am still taking the regular 'Unicaps' (small pills), the Clini-tests range tween Negative & 2 plus, occasionally 3, most times trace. I still am off the cigarettes, can hardly believe it.!
Note you are now interested in a Tape recorder - mine is a 'Wollensak' small portable, (model T 1500.) its a pretty reliable machine, but I think the 'Telefunken' product is far superior - may cost a little more, but really worth it. You'd get a lot of pleasure out of one Earl, the operation is very simple, yon soon catch on. If you do decide to get one, I shall be happy to send you some copies of my collection of disc records, the ones Walter told you about.
I have a portable Magnavox record player, hooked up to my tape machine, so its very easy to make these copies.
David Susskind the N.Y. TV producer is contemplating a 90 minute special show next January for the Dupont Co. The L&H story, with Jackie Gleason & Art Carney, the deal has'nt been finalized as yet but looks very promising - depends if Dupont Co. OK the story script.
Bud Abbott seems to have disappeared, have'nt seen or heard of him since he was evicted from his home - poor guy.
I saw the Parrott routine on 'Candid Camera' last Sunday - very funny - I think that show could very well do without Senor Godfrey - somehow or other, he annoys me. I have'nt watched 'Maverick' for sometime now.
Not much else to tell you Earl, so Mrs L (Eda) joins in wishing Jean, self & kiddies, a very Merry Yuletide, lots of good health & a happy & successful New Year.
Good luck & God Bless you all.
As ever:
Note from the Editor
William Alexander ‘Bud’ Abbott (1897-1974) was the straight man of the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. In the the 1950s, the IRS demanded heavy back taxes, forcing the partners to sell most of their assets, including the rights to many of their films.
OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.18th.'61.
My Dear Ben [Shipman]:
Enclosed from our friend Mr Hanscome re the damage deposit on Franklin St. house.
As I told you previously, there was no evidence of damage, so I guess we are obliged to refund the amount of $50.
Hope you had a nice time in Washington. Will be talking with you soon, so bye for now.
Thanks Ben.
As ever:
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.18th.'61.
Thank you [Louise Williams] for the lovely card - I too wish you & yours a very Merry Xmas, lots of good health, success & happiness in 1962.
Very sincerely:
STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.18th.'61.
Thanks for the kind remembrance - I too wish you & yours a very Merry Yuletide, lots of good health, success & happiness in 1962.
Good luck - God Bless.
Sincerely as ever:
STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.18th.'61.
Thanks Johnny [Municino] & Mary for the nice card. We here too wish you a very Merry Yuletide, lots of good health, success & happiness in 1962. & that goes [for] young Albert too.!!
God Bless you all.
As ever:
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.18th.'61.
Thanks Buck [Earl Manbeck] & Bonnie for your kind remembrance. Eda, too, joins in wishing you a very Merry Yuletide. Lots of good health, success & happiness in 1962.
God Bless.
As ever:
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.18th.'61.
Many thanks [Billy Purcell] for the kind remembrance. Wish you too a very Merry Xmas, good health, success & happiness in 1962.
Very Sincerely:
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.18th.'61.
Thanks [Mr. & Mrs. Short] for your kind remembrance. We here too wish you both a very Merry Xmas, lots of good health, success & happiness in 1962.
Good luck - God Bless.
Sincerely as ever:
STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.19th.'61.
Thank you Gary [Arnold] for the nice letter, Card & photograph. Can't get over how much you've grown. Happy to know you are doing so well in your various studies & your CSF activities etc. congratulations. I too wish you & yours a very MERRY YULETIDE, lots of good health continued success & happiness in 1962.
Very sincerely,
As ever:
STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.20th.'61.
Many thanks Bob & Marie [Hatfield] for your kind remembrance Card & Gift (unopened) Eda joins in [wishing] you & Mother a very Merry Yuletide, health, happiness & a prosperous New year.
Writing later.
Inhaste:
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.21st.'61.
Thanks Al [Kilgore] & Dolores for your kind remembrance. Eda too joins in wishing you all a very Merry Xmas, good health, success & happiness in the New Year.
God Bless.
As ever:
STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.21st.'61.
Dear [Ilmija] Laivins:
Thank you [Ilmija Laivins] for the kind remembrance. I too wish you & your family a very Merry Yuletide, lots of good health, & a happy successful New Year.
Very sincerely,
STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.21st.'61.
Thanks Herbert [Read] for your kind remembrance. Mrs L too joins in wishing you & yours a very Merry Xmas, good health, success & happiness in '62.
God Bless.
As ever:
STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.22nd.'61.
Thanks Edmund [Tester]for tape & season's greetings. Mrs L too joins in wishing you & your family a very MERRY XMAS, lots of god health & a Happy Successful NEW YEAR.
God Bless.
As ever:
OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 OCEAN AVE., SANTA MONICA, CA - TYPEWRITTEN EXCERPT
DEC.23rd.'61.
Dear Steve [Anderson]:
Thanks for your interesting letter with enclosure of 'Minneapolis Star' TV review by Forrest Powers - I appreciate very much your giving me the information on the Don Marlowe Broadcast, it is certainly definitely proved that he lied to me about the whole thing. I have just written him again, requesting a copy of the recording he broadcast, if he does'nt send it, I should like very much to borrow your copy for a while to have a recording copied from yours, which of course I shall return to you. I may write to the station management as to whether he quit or was fired - I'll keep you posted on further developments.
WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM
DEC 24 PM 61 Profile
THOMAS SEFTON AND FAMILY
3910 HENRY ST SANDIEGO CALIF
WISHING YOU ALL A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS, GOOD HEALTH AND HAPPINESS IN 62 VERY SINCERELY
EDA AND STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.27th.'61.
Dear Ron Miller:
Thanks your nice letter - I shall be pleased to have you visit me, if you will be kind enough to give me a call sometime after new Year, we can arrange a convenient date for some afternoon.
Wish you a happy, healthy & prosperous 1962.
Very sincerely:
STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.28th.'61.
Thank you (Gerard Stigter) for your kind remembrance. I too wish you & yours a Very Happy New Year, lots of good health & a successful 1962.
Good luck - God Bless you.
Very sincerely:
STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.28th.'61.
Thanks Frank [Buxton] for kind remembrance. We here wish you a very Happy New Year, good health & continued success in 1962.
As ever:
STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.29th.’61.
Many thanks [Mr. & Mrs. Buck Manbeck] for the lovely Pointsetta plant. Deeply appreciate your kind thought.
Again we wish you a very Happy & prosperous New Year..
Sincerely as ever:
STAN LAUREL.
OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 OCEAN AVE., SANTA MONICA, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.29th.'61.
Dear Charlie Thompson:
Thanks for your recent letter regarding your idea of starting a L&H fan club - frankly, there's not much advice I can offer you on this project. I would suggest you get in touch with Mr Chuck McCann, W.P.I.X TV station, 220, East 42nd.St. New York.17.N.Y. he has a program on that station that run L&H films throughout the week & has just organized a Fan Club - enclosed is a sample of the membership card - maybe you could start a TEXAS chapter.
Trust you had a merry Xmas, wish you & the Mrs a wonderful New Year, lots of good health & a happy & successful 1962.
Wish you big success with the new Theatre Buck. Kindest regards from us both here.
Good luck Charlie - God Bless.
As ever:
STAN LAUREL.
LAUREL & HARDY & CHUCK FAN CLUB MEMBERSHIP CARD - 1961
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.29th.'61.
Thank you [Ellen Stoneburner] for your kind remembrance.
Wish you & yours a wonderful New Year, lots of good health, success & happiness in 1962.
Very sincerely:
STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.29th.'61.
Thanks [Jack Frost] for the kind remembrance.
Wish you & yours a wonderful New Year, good health, success & happiness in '62.
Sincerely as ever:
STAN LAUREL.
