1964 Letters
STAN LAUREL LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
FEB.3rd.'64.
Dear Irene [Heffernan]:
Just a few more stamps -
Trust both you & Jim are in good health -
Eda joins in love & bestest -
As always -
x x
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
FEB.6th.'64.
Dear Dick [Sloan]:
Thanks for Tape "Tell Us More" have made a copy & have just returned [to] you this AM. via Parcel Post.
Again thanks & bestest -
As always -
STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
FEB.7th.'64.
Thanks Trixie [Wyatt] your welcome letter. Pleased you recd. the Lipstick OK. Yes, Georgie Wood dropped in to see me a couple of times during his visit to California (Same old Georgie!) Eda joins in wishing you a wonderful New Year, Lots of good health & a Happy 1964.
Take Care - God Bless.
As always*
x x x
STAN LAUREL.
P.S. Just Heard Jackie Harrison suffered a Stroke recently! no doubt he is living at his SIsters place in Altrincham, Cheshire.
STAN LAUREL LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
FEB.7th.'64.
Dear Dave Dixon:
Thanks your interesting letter 4th.inst. Due to my health situation - please understand my being brief. Re: "Two Tars" Not having seen this film in many years, its impossible to know if any of the picture has been eliminated. It was a Silent - sound & special effects may have been added since. Re Lloyd French, I remember him well, his Father was the Studio purchasing Dept. Chief, Lloyd was an assistant director who later was assigned to direct. A nice person - sorry to tell you he's since died. The Record "Dance of the Cuckoos" was made in 1932. Music on one side & on the reverse a message from L&H to the Fans & friends in England thanking them for the wonderful reception afforded us. The theme music arrangement was made by the London Columbia Recording Orchestra - released by M.G.M. record Co. I understand that later during a Blitz, the Columbia Bldg. was destroyed & of course all of the MASTER RECORDS were lost. Indeed nice to hear from you, wish you lots of pleasure with the "Sons of the Desert" Vancouver Chapter. Please convey my Kindest regards to the Rev. Folger-Eddington & to all members of the Club - wish you all a wonderful New Year, continued good health & a Happy Prosperous 1964.
Very sincerely -
As always -
STAN LAUREL.
STAN LAUREL LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
FEB.12th.'64.
Dear Bill Brown:
Thanks yours recd. this AM.
Surprised to know you were in Portland - wondered why you had'nt contacted me during you stay in L.A. you certainly did'nt stay long here.
Thats strange re your name not being Brown - do'nt you think you should legalize the name of Brown, you have been known as that for so many years - if you change it now to Starkell, it will probably confuse your previous business & private activities for instance the Income Tax situation - estate etc. its a simple matter to legalize the name of Brown & will avoid any future difficulties you might encounter due to the [switch.] - just a thought !
The screen Actors Guild Award is an honorary affair, Eddie Cantor recd. one for 1962. I guess it for being the most handsome guy on the Screen.!!!
I was unable to attend the Annual Dinner at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, so Danny Kaye again accepted on my behalf & later Dana Andrews & Charlton Heston presented it to me personally.
Weather here is like mid-summer in the 8O's & 90's - really amazing, we have had very little rain this last year to date.
Note you may stay in Portland for a while - the Rose City - its very nice but always raining every time I played there. The excerpt in "Fractured Flickers" was from a silent film I made titled "DR PYCKLE & MR PRIDE" - a travesty on "Jekyl & Hyde"
Enclosed snapshot taken in Dec.'63. Andrews & Heston & me - Guild award.
Mrs L. joins in, wish you & kay a very Happy New Year, continued good health & a successful '64.
My kindest & bestest -
As always -
STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
FEB.14th.'64.
Thanks [Steve Ward] your letter - Shall be pleased to see you again on Thursday afternoon 20th.inst. around 2-30.PM.
Regards & best to you all -
As always -
STAN LAUREL.
STAN LAUREL LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
FEB.15th.'64.
Dear Keith Hurt:
Thanks your interesting letter recd. this AM. Indeed nice to hear from you & to know you met your wife at the "Bull Inn" in Bottesford.Notts. & of course knew my Sister Olga & Brother-in-law Bill Healy. Firstly: Welcome to the U.S.A. wish you both a very happy & prosperous future - congratulations - I first came to this Country in 1910, even tho' I still carry a British Passport, I'm a dyed in the wool Yank.! I'll always have a warm spot for old England, but have no desire to live there under any circumstances.
My Sister has since retired & the 'BULL' is now under new management - They now live in Grantham.Lincs. Note you are planning a trip back home in May - I shall be most pleased to see you before you leave - let me know when you decide to visit Santa Monica, so we can arrange a definite convenient date (card or phone) my number is EXbrook 3-5656.
Till then, my kindest & best to you both & Baby -
Sincerely always -
STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
FEB.19th.'64.
Thanks Bill [Brown] your 14th.inst. Dana Andrews is now President of the S.A.G. Charlton Heston V.P. Yes, I met Steve Allen, but never Paar, Downs or Carson. (have corresponded with Paar). I played Portland first in 1911, & in 1912 at the old Empress, we were down the following week (1912.) I played later at the Pantages Theatre (several times.)
Weather here beautiful, in the 80's today. Mrs L. joins in bestest to Kaye & self.
As always -
STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
FEB.29th.'64.
Thanks Glenn [Laxton] yours, 24th.inst. No, I didn't know Miss Mae Murray personally - a sad situation - Too bad Hal Roach is'nt in production, he could have made a series with the Beatles titled "THE ROACH FAMILY". I like them so much I'll give them to you for XMAS.! Don't know what happened to the Life Story idea - Jack Webb should make his own & then sue himself for liable.!
My best to you & Herr Von Klugman -
Take care - Good luck -
as always -
STAN LAUREL.
Mae Murray (1889-1965) was an American actress, dancer, film producer, and screenwriter who rose to fame during the silent film era and ended up destitute and living at the Motion Picture House in Woodland Hills, California, a retirement community for Hollywood actors.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
FEB.29th.'64.
Thanks Dean [Kaner] yours 23rd.inst. Wish you lots of success in the field of Dentistry - note you are moving to Minneapolis to live. thats a very nice City, have played there many times in my early vaudeville days - fished several times at Lake Minnetonka, a wonderful spot.!
Have no idea where Hal Roach Sr. is now living (Just checked the phone book) its 148,Reeves Dr.,Beverly Hills.Calif. (clever these Chinese.!!)
Good luck March 4th.
As always -
STAN LAUREL.
By Samuel K. Rubin
Meet a gentleman! That gentleman’s name is Stan Laurel. I had never written to a movie personality before. I know of the many invasions of their privacy—and I have always hesitated contacting any of them because I know that I value privacy. Also, I was not that interested in contacting them, because I had no reason to. Now that I am publishing the “8mm Collector,” I try to bring to the readers news and articles which will interest them. So, I wrote to Stan Laurel asking him to write an article for our “Laurel and Hardy” issue.
He sincerely (and politely) refused, because writing was not “my cup of tea.” Then I was advised that Stan would answer questions on his movie life. So, I again wrote to him, requesting answers to questions. He answered them clearly—and precisely.
So, the “8mm Collector” proudly presents our exclusive interview with Stan Laurel, gentleman!
Do you think that your Laurel and Hardy comedy was more effective on the silent screen or on the sound screen?
Personally I think the silent films were more effective for Laurel and Hardy, but the sound was of great value in enhancing the effects—dialogue eliminated a lot of action and sight gags—I always feel that action speaks louder than words.
Were your sight gags all planned or were some of them spontaneous?
Sight gags had to be planned, they required timing & mechanics. Occasionally spontaneity would arise in the shooting of the scenes.
What was the “filling” in the pies you threw at each other?
The pies were generally whipped cream, but in “Battle of the Century” film, we used 4,000 pies, and they were actually real pies (filling et al) and were supplied by the Los Angeles Pie Co. A fresh wagon load was delivered to the studio set each day of shooting that sequence.
Other than Jean Harlow, what other later to-be-famous actors or actresses played bit parts in your films?
The later to be famous were—Jean Harlow, Paulette Goddard, Lupe Valez, Fay Wray—George Stevens was our cameraman on many of our films, Leo McCarey, directed and supervised several.
Which actors or actresses did you and Mr. Hardy enjoy working with most?
We had friendly and pleasant relationship with all that worked in our films—many happy memories.
How and when did you first start using your “crying” bit?
Before teaming with Mr. Hardy—I appeared in a Hal Roach “All Star” comedy series—in this particular film I was cast as a ‘Crying Butler’ (always whimpering—no matter what he was doing) it was a very effective mannerism, so I adopted this when I teamed with Mr. Hardy (frankly I never liked doing it, but it became a part of Laurel and Hardy and I was stuck with it.)
What was your first movie?
My first movie was a two reel silent titled “Nuts In May” made at the ‘Bernstein Studio’ Boyle Heights, California in 1917.
In what picture did you first team up with Mr. Hardy?
My first official team film with Mr. Hardy was “Putting Pants on Phillip.”
What is your opinion on the release of more and more of your films for home movie consumption?
My only opinion on the Laurel and Hardy ‘home movie’ situation—I regret we nave no financial interest in them.
—8mm Collector
February 1964)
