1964 Letters
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
MAY 1st.'64.
THANKS SAM [Rubin]! For copy of recent issue "8mm Collector." My compliments to you and all concerned for splendid job. Wish you all continued success. My kindest & bestest.
As always -
STAN LAUREL.
OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
MAY 5th.1964.
My Dear Bob [Board]:
Thanks for the kind remembrance much appreciated.
So nice to hear from you & to know alls well with you, especially that you're keeping busy in the work dept. Fully understand you not being able to drop by Bob, so do'nt worry about that - you're always welcome whenever its convenient for you.
'Babe' [London] dropped in for a while last week with her friend Abbey - no doubt you know her being a Man-About-Town type.!!
Nothing new with us here, SO - 'Thats All There Is - There Is'nt Any More'. Eda joins in love & kind thoughts -
Take care - God Bless.
As always -
STAN LAUREL.
P.S. the film you mention is "Pack Up Your Troubles"
Jean “Babe” London (1901-1980 ) capitalized on her 210-pound girth, applied to Vitagraph Studios, and soon was in the movies. In the short comedy Our Wife (1931), London—in her standard “jolly fat girl” role—elopes with equally rotund Oliver Hardy, but Stan Laurel tags along. There are plenty of chuckles when the three squash themselves into a mini-car on their way to the chapel.
SNAPSHOT PHOTO - STAN AND “BABE” LONDON
PORTRAIT OF STAN BY “BABE” LONDON
STAN LAUREL LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
I can understand you’re happy to be through with that Jury Duty business, now you won’t hang anybody for a couple of years!
MAY.11th.'64.
My Dear Mike [Polacek],
Thanks yours, 29th.ult.
Re "Bonnie Scotland" I believe Ed Kobus has a print of "Bonnie Scotland" - suggest you contact him as to where he got it, may give you a lead to start off with - I think too that Geo. Koesler had a print too (Route #1, Box. 143, DYER. IND.)
Am mailing you a tape recording - Background Musical Score for "Putting Pants On Phillip" also musical score & Sound Effects for "TWO TARS" - these were sent to me by a Bob Lee, Essex Film Club, 263,Harrison St. NUTLEY.10.N.J. Thought you like to have a copy to use when you run these silents. This Club does'nt run exclusively L&H films but generally have one on each program - if silent, they make specially a music score, they have a Hammond Organ & Piano & in some, add sound effects - these are the actual length of the film, but no doubt you have to check the starting point - I think you'll find these interesting & certainly enhance the film. I can understand you're happy to be through with that Jury Duty business, now you wo'nt hang anybody for a couple of years.!! Thanks for the new supply of jokes - you must have a Million of 'em.!!
Too bad you can't ship L&H films to England - they seem to be very scarce over there - so many ask me where they can be obtained. Just got a new address for STILL Pictures, I understand 3 for a Dollar: PREVIEW PHOTOS, BOX 36539,Hollywood.36.Calif. Pretty reasonable compared to other dealers - one guy here in Hollywood - Edmunds I believe asks & GETS $4.50 for an 8x10, L&H books as high as $18. - tells 'em they're out of print & these are the last.! what a racket.!!
Have'nt been feeling too good, the diabetic dept. gets out of control occasionally, a bit disturbing at times, now getting swollen ankles (They say its water - have to take special shots for that - am getting now, every time I see a needle I just naturally back up to it.!!
Nothing else Mike - Mrs L joins in kindest & bestest to yourself & family - trust all in good health.
Take care - God bless.
As always -
STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
MAY 16th.'64.
Thanks Bob [Stowell] yours,recd.this AM. I too enjoyed the pleasure of meeting you & your charming wife. Glad the color slides turned out OK - note you're not happy with your likeness - I am not the photogenic type either. Re the shirt: my neck is 15-1/2 - (medium size shirt I guess) I like the color Blue or white - am not fussy, whatever you choose - appreciate the kind thought - no hurry, just whenever you have some time to spare, know you are busy taking care of your family & have plenty to do.
Again thanks -
Take care - God Bless.
As always -
STAN LAUREL.
STAN & PAT STOWELL - PHOTO BY BOB STOWELL
OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
MAY.21st.'64.
Dear Bill [Brown] Starkell:
Thanks yours recd. this AM.
Sorry delay acknowledging your previous letter - Have'nt been feeling too well, hence my neglecting my correspondence. This diabetic business occasionally gets out of control, has a [depressing] effect - very disturbing at times.
Sorry to near about Kay's Brother - can fully understand her concern, so little if anything a can be done - please convey my regrets.
Yes you told re "Fractured Flickers" with clips from an early silent "The Spoilers" with Finlayson - thats a terrible program series - I never watch it since seeing the first segment. Yes I saw Brown & Keaton in the Circus program - badly miscast.
Re 'Step n Fetchit' first time 1 knew he was once a millionaire - Baloney.!.
Note you're going to see the Rose Parade - a magnificent sight.
Nothing new - so adios mi amigo.
Kindest & bestest from us both here -
as always -
STAN LAUREL.
OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
MAY 27th.'64.
Dear Stanley Riskin:
Thanks your interesting letter 25th.inst. Indeed nice to hear from you & to know the old L&H films are still affording you so much pleasure - appreciate very much your kind sentiments so warmly expressed. Again - thanks.
Am enclosing you a picture, the only size I have on hand, hope it will suffice - if you care to get an 8X10 from a dealer, I shall be pleased to autograph it for you. There's a place in Hollywood who I understand have a big supply of L&H stills priced 3 for a Dollar - address is Preview Photos Box 36539. Hollywood.36.Calif.
My kindest & bestest to you & yours,
Very sincerely -
STAN LAUREL.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
MAY 29th.'64.
Thanks Dean [Kaner] yours, 26th.inst. Sorry not acknowledging your previous letters - have [not] been feeling at all well consequently had to neglect a great deal of mail - my diabetic situation occasionally gets out of control at times - its disturbing & distressing as you can imagine. Your Water fight at the camp recently must have been very funny for the spectators, sounds like you experienced a L&H routine & had a wonderful time - too bad the fishing was'nt too good - maybe early in the season yet. Congratulations on your graduation - what are your plans now? College or career? My regards & best Dean, wish you lots of good luck - take care -
as always -
STAN LAUREL.
There is greatness in the movies’ endless capacity to entertain. And none entertained so many, so richly, as Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy. For millions of Americans, the re-creation in wax of these superb artists will bring a flood of wonderful memories—of joy, of uncontrollable laughter, of delight in the absurd.
At Movieland Wax Museum, the delicious madness of Laurel & Hardy has been captured in wax, and in authentic props, with unbelievable attention to every last detail.
Typical of Movieland Wax Museum, where 96 Hollywood greats are shown in their most Important roles. Wherever you look—Lights! Action! Camera!—like a tour of the actual sets of the major movie studios during the shooting of their most important epics.
From silents to cinemascope—the stars whose greatness is movieland, and whose memories made it great, Movieland Wax Museum, the Stars’ Hall of Fame, is in Buena Park, 2 blocks north of Knott’s Berry Farm on Beach Blvd., (Hwy 39), 25 minutes from City Hall via Santa Ana Freeway. Children under 5 free with adult. Cameras welcome. Free parking. Daily and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. & Fri. & Sat. ‘till midnight.
—Los Angeles Times
May 10, 1964
By Murray Schumach
The comic art of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy will be the subject of a feature-length movie that is being fashioned from nearly 100 films made by the comedians.
The 90-minute movie, planned for release during the Christmas season, is being made by Jay Ward Productions, which has produced the successful television cartoon series, Bullwinkle, and has also sold a new video cartoon series, called Hoppity Hooper, which goes on the air in September.
Most of the films to be used for the movie were leased from Hal Roach Sr., who produced them originally. He will retain ownership of the old comedies and will be co-producer and consultant in the production of the movie.
The great majority of the comedies used for this picture are from the silent era. They include many films in which Mr. Laurel starred before he teamed up with Mr. Hardy. The first of those films, made in 1917 without Mr. Hardy, was called Nuts in May. The first film in which the comedians worked together, Putting Pants on Phillip, was made in 1926.
The film will have narration. The producers hope to persuade Mr. Laurel to do some of it but he has been in poor health. Mr. Hardy died several years ago. The producers have approached Dick Van Dyke and Peter Sellers to narrate portions of the film.
Some of the old movies starring Mr. Laurel though made here could no longer be found in the United States. So French and German versions were located with subtitles in those languages.
Among the most hilarious of the collected films are those In which Mr. Laurel does parodies of famous silent movies. One, for example, called The Soilers, is a takeoff on the famous saloon brawl, of The Spoilers. Another is a satire on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
The first step in the project, according to Bill Scott who will write the script, will be the study of each of the old movies for an outline.
“The script,” he declared, “is really just so much cement to hold the picture together. The comedy of Laurel and Hardy is what counts.”
—The New York Times
May 15, 1964
