LAUREL AND HARDY FEATURE PRODUCTIONS LETTERHEAD - HANDWRITTEN

                    Ohio Theatre
                    Columbus, Ohio
                    Nov. 12th. '40
Miss Ruth N. Rector
453, Miller Ave.,
Columbus, Ohio.

Dear Miss Rector -
          Many thanks for your kind letter - greatly appreciated. Am happy to know you enjoyed our show. We go to the Stanley Theatre Pittsburgh Pa. next week then to Philadelphia. This is our 7th week Stage appearance. For our next picture we are trying to make arrangements to film Victor Herberts "Red Mill" in Technicolor, it has beautiful music & a cute Dutch Background. Again many thanks for your nice letter & with Best wishes always.
                    Most sincerely,

FISHERMAN'S WALK OF FAME - 1940

STAN LAUREL LETTERHEAD - HANDWRITTEN

                    OCT.25th.'41.
Dear Betty [Healy],
          Herewith the enlargement & negatives of the snaps you gave me. think they turned out swell. Babe & I are getting ready to leave for Bermuda & Trinidad (British West indies) for the Government Shows at the British & U.S. Naval Bases. We are flying from here to N.Y. & then a naval Bomber picks us up there - think we open in Bermuda Saturday next. Well Dear, nothing else exciting. Trust alls well & happy with you.
          Give my best to Skunk -
                    Kind thoughts always!

 

HUMOROUS STAN LAUREL INSCRIPTION - November 6, 1941

TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX LETTERHEAD - Beverly Hills, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

                    November 12, 1941

Laurel and Hardy Feature Productions
523 West Sixth Street
Los Angeles, California

Gentlemen:
          This letter, when accepted by you, will confirm our mutual understanding and agreement relative to the amendment of that certain contract between us, dated May 29, 1941, providing for the lending to us of the services of STAN LAUREL and OLIVER HARDY, as follows, but not otherwise:
          You do hereby agree to lend to us, and we agree to borrow from you, the services of said STAN LAUREL and OLIVER HARDY, in connection with one (1) additional motion picture production to be produced by us upon the same terms and conditions as pertained to the first motion picture heretofore produced by us during the original term of the aforesaid contract between us, dated May 29, 1941, including the compensation payable to you for the services of said Stan Laurel and 0liver Hardy in connection with the first motion picture produced under the terms and conditions of said contract, and the entire contract between us aforesaid shall be read and construed as if said contract had originally contemplated the lending to us of the services of said Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in connection with two (2) motion picture productions.
          It is understood and agreed that the services of said Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy shall commence upon a date to be hereafter designated by us, on or before March 16, 1942, and you do hereby warrant and agree to cause said Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy to report to our studio, located at Beverly Hills, California, to commence the rendition of their services for us in connection with said motion picture production on the date so designated by
us.
          It is further mutually understood and agreed that Article Fourth of said contract shall be and the same is hereby deemed amended to provide that in order for us to exercise the option granted to us under the terms and conditions of Subdivision (a) of Article Third of said contract, we shall notify you of the exercise thereof, in writing, on or before thirty (30) days from and after the general release in the United States of the second and additional motion picture now to be produced under the terms and conditions of said contract, dated May 29, 1941, as hereby amended.
          You do hereby warrant and agree that you will not permit nor cause the services of said Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy to be rendered for any other producer of motion pictures, other than Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, prior to the completion of the second additional motion picture production hereinbefore provided for.
          All the other terms and conditions of said contract between us, dated May 29, 1941, shall be deemed to remain in full force and effect except as herein specifically modified.
          If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, will you kindly procure the execution hereof by the proper officers of your corporation, by affixing your signature under the word "Accepted" at the end of the six (6) copies enclosed
herewith and returning the same to us, at which time we wi11 have them executed by this corporation and return to you two (2) for your files.
          Yours very truly,
          TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX FILM CORPORATION
          By Its Vice President
                    ACCEPTED:
                    LAUREL AND HARDY FEATURE PRODUCTIONS

                    Its President
 

LAUREL AND HARDY FEATURE PRODUCTIONS LETTERHEAD - HANDWRITTEN

                    Nov. 19th. '41
Dear Ann [Breton] -
          Thanks so much for your sweet letter and the snaps - so pleased to hear from you - think the pictures were cute, especially you - Too bad not clearer, but happy to have them anyway. I too was sorry we didn't return to Antigua & your lovely Hotel as I really enjoyed our short visit there - your Dad - Mother & self were so perfectly charming & did so much to make us all comfy. I will send the hat for you in a couple of days & am getting you a copy of "Jervis Bay" also. I already sent you a couple of Photos which I thought you might like to have. By the way Dear, I wish you would let me know where I can get a copy of the print you have hanging in the lounge of the British Fleet - I got such a thrill looking at it & would love to have one for my Bar room - am so proud of them I can't see straight! Got home last Monday the 17th & busy getting ready to make another picture also another Divorce which I hope will be my last.
          Well Dear - will close now, hope to have the pleasure of hearing from you again real soon.
          Give my kindest to your Dad & Mother, trust alls well & happy with you all,
                    Most sincerely,

"THE JERVIS BAY GOES DOWN" - BY GENE FOWLER

LAUREL AND HARDY FEATURE PRODUCTIONS LETTERHEAD - HANDWRITTEN

                    Nov. 28th. '41
Dear Anne [Breton] -
          Thanks so much for the Post Card of the pretty Hotel, which I will add to my happy memories collection. Hope you recd. the Photos also the hat. Still trying to get the copy of "Jervis Bay" for you. We are leaving here again soon for more personal appearances - open Dec. 31st. Fort Wayne Ind - then Milwaukee - Chicago, etc. & return in March to make a picture (20th Century Fox) In going through my suitcase I came across the encl. Bills, can't you use them in Antigua? If so, please do - Buy more chocolates or something. Am also enclosing you a little song Book of Parodies that was sent to me, thought you may enjoy it & get a few laughs. The Author is a very good friend of mine, If there is anything I can do for you also your Dad & Mother from this side - please don't hesitate to ask - it will be my pleasure.
          My kindest regards to you all,
                    Sincerely,

P.S. - a last minute thought - enclosing a photo of me taken in England a few years ago. Hope you get a laugh out of it - I do!!
 

POSTCARD OF THE ANTIGUA BEACH HOTEL

STAN LAUREL LETTERHEAD - HANDWRITTEN

                    NOV.26th.'41.
Dear Betty [Healy],
          Thanks for yours - Sorry I wasn't home when you called. Glad you liked the Photos - I too thought they turned out swell. Glad to know you are back in Victorville - sincerely hope & trust you will make a real go of it this time - you are deserving of it Betty - you have certainly tried - & its come to you. Got the cow skin back & its swell, thanks a lot Dear. Had quite a thrilling trip to So. America - will tell you all about it when I see you. Can you imagine me flying 70 hours in the air in two weeks - can't believe it myself - you know how much I like planes!!!! We expect to go East next month for about 8 weeks personals & back for a picture in March. - hope to see you before I leave again.
                    Kind thoughts always.

 

THE BLACKSTONE LETTERHEAD - Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL - HANDWRITTEN

                    Dec. 18th. '41.
Anne [Breton] Dear -
          Thanks so much for your kind letter. Glad you recd. the Photos O.K. also the hat - guess you have got the copy of "Jervis Bay" by now. It is sweet of you to go to all the trouble of getting a copy of the Fleet & I do appreciate it so much. We made an appearance here last night at the Stadium for Mayor Kelly's Xmas fund - 25,000 people. Show was seven hours long - they raised 275,000. Isn't that wonderful! We open at the Palace Theatre Fort Wayne Ind. Dec. 31st. for a week - then Riverside Theatre Milwaukee Wis. then the Oriental Theatre Chicago. Not sure after that.
          Well Dear give my regards to your Mother & Dad.
          Wish you all a merry merry Xmas & the Happiest of all New Years.
                    Kind thoughts always,

 

STAN LAUREL'S HAT - SENT TO ANN BRETON

NO LETTERHEAD - HANDRWITTEN

                    Cleveland, Ohio
                    Feb.8th.'42.
Dear Ben [Shipman]-
          In reply to yours of the 6th.inst. re Ruth. I absolutely will not allow her to go [to] the Ranch - She deserted it three times during a period of four months - no there is no reason for her wanting to return. She has plenty of homes of her own - let her share them amongst her!
          Re - a settlement of a lump sum was never ever discussed by her to me at any time anywhere - as I told you in my last - Her conversation on the Phone here was to the effect that she was anxious to go to Las Vegas & you wouldn't make the arrangements - & would the Five percent still stand good - which I agreed to, also to take her Girl Friend a Miss Thelma Black to keep her company.
          Re - the House she says I wanted her to buy - I absolutely didn't know anything about. She bought that after we were divorced. I had nothing whatsoever to do with it at the present time. I don't feel I am in a position to make any lump sum settlement & prefer to have the agreement as is unless the settlement would be a very reasonable amount which is very difficult to determine. This is all I have to say on the matter Ben.
                     Sincerely-

 

MOVIE STARS ARRIVE FOR ARMY/NAVY BENEFIT SHOW - April 29, 1942

HOLLYWOOD VICTORY COMMITTEE LETTERHEAD - TYPEWRITTEN

                    May 1, 1942

Mr. Stanton Griffis
730 Fifth Avenue
New York City, N.Y.

Dear Stanton Griffis:
          Thank you for your letter. We are happy that Washington liked the performance so much. We liked Washington.
          In your letter you were kind enough to say that we had sacrificed both time and effort. There has been no sacrifice on our part. We know that what we are doing is our duty and obligation.
          Because of the nature of the expedition we are fully aware of the difficulties involved. We expect to be pushed around and we will be disappointed a little if we aren't.
          We know, too, that what we are doing is a privilege rarely granted to citizens of this country. We are deeply appreciative of the opportunity and our only regret is that we are not playing more cities and towns.
          We are proud to be permitted to contribute to this truly noble cause for we are all cognizant of the great sacrificial effort the men in the armed forces are making for all of us, to bring victory -- the victory which we must have -- we will have.
                    Sincerely,

STAN LAUREL LETTERHEAD - HANDWRITTEN

                    Hal E. Roach Studio,
                    CULVER CITY. CALIF.
                    AUG.13th.'42.
Suzette Dear,
          Called you on phone last night but you were not home - to tell you I had shipped you the Duck and Rabbitt & it should be there Saturday (15th Aug.) & after I called - recd. your swell letter so am answering right away - when you write again tell me about names Day & Birthdays etc. wish I'd known about it.
           We have made a picture since I saw you - titled "A HAUNTING WE WILL GO." To tell you the truth I haven't seen it so don't know if its good or bad - anyway it will play Cleveland soon. We are going to make another picture next month for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer - "Air Raid Wardens."
          Suzette Dear - I never left any message & didn't want any calls last time I was in Cleveland & Hardy never told me you had called - was dying to see you & didn't know where to reach you.
          However Dear - it [has] all been a mistake & I
hope & trust it will be cleared up. I think an awful lot of you & am serious about it - write me often Dear & I will too - Don't be scared of barney, he would be afraid of "Flip"!
           Am sending you some of the canned fruits from the ranch tomorrow - know you will enjoy them.
          We will be coming east around November with our show - so will be looking forward to seeing you again.
          My Love to your Mother and Self.
                    always -

                    x x x
 

LAUREL AND HARDY FEATURE PRODUCTIONS LETTERHEAD - TYPEWRITTEN

                    March 18, 1943.

Mr. Bill Grefrath,
c/o Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation,
Beverly Hills, California

Dear Bill:
          May we thank you for the help you have given us during the picture.
          Just because everyone was so swell to us, we did not want you to think that we did not appreciate what you have done for us, and your kindness.
          The enclosed bond is an obligation of our Country that continues for a long time and we hope it will serve the purpose for which we intend it - as a token of our feelings and a reminder of a pleasant association.
                    Sincerely,

                    Oliver Hardy

BATTLE OVER PAYMENTS! - July 8, 1943

TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX LETTERHEAD - Beverly Hills, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

                    July 26, 1943

Laurel and Hardy Feature Productions
523 West Sixth Street
Los Angeles, California

Gentlemen:
          You are hereby notified that the undersigned, Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, in accordance with the terms and conditions of a certain written contract, between you and the undersigned, dated May 29, 1941, providing for your lending to us the services of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, desires to and does hereby, exercise the option granted to said Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, by the terms of said contract, to extend the term of said contract, for the optional one (1) year period set forth in subdivision (b) of Article Third of the aforesaid contract between us, dated May 29, 1941.
          Kindly acknowledge receipt of this notice by affixing your signature to the copies thereof enclosed herewith and returning three fully executed copies to us for our files.
          Will you also kindly have Mr. Stan Laurel and Mr. Oliver Hardy indicate their approval and acceptance of this notification by having them execute all copies of this letter under the words "Approved and Accepted: at the end hereof.
          Yours very truly,
          TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX FILM CORPORATION
          By Its Assistant Secretary

          The Undersigned acknowledges receipt of the
          foregoing notice.
          LAUREL AND HARDY FEATURE PRODUCTIONS

                    PRESIDENT
 

AN EARLY SNAPSHOT OF STAN

TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX LETTERHEAD - Beverly Hills, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

                    December 30, 1943

Laurel and Hardy Feature Productions
523 West Sixth Street
Los Angeles, California

Gentlemen:
          This letter, when accepted by you, will confirm our mutual understanding and agreement relative to the amendment of that certain lending agreement between us, dated May 29, 1941, as follows, but not otherwise:
          Whereas, we have heretofore by letter dated November 18, 1943, advised you of our desire that the services of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy to be rendered in connection with the production of the first motion picture to be produced and created by us during the second optional period of said lending agreement between us, dated May 29, 1941, and whereas, it is our mutual desire to cancel said notice of starting date, it is, therefore, hereby mutually understood and agreed that said letter dated November 18, 1943, advising you that December 20, 1943, would be the date of the commencement of the rendition of the services by the first motion picture under the terms and conditions of said agreement between us, be and the same is hereby cancelled, and withdrawn with the same force and effect as if the said letter had never been sent to you.
          It is mutually understood and agreed, that the said Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy have neither rendered services, nor have you become entitled to compensation as a result of either our transmittal of your receipt of said notice of starting date hereinbefore mentioned.
          It is further mutually understood and agreed that the above mentioned second optional one (1) year period during which we may utilize the services of the said Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, in connection with the production of two motion pictures pursuant to the terms and provisions of the said agreement between us, shall and the same is hereby extended for a period of sixteen (16) weeks and six (6) days, so that said period during which we may so utilize the services of the said Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in connection with the production of two motion pictures will now expire on the 31st day of December, 1944.
          It is further mutually understood and agreed that for the purposes of determining the commencement date of the third optional one-year period described in subsection © of Article Third of said lending agreement, in the event the option therein granted is exercised, the above mentioned second optional one-year period shall be deemed to have commenced on the 1st day of January, 1944.
          All of the terms and conditions of the aforementioned lending agreement shall remain in full force and effect except as herein specifically modified.
          If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, will you idly cause this letter to be executed in quintuplicate under the word "Accepted" at the end hereof, and return (4) copies for our files.
          Yours very truly,
          TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX FILM CORPORATION
          By Its Assistant Secretary

          ACCEPTED:
          LAUREL AND HARDY FEATURE PRODUCTIONS
          By

                    Its President

          OLIVER HARDY

TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX LETTERHEAD - Beverly Hills, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

                    May 15, 1944

The undersigned, STAN LAUREL and OLIVER HARDY, do hereby expressly acknowledge that they have read the foregoing agreement between TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX FILM CORPORATION and LAUREL AND HARDY FEATURE PRODUCTIONS, providing for the lending of the services of the undersigned by Laurel and Hardy Feature Productions to Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, and that for and in consideration of the execution thereof by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, they do hereby expressly consent to, ratify and approve all of the terms and conditions thereof, and warrant and agree that they will render their services and grant all rights therein set forth to be granted by the artists or either of them, subject to all of the terms and conditions therein set forth, and agree that they will look solely to Laurel and Hardy Feature Productions for compensation for their services rendered for Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation thereunder, and further warrant and agree that in the event, during therm hereof, their contracts, or either of them, with Laurel and Hardy Feature Productions shall, by reason of any matter, thing or occurrence whatsoever, be suspended, terminated and/or canceled, they, or wither of them, will nevertheless continue to render their services for Twentieth Century-Fix Film Corporation as long as said services shall be re required by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation in connection with the motion pictures to be produced under all of the terms and conditions, and at the same rates of compensation or pro rata thereof, as are provided in said contract for use of the services of the undersigned, and that upon the request of Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation they, or either of them, will enter into a contract or contracts with Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation containing all then applicable terms and provisions identical with those set forth in the foregoing agreements.
          It is further mutually understood and agreed that for the purposes of determining the commencement date of the third (3rd) one (1) year optional period described in Subsection C of Article Third of said lending agreement, in the event the option therein granted is exercised, the abovementioned second (2nd) optional one (1) year period shall have been deemed to commence on the 30th day of March, 1944.
          All of the terms and conditions of the aforementioned lending agreement shall remain in full force and effect except as herein specifically modified.
          If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, will you kindly cause this letter to be executed in quadruplicate by affixing your signature under the word "Accepted" at the end hereof and return three (3) copies to us for our files.
          Very truly yours,
          TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX FILM CORPORATION

          ACCEPTED:
          LAUREL AND HARDY FEATURE PRODUCTIONS
          By

                    OLIVER HARDY