Stan Laurel Letters

THE MAGIC BEHIND
THE MOVIES
by Randy Skredvedt

MARCH OF THE
WOODEN SOLDIERS

STAN AND OLLIE
by SImon Louvish

LAUREL & HARDY
COLLECTION – VOL. 1

LAUREL & HARDY
COLLECTION – VOL. 2

FROM THE FORTIES
FORWARD
by Scott MacGillivray

LAUREL AND HARDY FEATURE PRODUCTIONS LETTERHEAD - TYPEWRITTEN

14-2-49.

Lauritz P. Hwass Esq.,
One No. La Salle St.,
CHICAGO. 2. Ills.

My Dear Larry:-
          I greatly appreciate your kind letter of the
8th. inst.
          Am sorry that Benny Benefico disclosed a near fact before it was definite. However, I am trying my utmost to avoid a seperation of the team regardless of our personal grievences. Anyway, it is entirely up to Mr.Hardy.
          I expect to get a showdown this week. Will advise you of the result. Please pardon the mistakes in typing as I am a Lousey se cretary. (secretary is one word).
          Well Larry, it certainly was nice to hear from you, & am looking forward to seeing you in June & trust Al & his wife will be with you & yours so I & Eda can reciprocate Your many kindnesses to us.
          With Kindest regards & every good wish to you all,
                    Most Sincerely:-

                    STAN LAUREL.

Lauritz Hwass was a prominent attorney in Chicago. He was Trust Officer and Corporate Secretary for a number of thrift Institutions, including Chicago Title and Trust Co. and Home Bank and Trust Co. Lauritz met Stan during one of his trips to England and they became fast friends. Both enjoyed a good bottle of Scotch. The "Al" referred in the letter is my uncle Al Hwass. My father was Ed Hwass also a prominent Attorney in Chicago. —Chip Hwass

CONTRACT - Signed by STAN and IDA LAUREL

                    Deposit Receipt
                    California Real Estate Association
                    Santa Monica, California
                    August 26th, 1949

Received from Stanley Laurel the sum of One thousand ($1,000.00) Dollars as a deposit on account of the purchase price of the following described property, situated in the City of Santa Monica County of Los Angeles State of California, towit: Lot 161, Tract 2365, frame and stucco single dwelling and two (2) car garage commonly known as 1111 Franklin Avenue, Santa Monica, California for the purchase price of Sixteen thousand five hundred ($16,500.00) Dollars.
          The balance of the purchase price is to be paid with Thirty (30) days from the date hereof, as follows, to-wit: Fifteen thousand five hundred dollars ($15,500.00) to be paid thru Escrow making a total of sixteen thousand five hundred dollars ($16,500.00). This price is to include furniture as of inventory furnished Escrow.
          Seller will furnish a report covering termites, dry rot and fungus (fungi) affecting the premises. If the report discloses infestation Seller is to eliminate such infestation and repair damage at his or her expense, but no prevention work shall be required. Possession to be given at the end of Escrow.
          I agree to purchase the above described property on the terms and conditions herein stated.

                    Purchaser.
                    James Emmitt Durkin
                    Seller.

THE STAN LAUREL
CORRESPONDENCE ARCHIVE PROJECT
HOPES TO COLLECT AND CATALOG
LETTERS FROM STAN TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND HIS LIFE AND CELEBRATE
HIS COMEDIC GENIUS.

IF YOU HAVE AN ORIGINAL
LETTER FROM STAN OR HAVE A COPY
NOT INCLUDED IN THESE ARCHIVES,
PLEASE ADD A COPY OF YOUR LETTER
BY CONTACTING US VIA E-MAIL AT:
INFO@LETTERSFROMSTAN.COM

COMEBACK

Although no names are on dotted lines yet, it looks as though the comedy team of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy it headed for featured roles in "You Can't Do That," a comedy, naturally, about life in a movie cartoon studio, which Glenn McCarthy Productions will make independently for RKO release. The production, written by Monty F. Collins, a former film comic himself, is tentatively set to go in April, and the company also plans to use other "names" in the cast. Last November, when the project first was noted, it was pointed out that the brothers Warner also were preparing a picture about film cartoon production. No further word on that, however.

—New York Times (January 16, 1949)

M'CARTHY TO MAKE A COMEDY FOR RKO
By Thomas F. Brady

Glenn McCarthy, independent producer, today announced that his next picture for RKO will be "My Darling Is a Kangaroo," a screen comedy about life in an animated cartoon studio, which Monty F. Collins and Frank Gill have written. The production is scheduled to start early in April, and Mr. McCarthy's casting hopes for the picture, which will require five leading players, run the gamut from Laurel and Hardy to Cary
Grant, his company disclosed. He recently completed production of "The Green Promise" for RKO release.

—New York Times (February 5, 1949)

Oliver Hardy and John Wayne

There stood Oliver Hardy, chins and all, but something was missing. No Stan Laurel.
     For the second time in 23 years of existence, the famed comedy team of Laurel and Hardy has split up. I found round, firm and fully-packed Hardy in a buckskin out on the set of John Wayne's "A Strange Caravan." He admitted that a couple of cows gave their lives to supply the costume.
     I asked if his present role meant a permanent split with the wistful Laurel.
     "No. no," Babe assured. "This it just temporary until we get active again. In fact, my salary goes to our joint corporation. We've been incorporated since 1935."
     The two comics started performances together in 1926. Until now they had only one professional division. That was in 1935 when they were working under separate contracts to Hal Roach. Stan had a dispute with the producer and left the lot.
     Hardy had to finish out his contract, and Roach out him into a thing called "Zenobia," co-starring Billie Burke, Alice Brady and an elephant. The picture fell flat on its trunk, and Babe rejoined his teammate.
     Their last Hollywood contract was with 20th-Fox. They quit because of non-support. "We can't carry a picture for all five or six reels," Babe said. "We needed people for romantic support, but they were giving us unknowns."
     In 1947 the pair played successfully all over Europe. Babe shed 75 pounds and wasn't happy with the experience. "I tasted my first whale meat and my first horse meat," he said sourly. He is now back up to his standard 295 pounds.
     Hardy offered a reason for their recent inactivity.
     "The producers don't seem to want to be associated with slapstick comedy; they think it hurts their prestige," he said. "Actually, ours was more situation comedy than slapstick."
     He hoped (as I do) that film makers would realize the public's thirst for laughs.
     "Why, some of our old pictures have been appearing on television," he said, "and we get more fan mail now than we did when they were first released."
     Babe said that he and Stan have never had any friction.
     "Why should we argue? We both do different thing professionally. What I do, he can't do, and vice versa.
     "Another thing—we never see each other between engagements. We both have different hobbies: I play golf and he likes to fish. He's the kind who can sit on the end of a line all day."
     Babe said he discussed the single role will Stan, who said to go ahead. "He called me up at seven this morning to wish me luck on my first day," Hardy said.
     He's going ahead with his separate career and will do a role in "Riding High" with Bing Crosby. But the boys may get back together in a picture for Glenn McCarthy Productions. I hope so. I miss their wonderful finger-in-the-eye and brick-on-the-foot brand of humor.

—Associated Press (March 14, 1949)

NEW MOVE
By Hedda Hopper

Glenn McCarthy is out to reteam Laurel and Hardy. He has offered them top roles in "My Darling Was a Kangaroo." Their old pictures on TV have given them a new lease on life. Babe Hardy is working now with John Wayne in "Strange Caravan."

—Los Angeles Times (March 15, 1949)