STAN LAUREL LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

                Sept.14th.'58.
My Dear Betty [Healy]:
    Thanks your welcome letter 10th.inst. with enclosure of the plans for your new home - Am certainly happy to know you made the loan OK & will soon be under construction. I think its very smart to make that investment Betty, you certainly can't go wrong on a deal like that. You were wise too in retaining half of your property, that's a very good idea, a protection for you.
    The plan of the building is very interesting & certainly sounds very reasonable in cost. I like the addition of the windows in the bedrooms, & if I may suggest, I definitely think you should put in a 2nd. small bathroom (shower, toilet & wash basin), most of the new homes have that now that contain 3 bedrooms - its really [a] necessary convenience, especially in case of guests etc. even here in the Apt. we have this with only two rooms and a kitchen (our house on Franklin also has two bathrooms, & that was built about 15 years ago) the little extra expense is really worth it, & gives the house more value if you ever want to sell it - people with families require 2 bathrooms.
    The car port is very nice, but I frankly prefer a connected garage, firstly, in bad weather you are under cover to enter the house, & 2nd. it's nice to have a place to store things - trunks etc & as a work shop, also could at any time be converted into a playroom, & building a car port later on. I think its wise when building a place to give it all the 'selling' advantage you can, just in case.
    I sure wish you had started this when I left Franklin St. I could have given you such a lot of things in the way of furniture etc. which I sold for practically nothing, carpets, tables & chairs, settees & porch furniture, it would have saved you a lot of money.
    I saw the picture of 'Babe' on "Haggis Baggis" show, but missed the one of me, I do'nt particularly care for this show, so seldom look at it, in fact any of the quiz shows since the scandal of "Dotto" & "21", I understand the "64 thousand challenge" is now being investigated, its sure done them a lot of harm & I wouldn't be surprised to see them all taken off the air after this season.
    That was awful for Wayne having to work so many hours, that must have been a terrible strain on him, its wonderful to make that extra money, but his health is more important, he certainly could'nt keep that up for long, that's really too much, trying to hold down two jobs & working day & night, he sure deserves a lot of credit for his effort. Am glad to know he's quit one of the jobs & will get his proper rest - I understand your great concern over it.
    Note you've got a parakeet, I guess when he (or she) gets to know you he'll start talking a blue streak, they sure are cute birds & a lot of company.
    Will look forward to seeing you on your next trip down here, our phone is EXbrook 3-5656, but I guess you will wait 'till the house is finished, so you will know better just what you need in the way of furnishings.
    Eda joins in love & kind thoughts to you both & wish you lots of success with the new home, know you will be thrilled and happy with it.
    Bye Betty, Good luck & God Bless.
                As ever:
Stan Signature
PS. I heard a discussion the other night on TV regarding anyone building anything - be sure to get a COMPLETION BOND! to ensure yourself against being faced with any further cost after the place is finished. The case in question was, a guy had a swimming pool built & before it was finished he had fully paid the cost of it, the builder went broke due to unforeseen circumstances, & had'nt paid for the labor or materials & the owner had to pay all over again to complete the pool - he was held responsible - if he'd had a completion bond this would'nt have happened. Think you'd better check on this.

Note from the Editor

Haggis Baggis (1958-1959) was a photo identification TV game show, with players who won choosing between a “Haggis” luxury prize or a “Baggis” prize, which was more practical. A grid divided into 25 squares hid a picture of a celebrity. Contestants answered questions, and with every correct answer a square was taken away, revealing more of the picture.



STAN LAUREL LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

                Sept.16th.'58.
Dear Mr & Mrs Arnold:
    Many thanks for your very nice letter.
Appreciated very much your gracious expressions.
    I too enjoyed the pleasure of meeting you both, & or course was delighted to see Gary, he's certainly a sweet little fellow & so interesting.
    Trust you all had a pleasant visit to the Southland & enjoyed seeing the sights - hope you had the opportunity to see "Disneyland", am sure Gary would have got a big kick out of that.
    Again thanks for your kind thoughts - greatly valued.
    My regards & best wishes always:
                Very sincerely:-
Stan Laurel Signature                 Stan Laurel.

PS. wish again to thank Gary for the prunes - Mrs Laurel enjoyed them so much, they were wonderful.

Note from the Editor

Disneyland opened to the public on July 18, 1955 in Anaheim, California. The highly successful theme park was the brainchild of Walt Disney, who won an Academy Award in 1932 for Flowers and Trees in the category of “Best Short Subject, Cartoons,” the same year Laurel and Hardy won for The Music Box in the category of “Best Short Subject, Comedy.”



OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

                Sept.20th.'58.
Dear Gary [Arnold]:
                Thanks your nice letter,18th.inst.
I too enjoyed the pleasure of meeting you, it was certainly nice of your Mom & Dad to bring you down here, I was happy to see you.
    I did'nt know you had seen 'Disneyland' before, its too bad you did'nt see Pacific Ocean Park instead, its a new amusement park, not far from the hotel here & I understand it cost over 10 Million Dollars to erect - they say its a wonderful sight. Anyway, maybe you will be making another visit next year & will be able to see it.
    Interesting to note the courses you are taking in the 9th. grade, that should keep you plenty busy & wo'nt leave you much time for your Club activities, undoubtedly, you will have lots of home work to attend to.
    Yes, the weather is nice & cool here where we live, but it has been very hot in other sections of the City, especially out in the Valley, many days '95 to a '100 degrees & with it, lots of Smog, which you do'nt have in Fresno.
    All for now Gary, wish you lots of luck in the new term.
    My regards & best.
                Sincerely:-
Stan Laurel Signature                 Stan Laurel.


STAN LAUREL LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

                Sept.27th.'58.
Dear Arthur [Westwood]:
                Thanks your nice letter.
I appreciated very much your kind thought & sentiments in regard to the L&H comedies, & am happy to know you enjoy seeing them, even tho' thet are now a bit ancient & have been shown so many times thru' the years.
    With pleasure I am enclosing you a little picture of L&H, sorry I have no recent ones - this was made about 10 years ago I believe - anyway I hope it will suffice as a souvenir.
    Yes, I was born in Ulverston, Lancs. but was raised around the Tyneside (Newcastle), & Glasgow, Scotland. then came to the U.S.A. in 1910, with Charlie Chaplin, in one of the Late Fred Karno shows.
    Thanks again for your kindly interest Arthur.
    My regards & best wishes always!
                Sincerely:-
Stan Laurel Signature

OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

                Sept.29.th.'58.
Dear Earl [Shank, Jr.]:
    Thanks yours,23rd.inst.with enclosure of picture of yourself & family, I was pleased to have this & enjoyed seeing you all, its a very good photo, you all look well & happy - you sure did have a nice Tan, you'd better hurry back to Arizona.
    No, I never hear from Chaplin, he not too good a correspondent. He was in England, just to make his last film "King of New York", his home is in Switzerland. There was a rumor recently that he intended moving to Canada, do'nt know how true this is.
    I met the late Jack Buchanan several times when I was playing in England, he was a charming personality & of course a great artiste in his particular line. Am sure he must have played the Enpire Theatre in Leicester Square many times, he always appeared in the best houses & high class attractions.
    I remember Seymour Hicks in "The Shop Girl" at the Gaiety Theatre, they put on some wonderful musical comedies in those days, its a wonder many of them have'nt been survived am sure they would be successful again if brought up to date - modern costumes etc. & the dialogue to fit this era.
    Stanley Lupino is the Father of Ida Lupino. I met him in 1932.he was making a film at the Elstree Studios in London, he was a popular Stage Star, but never saw him work - I knew several of the Lupino family but never met Ida. I think they are the oldest theatrical family in history they go back over a 100 years or more, I believe their ancestors were originally clowns in Italy & migrated to England, its a very Iiteresting long line of artistes.
    I too was sorry to hear that Gleason & Carney split up, they were a great combination, I understand Buddy Hackett is replacing Carney, does'nt sound too good to me, Hackett is a capable comic, but does'nt seem to blend with Gleason as Carney did. However - who knows? I saw "Harvey," but was frankly disappointed, thought Carney was badly miscast. he did'nt have the appearance of a 'Lush', he acted like a normal guy, you'd never suspect that he was an alcoholic. Did you notice how he perspired in many of the scenes, he must have been suffering with nervousness poor guy, I really felt sorry for him. I liked the Benny show with Cooper - very good. I never met Cooper, but worked with Benny once when I was with 'Babe', the three of us did a routine in a musical picture for M.G.M "The Hollywood Revue".
    I thought Lou Costello did very well In "Blaze of Glory", its difficult for a slapstick comic to play a semi-straight part as the audience is not accustomed to it & are expecting any minute to see him break loose & throw a pie or something.
    Wayne & Shuster were very disappointing on the Sullivan shew! their material was way below par - do'nt blame you for not committing yourself.
    Am happy to know your business has greatly improved, I imagine this would be a good time to sell out & come to Arizona.
    All for now Earl. Enjoyed hearing from you.
    Mrs L joins in all the best, trust alls well & happy.
    Bye & God Bless.
                As ever:-
Stan Signature                 Stan Laurel.

Note from the Editor

Jack Buchanan (1891-1957) was a Scottish theatre and film actor. He is best known in America for his role in the classic Hollywood musical The Band Wagon (1953).

Seymour Hicks (1871-1949) was a British actor. His most famous acting role was that of Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. He starred in The Shop Girl, which became a hit at the Gaiety Theatre in 1894.

Stanley Lupino (1893-1942) was an English actor wo appeared in a successful series of musical comedy films, often based on his already popular stage shows. His daughter, Ida Lupino (1918-1995) was an actress and singer.

Buddy Hackett (1924-2003) was an American comedian best remembered for his role in It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963). He was briefly teamed with Jackie Gleason in 1958 in a half-hour show on CBS, which did not catch on.

On September 22, 1958, Art Carney (1918-2003), who previously portrayed Jackie Gleason’s sidekick on The Honeymooners appeared as Elwood P. Dowd in Harvey on CBS’s DuPont Show of the Month.

Lou Costello (1906-1959) played a plumber who receives a late night call for a job that turns out to be with a gang of jewel thieves in “Blaze of Glory,” on an episode of General Electric Theater that aired on September 21, 1958 on CBS.

Johnny Wayne (1918-1990) and Frank Shuster (1916-2002) were a Canadian comedy team who were Ed Sullivan’s most frequently recurring guests, appearing a record 67 times on his show.



Stan Watermark