1959 Letters
RUBBER STAMP - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
I still don’t like this Air travel business. Their safety devices don’t mean a thing, and many of these pilots are not to be relied on either.
Dec.3rd.'59.
Dear Ernie [Murphy]:
Thanks yours,Nov.11th.
How fortunate that was that your friend Neill missed that Plane, all due to his mother taking a turn for the worse - had he been aboard it, the shock no doubt would have been the end for both of them - what a tragedy that would have been.
I still do'nt like this Air travel business - their safety devices do'nt mean a thing, & many of these pilots are not to be relied on either.
The gag about the Dame on the scaffold is terrific, it would be perfect for Mae West.! 'Come Down & see me sometime'!! I got a big kick out of the colored dame gag too (the Powder Puff.) very funny.
Hope your cold had cleared up by now, I imagine it pretty Damp country down there with all those swamps around - must be very unhealthy - do'nt think I'd care much for that business - how long do you expect to stay there? better get yourself a pair of waist high wading boots.! you're liable to step in a hole.
Do you remember Don Barclay the comic? He called me the other day - he now owns a couple of Hotels in Scottsdale, Arizona, so he's doing alright for himself, only trouble is, he suffers a great deal with arthritis poor guy.
That was funny about Madame O'Donovan falling down the steps at the Depot & the cats arrived safely by plane - well, anything for a laugh.!
All for now Ernie. Take care of yourself. Love & best from us both here - wish you a very Merry Xmas & a Happy New Year, lots of good health & happiness in 1960.
Good luck & God Bless.
As ever:
Note from the Editor
Don Barclay (1892-1975) was a talented comic/character actor and dialectician. Among his roles was Franzec in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) and Mr. Binnacle in Mary Poppins. He also did voice work for a number of Walt Disney animated features, and can be heard in One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961), Peter Pan (1953), Alice in Wonderland (1951) and Cinderella (1950).
RUBBER STAMP - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN EXCERPT
DECEMBER 3rd.'59.
How fortunate it was that your friend Neill missed that plane, all due to his Mother taking a turn for the worse - had he been aboard it, the shock no doubt would have been the end for both of them. I still don't like this air travel business - their safety devices don't mean a thing and many of these. The gag about the dame on the scaffold is terrific, it would be perfect for Mae West! "Come down and see me sometime".
STAN LAUREL LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN EXERPT
Dec.14th.'59.
Dear Dee:
Yes TV has certainly ruined the 'Variety' business, its a tragic situation for many performers...I am unable to work since my stroke but have no regrets and am...so happy and content.
As ever:
Stan Laurel.
OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.5th.'59.
Dear Mr [Fred] Jeffery:
Thanks your nice letter, Nov.25th.
Nice to hear from you again & to know alls well with you.
Several people have written me recently about that article in the London ’Daily Mail’, but no one thought to send me the copy of it, so am rather curious to see it & find out the contents.
I am given to understand it was greatly exaggerated, regarding my health condition & financial situation etc. This I can’t understand, I assure you, such is not the case. If you still have that article, I would appreciate your sending it on to me so I can trace the source & have it corrected - from the little I know of it, some of the statements are ridiculous.
The Sailor film you mention was titled ‘Men ’0 WAR’, I remember the row boat sequence very well it was one of our very early Sound films, it was recorded on Disc records at that time (not on film) so the sound was not too good, it had’nt yet been perfected.
I hear from Georgie Wood quite frequently, he now writes a column for the ’RECORD-MIRROR’ which I receive every week - its a very interesting publication - mostly show Bus. news.
Yes, its sad to see all the old Music Halls being torn down, they leave behind a lot of happy memories of that wonderful Era. No, I never had the pleasure of meeting Mr G.H. Elliott, he’s still a great Artiste. I’ve known Albert Whelan for many years also Hetty King, they’re both admirable performers.
The L&H book is finished, & is in the hands of several publishers for their approval, so far nothing has developed yet.
Think thats about all for now, so wish you a very Merry xmas & a Happy New Year, lots of good health & happiness in I960.
Take care of yourself Fred.
Good luck & God Bless.
Sincerely always:
Stan Laurel.
Note from the Editor
G. H. Elliott (1882-1962) was a British Music Hall singer and dancer who performed in brown face dressed entirely in white; Albert Whelan (1875-1961) was an Australian singer and entertainer; and Hetty King (1883-1972)—real name Winifred Emms—was a male impersonator.
STAN LAUREL LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
Dec.18th.'59.
My Dear Buck [Earl Manbeck]:
Many thanks for your nice card - appreciated your kind remembrance. Mrs Laurel too joins in wishing you all a very Merry Xmas & a Happy New Year, lots of good health & success in 1960. It was nice to hear from you Buck & I sincerely hope alls going well in the Theatre Dept. (am referring to your 'Downtown' House) trust you're having no difficulty in acquiring the best in Film Fare.
Kindest regards Buck.
As ever:
Stan Laurel.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
Dec.18th.'59.
Thank you Mr Schwerke for the nice greeting card - appreciated your kind remembrance.
I too wish you a very Merry Xmas & a Happy New Year, lots of good health & happiness in 1960.
My kindest regards always,
Very sincerely:
Stan Laurel.
STAN LAUREL LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
Dec.19th.'59.
Dear Steve [Allen]:
Many thanks for the Kinescope of the Poston-McCann Laurel & Hardy skit. Deeply appreciate your kind gesture - certainly gracious of you and deeply valued.
Enjoyed seeing your Boys on the show last week, a wonderful family, am sure you are very proud of them.
Again the Season's Greetings to you all.
Kindest regards.
Sincerely always:-
Stan Laurel.
OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
Dec.21st.'59.
My Dear Rick & Marie [Capra]:
Many thanks for the nice Card.
We here too wish you all a very Merry Xmas & a Happy New Year, lots of good health & a Propserous 1960.
Note by now you're feeling much better Marie & in good shape for the Yuletide festivities, am sure you all will have a wonderful celebration - we shall drink a 'toast' to you all, so will be with you in Spirit'
Good luck & God Bless.
Our love & kind thoughts.
As ever:
Stan Laurel.
OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
Dec.21st.'59.
Dear Mrs. [Marie] Hatfield:
Thank you for the nice Card. Much appreciated.
Good luck & God Bless you all.
Sincerely always:-
Stan Laurel.
POSTCARD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
Dec.24th.'59.
Thanks Jack [Frost] for the nice Card - appreciated the kind remembrance.
Hope you all had a wonderful Xmas & wish you lots of good health & a Prosperous 1960.
My kindest regards.
As ever:
Stan Laurel.
OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
Regarding a book on the career of Laurel and Hardy—this has been finished for some time, but so far haven’t been able to get it published.
Dec.28th.'59.
Dear Glenn Laxton:
Thanks yours,10th.inst.
Interesting to note you too have a 'Wollensak' recorder, its an excellent little machine, am sure you will get a lot of enjoyment out of it, especially to record candid conversations with the hidden equipment. I've done that several times, it provides plenty of amusement for everybody concerned.
Regarding the songs we used in several of our films, "Lazy Moon", "Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia" "Shine ON HARVEST MOON" etc. to my knowledge there were no disc recordings ever made of them - the only way you could get them is to tape record them from the film. There has been some talk of making the story of L&H but so far nothing has developed.
No, I did'nt see the "Golden Age of Comedy" film, but many of my friends have told me about it, so am pretty well familiar with the contents. Am hoping sometime it will will [sic] be run on TV.
Regarding a book on the career of L&H., this has been finished for some time, but so far have'nt been able to get it published.
Happy to say we never suffered any serious accidents during the making of the films, a few minor ones once in a while.
Mr Hardy & I met under normal circumstances, just like you might become acquainted with someone in the same business & become friends & later go into business for yourselves - an everyday happening.
Hope you had a Merry Xmas - wish you lots of good health & a Happy 1960.
Good luck & God Bless.
Sincerely always:-
Stan Laurel.
Note from the Editor
“Lazy Moon” was featured in the Laurel and Hardy film Pardon Us, “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine” (“Blue Ridge Mountains...”) was featured in Way Out West and “Shine On Harvest Moon” was featured in Flying Deuces.
OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA - TYPEWRITTEN
Dec.29th.'59.
Dear Marie [Hatfield], Bob & Mother:
Many thanks for the lovely package - very sweet of you indeed to go to all that trouble, very thoughtful.
Mrs L. (Eda) enjoyed the cookies immensely, I of course am unable to eat any pastry so I had to satisfy myself with envy - they sure looked good.
Hope you all had a wonderful Xmas & again wish you a Happy & Healthful New Year.
Our kindest regards always,
Very sincerely:
Stan Laurel.
SPECIALTY POSTCARD - TYPEWRITTEN
DEC.29th.'59.
Thanks Gary [Arnold] for the nice Card. I too, wish you all a very Merry Xmas & a Happy New Year, lots of Good Health & a successful 1960.
Sincerely always:
Stan Laurel.
Hi Gardner Calling
When Wallace Ford, the sheriff in television’s “Deputy,” and Pepsi Cola’s Bill Goodrich were in Los Angeles they paid a sick call on Stan Laurel, the surviving member of one of the most famous comedy teams in motion picture history, Laurel and Hardy They discovered that the veteran, a semi-shut-in because of a stroke, was mellowed by the oldest of all miracle drugs—a demonstration of affection attesting to the fact that the fans of his heyday have not forgotten him. More than 10,000 fellow human beings, strangers from out of the blue, wrote him letters of sympathy at the loss of his partner. And it took Stan more than four months answering each communication personally, hunting and pecking away at his portable typewriter. Like all fine and sensitive comedians, Stan Laurel has never lost his heart, even in retirement.
—Ogden Standard-Examiner
December 12, 1959
