STAN LAUREL LETTERHEAD - 849 OCEAN AVE., SANTA MONICA, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

                JANUARY 3rd.1961.
Dear Richard Sloan:
    Thanks for your nice letter, with copy of Al Kilgore's drawing, which with pleasure I have autographed & returning herewith - thank you for the kind request.
    My compliments on your work [Richard], the copy is excellent.
    My regards & wishes for lots of good health & a happy successful New Year.
                Sincerely always:
Stan Laurel Signature                 STAN LAUREL.

P.S. Please convey my best to 'Chuck' [McCann] if you see him again.



OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 OCEAN AVE., SANTA MONICA, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

                JANUARY 7th.1961.
Dear Rickey & Marie [Capra]:
    Thanks for the nice card with Season's greeting. Sorry to hear you're not feeling too good Rickey hope by now you are back in shape again - I too have'nt been so good, this diabetic business has been bothering me & am now under Dr's care.
    Eda joins in wishing you all a very Happy & successful New Year - hope you all enjoyed a Merry Xmas.
    I had a card from Tom Sullivan, he expects to be out here soon now.
    Our love & Kind thoughts.
    Good Luck & God Bless.
                As ever:
Stan Signature                 STAN LAUREL.


POSTCARD - 849 OCEAN AVE., SANTA MONICA, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

                JANUARY 12th.'61.
Dear Marie [Hatfield]:
    Thanks yours,7th.inst. Glad you enjoyed "County Hospital" film, we had a lot of fun making that one. Did I tell you that Dupont show of the Month are going to do the L&H story with Jackie Gleason & Art Carney sometime in April & our book is due for publication March 2nd.
    Nothing much to tell you, except the weather here is marvelous, just like mid-summer.
    Mrs L. (Eda) joins in kind thoughts to Self, Bob & Mother.
    Good luck & God Bless.
                As ever:
Stan Laurel Signature

NO LETTERHEAD - 849 OCEAN AVE., SANTA MONICA, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

‘This Is Your Life’ was very disappointing and didn’t mean a thing.

Stan Laurel

                JANUARY 12th.1961.
Dear Earl [Shank, Jr.]:
    Thanks your welcome letter & reel of Tape.
    Walter told me you now had a 'Recorder' Congratulations.! I know you'll get a great deal of pleasure & amusement out of it - wo'nt be long before you're fully acquainted with the operation of it.
    Note you find it difficult to talk over the 'mike', beleive me, I have the same trouble - just freeze up, it disturbs me very much, so do'nt expect any tape letters from me - if someone was at the 'mike' with me, its a different story, otherwise, I feel I'm talking to myself.!!
    Regarding making a tape copy of "This is your Life", am afraid it would'nt be of much interest Earl, we had very little to say, do'nt think between us we spoke a half dozen words, everybody else did the talking, Ralph Edwards & the surprise visitors - I made a tape recording for a friend of mine in England who appeared on the show - it was very disappointing - did'nt mean a thing. Anyway, if you still wish me to make one for you, shall be happy to do so, if not I can record something else on this tape that I think you'd enjoy.
    Delighted to know you have another prospective buyer, sincerely hope this time a deal will materialize. I realise how you feel about moving West to a new environment, but am sure you have nothing to worry about, especially in your line of business.
    The L&H story on TV has now been scheduled for sometime in April. Gleason & Carney are not available right now. The book will be released March 2nd. I understand.
    The Bob Hope show was interesting to me - Hardy & I made a similar trip to the same places during the last War - we traveled as far as Georgetown, British Guiana, the whole trip was made in two weeks, we flew eight hours everyday in Bombers. (B.18's).
    I saw a little of the Rose Bowl Parade, its not too interesting unless in Color
    Bye Earl.
    Kind thoughts to you all from us both here.
    Good luck & God Bless.
                As ever:
Stan Signature

OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 OCEAN AVE., SANTA MONICA, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

                JANUARY 14th.1961.
Dear Herb [Read]:
                Thanks yours,11th.inst.
Sorry for long delay in acknowledging your previous letter - firstly, I have'nt been feeling too good & for some reason or other my Xmas mail was unusually big this season (Fans) in fact am still in the throes of answering them all, consequently I have neglected a great deal of my personal mail - its wonderful to know I have so many friends & wellwishers, but I wish there was some easier means of conveying my thanks & appreciation - have had well over a thousand Cards this year, not counting letters requesting autographed pictures - ENOUGH TO MAKE A MAN BURST OUT CRYING.!!!
    Please rest assured Herb my silence is not due to any offense.
    Trust you enjoyed a very Merry Xmas - Mrs joins in wishing you lots of good health & a happy successful New Year.
    The L&H book I understand is to be released March 2nd. also sometime in April, Dupont Show of the Month, the L&H story with Gleason & Carney is scheduled, so keep your eyes crossed.!
    Trust alls going well.
    Kindest regards,
                As ever:
Stan Signature                 STAN LAUREL.

The New York Times Reports

A ninety-minute television dramatization about the professional and private lives of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy is being developed by the DuPont Show of the Month. Whether it will get on the air in April as DuPont‘s final show of the season depends a great extent on whether Art Carney and Jackie Gleason are available to star as Laurel and Hardy, respectively.



OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 OCEAN AVE., SANTA MONICA, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

                JANUARY 18th.1961.
Dear Jennie & Jack [Racey]:
    Finally got down to acknowledging you[r] letter of Dec.13th. & nice Xmas Card, for some reason or other my Xmas mail was quite heavy this year, mostly Fans of course, so consequently a lot of my personal correspondence was neglected. Hope you all enjoyed a very Merry Yuletide - Eda joins in wishing you all lots of good health & a happy successful New Year '61.
    Note that Rose & her Husband have opened up a new Store in Detroit - wish them lots of luck.
    Sorry about the coughing spells during your meals Jack - I frankly wouldn't know what to advise, this happens to me occasionally, but not too often, only when I eat something that happens to be dry, so I generally put something on it to moisten it up, for instance if its a cracker - SOAK IT IN BURBON.!! then suck the cracker through a Straw.! SIMPLE? who the hell wants to cough then?
    Glad you enjoyed the Stocking & the Nixon for the Birds gag ------ have'nt heard any new ones lately.
    Weather here is like mid-summer - guess your relatives living out here in Calif. have told you all about it. Kind thoughts from us both here.
    Cheerio & God Bless.
                As ever:
Stan Signature                 STAN LAUREL.


OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 OCEAN AVE., SANTA MONICA, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

No doubt you saw the Kennedy inauguration yesterday—I have great admiration for him.

Stan Laurel

                JANUARY 21st.1961.
Dear Earl [Shank, Jr.]:
                Thanks yours,18th inst.
Am certainly pleased to hear the news re the sale of your business, sounds very encouraging - hope to be hearing from you soon from Arizona. I just recd. a tape from Walter & Vera & on it was the message you recorded to them, so I had the pleasure of hearing you & Jean's voices too - thought you both did very well on your first attempt. I just returned the tape to Walter, he prizes it very much & is really delighted to think you will be there soon - both he & Vera are wonderful persons, very sincere & kind folks, am sure you will enjoy meeting them personally. Their Son 'Butch' is soon to get his discharge from the Navy, so they are very excited about that. Unfortunately, he has to go through surgery as soon as he gets home, this was the reason he was released from the Navy so soon, his operation will be taken care of at the local Vets hospital, so there'll be no expense or medical cost.
    No doubt you saw the Kennedy inaugeration yesterday, I thought his speech was excellent & inspiring, I have great admiration for him - wish I'd thought to make a tape recording of his speech.
    Am making a recording on the tape you sent me from a record sent me from London, its a Banjo Band, a medley of old time American songs, I made one for Walter & Vera & they enjoyed it very much, so think you will like it too. Will ship it to you the early part of next week, will drop you a card advising you same time.
    Kind thoughts from us both here to Jean, Self & kiddies.
                As ever:
Stan Signature

OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 OCEAN AVE., SANTA MONICA, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

                JANUARY 23rd.1961.
My Dear Jerry [Lewis]:
    Thank you for the very interesting color picture of "The Ladies Man" sets, its certainly a unique idea & I imagine it has proved of great value in many instances - time saving etc. Congratulations on your ingenuity - hope 'Ladies Man' has developed successfully & is all you wished for.
    Trust you will take a good rest after you've finished production Jerry - take good care of yourself.
    Eda joins in kind thoughts & every good wish to Patti & Self.
    Cheerio & God Bless.
                As ever:
Stan Signature                 STAN LAUREL.


JERRY LEWIS - “THE LADIES MAN” SET
The Ladies Man Set
Note from the Editor

Most of Jerry Lewis’ The Ladies Man was shot on a single four-story, open-faced building set that stretched across two soundstages on the Paramount lot.



OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 OCEAN AVE., SANTA MONICA, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

                JANUARY 26th.'61.
Dear Edmund [Tester]:
    Thanks yours, 21st.inst. with enclosure of drawing of "JAZZBOLAND". ITS CERTAINLY QUITE A PROJECT - very interesting indeed - I imagine you will be leasing out most of the concessions & retaining the most profitable attractions.
    I guess you wo'nt have much time for your clowning activities when you start on this new venture, its going to be a full time job for you I'm sure. Again wish you lots of good luck & success.
    Enclosed is a picture for Ed Jr. (these are the only kind I have)
    Yes we caught all the inauguration business on TV. it was very impressing, especially Kennedy's speech, we also caught his news conference yesterday - have great admiration for him.
    Not much else to tell you, so bye for now.
    Regards & bestest to self & Family from us both here.
    Cheerio & God Bless.
                As ever:
Stan Signature                 STAN LAUREL.


OCEANA LETTERHEAD - 849 OCEAN AVE., SANTA MONICA, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

                JANUARY 27th.'61.
Dear Edmund [Tester]:
    Enclosed, some literature which is on display in the hotel lobby here for the tourists - thought it may be of interest to you & probably give you ideas for 'JAZZBOLAND.'
    Again, all the best to you all.
                As ever:
Stan Signature                 STAN LAUREL.


Stan Watermark