November 6, 1956
Dear Elmer Westover,
It's interesting to hear that 'Fra Diavalo' has been showing recently - it hasn't been seen here as yet. No I don't collect records - am more interested in tape recordings - I like most any kind of music, am not particular.
With best wishes,
Sincerely-
November 8, 1956
Dear Ernie [Murphy] -
Thanks your card. Hope by now you have recovered from what you don't know what you had. I've been going though the non specific dept. too - they don't know whats causing my headaches - have had several tests etc. so far nothing better - I think its "TIRED DANDRUFF"?
That's certainly a swell looking Hospital you're in - no wonder you're taking so long to find out whats the matter with you - looks like you'll make it your Winter quarters. Babe is showing improvement - still in bed of course.
Not much to tell you Ernie - all was as usual.
Eda joins in love & best.
as ever -
November 10, 1956
My Dear Earl [Shank, Jr.]:-
Thanks your very nice letter 5th.inst.
I deeply appreciate your concern re our situation, & your kindly thought & desire to help matters, its certainly a magnanimous gesture, wish I could fully express my feelings apart from a humble thanks, but please do'nt worry Earl, things are not as bad as they seem, I assure you there's nothing to be alarmed about.
Frankly, am pleased you decided not to contact Bob Hope, it would be impossible for us to appear on his show anyway due to our health condition. Before Babe got ill we had several offers to do a short appearance with Jackie Gleason, Ed Sullivan etc. but I did'nt feel equal to it, thought we might not be up to par & may be disappointing, so did'nt want to take any chances.
I'm expecting to go into hospital for a couple of days, have been troubled with attacks of headaches this last couple of months, the Dr. thinks it may be too much spinal fluid or not enough that's causing it, so they are going to puncture my spine & check it. I told the Dr. if thats not it, it must be TIRED DANDRUFF.!!
Pleased to know Cynthia is coming along so well & gaining weight, your big thrill is yet to come when she starts to talk & walk.
Yes, this Mid East situation is a mess & certainly looks serious, I pray to God it wo'nt end up in a War, what a disaster that would be to the whole World.
I do'nt recall "The Gold Digger" series, but I do remember the names you mention who were in them. I met Eddie Cantor & Joe E. Brown many times. Did you see Cantor a couple of weeks ago on Playhouse 90 in "Sizeman & Co"? he played a dramatic role, also another film with Ed Wynn playing a straight part & last night there was one "The Big Slide" with Red Skelton going dramatic, looks like all the comics have run out of comedy material & turning legitimate - next thing you know, we'll be seeing Abbott & Costello in "The Ten Commandments"! I understand Joe E. Brown is publishing a book on his career in show Biz. It should be interesting, I remember him way back when he was a member of an acrobatic troupe who worked on a trampoline (bounding table) I remember too, Carey Grant when he was with a stilt walking troupe at the Hippodrome New York (about 1912) his name then was Archie Leach, he was an English acrobat.
Babe is coming along as well as can be expected, still in bed & unable to talk yet, poor chap, I sure sympathize with him.
Well, all for now Earl. Thanks again for your lovely letter.
Kind thoughts & every good wish to you & yours,
Sincerely always:-
The Suez Crisis was fought by Britain, France, and Israel against Egypt beginning on October 29, 1956.
Eddie Cantor (1892–1964) was an American comedian, dancer, singer, actor and songwriter.
Joseph Evans Brown (1892–1973) was an American actor and comedian. His autobiography, “Laughter Is A Wonderful Thing” was published in 1956 by A.S. Barnes and Co.
November 21, 1956
Dear Mrs [Marie] Hatfield:-
Thank you for your very nice letter of the 18th.inst. I am terribly sorry I was unable to see you when you called, the reason was I had just returned from the hospital the day before, I was in there overnight for a spinal test, so really was'nt feeling too good - I had been troubled with headaches the last couple of months & the Dr thought it nay be due to spinal fluid pressure. However, everything in that dept. was OK & for some reason my headaches have subsided. Even so, had I known that you were from out of Town (Mrs L. did'nt tell me till after you'd left) I would have certainly invited you in to wait, while I put on my hearing aid, my wig, put in my right eye & screwed on my wooden leg to meet you! oh, forgot my teeth too.!
Anyway, next time you are down this way, please drop me a card & let me know & it will be my pleasure to make a definite date.
Again many thanks for your kind thoughts & good wishes, deeply appreciated.
With kindest regards to Mr Hatfield & self.
Sincerely always:-
November 23, 1956
The Comedian Oliver Hardy, felled by a stroke Sept. He still clings doggedly to life. If the wishes of his fans can help him, he’ll make it back to recovery.
I dropped by Hardy’s modest Van Nuys home to check on his condition. Mrs. Hardy, a small, attractive woman, told me the once-rotund comic is much the some as when he left the hospital last month. His right side is paralyzed. He is unable to speak. He requires nurses 24 hours a day.
His spirits seemed to improve when we brought him home,” she reported. “But he seems to get frustrated by his inability to do things. He will sit and look at a newspaper for a long time and appear to get irritated because he can’t absorb it.
We put him in a wheelchair one day and brought him into the den to see TV. He always was such an avid watcher. But it was evident that he couldn’t comprehend what was going on.
Sometimes he gets so upset over his inability to get better that he seems to wish that it were all over with.”
Mrs. Hardy said her husband finds encouragement in the flood of letters that has poured in since his illness. She showed me a couple of boxes of messages from all over the world. Here are some of them:
Auckland, New Zealand: “I do hope that you will soon recover and once more enjoy life. You have, with your good partner Stan, made many happy hours for millions of people the world over!”
Jativa, Spain: “In the name of all our children who have enjoyed so much all your lovely pictures with your old friend Stan Laurel, I am sending our very best wishes and good luck.”
Dublin, Ireland: “Kindly let him know that one who got many laughs watching him on the screen in my schoolboy days wishes him God's blessing for a speedy and lasting delivery.”
A whole class of school children in Noroton, Conn., fashioned their own get well cards. “We appreciate the messages so much,” Mrs. Hardy said, “even though we haven’t had time to answer them.”
Partner Stan Laurel is living quietly with his wife in nearby Santa Monica. Illness has kept him inactive professionally of late, but, he reports, he is improving steadily.
November 24, 1956
Dear James Wiseman,
Thanks yours 16th.inst. with enclosure of news items - I really don't know how this reporter figured that Mr. Hardy made that statement due to the fact that Mr. Hardy's speech was affected & he is unable to talk yet - this reporter must think he's DUNNINGER THE MENTAL WIZARD!!
Thanks again for your kind wishes & wish you a very Merry Xmas & Happy New Year.
Sincerely -
November 27, 1956
Thanks Elmer [Westover] for the newspaper regarding the Dupont Mill explosion - you were certainly lucky to be out of range - don't think I'd care to live that close to a powder mill - it would make me a nervous wreck! We have been having several brush fires in the mountains here - one still raging (11 fireman burned to death) many thousands of acres destroyed this last month. They have been bringing in a lot of Indian fire fighters...& planes are flying over the fire, spraying chemicals to put it out - it's really serious.
Thanks again for the paper Elmer it was very interesting.
Wish you a very merry Xmas & a Happy New Year - lots of good luck - health and happiness in '57.
Sincerely always-
—November 16, 1956