My second half of the story of Hollywood’s favourite double act. The 1940s and 50s saw new challenges for Laurel and Hardy. Having conquered the big screen they found a new lease of life as a live act, travelling the UK and Europe, initially to huge acclaim. However here would be a few health-scares and heartbreaks along the way, as well as many tantalising unmade projects. Their 1953-54 tour of Britain and Ireland is now the subject of a major feature film “Stan and Ollie” starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly.

“Just brilliant” Brent Culture

Here I am talking at the wonderful Library at Willesden Green again in December 2018. We got a big, appreciative crowd in and I was lucky enough to meet a life-long fan of the boys called Fred, who had seen Stan and Ollie live on stage at the Aston Hippodrome, right at the end of their last tour in 1954.

FURTHER READING:

MR LAUREL AND MR HARDY by John McCabe

THE COMEDY WORLD OF STAN LAUREL by John McCabe

STAN AND OLLIE: THE ROOTS OF COMEDY by Simon Louvish

THE LAUREL & HARDY ENCYCLOPEDIA by Glenn Mitchell

THE POCKET ESSENTIAL LAUREL & HARDY by Brian J Robb

LAUREL & HARDY FROM THE FORTIES FORWARD by Scott MacGillivray

LAUREL & HARDY: THE BRITISH TOURS by A.J. Marriot

LAUREL & HARDY: SPOT ON! by Michael Ehret