Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Laurel and Hardy


This world needs more partnerships like Laurel and Hardy.  After all, one was from England and the other one was from Georgia.  (Read my profile if you don't know what I mean!)  I have told you from   this earlier post about Oliver Hardy living in the small town of Madison. Now, I understand that is possible that he might have even been born in Covington (which is just the next town over from Conyers) instead of Harlem, Georgia!  I wish I could find out for sure!  Wherever he was born, he was most certainly from Georgia!  His nickname was Babe and that is what all his friends called him.  Such a great dancer for such a big man and so light on his feet!  I love this video that I found for you and I love the song that makes their toes start tapping and their feet to start moving. Listen to it and you will be humming it too!  I have read that they just made up this dance when they were listening to one of the Avalon boys strumming on his guitar...
(Richard tells me that another song from this same movie, "On The Trail Of The Lonesome Pine" was a hit record in England in 1975!  I love that song too, look that one up if you get a chance!)

 Laurel and Hardy toured England, Ireland and Scotland in the 50's and were not sure how they would be received.  They were mobbed everywhere they went while they were there!

Laurel and Hardy, they were both so very clever and oh so talented. The thin one, Stan Laurel was really the industrious one and Oliver Hardy, a great singer and dancer was the more laid back character, exactly opposite of their on- screen personas!  After retirement, Stanley Laurel spent a great deal of time responding to his fan mail.   He even had his phone number in the phone book and talked to whoever who called him.  That is how Dick VanDyke became a good friend of his.  In fact, Dick Van Dyke read the eulogy at Stan Laurel's funeral.  He recited this prayer at the service...

As I stumble through this life,
help me to create more laughter than tears,

dispense more cheer than gloom,
spread more cheer than despair.

Never let me become so indifferent,
that I will fail to see the wonders in the eyes of a child,
or the twinkle in the eyes of the aged.

Never let me forget that my total effort is to cheer people,
make them happy, and forget momentarily,
all the unpleasantness in their lives.

And in my final moment,
may I hear You whisper:
"When you made My people smile,
you made Me smile."
Image of Oliver Hardy (Laurel & Hardy) - Screened
 
I hope that you take the time to listen to Laurel and Hardy. Just watching them dance has made my day!  I hope it makes yours too!

43 comments:

  1. What a great post. I love Laurel and Hardy's work, and I've never seen the delightful clip you posted. I think I need to go back and watch it again.

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    1. Oh, thanks so much, Kristi! I am so glad you liked this video!! I love it!

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  2. Steve LOVED Laurel & Hardy, he had a whole DVD collection with their films and would often made me watch them with him :-)
    And speaking of big men being good dancers - well, RJ is just like that; he is way too big (he knows he needs to do something about that), but he still is one of the best dancers I know.

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    1. Oh, that makes me happy that your Steve loved Laurel & Hardy too. He had such good taste, I know he loved the Beatles too! (And you too, of course.)
      Oftentimes, some of the big guys are the best dancers. I don't know why that is so, but it is. Perhaps sometimes we could get a video of you and RJ dancing? Maybe one where it is dark and we can't see his face? No? Well, I tried!! :-)

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  3. I would like to see such films remade, slightly faster than in their day but with as much of their style as possible.

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    1. I agree, we need more style and grace these days, not to mention the comedy!!

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  4. I used to love watching Laurel & Hardy when I was at school. In the days before multi-channels and 24/7 broadcasting, their films were repeated endlessly during the school holidays to keep us children entertained. I remember this song and 'Lonesome Pine' and they both have a real happy feel. My favourite comic duo though are Morecambe & Wise who I'm sure Richard will know very well. x

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment, Julie!
      Richard DOES know Morecambe & Wise! He also remembers The Two Ronnies, he really liked them!
      (And I know the Two Ronnies, but I don't know Morecambe & Wise!)

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  5. When I was very young, we used to watch them every Saturday morning. We loved them, so it was wonderful to watch this clip of them dancing. That eulogy is beautiful.

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    1. I am so glad you liked this clip of them. And that funeral service for Stan Laurel with Dick VanDyke reading that, it must have been very moving.

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  6. I enjoyed that video very much! Sometimes it's the biggest men who are the best dancers. And that young guy playing the guitar is quite the looker too!

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    1. Debra, I am so glad you liked it too! And I agree about the big guys dancing well and yes I thought that young fellow was cute too! But then, I always fall for the guitar players. That is Chill Wills singing the yodeling part!

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  7. What a pair! I'm not very familiar with their work. Only through memorabilia at antiques and vintage shops. Thank you for posting the video. And for sharing that beautiful eulogy.
    Cheers!

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    1. Thanks for your comment!
      So happy that I shared even a bit of info these funny guys who brought so much joy into people's lives.
      I love that prayer too, glad you liked it.

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  8. They were brilliant, and i'm going to have to take a few minutes out to go browse some of their work.

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    1. Oh yes, please do, they were brilliant, both of them and I am glad to point you in their direction!! xx

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  9. What a beautiful eulogy. Great men and still being very much appreciated.

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    1. Thanks, I wish they would show them on TV more so young people would know them.

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  10. Ah, what a delightful song and dance! It made me feel quite happy to watch that---thanks, Kay! It's almost enough to make even clumsy me commence to dancing. :-)

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    1. So happy you enjoyed it! And I love to dance. I am such a graceful dancer (in my own mind, that is!!)

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  11. That clip of Laurel and Hardy was delightful. It cheered me up and put a smile on my face as i rest in bed and nurse my hip to recovery.

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    1. Hey Paul!
      You have made me so happy by leaving this comment!!!
      So happy to have something here to cheer you up.
      Take great care of yourself and don't be discouraged.
      You will heal quickly because you are so fit!

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  12. Kay, I truly enjoyed that little film. Thank you so much. xoxo,Susie

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    1. Hey Susie!
      I am so happy that you enjoyed it too!
      xx

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  13. I love Laurel an Hardy.
    I'll have to see the Lonesome Pine video on YouTube.

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    1. Oh yes, look that one up, it's a good one!
      I wish we could have had that on the charts in 1975 like they did in England!

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  14. Very cute video!
    And what an excellent eulogy.

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    1. Thanks, Terry.
      I loved that Dick VanDyke became good friends with Stan Laurel and when I saw this printed, of what he spoke at his service, I knew I had to share it on a post.

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  15. Adorable video ~ Laurel & Hardy always bring a smile to my face!!! I wonder how they came to know one another!!! Do you know?

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    1. Thanks, Audrey!
      I read that they first worked together in a skit where Stan Laurel was the wise guy and Oliver Hardy played the dopey one, exactly the opposite!
      I want to know more about them, there are several books by John McCabe that I plan to read.
      So, in answer to your question, I don't really know yet, but I WILL find out!! xx

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  16. Ha! So much fun to watch that video...they just don't make entertainment like that anymore and it's something anyone can watch, no matter what age. If everyone would take the attitude of making someone smile the world would be so much better and how lovely to be remembered as a person who did just that...make us smile and make the world a better place.

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    1. I so much agree. I wish they would show them on TV more so kids would know them!

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  17. My sister loves that movie ... and "On the Trail of the Lonesome Pine" too. :)

    Such a happy, toe-tapping video - thanks for posting. They are adorable.

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    1. Toe-tapping, oh yes! I tap my toes and want to get up and dance! I wish we could do a flash dance of it somewhere, that would be fun!!

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  18. Laurel and Hardy they guys are legends very nice post Kay G. i am a huge fan of L and H.
    Thanks for sharing the video.
    :x

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    1. So glad you liked this too.
      Thanks for visting my blog, I appreciate it!

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  19. Big Fan as child, loved their films, great video!
    Ivan

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    1. Thanks so much, Ivan!
      Hope you are having a good birthday week! (Celebrate it all week long, I say!)

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  20. Hi Kay, Just catching up with your Blog. It surely made me smile. Your header picture is just beautiful. Having got back from Sussex a couple of days ago your bluebell picture made be wish that we had left our trip another month and then we too could have walked the "Bluebell Patch." Enjoy your walks. Pat

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    1. Hey Pat!
      So happy that you can see Stone Mountain behind the pink tulip-tree! And of course, I knew you would know the bluebells!
      Now I know you said you saw snow on your trip to E. Sussex, but I hope you had some fish & chips!!!

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  21. There is a story of a little boy who got lost during a show. Laurel entertained him in his dressing room for ages while the parents were found. Talented and a nice personality.

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    1. OH, thanks so much for sharing this story. It doesn't surprise me. I knew he was a really nice guy.
      I admire talented people but I love people who are kind to others.

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