Stan Laurel (Arthur Stanley Jefferson) was born on June 16, 1890 in Ulverston, England. Coming from a theatrical family, he had his first professional performance at the age of 16 in Glasgow, Scotland. I hope anyone reading this will know him from the amazing comedy duo of Laurel and Hardy!
I have given you this video of them dancing to "At The Ball" in a previous post. It is worth showing it to you again.
Stan Laurel died in 1965. He had become good friends with Dick Van Dyke, who gave the eulogy at his funeral. Dick Van Dyke read "A Clown's Prayer" which must be read often at funerals for comedians. (The comedian, Chris Farley carried this in his wallet.) I hope you will understand if I tell you that it also reminds me of my Dad, who died in February. My father was not a clown or comedian but he truly enjoyed making other people laugh.
No one knows who wrote this, so I think it is okay to share it with you...
As I stumble through this life,
help me to create more laughter than tears,
dispense more happiness 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."
The words on his tombstone: STAN LAUREL
(1890- 1965)
A Master Of Comedy
His Genius In The Art of
Humor Brought Gladness
To The World He Loved
He was an amazing comic genius, and that dance is one to chase the blues away if anything can.
ReplyDeleteI have seen young people imitating this same dance on YouTube and how delightful it is to see that!
DeleteThey were both amazing and very talented men, and how lucky for all of us that they met and started working together!
ReplyDeleteAs you can see, I have a photo of them at the bottom of my blog...one from England and one from Georgia, just like Richard and myself!
DeleteKay that's lovely. It brought a lump to my throat
ReplyDeleteThank you, I was happy to share it with you.
DeleteWe just recently watched the movie "Stan & Ollie" and enjoyed it very much.
ReplyDeleteGuess what!? Richard and I just watched it last night! Thanks very much for not telling me that they used this song in the film, that was sweet of you. By the way, you make people laugh so much, you should like this prayer too.
DeleteThank you for sharing the Dance at the Ball. How nice to remember long ago comedians that can still make us smile and do it without a single word.
ReplyDeleteWithout a single word! Why, just a LOOK from one of them could make us laugh, couldn't it? We need to laugh more, I think.
DeleteOh, what a wonderful piece. I must remember it.
ReplyDeleteYou and DAvid need to learn this dance. I bet you could!
DeleteNice words. Stan's Dad managed theatres in Glasgow at that time so it was in the family so to speak to learn the trade. One of the old theatres from that period is still open today for tourists to visit as you probably know.
ReplyDeleteHow I want to see Scotland! I know I tell you that all the time but it is true! The theatres in Britain are beautiful! I have only been to a few of them and loved the plays and concerts there, but the buildings themselves! You would have to be an American, and specifically one from the South, to know how much I appreciate their beauty.
DeleteHi Kay - loved those two and their films - always a favourite at home. Love the poem ... the best we can do for others ... cheer them up and make them laugh - wonderful ... happy memories for you - have a peaceful weekend - Hilary
ReplyDeletePS quite a few of Eastbourne and Bloomsbury group posts coming up ... over the next two or three months ...
Hey Hilary!
DeleteGuess what!? That garden statue of them is from Hailsham! I loved that they did a tour of England/Ireland in their later years and were adored and cheered in every town and city!
I will look forward to Eastbourne and Bloomsbury group posts!
That is such a beautiful poem, and doesn't have to just be for a clown. Thank you for sharing this, Kay. I used to love watching Laurel and Hardy as a child.
ReplyDeleteYou know I think it's beautiful but I always have to be so careful on my blog, in my wording. Of course, my Dad's whole purpose in life was not to make people laugh but to do so brought him much joy. This clowns prayer did remind me of him.
DeleteThose are lovely lines, Kay - never heard them before - anyone would be proud to think they applied to them. I've never seen that dance seen before, either; comic genius! Thanks for making ME smile this morning! x
ReplyDeleteOh I made you smile too! That does make me happy. Make sure you watch Stan and Ollie with Steve Coogan playing Ollie. Amazing to see and hear how much he looks and sounds like him.
DeleteI adore the dance. I always thought that Dick Van Dyke resembled Stan Laurel.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I came back to watch the dance again because it's so great. They were quite graceful.
DeleteI am such a fan of them but only knew of this dance from your first blog about it. There is another youtube clip where Hardy sings Shine on Harvest Moon. He really had an amazing voice. I've read books about them. Your father always sounded like someone who spread happiness around him.
ReplyDeleteI really need to do a post about Oliver Hardy too! He was an amazing talent, so light on his feet even though he was quite heavy. And a great voice too! My Dad loved music and dancing also, besides being funny. And I have seen the clip of Shine On Harvest Moon also, I love it. x
DeleteThanks for your visit to my blog, so nice to meet new friends. Laurel and Hardy have always been favourites of my husband, so I must show him this video.
ReplyDeleteHello Elizabeth, Very nice to meet you also! Please show your husband this video, I know he will like it very much.
DeleteHello Kay,
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for the loss of your dad back in February, thoughts are with you.
What a delightful poem that one is.
Heard of Laurel and Hardy, and thank for the video.
Thank you. My Dad was my father, mother and best friend all rolled into one. I miss him.
DeleteLaurel and Hardy were good friends besides being a great comedy duo. I think that came through in their performances even if Ollie would "hit" Stan over the head sometimes!
There is a LOT to be said for making people smile and laugh. It cheers me up just to think of some of the things my dad used to say. I often wish I had inherited his gift of making people laugh, but i do see it funnily enough in one of my grandsons.
ReplyDeleteThat is wonderful, that you can see that in your grandson! I hope that I have the gift of making people laugh too. I am as a serious as a heart attack on this blog but in real life, I make people laugh every day. And they are not just laughing at how I look either!
DeleteThat video is really funny and adorable! My Dad was a funny guy too and he loved life and telling stories and singing. I miss him every day and can't believe it's been 43 years since he's been gone. Time doesn't heal all wounds does it. However he wouldn't want us not to smile and laugh through life so I try to honor him with as many giggles as possible!
ReplyDeleteWhen I make someone laugh, I can almost hear my Dad say, "Good one, Kay". I remember something you told me just after my Dad died...we WILL see our fathers again. Keep a song in your heart and smile on your lips, that is something that another dear blogging friend told me!
DeleteHow we loved Laurel & Hardy, Abbott & Costello, The Marx Brothers, The Three Stooges, Red Skelton, Bob Hope etc., etc., et al when we were kids, my brother and I....as did millions of others.
ReplyDeleteWe laughed our way through the Saturday afternoon matinees. :)
I saw all of them on TV as a kid. I sure do miss Bob Hope! He was from England originally, I am sure you know! And first time I heard Who's on first from Abbott and Costello, thought it was done with genius timing. What about the scene where the Marx Brothers cram into that stateroom on that ship with about a hundred others and they all spill out? So funny. My Dad loved Red Skelton, we never missed that show. At the end, didn't he always say good night and God bless? Loved that. x
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