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{{Short description|American actor (1892–1957)}}
{{Infobox Actor
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}

{{Infobox person
| name = Oliver Hardy | name = Oliver Hardy
| image = OliverHardycheeks.gif | image= Oliver Hardy - 1938.jpg
| caption = | caption = Hardy in 1938
| birthname = | birth_name = Norvell Hardy
| birthdate = {{Birth date|1892|1|18|mf=y}} | birth_date = {{birth date|1892|01|18}}
| birthplace = ], ], ] | birth_place = ], U.S.
| deathdate = {{Death date and age|1957|8|7|1892|1|18|mf=y}} | death_date = {{death date and age|1957|08|07|1892|01|18}}
| deathplace = ], ], United States | death_place = ], California, U.S.
| occupation = ] | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|comedian|director|screenwriter}}
| years_active = 1914–1955
| yearsactive =1914–1951
| spouse = {{plainlist|
| spouse ={{marriage|Madelyn Saloshin |1913|1921}}<br />{{marriage|Myrtle Reeves |1921|1937}}<br />{{marriage|Virginia Lucille Jones |1940|1957}}
* {{marriage|Madelyn Saloshin|1913|1921|reason=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Myrtle Reeves|1921|1937|reason=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Virginia Lucille Jones|1940}}
}}
| children =
| signature = Oliver Hardy signature.svg
}} }}
'''Oliver Norvell Hardy''' (born '''Norvell Hardy'''; January 18, 1892 – August 7, 1957) was an American comic actor and one half of ], the ] that began in the era of silent films and lasted from 1926 to 1957. He appeared with his comedy partner ] in 107 short films, feature films, and cameo roles. He was credited with his first film, '']'', in 1914. In most of his silent films before joining producer ], he was billed on screen as '''Babe Hardy'''.


==Early life and education==
'''Oliver Hardy''' (born ''' Norvell Hardy'''; January 18, 1892 &ndash; August 7, 1957) was an American ] actor famous as one half of ], the classic ] that began in the era of ] and lasted over 31 years, from 1926 to 1957. Hardy’s star on the ] is located at 1500 ], ], ].
Oliver Hardy was born Norvell Hardy on January 18, 1892,<ref>{{cite book|last=Everson|first=William K.|title=The Films of Laurel and Hardy|location=New York|publisher=Citadel Press|date=1967|isbn=9780806501468|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PK9ZsmT9B5IC|page=11}}</ref> in ].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Canby|first=Vincent|date=1990-06-16|title=Critics Notebook; Laurel With and Without Hardy|language=en-US|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/16/movies/critics-notebook-laurel-with-and-without-hardy.html|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=2021-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814223534/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/16/movies/critics-notebook-laurel-with-and-without-hardy.html|archive-date=August 14, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> His father, Oliver, was a ] veteran of the ] who had been wounded at the ] on September 17, 1862, and was a recruiting officer for Company K, 16th Georgia Regiment. The elder Oliver Hardy assisted his father in running the remnants of the family's cotton plantation. He then bought a share in a retail business and was elected full-time Tax Collector for ]. Hardy's mother, Emily Norvell, was the daughter of Thomas Benjamin Norvell, who was descended from ] of ], and Mary Freeman. The elder Hardy and Norvell married March 12, 1890; it was her second marriage and his third.


The family moved to ], in 1891, the year before Norvell's birth.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal|last1=Wilson III|first1=Robert J.|date=2003|title=Oliver Hardy in Georgia, 1903-1913|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40584685|url-status=live|journal=Georgia Historical Quarterly|volume=87|issue=3/4|pages=359–388|jstor=40584685|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929151327/https://www.jstor.org/stable/40584685|archive-date=September 29, 2021|access-date=February 19, 2018}}</ref> He was likely born in Harlem, though some sources say that his birth occurred in ], his mother's hometown. His father died less than a year after his birth. Hardy was the youngest of five children. His older brother Sam drowned in the ]; Hardy pulled him from the river but was unable to resuscitate him.<ref>"This is Your Life", Episode December 1, 1954.</ref>
==Childhood==
]
His father, Oliver, was a ] veteran wounded at the ] on September 17, 1862. After his demobilization as a recruiting officer for Company K, 16th Georgia Regiment, the elder Oliver Hardy assisted his father in running the vestiges of the family cotton plantation, bought a share in a retail business and was elected full-time Tax Collector for Columbia County. His mother, Emily Norvell, the daughter of Thomas Benjamin Norvell and Mary Freeman, was descended from ] of ]. Her family arrived in Virginia before 1635. Their marriage took place on March 12, 1890; it was the second marriage for the widow Emily, and the third for Oliver.
As a child, Hardy was sometimes difficult. In the fifth grade he was sent to ] in ]. In 1905, when he was 13, he was sent to ] in north Georgia for the fall semester which he completed successfully in January 1906, however he was in the junior high component of that institution what is today known as an academy. At that time there were no two-year junior colleges. He had little interest in formal education, although he acquired an early interest in music and theater. He joined a theatrical group and later ran away from a boarding school near Atlanta to sing with the group. His mother recognized his talent for singing and sent him to Atlanta to study music and voice with singing teacher ]. He skipped some of his lessons to sing in the Alcazar Theater for $3.50 a week. In 1912, he signed up for a course or two at University of Georgia as a law major for fall semester just to play football. He never missed a game.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}


As a teenager, Hardy began styling himself "Oliver Norvell Hardy", adding the first name "Oliver" as a tribute to his father. He appeared as "Oliver N. Hardy" in the ],{{#tag:ref|He was recorded as "Oliver M. Hardy" (not "N"), an "electrician" at an "electric theater". He was mistakenly listed as the "son" of Roy J. Baisden in his census listing.|group=N}} and he used "Oliver" as his first name in all subsequent legal records, marriage announcements, etc. Hardy was initiated into ] at Solomon Lodge No. 20 in ] which helped him with room and board when he was starting out in show business. He was inducted into the ] along with Stan Laurel.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.gowr.co.uk/roll-of-honour/|title=Roll of Honour|access-date=April 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418162039/http://www.gowr.co.uk/roll-of-honour/|archive-date=April 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
The family moved to Madison in 1891, before Norvell‘s birth. Norvell’s mother owned a house in Harlem, which was either empty or tenanted by her mother. It is probable that Norvell was born in Harlem, though some sources say it was in his mother’s home town, Covington. His father died less than a year after his birth.


==Career==
Hardy was sometimes a difficult child. He was sent to a Milledgeville military academy as a youngster. He was barely interested in education, although he acquired an early interest in ] and ], possibly from his mother's tenants. He joined a theatrical group, and later ran away from a boarding school near ] to sing with the group. His mother recognized his talent for singing, and sent him to ] to study music and voice with singing teacher Adolf Dahm Patterson but Hardy skipped some of his lessons to sing in the Alcazar Theater, a cinema, for $3.50 a week but he decided any kind of education was not for him, so he followed his dream of a singing/acting career.


===Early career===
Hardy's mother wanted Oliver Norvell Hardy to attend University of Georgia in fall of 1912, to study law but there is no evidence that he ever did or did not (including being on football team). A fire in the school's archives destroyed many documents. Those were different educational times. In the 1905/1906 school year, fall semester (September-January), when he was 13, Oliver was sent to Young Harris College in north Georgia. However, he was in the junior high component of that institution (the equivalent of high school today), not the two-year college which exists today. At that time there was no 2-year junior college system. Oliver decided to go back to Milledgeville.
]'' (1916), part of the Plump & Runt series]]


In 1910, The Palace,<ref name=":0" /> a motion picture theater, opened in Hardy's hometown of Milledgeville, and he became the projectionist, ticket taker, janitor and manager. He soon became obsessed with the new motion picture industry and was convinced that he could do a better job than the actors that he saw. A friend suggested that he move to ], where some films were being made, which he did in 1913. He worked in Jacksonville as a cabaret and vaudeville singer at night and at the ] during the day. It was at this time that he met Madelyn Saloshin, a pianist, whom he married on November 17, 1913, in ].
==Early career==
In 1910, a movie theater opened in the future Hardy's home town of ], and he became the ], ticket taker, ] and ]. He soon became obsessed with the new motion picture industry, and became convinced that he could do a better job than the actors he saw on the screen. A friend suggested that he move to ] Florida where some films were being made. In 1913 he did just that, where he worked as a ] and ] singer at night, and at the ] during the day. It was at this time that he met and married his first wife, ] Madelyn Saloshin.


The next year he made his first movie, '']'', for the Lubin studio. He was billed as O. N. Hardy, taking his father's name as a memorial. In his personal life, he was known as "Babe" Hardy, a ] that he was given by an ] ], who would apply ] to Oliver's cheeks and say, "nice-a-bab-y". In many of his later films at Lubin he was billed as "Babe Hardy." Hardy was a big man at six feet one inch tall and weighed up to 300 pounds. His size placed limitations on the roles he could play. He was most often cast as "the heavy" or the villain. He also frequently had roles in comedy shorts, his size complementing the character. The next year, he made his first movie, '']'' (1914), for the Lubin studio, billed as O.&nbsp;N. Hardy. In his personal life, he was known as "Babe" Hardy and was billed as "Babe Hardy" in many of his later films at Lubin, such as '']'' (1914). He was a big man, standing 6&nbsp;feet 1&nbsp;inch (1.85 m) and weighing up to 300 pounds ({{circa|136}} kg), and his size placed limits on the roles that he could play. He was most often cast as the villain, but he also had roles in comedy shorts, his size complementing the character. By 1915, Hardy had made 50 short one-reel films at Lubin. He moved to New York and made films for the ], Casino and ]. He returned to Jacksonville, where he made films for the ]. That studio closed after Hardy discovered that the owners were stealing from the payroll.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Creator: Bletcher, Billy, 1894-1979, Title, Dates: Billy Bletcher's Vim Southern Studio motion picture photographs, 1915–1917|url=http://dlis.dos.state.fl.us/barm/rediscovery/default.asp?IDCFile=/fsa/DETAILSS.IDC,SPECIFIC=483262,DATABASE=SERIES|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726073759/http://dlis.dos.state.fl.us/barm/rediscovery/default.asp?IDCFile=%2Ffsa%2FDETAILSS.IDC%2CSPECIFIC%3D483262%2CDATABASE%3DSERIES|archive-date=July 26, 2011|access-date=October 12, 2010|website=dlis.dos.state.fl.us}}</ref> He then worked for the King Bee studio, which bought Vim, and worked with ], ] (a ] imitator), and comedic actress Ethel Burton. He continued playing the villains for West well into the early 1920s, often imitating ] to West's Chaplin.
]'', one of ten shorts directed or co-directed by 'Babe Hardy']]
Between 1916 and 1917, Hardy experienced a brief directorial career. He is credited for directing or co-directing ten shorts, all played by him.


In 1917, Hardy moved to Los Angeles, working freelance for several Hollywood studios. He made more than 40 films for ] between 1918 and 1923, mostly playing the "heavy" for ]. In 1919, he separated from his wife, ending with a provisional divorce in November 1920 that was finalized on November 17, 1921. On November 24, 1921, he married actress Myrtle Reeves. This marriage was also unhappy, and Reeves was said to have become an alcoholic.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.meandmypal.be/EN/oliver-hardy.html |title=Oliver Hardy |work=Meandmypal.be |access-date=July 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828013245/http://www.meandmypal.be/EN/oliver-hardy.html |archive-date=August 28, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stanlaurelandoliverhardy.com/olly.htm |title=Oliver Hardy |work=Stanlaurelandoliverhardy.com |access-date=July 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712061306/http://www.stanlaurelandoliverhardy.com/olly.htm |archive-date=July 12, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
]. Stan Laurel sits as Hardy holds him down.]]


]'' (1921), six years before they became a team]]
By 1915, he had made fifty ] one-]er films at the Lubin studio. He later moved to New York and made films for the ], Casino and ]. He then returned to ] and made films for the Vim and King Bee studios. He worked with ] imitator ] and comedic actress Ethel Burton Palmer during this time. (Hardy continued playing the "heavy" for West well into the early 1920s, often imitating ] to West's Chaplin.) In 1917, Oliver Hardy moved to Los Angeles, working freelance for several Hollywood studios. Later that year, he appeared in the movie '']'', produced by ] and starring a young British ] named ].<ref></ref> Oliver Hardy played the part of a ], trying to stick up Stan's ]. They did not work together again for several years.


In 1921, he appeared in the movie '']'', produced by ] and starring ].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Heatley|first=Michael|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hiQGEAAAQBAJ&dq=The+Lucky+Dog%2C+produced+by+Broncho+Billy+Anderson+and+starring+Stan+Laurel&pg=PA1869|title=Laurel & Hardy: Essential Hollywood|date=October 30, 2020|publisher=Character-19|publication-date=October 25, 2011|pages=1869|language=en|asin=B005BYBZKY|access-date=September 30, 2021|archive-date=March 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327035247/https://books.google.com/books?id=hiQGEAAAQBAJ&dq=The+Lucky+Dog%2C+produced+by+Broncho+Billy+Anderson+and+starring+Stan+Laurel&pg=PA1869|url-status=live}}</ref> Hardy played the part of a robber trying to hold up Stan's character. They did not work together again for several years.
Between 1918 and 1923 Oliver Hardy made more than forty films for ], mostly playing the "heavy" for ]. In 1919, he separated from his wife, ending with a ] in 1920, allegedly due to Babe's infidelity. The very next year, on November 24, 1921, Babe married again, to actress Myrtle Reeves. This marriage was also unhappy and Myrtle eventually became an ]. {{Fact|date=January 2008}}


In 1924, Hardy began working at ] working with the ] films and ]. In 1925, he was in a film "''Yes, Yes, Nanette!''" starring ], who in later years was a recurring character in the Laurel and Hardy film series. The film was directed by ]. He also continued playing supporting roles in films featuring ] and Bobby Ray. In 1924, Hardy began working at ] with the '']'' films and ]. In 1925, his old boss Larry Semon hired him to play the Tin Man in Semon's feature-film adaptation of '']''. That same year another former colleague, Billy West, recruited Hardy to appear opposite mild-mannered comic ] in four slapstick comedies. These shorts, with Hardy and Ray as fat-and-skinny characters in derbies, were prototypes for the later Laurel and Hardy comedies. As Hardy recalled in 1954, "Bobby was always the fall guy; I was the wise guy just as I am in Laurel and Hardy, only in Laurel and Hardy, ''I'' always am the fall guy. I think of once in a while as being the start of the Laurel and Hardy idea as far as I was concerned."<ref>Oliver Hardy to John McCabe, ''Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy'', Grosset & Dunlap, 1966, p. 61.</ref>


He continued to work in the Hal Roach comedies, like '']!'', starring ] and directed by Stan Laurel. (In later years, Finlayson frequently was a supporting actor in the Laurel and Hardy film series.)<ref>{{harvnb|Louvish|2001|page=182}}</ref> He also continued playing supporting roles in films featuring ], including '']'' (1925, directed by Laurel).
In 1926, a hot leg of lamb changed the future of both Laurel and Hardy. Hardy was scheduled to appear in ''Get 'Em Young'' but was unexpectedly hospitalized after being burned by a hot leg of lamb. Laurel, who had been working as a gag man and director at Roach Studios, was recruited to fill in. Laurel kept appearing in front of the camera rather than behind it, and later that year appeared in the same movie as Hardy, '']'', although they didn't share any scenes together.
]'' (1925) with ] and ].]]


In 1926, Hardy was to appear in ''Get 'Em Young'', but he was unexpectedly hospitalized after being burned by a hot leg of lamb. Laurel had been working as a gag man and a director at Roach Studios, so he was recruited to fill in. Laurel continued to act and appeared in '']'' with Hardy, although they did not share any scenes together.
==Career with Stan Laurel==
{{main|Laurel and Hardy}}
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: ]'' (1930).]] -->
In 1927, Laurel and Hardy began sharing screen time together in '']'', '']'' (no relation to the ] film of the same name) and '']''. Roach Studios' supervising director ], realizing the audience reaction to the two, began intentionally teaming them together, leading to the start of a Laurel and Hardy series late that year. With this pairing, he created arguably the most famous ] in movie history. They began producing a huge body of short movies, including '']'' (1927) (with one of the largest pie fights ever filmed), '']'' (1928), '']'' (1928), '']'' (1929, marking their transition to ]) '']'' (1929), '']'' (1930), '']'' (1930) (with Stan and Ollie portraying themselves, as well as their own sons, using oversized furniture to sets for the 'young' Laurel and Hardy), '']'' (1930), '']'' (1931), and many others. In 1929, they appeared in their first feature, in one of the revue sequences of '']'' and the following year they appeared as the comic relief in a lavish all-color (in ]) musical feature entitled: '']''. This film marked their first appearance in color. In 1931 they made their first full length ] (in which they were the actual stars), '']'' although they continued to make features and shorts until 1935. Perhaps their greatest achievement, however, was '']'' (1932), which won them an ] for best short film - their only such award.


===With Stan Laurel===
In 1936, Hardy's personal life suffered a blow as he and Myrtle divorced. Whilst waiting for a contractual issue between Laurel and Hal Roach to be resolved, Hardy made '']'' with ]. Eventually, however, new contracts were agreed and the team was loaned out to General Services Studio to make '']''. While on the lot, Hardy fell in love with Virginia Lucille Jones, a script girl, whom he married the next year. They enjoyed a happy, succesful marriage until his death.
{{Main|Laurel and Hardy}}


]'' (1930)]]
Laurel and Hardy also began performing for the ], supporting the Allied troops during ]. They also made '']'' (1940) (which features a moment of role reversal, with Oliver becoming a temporarily concussed subordinate to Stan) and '']'' (1940).


Beginning in 1941, Laurel and Hardy's films began to decline in quality. They left Roach Studios and began making films for ], and later ]. Although they were financially better off, they had very little artistic control at the large studios, and hence the films lack the very qualities that had made Laurel and Hardy worldwide names. In 1927, Laurel and Hardy began sharing screen time together in '']'', '']'' (no relation to the 1933 ]' ]), and '']''. Roach Studios' supervising director ] recognized the audience reaction to the two and began teaming them together, which led to the start of a Laurel and Hardy series later that year.


They began producing a huge body of short comedies, including '']'' (1927) (with one of the greatest pie fights ever filmed),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://slate.com/culture/2015/06/laurel-and-hardys-battle-of-the-century-pie-fight-reel-is-found.html|title=The Greatest Pie Fight in Cinematic History Has Been Found|last=Dessem|first=Matthew|date=2015-06-17|website=Slate Magazine|language=en|access-date=2019-03-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302024918/https://slate.com/culture/2015/06/laurel-and-hardys-battle-of-the-century-pie-fight-reel-is-found.html|archive-date=March 2, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> '']'' (1928), '']'' (1928), '']'' (1929, marking their transition to talking pictures) '']'' (1929), '']'' (1930), '']'' (1930), '']'' (1930), '']'' (1931), and many others. In 1929, they appeared in their first feature, in one of the revue sequences of ''],'' and the following year they appeared as the comic relief in a lavish ] musical feature entitled '']''. This film marked their first appearance in color, yet only a few fragments of this film survive. In 1931, they starred in their first full-length movie '']'', and they continued to make features and shorts until 1935. The 1932 film '']'' won an Academy Award for best short film, their only effort to receive such an award.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Rawlings|first=Nate|date=July 20, 2010|title=Top 10 Across-the-Pond Duos – Laurel and Hardy|url=https://time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2005073_2005072_2005121,00.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821083423/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2005073_2005072_2005121,00.html|archive-date=August 21, 2013|magazine=]}}</ref>
In 1947, Laurel and Hardy went on a six week tour of Great Britain. Initially unsure of how they would be received, they were mobbed wherever they went. The tour was then lengthened to include engagements in Scandinavia, Belgium, France, as well as a ] for ] and ]. Biographer John McCabe said they continued to make live appearances in the United Kingdom and France for the next several years, until 1954, often using new sketches and material that Laurel had written for them.


] ]'' (1939)]]
In 1949, Hardy's friend, ], asked him to play a supporting role in '']''. Hardy had previously worked with Wayne and ] in a charity production of the play '']'' while Laurel began treatment for his diabetes a few years previously. Initially hesitant, Hardy accepted the role at the insistence of his comedy partner. ] later invited Hardy to play a ] in '']'' with ] in 1950.


In 1937, Hardy and Myrtle Reeves divorced. He made '']'' with ] in 1939 while waiting for a contractual issue to be resolved between Laurel and Hal Roach. Eventually, however, new contracts were agreed upon and the team was lent to producer ] at General Service Studios to make '']'' (1939). While on the lot, Hardy fell in love with Virginia Lucille Jones, a ] whom he married the next year. They enjoyed a happy marriage for the rest of his life.
In 1950-51, Laurel and Hardy made their final film. '']'' (also known as ''Utopia'') was a simple concept; Laurel inherits an island, and the boys set out to sea, where they encounter a storm and discover a brand new island, rich in ], making them powerful and wealthy. However, it was produced by a consortium of European interests, with an international cast and crew that could not speak to each other.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} In addition, the ] needed to be rewritten by Stan to make it fit the comedy team's style, and both suffered serious physical illness during the filming.


In 1939, Laurel and Hardy made '']'' and '']'' before leaving the Roach Studios. They began performing for the ], supporting the Allied troops during ].
In 1955, the pair had contracted with Hal Roach Jr. to produce a series of TV shows based on the Mother Goose fables. They would be filmed in color for ].{{Fact|date=January 2008}} However, this was never to be. Laurel suffered a ], which required a lengthy convalescence. Hardy had a ] and stroke later that year, from which he never physically recovered.

In 1941 Laurel and Hardy were signed by ] (as well as ] in 1942). These studios produced films on a larger scale, and initially the comedians were hired only as actors in the ] division, forced to leave the writing and editing decisions to the production teams. The films proved very successful, and gradually both Laurel and Hardy were allowed more creative input. Laurel and Hardy completed eight features during the war years, with no loss of popularity. M-G-M's two-picture pact expired in August 1944, and Fox's series of six Laurel & Hardy pictures ended when the studio discontinued B-picture production in December 1944.<ref>]. ''Laurel & Hardy: From the Forties Forward''. Second edition: New York: iUniverse, 2009 {{ISBN|978-1440172397}}; first edition: Lanham, Maryland: Vestal Press, 1998.</ref>

In 1947, Laurel and Hardy went on a six-week tour of the United Kingdom. They were initially unsure of how they would be received, but they were mobbed wherever they went. The tour was lengthened to include engagements in Scandinavia, Belgium, France, and a ] for ] and ]. Biographer John McCabe writes that they continued to make live appearances in the United Kingdom and France until 1954, often using new sketches and material that Laurel had written for them.

]'' (1949)]]

In 1949, Hardy's friend ] asked him to play a supporting role in '']''. Hardy had previously worked with Wayne and ] in a charity production of the play '']'' while Laurel began treatment for his diabetes a few years previously. He was initially hesitant, but he accepted the role at Laurel's insistence. ] invited him to play a cameo role in '']'' with ] in 1950.

During 1950–1951, Laurel and Hardy made their final film '']'' (also known as ''Utopia''). It was a simple concept; Laurel inherits an island, and the boys set out to sea where they encounter a storm and discover a brand new island, rich in ], making them powerful and wealthy. However, the film was produced by a consortium of European interests, with an international cast and crew that could not speak to each other.<ref name=NA>Aping, Norbert. ''The Final Film of Laurel and Hardy''. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland, 2008. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-3302-5}}.</ref> In addition, Laurel had to rewrite the script to make it fit the comedy team's style, and both suffered serious physical illness during the filming.

Laurel and Hardy made two live television appearances: in 1953 on a live broadcast of the BBC show ], and in December 1954 on NBC's '']''. They also appeared in a filmed insert for the BBC show ''This Is Music Hall'' in 1955, their final appearance together. The pair contracted with Hal Roach Jr. to produce a series of TV shows based on the ] fables in 1955. According to biographer John McCabe, they were to be filmed in color for NBC, but the series was postponed when Laurel had a stroke and required a lengthy convalescence. Later that year while Laurel was recovering, Hardy had a heart attack and stroke from which he never recovered.


== Death == == Death ==
]
In May 1954 Hardy suffered a mild heart attack. During 1956, Hardy began looking after his health for the first time in his life. During his health watch, he lost more than 150 pounds in a few months. This weight loss completely changed his appearance. He suffered a major stroke on September 14, which left him confined to bed and unable to speak for several months. He remained at home, in the care of his beloved Lucille. He suffered two more strokes in early August, 1957 and slipped into a ] from which he never recovered. Oliver Hardy died on August 7, 1957, aged 65 years old. <ref name=obit>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Oliver Hardy of Film Team Dies. Co-Star of 200 Slapstick Movies. Portly Master of the Withering Look and 'Slow Burn'. Features Popular on TV |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60C13FF3E55137A93CAA91783D85F438585F9 |quote=Oliver Hardy, the fat, always frustrated partner of the famous movie comedy team of Laurel and Hardy, died early today at the North Hollywood home of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Monnie L. Jones. Mr. Hardy, who was 65 years old, suffered a paralytic stroke last Sept. 12. |publisher=] |date=August 8, 1957, Thursday |accessdate=2007-08-21 }}</ref> His remains are located in the Masonic Garden of ] in ].


Hardy had a mild heart attack in May 1954, and he began looking after his health for the first time in his life. He lost more than 150 pounds (68&nbsp;kg) in a few months which completely changed his appearance. Letters written by Laurel refer to Hardy having terminal cancer,<ref>. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719093433/http://www.lettersfromstan.com/stan_1957-08.html |date=July 19, 2011 }} ''Letters from Stan.'' Retrieved: July 24, 2011.</ref> and it was speculated that this was the reason for Hardy's rapid weight loss.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-09-09|title=Rare Laurel letters detailing Hardy's decline to be sold|url=https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2015-09-09/rare-laurel-letters-detailing-hardys-decline-to-be-sold|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102092936/http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2015-09-09/rare-laurel-letters-detailing-hardys-decline-to-be-sold/|archive-date=November 2, 2015|access-date=2021-09-29|website=]|language=en}}</ref> Both men were smokers; ] said that they were a couple of "freight train smoke stacks".<ref>{{Cite web|date=1957|title=The Stan Laurel Correspondence Archive Project|url=http://www.lettersfromstan.com/stan_1957c.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720010723/http://www.lettersfromstan.com/stan_1957c.html|archive-date=July 20, 2008|website=lettersfromstan.com}}</ref>
However, letters written by ] mention that Hardy had terminal cancer, which has caused some to suspect that this was the real reason for Hardy's rapid weight loss.


Hardy had a major stroke on September 14, 1956, that left him confined to bed and unable to speak for several months. He remained at home in the care of his wife Lucille. Following two more strokes in early August 1957, he slipped into a coma and died from ] on August 7, 1957, at age 65.<ref name=obit>. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723213046/https://www.nytimes.com/1957/08/08/archives/oliver-hardy-of-film-team-dies-costar-of-200-slapstick-movies.html |date=July 23, 2018 }} ''The New York Times'', August 8, 1957. Retrieved: March 20, 2010.</ref>{{#tag:ref|Quote: "Oliver Hardy, the fat, always frustrated partner of the famous movie comedy team of Laurel and Hardy, died early today at the North Hollywood home of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Monnie L. Jones. Mr. Hardy, who was 65 years old, suffered a paralytic stroke last Sept. 12."|group=N}} After he was cremated, his ashes were interred in the Masonic Garden of ] in North Hollywood.<ref>. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331163343/http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/biography/hardy_o/hardy_o.html |date=March 31, 2017 }} ''FreeMasonry.bcy.ca''. Retrieved: March 20, 2010.</ref> Laurel was inconsolable at the loss of his "dear pal and partner"; his doctor advised Laurel against attending the funeral, due to his own poor health,<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217041849/http://www.lettersfromstan.com/stan-1957-08.html |date=December 17, 2016 }} Retrieved: August 31, 2016</ref> and Laurel agreed stating that "Babe would understand".<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030093814/http://www.sanftleben.com/Last%20Words/lastwords-ep-d.html |date=October 30, 2017 }} Retrieved: July 11, 2017</ref>
In 2006, ] showed a drama called ''Stan'' () based on Laurel meeting Hardy on his deathbed and reminiscing about their career. Although based on fact, it took great liberties with both the events and main characters.

==Legacy==
], Cumbria, England]]

* Hardy's star on the ] is located at 1500 Vine Street, Hollywood, California.
* Laurel and Hardy were inducted into the ].<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
* There is a small Laurel and Hardy Museum in Hardy's hometown of Harlem, Georgia, which opened on July 15, 2002. The town holds an annual Oliver Hardy Festival.
* The biographical film '']'' (2018) starred ] as Laurel and ] as Hardy.


==Filmography== ==Filmography==
*For Oliver Hardy's films without Stan Laurel, see: ] {{For|Oliver Hardy's films without Stan Laurel|Oliver Hardy filmography}}
*For his films with Laurel, see: ] {{For|his films with Laurel|Laurel and Hardy filmography}}


== See also == ==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=N}}
*]


== References == ==References==
{{reflist}} {{Reflist}}


==Further reading== ===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book|author= ]|year=2004|title=Babe : The Life of Oliver Hardy |publisher=Robson Books, Ltd.|location=London |isbn=1-86105-781-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Louvish|first=Simon|title=Stan and Ollie: The Roots of Comedy|location=London|publisher=Faber & Faber|date=2001|isbn=0-571-21590-4}}
* Marriot, A.J. ''Laurel & Hardy: The British Tours''. Hitchen, Herts, UK: AJ Marriot, 1993. {{ISBN|0-9521308-0-7}}.
* ]. ''Babe: The Life of Oliver Hardy''. London: Robson Books Ltd., 2004. {{ISBN|1-86105-781-4}}.
{{Refend}}


==External links== ==External links==
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{{Oliver Hardy}}
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|NAME= Hardy, Oliver
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|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Hardy, Norvell

|SHORT DESCRIPTION=silent film comedian
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|DATE OF BIRTH= January 18, 1892

|PLACE OF BIRTH= ], United States
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|DATE OF DEATH= August 7, 1957
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Latest revision as of 22:12, 1 October 2024

American actor (1892–1957)

Oliver Hardy
Hardy in 1938
BornNorvell Hardy
(1892-01-18)January 18, 1892
Harlem, Georgia, U.S.
DiedAugust 7, 1957(1957-08-07) (aged 65)
North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • director
  • screenwriter
Years active1914–1955
Spouses
Madelyn Saloshin ​ ​(m. 1913; div. 1921)
Myrtle Reeves ​ ​(m. 1921; div. 1937)
Virginia Lucille Jones ​ ​(m. 1940)
Signature

Oliver Norvell Hardy (born Norvell Hardy; January 18, 1892 – August 7, 1957) was an American comic actor and one half of Laurel and Hardy, the double act that began in the era of silent films and lasted from 1926 to 1957. He appeared with his comedy partner Stan Laurel in 107 short films, feature films, and cameo roles. He was credited with his first film, Outwitting Dad, in 1914. In most of his silent films before joining producer Hal Roach, he was billed on screen as Babe Hardy.

Early life and education

Oliver Hardy was born Norvell Hardy on January 18, 1892, in Harlem, Georgia. His father, Oliver, was a Confederate States Army veteran of the American Civil War who had been wounded at the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, and was a recruiting officer for Company K, 16th Georgia Regiment. The elder Oliver Hardy assisted his father in running the remnants of the family's cotton plantation. He then bought a share in a retail business and was elected full-time Tax Collector for Columbia County, Georgia. Hardy's mother, Emily Norvell, was the daughter of Thomas Benjamin Norvell, who was descended from Hugh Norvell of Williamsburg, Virginia, and Mary Freeman. The elder Hardy and Norvell married March 12, 1890; it was her second marriage and his third.

The family moved to Madison, Georgia, in 1891, the year before Norvell's birth. He was likely born in Harlem, though some sources say that his birth occurred in Covington, Georgia, his mother's hometown. His father died less than a year after his birth. Hardy was the youngest of five children. His older brother Sam drowned in the Oconee River; Hardy pulled him from the river but was unable to resuscitate him.

Historical marker in Milledgeville, Georgia, that tells the story of Hardy's time in that town

As a child, Hardy was sometimes difficult. In the fifth grade he was sent to Georgia Military College in Milledgeville. In 1905, when he was 13, he was sent to Young Harris College in north Georgia for the fall semester which he completed successfully in January 1906, however he was in the junior high component of that institution what is today known as an academy. At that time there were no two-year junior colleges. He had little interest in formal education, although he acquired an early interest in music and theater. He joined a theatrical group and later ran away from a boarding school near Atlanta to sing with the group. His mother recognized his talent for singing and sent him to Atlanta to study music and voice with singing teacher Adolf Dahm-Petersen. He skipped some of his lessons to sing in the Alcazar Theater for $3.50 a week. In 1912, he signed up for a course or two at University of Georgia as a law major for fall semester just to play football. He never missed a game.

As a teenager, Hardy began styling himself "Oliver Norvell Hardy", adding the first name "Oliver" as a tribute to his father. He appeared as "Oliver N. Hardy" in the 1910 U.S. census, and he used "Oliver" as his first name in all subsequent legal records, marriage announcements, etc. Hardy was initiated into Freemasonry at Solomon Lodge No. 20 in Jacksonville, Florida which helped him with room and board when he was starting out in show business. He was inducted into the Grand Order of Water Rats along with Stan Laurel.

Career

Early career

Advertisement with Hardy for A Day at School (1916), part of the Plump & Runt series

In 1910, The Palace, a motion picture theater, opened in Hardy's hometown of Milledgeville, and he became the projectionist, ticket taker, janitor and manager. He soon became obsessed with the new motion picture industry and was convinced that he could do a better job than the actors that he saw. A friend suggested that he move to Jacksonville, Florida, where some films were being made, which he did in 1913. He worked in Jacksonville as a cabaret and vaudeville singer at night and at the Lubin Manufacturing Company during the day. It was at this time that he met Madelyn Saloshin, a pianist, whom he married on November 17, 1913, in Macon, Georgia.

The next year, he made his first movie, Outwitting Dad (1914), for the Lubin studio, billed as O. N. Hardy. In his personal life, he was known as "Babe" Hardy and was billed as "Babe Hardy" in many of his later films at Lubin, such as Back to the Farm (1914). He was a big man, standing 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) and weighing up to 300 pounds (c. 136 kg), and his size placed limits on the roles that he could play. He was most often cast as the villain, but he also had roles in comedy shorts, his size complementing the character. By 1915, Hardy had made 50 short one-reel films at Lubin. He moved to New York and made films for the Pathé, Casino and Edison Studios. He returned to Jacksonville, where he made films for the Vim Comedy Company. That studio closed after Hardy discovered that the owners were stealing from the payroll. He then worked for the King Bee studio, which bought Vim, and worked with Billy Ruge, Billy West (a Charlie Chaplin imitator), and comedic actress Ethel Burton. He continued playing the villains for West well into the early 1920s, often imitating Eric Campbell to West's Chaplin.

The Guilty Ones, one of ten shorts directed or co-directed by 'Babe Hardy'

Between 1916 and 1917, Hardy experienced a brief directorial career. He is credited for directing or co-directing ten shorts, all played by him.

In 1917, Hardy moved to Los Angeles, working freelance for several Hollywood studios. He made more than 40 films for Vitagraph between 1918 and 1923, mostly playing the "heavy" for Larry Semon. In 1919, he separated from his wife, ending with a provisional divorce in November 1920 that was finalized on November 17, 1921. On November 24, 1921, he married actress Myrtle Reeves. This marriage was also unhappy, and Reeves was said to have become an alcoholic.

With Stan Laurel in The Lucky Dog (1921), six years before they became a team

In 1921, he appeared in the movie The Lucky Dog, produced by Broncho Billy Anderson and starring Stan Laurel. Hardy played the part of a robber trying to hold up Stan's character. They did not work together again for several years.

In 1924, Hardy began working at Hal Roach Studios with the Our Gang films and Charley Chase. In 1925, his old boss Larry Semon hired him to play the Tin Man in Semon's feature-film adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. That same year another former colleague, Billy West, recruited Hardy to appear opposite mild-mannered comic Bobby Ray in four slapstick comedies. These shorts, with Hardy and Ray as fat-and-skinny characters in derbies, were prototypes for the later Laurel and Hardy comedies. As Hardy recalled in 1954, "Bobby was always the fall guy; I was the wise guy just as I am in Laurel and Hardy, only in Laurel and Hardy, I always am the fall guy. I think of once in a while as being the start of the Laurel and Hardy idea as far as I was concerned."

He continued to work in the Hal Roach comedies, like Yes, Yes, Nanette!, starring Jimmy Finlayson and directed by Stan Laurel. (In later years, Finlayson frequently was a supporting actor in the Laurel and Hardy film series.) He also continued playing supporting roles in films featuring Clyde Cook, including Wandering Papas (1925, directed by Laurel).

Hardy played a supporting role in Isn't Life Terrible? (1925) with Charley Chase and Katherine Grant.

In 1926, Hardy was to appear in Get 'Em Young, but he was unexpectedly hospitalized after being burned by a hot leg of lamb. Laurel had been working as a gag man and a director at Roach Studios, so he was recruited to fill in. Laurel continued to act and appeared in 45 Minutes from Hollywood with Hardy, although they did not share any scenes together.

With Stan Laurel

Main article: Laurel and Hardy
Movie poster for Another Fine Mess (1930)

In 1927, Laurel and Hardy began sharing screen time together in Slipping Wives, Duck Soup (no relation to the 1933 Marx Brothers' film), and With Love and Hisses. Roach Studios' supervising director Leo McCarey recognized the audience reaction to the two and began teaming them together, which led to the start of a Laurel and Hardy series later that year.

They began producing a huge body of short comedies, including The Battle of the Century (1927) (with one of the greatest pie fights ever filmed), Should Married Men Go Home? (1928), Two Tars (1928), Unaccustomed As We Are (1929, marking their transition to talking pictures) Berth Marks (1929), Blotto (1930), Brats (1930), Another Fine Mess (1930), Be Big! (1931), and many others. In 1929, they appeared in their first feature, in one of the revue sequences of Hollywood Revue of 1929, and the following year they appeared as the comic relief in a lavish Technicolor musical feature entitled The Rogue Song. This film marked their first appearance in color, yet only a few fragments of this film survive. In 1931, they starred in their first full-length movie Pardon Us, and they continued to make features and shorts until 1935. The 1932 film The Music Box won an Academy Award for best short film, their only effort to receive such an award.

Laurel and Hardy in The Flying Deuces (1939)

In 1937, Hardy and Myrtle Reeves divorced. He made Zenobia with Harry Langdon in 1939 while waiting for a contractual issue to be resolved between Laurel and Hal Roach. Eventually, however, new contracts were agreed upon and the team was lent to producer Boris Morros at General Service Studios to make The Flying Deuces (1939). While on the lot, Hardy fell in love with Virginia Lucille Jones, a script girl whom he married the next year. They enjoyed a happy marriage for the rest of his life.

In 1939, Laurel and Hardy made A Chump at Oxford and Saps at Sea before leaving the Roach Studios. They began performing for the USO, supporting the Allied troops during World War II.

In 1941 Laurel and Hardy were signed by 20th Century-Fox (as well as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1942). These studios produced films on a larger scale, and initially the comedians were hired only as actors in the B-picture division, forced to leave the writing and editing decisions to the production teams. The films proved very successful, and gradually both Laurel and Hardy were allowed more creative input. Laurel and Hardy completed eight features during the war years, with no loss of popularity. M-G-M's two-picture pact expired in August 1944, and Fox's series of six Laurel & Hardy pictures ended when the studio discontinued B-picture production in December 1944.

In 1947, Laurel and Hardy went on a six-week tour of the United Kingdom. They were initially unsure of how they would be received, but they were mobbed wherever they went. The tour was lengthened to include engagements in Scandinavia, Belgium, France, and a Royal Command Performance for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Biographer John McCabe writes that they continued to make live appearances in the United Kingdom and France until 1954, often using new sketches and material that Laurel had written for them.

The Fighting Kentuckian (1949)

In 1949, Hardy's friend John Wayne asked him to play a supporting role in The Fighting Kentuckian. Hardy had previously worked with Wayne and John Ford in a charity production of the play What Price Glory? while Laurel began treatment for his diabetes a few years previously. He was initially hesitant, but he accepted the role at Laurel's insistence. Frank Capra invited him to play a cameo role in Riding High with Bing Crosby in 1950.

During 1950–1951, Laurel and Hardy made their final film Atoll K (also known as Utopia). It was a simple concept; Laurel inherits an island, and the boys set out to sea where they encounter a storm and discover a brand new island, rich in uranium, making them powerful and wealthy. However, the film was produced by a consortium of European interests, with an international cast and crew that could not speak to each other. In addition, Laurel had to rewrite the script to make it fit the comedy team's style, and both suffered serious physical illness during the filming.

Laurel and Hardy made two live television appearances: in 1953 on a live broadcast of the BBC show Face the Music, and in December 1954 on NBC's This Is Your Life. They also appeared in a filmed insert for the BBC show This Is Music Hall in 1955, their final appearance together. The pair contracted with Hal Roach Jr. to produce a series of TV shows based on the Mother Goose fables in 1955. According to biographer John McCabe, they were to be filmed in color for NBC, but the series was postponed when Laurel had a stroke and required a lengthy convalescence. Later that year while Laurel was recovering, Hardy had a heart attack and stroke from which he never recovered.

Death

Grave of Oliver Hardy at Valhalla Memorial Park

Hardy had a mild heart attack in May 1954, and he began looking after his health for the first time in his life. He lost more than 150 pounds (68 kg) in a few months which completely changed his appearance. Letters written by Laurel refer to Hardy having terminal cancer, and it was speculated that this was the reason for Hardy's rapid weight loss. Both men were smokers; Hal Roach said that they were a couple of "freight train smoke stacks".

Hardy had a major stroke on September 14, 1956, that left him confined to bed and unable to speak for several months. He remained at home in the care of his wife Lucille. Following two more strokes in early August 1957, he slipped into a coma and died from cerebral thrombosis on August 7, 1957, at age 65. After he was cremated, his ashes were interred in the Masonic Garden of Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood. Laurel was inconsolable at the loss of his "dear pal and partner"; his doctor advised Laurel against attending the funeral, due to his own poor health, and Laurel agreed stating that "Babe would understand".

Legacy

Statue of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy outside the Coronation Hall Theatre, Ulverston, Cumbria, England
  • Hardy's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is located at 1500 Vine Street, Hollywood, California.
  • Laurel and Hardy were inducted into the Grand Order of Water Rats.
  • There is a small Laurel and Hardy Museum in Hardy's hometown of Harlem, Georgia, which opened on July 15, 2002. The town holds an annual Oliver Hardy Festival.
  • The biographical film Stan & Ollie (2018) starred Steve Coogan as Laurel and John C. Reilly as Hardy.

Filmography

For Oliver Hardy's films without Stan Laurel, see Oliver Hardy filmography. For his films with Laurel, see Laurel and Hardy filmography.

Notes

  1. He was recorded as "Oliver M. Hardy" (not "N"), an "electrician" at an "electric theater". He was mistakenly listed as the "son" of Roy J. Baisden in his census listing.
  2. Quote: "Oliver Hardy, the fat, always frustrated partner of the famous movie comedy team of Laurel and Hardy, died early today at the North Hollywood home of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Monnie L. Jones. Mr. Hardy, who was 65 years old, suffered a paralytic stroke last Sept. 12."

References

  1. Everson, William K. (1967). The Films of Laurel and Hardy. New York: Citadel Press. p. 11. ISBN 9780806501468.
  2. Canby, Vincent (June 16, 1990). "Critics Notebook; Laurel With and Without Hardy". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 14, 2017. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  3. ^ Wilson III, Robert J. (2003). "Oliver Hardy in Georgia, 1903-1913". Georgia Historical Quarterly. 87 (3/4): 359–388. JSTOR 40584685. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  4. "This is Your Life", Episode December 1, 1954.
  5. ^ "Roll of Honour". Archived from the original on April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  6. "Creator: Bletcher, Billy, 1894-1979, Title, Dates: Billy Bletcher's Vim Southern Studio motion picture photographs, 1915–1917". dlis.dos.state.fl.us. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2010.
  7. "Oliver Hardy". Meandmypal.be. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  8. "Oliver Hardy". Stanlaurelandoliverhardy.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  9. Heatley, Michael (October 30, 2020). Laurel & Hardy: Essential Hollywood. Character-19 (published October 25, 2011). p. 1869. ASIN B005BYBZKY. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  10. Oliver Hardy to John McCabe, Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy, Grosset & Dunlap, 1966, p. 61.
  11. Louvish 2001, p. 182
  12. Dessem, Matthew (June 17, 2015). "The Greatest Pie Fight in Cinematic History Has Been Found". Slate Magazine. Archived from the original on March 2, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  13. Rawlings, Nate (July 20, 2010). "Top 10 Across-the-Pond Duos – Laurel and Hardy". Time. Archived from the original on August 21, 2013.
  14. MacGillivray, Scott. Laurel & Hardy: From the Forties Forward. Second edition: New York: iUniverse, 2009 ISBN 978-1440172397; first edition: Lanham, Maryland: Vestal Press, 1998.
  15. Aping, Norbert. The Final Film of Laurel and Hardy. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland, 2008. ISBN 978-0-7864-3302-5.
  16. "Rubber Stamp – 25406-1/2 Malibu Rd., Malibu, CA – Typewritten". Archived July 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Letters from Stan. Retrieved: July 24, 2011.
  17. "Rare Laurel letters detailing Hardy's decline to be sold". ITV News. September 9, 2015. Archived from the original on November 2, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  18. "The Stan Laurel Correspondence Archive Project". lettersfromstan.com. 1957. Archived from the original on July 20, 2008.
  19. "Oliver Hardy of Film Team Dies. Co-Star of 200 Slapstick Movies. Portly Master of the Withering Look and 'Slow Burn'. Features Popular on TV". Archived July 23, 2018, at the Wayback Machine The New York Times, August 8, 1957. Retrieved: March 20, 2010.
  20. "Oliver Hardy". Archived March 31, 2017, at the Wayback Machine FreeMasonry.bcy.ca. Retrieved: March 20, 2010.
  21. "Letters from Stan – August 1957" Archived December 17, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved: August 31, 2016
  22. "Last Words – Epitaphs" Archived October 30, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved: July 11, 2017

Bibliography

External links

Films directed by Oliver Hardy
Laurel and Hardy filmography
Short films
Silent
Talking
Feature films
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