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Stan Laurel was born Arthur Stanley Jefferson in a small terraced house in Ulverston Lancashire in 1890. He bacame an excentric dancer. He joined the famous Fred karno’s circus comedy variety troupe in 1907. Appearing at the Hackney Empire (London) in 1908. In 1910 he, along with the Karno company went to America and played the Hammerstein’s Music Hall New York. He also played the understudy for Charlie Chaplin who was also with the troupe. He later teamed with an Australian singer, Mae Dahlburg, in a Variety act. Oliver Norvell Hardy was born in 1892 and in 1917 appeared with Stan in their first film called Lucky Dog. But it was nine years later that Hal Roach saw the comic potential of the partnership, and over the next 25 years produced over 100 films with so much of the comic inventive genius coming from Stan Laurel. Surely the greatest double comedy act of ‘circus’ slapstick clowning.
Perhaps these modern media critics of real slapstick might appreciate that when they insult the truer art of clowning they insult the genius of Stan Laurel, Charlie Chaplin, Charlie Cairoli, Buster Keeton The Marx Brothers and so many great performers.
Outside of the wondeful Coronation Hall in Ulverston is ths fine statue of Holly and Stan. The play show board is for our show appearing that day! Small world.
