Four TLSs from Stan Laurel, each one page, two typed on 5.5 x 3.25 government postcards and two typed on 5.5 x 8.5 sheets of Oceana Apartment Hotel letterhead, dated to 1964 and 1965, all addressed to Rene Rondeau. Highlights from each letter:
July 6, 1964: “The Xmas Tree film you mention is titled ‘Big Business.’ Suggest to drop a card to the Blackhawk Films…Please to note you enjoyed the L&H book & found interesting.”
October 6, 1964: “Re the late Jean Harlow - I was in no way responsible for her success in the films - the small part she played in ‘Double Whoopee’ was actually a test for her & requested by Hal Roach Sr. she only worked on the set with us for a couple of hours & that was the last I ever saw of her personally. Re our funniest film, frankly I have no particular choice in this respect we just made them to entertain audiences of all types & hoped they would turn out funny, incidently many were very disappointing for us. I first met Charlie Chaplin in 1909 when I joined the Fred Karno Co. in Manchester, England. I later became his 'Understudy,’ & came to the States in 1910 in a Karno show ‘A Night in an English Music Hall,’ we played in Vaudeville together till 1913, when he joined the Mack Sennett Keystone Films - most of the company returned to England but I remained here with a couple of the members & continued touring the Country in Vaudeville, in 1917, I first appeared in films finally quitting the Stage for the screen, the rest of course you know.” Includes its original mailing envelope.
January 9, 1965: “The use of the characters own names, we felt it gave more reality than a fictitious name, for the same reason we used a real house in ‘Big Business’ instead of a studio SET - the destruction wouldn't have been so funny if the house was not real. The vases, furniture, chairs, piano etc. were PROPS…Re the critics - they seldom complained - practically ignored us - in a Theatre review, the Feature film would be given attention & finish up with L&H comedy also on the program…My Family name is Arthur Stanley Jefferson, Stan Laurel is my legalized Stage & Screen name I was born in Ulverston, Lancashire, England.”
February 16, 1965: “Due to my ill health am unable to answer & describe the many questions you request - suggest you contact your local Public Library regarding a book titled ‘Mr. Laurel & Mr. Hardy.’” Sadly, Laurel died of a heart attack at the age of 74 one week later on February 23, 1965. In overall fine condition.
