LAUREL & HARDY (STAN LAUREL) - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 10/21/1959 - HFSID 252718

STAN LAUREL
Laurel signed this 1959 typed letter to "Lee", who thought he saw him at Fox Studios, and about how lucky Lee's friend Dodie Stevens is to be successful in show business
Typed letter signed: "Stan Laurel", 1 page, 7¾x9¾, on Oceana Apartment Hotel stationery. Oct. 21, 1959. Addressed to "Lee". In full: "Dear Lee: Thanks for your interesting letter. Please convey my congratulations to your Father & his new Bride - wish them both lots of happiness. Am afraid your friend Dodie Stevens & her Family were mistaken in seeing me at the Fox studio last month - I have'nt [sic] been there for years.! Nice to know this young Lady is doing so well, I do'nt [sic] recall having seen her - as you know, the only films I see now are on TV. - she evidently must be very talented. You ask me'How can she do it' ? I guess she's just one of the fortunate ones in getting the opportunity to display her talent - many posess great talent, but never once get the chance - Show Bus. is so unpredictable as I told you. In this case she is lucky - many people bet on horses, but very few win. Its the same in any business, its all a gamble. I shall be pleased to meet Dody & her Dad with you any time convenient, but I doubt if I could be of much help to them in any way, especially now that she has proved successful in her line. Yes, it was quite a surprise - Chas. Coburn & Mont Blue getting married again - sounds like 'Life Begins at 80'! (not 40.). Errol Flynn's death was quite a shock was'nt [sic] it.? but he had a FULL Life & enjoyed every minute of it - success & popularity till the end. Shall be pleased to hear from you around Thanksgiving & arrange a date. Trust alls well & happy with you. Take care of yourself. Sincerely always: Stan Laurel." This letter was written the year Stevens sang her Top 10 hit Pink Shoe Laces. Laurel (1890-1965, born Arthur Stanley Jefferson in Ulverston, Lancashire, England), toured the U.S. in 1910 and 1912 as Charlie Chaplin's understudy. He stayed in America to appear on vaudeville and in several comedy shorts, including one with an accidental pairing with Oliver Hardy (1892-1957), Lucky Dog, in 1918. In 1926, after separate careers, Laurel and Hardy worked together once more for director Hal Roach, who noticed their on-screen chemistry and persuaded them to join forces as a team to make comedies. From 1927-1950, Laurel and Hardy appeared in over 100 movies, including 27 feature films and the 1932 three-reeler, The Music Box, which won an Academy Award for Best Short Subject. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the comedy legends also toured English music halls as well as continuing to make films. Laurel stopped performing after Hardy's death in 1957, although he appeared in archival appearances in a number of documentaries on comedy legends, including Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy. Lightly creased. Folded twice horizontally and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.