Stan Laurel TLS Re: "dear old 'Ollie,' His Oscar, and the Last L & H Film "Utopia"

A 1p typed letter signed by British actor Stan Laurel (1890-1965) as "Stan Laurel" at lower right. Written in Santa Monica, California on July 20, 1961 on a single leaf of "Oceana Apartment Hotel" stationery. With three typographical edits. Minor water stain along the bottom edge, and mounting traces verso visible along the edge recto, else near fine and without any paper folds! 5.5" x 8.5." Accompanied by a James Spence Authentication Letter of Authenticity, Submission Number 200180, dated January 21, 2020.

Stan Laurel was one half of the beloved comedic duo Laurel & Hardy. He wrote this letter to Fred and Alice Beebe of Old Saybrook, Connecticut, who had requested an autographed photograph from the screen legend to add to a wall of their impressive home movie theater (more on this below.)

Laurel wrote in part, with original spelling and punctuation:

"Interesting to know Henry Hull visited your theatre, that must have been quite an auspicious evening, a champagne dedication! I never did meet Mr Hull, but did have the pleasure of talking on the phone with him sometime ago, he was making a TV film out here & stayed at a hotel quite close to here. He's an excellent actor, have great admiration for his work.

Note you have a print of 'UTOPIA', that film is a very unhappy memory to me - a tragic story, ill fated from the start to finish.

Thank you for your kind congratulations on the academy award, I am very thrilled to receive such a wonderful tribute - only wish dear old 'Ollie' had been here to share the honor he helped make possible…"

Henry Hull (1890-1977) was an American character actor with theatre, movie, and television acting experience, active between 1917-1966.

Laurel recalled his last Laurel & Hardy vehicle with sadness and disgust. Known as "Utopia" in the United States, "Atoll K" in Europe, and "Robinson Crusoeland" in the United Kingdom, the feature-length film told the story of the survivors of a yacht shipwrecked in the Pacific Ocean who formed a short-lived and dysfunctional island republic. The Italian and French co-production was released in Europe in October 1951. Filming had been beset by severe problems; originally scheduled to wrap in three months, it took one full year to complete the film. A lackluster screenplay, language barriers, and on-site accidents stalled production, as did health problems suffered by both Laurel and Hardy. Laurel required hospitalization for dysentery, colitis, and a prostate ulcer, dropping to just over 100 lbs, while Hardy ballooned and caught the flu.

Laurel thanked the Beebes for remembering his Oscar win four months earlier, in April 1961. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognized Laurel's "creative pioneering in the field of cinema comedy," and was accepted on Laurel's behalf at the 33rd Academy Awards ceremony by Danny Kaye. Laurel in part modestly attributed his Oscar to his old partner, "dear old 'Ollie,' American actor Oliver Hardy (1892-1957), who had died four years before.

Laurel's correspondents Fred and Alice Beebe had written the actor, telling him about their love of movie history. In "Old Saybrook: A Main Street History" (Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press, 2020), local historian Todd Levy recounts that Fred Beebe was an electrician, amateur filmmaker, and movie enthusiast from Old Saybrook, Connecticut. He and wife Alice renovated the basement of their home on 381 Main Street in Old Saybrook, creating a 12' x 35' x 10' home movie theatre, complete with a stage, stadium seating, separate entrance, marquee, and collection of autographed publicity photos of classic Hollywood stars. The couple welcomed guests to "Cinema 381," as they called their basement theatre, to watch classic movies, cartoons, and home movies. See the attached photos of the Beebes' home theatre.

Laurel & Hardy starred in over 100 silent, sound, short, and feature-length films after they officially paired in 1927, and reached their peak during the interwar years under contract with Hal Roach Studios. The pair excelled at slapstick comedy; routines generally entailed the 6'1" tall 280-lb Hardy walloping or verbally abusing Laurel, his thinner and smaller companion. The duo often wore trademark bowler hats.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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