LAUREL or HARDY

THE ARTFUL ANTICS OF BABE HARDY

2011-02-20T13:27:00.000-08:00

Been some time, huh?

With this post I again make the assertion that Oliver Hardy was a star comedian before his teaming with Stan Laurel. Certainly not a major star but he did have his own series for a time with Vim around late 1916 into early 1917, and also starred in his own comic page in the Kinema Comic magazine published in the United Kingdom. THE ARTFUL ANTICS OF BABE HARDY first appeared July 17, 1920 during the latter part of Babe's tenure with Jimmy Aubrey and ran just short of a year with the last appearance of the page published on June 25, 1921. Here are the first two installments, with more to come:

FRECKLED FISH FOUND

2010-01-06T18:02:00.000-08:00

Steve Massa, Ben Model and other assorted cinegoons keep poking around the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and those Cruel and Unusual Comedy Boys keep making my day! Just heard that they have found a fragment of a rare LKO comedy that features Babe Hardy. FRECKLED FISH was one of the "Charlie of the Orient" films. Can't wait to see it!!

More of Mr. Hardy

2009-12-29T12:12:00.000-08:00

Babe with Buck Jones in THE GENTLE CYCLONE (1926)

Babe in the middle of the fight from

THE NEW ADVENTURES OF J. RUFUS WALLINGFORD (1915)

With Larry Semon from THE AGENT (1922)... I think, you tell me?

Babe and Jimmy Aubrey in THE NUISANCE (1921).

Guess which of the two is the title character. If you chose Mr. Hardy you are dead wrong!

HER BOY FRIEND pressbook

2009-12-23T18:59:00.000-08:00

Here is the pressbook for HER BOY FRIEND (Educational, 1924) Larry Semon's first short after leaving Vitagraph. Babe, billed as Oliver N. Hardy, is in this one but not highlighted much in the pressbook. Enjoy:

Stan Lobby Cards

2009-12-09T19:54:00.000-08:00

So why stop with Babe? Here are some lobby cards of films starring the comedian formerly known as Stan Jefferson.

WHEN KNIGHTS WERE COLD (Metro, 1923)

By the time this film was released Stan had left G.M. Anderson and was over at the Hal Roach Studios filming UNDER TWO JAGS. I really like the Amalgamated comedies and it was this series, not the soon to follow series at Roach, that really established Stan as a viable star film comedian.

RUPERT OF HEE-HAW (Roach, 1924)

Stan's next to last film for Hal Roach during his second tenure at the studio. A "travesty" of RUPERT OF HENTZAU (the sequel story to THE PRISONER OF ZENDA) with Stan playing a dual role.

DR. PYCKLE AND MR. PRIDE (Joe Rock, 1925)

Stan's next to last film for Joe Rock is probably his best solo film ever. Watching the films he made between 1922 and 1925 for G.M. Anderson, Hal Roach and Joe Rock show that Stan would have been a star with or without Oliver Hardy (but yes, not likely to the great degree the Boys obtained together). But by the time this film was released Stan had already directed three comedies for Hal Roach beginning his intended career as solely a behind-the-camera talent.

Babe Lobby Cards

2009-12-09T18:59:00.000-08:00

Okay, so things ain't so good on the DVD front! So to cheer us all up a bit I am posting some lobby cards of Mr. Hardy.

HEY TAXI! (Arrow, 1925)

For the longest time I thought the only Bobby Ray & Oliver Hardy films were STICK AROUND and HOP TO IT! But there is also this film and one other (THEY ALL FALL). Of all the films the Boys made before teaming up these are the ones that most foreshadow Laurel AND Hardy films.

SQUABS AND SQUABBLES (Vitagraph, 1919)

Babe is second from left (duh). Dick Smith is also in the shot as is Jimmy Aubrey himself. Glad I dug up this photo, there isn't one in my book at all. They are on the standing "Paradise Alley" street set on the Vitagraph lot. Other Babe Hardy films shot on this street including Aubrey's FLIPS AND FLOPS and Larry Semon's THE RENT COLLECTOR.

SPRINGTIME (Vitagraph, 1920)

Within six months of this film coming out Babe will be fired by Jimmy Aubrey, be hired on a full time basis by Larry Semon, and have made his first film with a struggling English comedian by the name of Stan Laurel.

More Laurel or Hardy Collection DVD set update

2009-12-09T18:51:00.000-08:00

The "More Laurel or Hardy Collection" DVD set may not ever see the light of day. Passport Video, the distributor, has gone into receivership (aka bankrupcy). There is always a chance they will be able to reorganize and come out of bankrupcy but I wouldn't hold my breath.

The More Laurel or Hardy Collection DVD set

2009-09-18T05:23:00.000-07:00

THE MORE LAUREL OR HARDY COLLECTION (Passport Video, 5-DVD set)

I am hosting a second DVD set of Stan and Ollie solo films. The set will hit the stores on October 13 at a list price of $19.95. There are some rare titles on this set:

"A Warm Reception" - One of my all time favorite Babe Hardy films. Made at Vim after Plump & Runt ended this stars Babe and he also directed.

"Distilled Love" - Babe's one and only appearance with the great Alice Howell (one of Stan's favorite comediennes).

"The Pest" - Stan and the Music Box stairs some ten years before the Boys move a piano up the same stairs.

"Weak-End Party" - Another of the films Stan made for G.M. Anderson. This one is a good one and has Babe London in it.

"The Chief Cook" - Ellen Burford is in the bathtub and Billy West spys on her. IN this uncut version we all get to see what he was looking at! How did they ever think nudity was ever going to make it past the various state ensor boards?

Here is the running order (may be a bit out of date, I think there were a few changes since I last heard from Passport):

Oliver “Babe” Hardy & Stan Laurel: the Early Years: “Something In Her Eye” (Novelty, 1915); “Love And Duty” (Vim, 1916); “A Warm Reception” (Vim, 1916); “Just Rambling Along” (Hal Roach, 1918); “Do You Love Your Wife?” (Hal Roach, 1919); “Distilled Love” (Reelcraft, 1920) .

Oliver “Babe” Hardy with Billy West: “The Station Master” (King Bee, 1917); “The Chief Cook” (King Bee, 1917); “Cupid’s Rival” (King Bee, 1917); “Bright And Early” (King Bee, 1918).

Stan Laurel at Hal Roach in 1923: “Man About Town” (Hal Roach, 1923); “Save the Ship” AKA “The Houseboat” (Hal Roach, 1923); “Short Orders” (Hal Roach, 1923); “The Noon Whistle” (Hal Roach, 1923); “Scorching Sands” (Hal Roach, 1923); “Frozen Hearts” (Hal Roach, 1923).

Laurel OR Hardy with Larry Semon: “Huns And Hyphens” (Vitagraph, 1918); “The Perfect Clown” (First National, 1925).

Stan Laurel in Search of a Character (and a studio): “The Weak-End Party” (Amalgamated, 1922); “The Pest” (Amalgamated, 1922); “The Egg” (Amalgamated, 1922); “No Place Like Jail” AKA “Detained” (Joe Rock, 1924); “Mandarin Mix-Up” (Joe Rock, 1924); “Somewhere In Wrong”(Joe Rock, 1925); “Pie-Eyed” (Joe Rock, 1925); “Half a Man” (Joe Rock, 1925) .

Stan too....

2009-03-17T16:39:00.000-07:00

Felt like this was getting to be the ".... or Hardy" blog, so I give to you Stan Laurel in SOMEWHERE IN WRONG. Julie Leonard, Max Asher and "Tige" (before he changed his name to Pete the Pup) are also pictured. This still was offered up for sale on the internet (E-Bay?) as part of the Max Asher Collector and that is where this scan comes from... but I use the same shot in my book, see page 491. Makes you wonder sometimes why with the dozens of stills that must have existed at one time the same shot keeps cropping up.... maybe from the same source, who knows? Frankly can't rememeber where I got the shot for my book.

Anyhow, feel better now that Stan has made an appearance. SOMEWHERE IN WRONG is one of my favorites... maybe because he acts a lot like "Stanley" in this one, or maybe it was because during production of this film he finally dumped Mae.

Babe was a star!

2009-03-16T18:49:00.000-07:00

One of my pet peeves is when people throw around terms like "never" and "always." For instance, it is often said that Babe Hardy was NEVER a star comedian before he teamed up with Stan Laurel. The above poster illustrates that Mr. Hardy certainly was a name above the title star comedian. Briefly, okay. Smaller company, yes I guess so. But none the less a star! ... so never say never and always use always sparingly.

THE BOYCOTTED BABY was released January 4, 1917 by Vim Comedies. One of the last Vim comedies produced before what had become known as the Babe Hardy Company filming unit would evolve into the King Bee Company. With the exception of Kate Price (who would go to work with Billy Ruge in the other half of the fractured Vim, Jaxon Comedies) most of those that regularly worked with Babe in the last days of Vim (Ethel Burton, Joe Cohen, Florence McLoughlin and Budd Ross) would also appear in the first of the Billy West comedies that King Bee would start producing in early 1917.

A WARM RECEPTION, the only one of these post-Plump & Runt Babe Hardy Vims that is known to exist is a delight to see. Babe, who apparently also directed the film, does a good bit of the full in drag. On my list of the Top 10 Best Laurel or Hardy Solo Films. So, if you have THE BOYCOTTED BABY hiding in your closet under your laundry let me know....

The Little Wildcat

2009-03-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

In 1922 Babe Hardy was in the middle of his tenure as Larry Semon's main support. But in the latter part of 1922 Babe drifted over to the feature film department at Vitagraph Pictures making FORTUNE'S MASK with Earle Williams and THE LITTLE WILDCAT with Alice Calhoun. Both are lost films, the occasional still or postcard from the Williams film have appeared, but never anything from the Calhoun film until now. This photo which has the working title, GAMIN GIRL, stamped on the back show Alice Calhoun hiding behind Babe. If this isn't the sole surviving visual image from the film I would love to hear from anyone who has more material... but until then this one shot with Babe front-and-center really wets the appetite to see the film itself.... maybe someday.

New BABE HARDY film discovery

2009-02-10T15:55:00.000-08:00

Steve Massa has discovered another film to add to Babe Hardy's solo filmography:

FOOD FOR KINGS AND RILEY

Released August 11, 1915. Edison Company/General Film Company release. One reel. Copyrighted August 2, 1915 (LP5990) by Thomas A. Edison, Inc.

Produced by Thomas A. Edison. Directed by Will Louis.

with William Wadsworth (Riley), Mabel Dwight, Jean Dumar, Guido Colucci, Marie La Manna, Raymond McKee, O.N. Hardy.

The newly rich Riley wants corned beef and cabbage. His wife, with social aspirations, won't tolerate it. One day she tracks him to a poor neighborhood, and finds him heartily tucking away corned beef and cabbage cooked by a "widder woman." His wife also finds her daughter there, very much in love with the "widder woman's" son. So they all go home to Riley's for corned beef and cabbage. --Motion Picture News.

It appears that Babe plays a servant in this one, and that his buddy Raymond McKee must be the widder woman's son mentioned in the synopsis. The Braff Silent Short Film Working Papers doesn't mention the film at all. American Film-Index, 1908-1915 lists the film and cites Fred R. Ashfield as the film's author. Motography and Moving Image World also published a synopsis for the film.

Hope to dig up a review next time I am up in D.C.

Thanks for keeping an eye out Steve. The photo seals the deal, no doubt about Babe being in this one.

Stan Laurel publicity photos

2008-02-10T19:27:00.001-08:00

I am at home sick and don't really have much to say here.... I need to take more Advil and Day-Quil. Anyhow does much of anything need to be said about Mr. Laurel? All the talk about the "Big 3" or the "Big 4" of silent comedy with no mention of Stan and/or Babe is a bunch of crap. Excuse me now while I blow my nose............

Laurel AND Hardy.... but not together!

2008-01-24T11:42:00.000-08:00

Stan and Jimmie Finlayson in Roughest Africa, a Hal Roach two-reeler from 1923. This was Stan's first two reel comedy for Roach. Likely shot as a one reeler they overshot enough to expand into two reels. They actually shot so much footage that outtakes were used as flashback sequences in The Whole Truth (a Roach one-reeler featuring Stan and Jimmie released two months later). One of Stan's more readily available solo films... but usually in a condensed one-reel version.

Stan in 1923's The Soilers. Thanks to the Fractured Flickers segment entitled "Half-baked Alaska" this is perhaps the most often seen Laurel solo film by non-film geeks. Certainly one of Stan's better comedies, the film also features Jimmie Finlayson and George Rowe in great support. This film also was long available only in a one-reel digest it was actually a two-reeler (his third for Roach, Frozen Hearts being the title released between this film and Roughest Africa).

Oliver Hardy, Charley Chase and Martha Sleeper in the excellent Fluttering Hearts, a 1927 Hal Roach two-reeler. Next to Thelma Todd (and who wouldn't want to be), Babe was the best supporting player to Charley Chase ever. From as early as Married to Order (a non-Billy West King Bee shot in 1918 but released by Reelcraft in 1920) through a group of films at Roach in the mid-20s the two just flat out worked well together. Sadly this film was the last time Hardy solo would be seen in support of Chase. Yeah, yeah I know if Babe had kept working with Charley then L&H might not have happened, blah, blah, blah.

Stan Laurel solo films

2008-01-16T17:03:00.001-08:00

SHOULD TALL MEN MARRY (Roach, 1928)
This was Stan's last solo film. Previewed under its working title ("Cowboys Cry For It"), the film was severely recut (eliminating Eugene Pallette along the way) before being released. The film originally was intended to be the pilot film for a series of "Paprika Pete" western comedies starring Babe Hardy as Pete.

MANDARIN MIX-UP (Joe Rock, 1924). Stan plays a Chinese laundryman and the film has an opium gag.... not the most politically correct film Stan ever did.

RUPERT OF HEE HAW (Roach, 1924). One of Stan's "travesties", that is parody. This is, obviously, a play on "Rupert of Hentzau". Also pictured are Mae Laurel (his then common law wife) and the ever brilliant James Finlayson.

The New Adventures of J. Rufus Wallingford

2008-01-08T16:39:00.000-08:00

The Wharton Brothers studio in Ithaca, New York. One of the many studios that Babe Hardy would work for during the early part of his film career.

Mid 1915 after leaving Lubin, Babe Hardy traveled up from Jacksonville to New York City and made some films for Edison as well as some other small companies. At some point he ended up in Ithaca, New York working on The New Adventures of J. Rufus Wallingford, a serial produced by the Wharton Brothers (the same folks that made The Perils of Pauline).

Two of the photos posted here show Babe in one of those episodes, although one of the photos does not show his better side.

I obtained these stills via E-Bay. I was surfing around and found a batch of stills up for bid and I thought I saw a shot of Babe in the pile. I was certain that some of the stills were from the Wallingford serial, so I bought them. There were about twenty in all. I checked them when they arrived and eureka!, it was Babe in a few of the photos. Some were water damaged but the image what what matters the most to me, so a bit of damage was okay as long as the majority of the scene was not obscured. I noticed that the seller lived nearby so I e-mailed and asked if there were any other stills from the same lot. There were, about 100, and he consented in sell them all to me!! I went to pick them up and he took $75 for the lot. Boy was I happy. Anyhow, bit of a long and boring story but I did want to explain why there is some visable damage to the photos. Other photos in the bunch show Pearl White, Creighton Hale and a very young Lionel Barrymore. I 'llpost those on my other blog once I get them scanned.

So enjoy,
Bor Enots

Welcome!

2008-01-04T23:42:00.000-08:00

Hello, and welcome. This is my first attempt at a blog... or internet presence of any kind short of the occasional postings on someone else's site or newsgroup. What I hope to do here is pass along and share information about the Boys' solo films. Not too much has changed since the publishing of LAUREL OR HARDY but there is a film or two to add to the filmography and a few bits of additional information to add. I also have acquired some additional images since the book came out and I'll be posting those as well.
So again, thanks for visiting and here's to spending some time with two of the greatest comedians to ever hit the silver screen. Together or apart they were two very funny fellows.

Somewhere in Wrong,
Bor Enots