Archive for the '1980’s – Early' Category
Two Lovely Ladies From the 1940’s Films
Monday, January 14th, 2008
For years, Laurel and Hardy’s films from the 1940’s have been picked on, put down, and shunned by most Laurel and Hardy fans. In recent days, the films have seen new life by getting very nice DVD reissues and have been re-evaluated by many fans who now consider them small masterpieces in their own right. I typically try to stay out of any discussion on the merits (or lack of them) of the 1940’s films. Mostly because I simply don’t care. The films are what they are and they now more than sixty years old…so what does it really matter? Some are crap, some have their moments, and some I completely enjoy – all while recognizing that none of them live up to the standards set in the 1930’s films made at the Hal Roach Studios. Read the rest of this entry »
William Janney 1980
Monday, January 7th, 2008
William Janney was the dramatic leading man in Laurel and Hardy’s 1934 feature film Bonnie Scotland. Never mind that his scenes as the romatic interest to starlet June Lang were more-or-less distractions to the boys’ comedy in the picture – that’s not his fault. He was there working alongside the boys and that’s enough to thrill any film buff including me. Other than his work with Laurel and Hardy, his film career mostly entailed bit parts and b-pictures, but I am still thrilled to say that I once was able to meet William Janney. Read the rest of this entry »
Rolfe Sedan 1980
Sunday, December 30th, 2007
Rolfe Sedan had an extremely distiguished career as a character actor playing more than 250 different roles from the early 1920’s to the late 1970’s in both film and telelvision. Among his most notable roles was his role as Mr. Beasley the postman on The George Burns – Gracie Allen Show, but what really piqued my interest was his role as a hotel desk clerk in the Laurel and Hardy classic Double Whoopee in 1929. Read the rest of this entry »
Mrs. Oliver Hardy
Saturday, December 8th, 2007
It was a distinct privilege to be able to meet Lucille Hardy Price, the widow of one of my two biggest idols, Oliver Hardy. I can’t say that I really ever got the chance to know her, as she passed away in 1986 before I had thrust myself into interviewing and getting to know some of the celebrites who worked with Laurel and Hardy and in the Our Gang Comedies. But I feel as if I am very acquainted with her because of the many interviews with her that I have read and seen, as well as first-hand accounts from many of my friends who certainly did know her. Read the rest of this entry »