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Laurel and Hardy

Stan Laurel: An absolute joy to walk in his footsteps 150 150 mhamer

Stan Laurel: An absolute joy to walk in his footsteps

What an absolute joy to walk in the footsteps of the great Hollywood character comic/actor/writer Arthur Stanley Jefferson AKA Stan Laurel. My thanks to host Matthew at the Stan and Olly Roxy Museum, also went to visit the house where Stan was born!

Jimmy Cricket was delighted to visit the British birthplace of world famous comedy actor Stan Laurel.

Stan was one half of Laurel and Hardy, almost certainly the most iconic comedy duo in history.

He was born Arthur Stanley Jefferson in 1890 in the town of Ulverston, which was then in Lancashire, but is now in Cumbria.

Jimmy paid a visit to the museum devoted to the duo, and also went to the house in which Stan was born.

He said: “What an absolute joy to walk in the footsteps of the great Hollywood character comic/actor/writer Arthur Stanley Jefferson AKA Stan Laurel.

Clumsy and bumbling friend

“My thanks to host Matthew at the Stan and Olly Roxy Museum.”

Stan was one of five children born to Arthur Jefferson, a theatre manager, and Margaret Metcalfe Jefferson, an actress.

He made his first film appearance in 1917 and teamed up with Oliver Hardy, who was from Georgia in the US, during the 1920s.

Stan played the clumsy and bumbling friend, to Oliver’s bullying and pomposity.

They went on to star together in many films and entertain millions of people around the world with their slapstick comedy.

Their films included The Music Box, Brats and Another Fine Mess.

Following Oliver’s death in 1957, Stan never performed again.

He died in California eight years later aged 74, days after suffering a major heart attack.

Also read on this website: Paying Tribute To Stan Laurel And Oliver Hardy

 

Wyn Calvin & Tony Jo: Jimmy remembers old friends 150 150 mhamer

Wyn Calvin & Tony Jo: Jimmy remembers old friends

I had the great pleasure of working with the, “Welsh Prince of Laughter”, in Panto back in 1983 @brumhippodrome sadly now no longer with us, the late Wyn Calvin, (here pictured far right in his role as Dame), R.I.P. old friend!

Jimmy Cricket has paid fond tributes to two fellow entertainers and friends who sadly passed away recently.

The Northern Irish comic recalled performing alongside the late Wyn Calvin in the 1980s.

Wyn’s death at the age of 96 was announced earlier this week.

“I had the great pleasure of working with the ‘Welsh Prince of Laughter’ in Panto back in 1983 @brumhippodrome,” said Jimmy. 

“Sadly now no longer with us, the late Wyn Calvin, (pictured far right in the above photo in his role as Dame).

“R.I.P. old friend!”

Wyn got into showbusiness after World War Two and went on to appear in more than 50 pantomimes, often as Widow Twankey.

He served with the forces’ Entertainments National Service Association and played to troops all across Europe.

Wyn, originally from Narberth in Pembrokeshire, was a founding member of Cardiff’s Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity.

Laurel and Hardy

He was known for his performances in concert halls and repertory theatres.

His career included successful runs on radio as Tommy Trotter, in a show called Welsh Rarebit on BBC Wales.

He also made music hall appearances and shared a stage with legendary comedy duo Laurel and Hardy.

Read more about Wyn on the BBC website here

A bright light went out in Blackpool today with the passing of performer/manager/producer Tony Jo @hrhents Tony spread laughter and happiness everywhere he went, he will be sadly missed by his family and many friends in the world of Showbusiness! R.I.P. big guy you were the tops!

Jimmy has also paid tribute to Tony Jo, a former member of award-winning comedy band The Grumbleweeds.

Tony (pictured right with Jimmy) died on Sunday 23 January following an 18-month battle with cancer.

Jimmy said: “A bright light went out in Blackpool today with the passing of performer/manager/producer Tony Jo @hrhents.

“Tony spread laughter and happiness everywhere he went.

“He will be sadly missed by his family and many friends in the world of Showbusiness!

“R.I.P. big guy you were the tops!”

Tony was a celebrated after-dinner comedian.

His work meant he rubbed shoulders with sporting legends like George Best, Bobby Charlton, Geoff Hurst and Alan Ball.

Tony was a winner of the After Dinner Speaker of The Year Award three times.

In addition, he wrote for shows including You’ve Been Framed and Stars in Their Eyes.

Read more about Tony on the Blackpool Gazette website here.

Also from this website: Frankie Whittle: From Butlin’s to Blackpool’s Music Hall Tavern

New Twitter profile photo is ‘Laurel and Hardy combined’! 150 150 mhamer

New Twitter profile photo is ‘Laurel and Hardy combined’!

Jimmy Cricket's new Twitter profile photo

Jimmy Cricket has changed his Twitter profile picture with a drawn portrait of him.

A friend, whose account is Steve Ace Luff on Facebook, sent what he describes as “pop art” to the famous comedian.

Jimmy expressed his gratitude for the drawing.

He said: “Wow Steve it is very life like! Thank you for this, it is very much appreciated! Stay safe my friend!”

Steve told Jimmy:  “We’ve met a few times Jimmy. You remember it too, Blackpool storm, and you were on stage on the pier.

“Waves were crashing, freezing cold and you were on stage in a nappy performing a comedy sketch
“You were a true professional carried on until the end even though some rain.Jimmy Cricket's new Twitter profile photo

“I loved that show it was special due to you carrying on against literally everything being thrown at the theatre.

“Years later, we met again in Worthing and I reminded you in the break – you re-told the experience to the audience.”
The illustration has been well received on social media.
Gerry Molumby commented: “So you Jimmy with a tinge of Laurel and Hardy combined!”
Another poster said it “looked great”, while one called Jimmy a “national treasure”.

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are arguably the most famous of all double comedy acts.

They performed during the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema.

The pair became well known during the late 1920s to the mid-1940s for their slapstick comedy.

Laurel played the clumsy friend of the pompous Hardy.

Also read: Paying tribute to Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy

Blackpool big night out

 

 

Paying tribute to Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy 150 150 mhamer

Paying tribute to Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy

 pay tribute to a fellow Irishman, and to the Silver Screen's Stan and Ollie, with a great performance from @Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly

Jimmy Cricket writes about his admiration for a legendary comedy duo in his latest newspaper column.

In the 1 April edition of the Lancashire Post, the popular Northern Irish entertainer reviews a recent film about the careers of Englishman Stan Laurel and American Oliver Hardy.

They acted during the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema and became well known during the late 1920s to the mid-1940s for their slapstick comedy. Laurel played the clumsy friend of the pompous Hardy.

Jimmy’s column begins: I’ve just come back from doing my one man show at the Slapstick Comedy Festival in Bristol at the Studio adjoining the Old Vic Theatre. The festival was started by a guy called Chris Daniels who just loves visual and silent comedy.

“I did my live set sandwiched between movies of Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy up on the big wide screen. There’s been a resurgence of interest in Laurel and Hardy, mainly due to a biopic of the duo which went on general release in our cinemas recently called Stan and Ollie.

“In fact, I’ve been to see it twice. Well folks, our local Odeon Cinema here in Rochdale only charges a fiver to get in. It’s a moving, tender tribute to one of the funniest double acts ever to grace the silver screen; not only do Steve Coogan as Stan Laurel, and John C Reilly as Oliver Hardy get into the skin of these two lovable clowns, but the ladies that played their wives both give stunning performance as well.

“Nina Arianda plays Stan’s other half and Shirley Henderson is Ollie’s. I had a little inside information on this film. Steve Coogan’s Uncle Bernard takes his grandkids to the same school in Rochdale that I take mine, so I get some tasty nuggets of gossip in the playground.

“I looked at him enviously as he told me about getting the red carpet treatment when he got invited to the premiere of the movie up at the local cinema in Ulverston where Stan Laurel grew up. The only time I get to see a red carpet is when Mrs Cricket hands me the Hoover.”

Read Jimmy’s full column here