Stan Laurel: An absolute joy to walk in his footsteps
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