LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 Oct. Sig. Entertainment Memorabilia #648  / 

21483

Laurel & Hardy Complete Hal Roach Studio Archive

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia / Autographs - Original Start Price:12,000.00 USD Estimated At:48,000.00 - 72,000.00 USD
Laurel & Hardy Complete Hal Roach Studio Archive
<B>Laurel and Hardy's Complete Hal Roach Studio Archive of Contracts from 1923 to 1939, with Dozens of Their Signatures, Plus Oliver Hardy's Last Will and Testament</B></I> They called it "the Fun Factory." It was the old Hal Roach Studio in Culver City, California, it reigned as the slapstick capital of Hollywood, and its most beloved star attractions were Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. The derby-sporting team saw the Roach lot as theirs playground, and it was there that they created their most hilarious and sublime classic comedy, such as the epic pie fight in <I>The Battle of the Century</B></I> (1827), and their rendition of "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" in <I>Way Out West</B></I> (1937). This remarkable Laurel and Hardy/Hal Roach Studios archive covers the films that made them legends. Roach preferred to keep the two stars on separate contracts: Stan Laurel's papers begin January 26, 1923 and proceed through September 6, 1939; Oliver Hardy's papers commence February 6, 1926 and conclude April 8, 1939 (in a concurrent but separate contract from Laurel's). There are 36 different documents/letters for Laurel, and his signature appears 36 times; there are 16 different letters/contracts/documents for Hardy, and his signature appears 16 times. In addition Hal Roach's signature appears ten times in the Laurel papers and seven times in the Hardy papers. Besides the contracts the papers include an affidavit of authorship, a bill of sale, and letters on Hal Roach Studios Inc. letterhead and Stan Laurel Productions letterhead. Awesome to ponder that this is the paperwork that paved the way for the runaway piano in the 1932's Academy Award-winning <I>The Music Box,</B></I> the battle with the wives in <I>Sons of the Desert</B></I> (1933), and so much more. And it's an eye-opener to compare the stars' salaries, and review the clauses of their contracts, including the morals clause that Roach later used against Stan during his marital misadventures ("Artist agrees to conduct himself with due regard to public conventions and morals, and agrees that he will not do or commit any act or thing that will tend to degrade him in society..."). The lot also features a signed copy of Oliver Hardy's two-page Last Will and Testament, dated October 29, 1941. Papers range from Good to Excellent condition. Oliver Hardy died in 1957, Stan Laurel died in 1965, Hal Roach died in 1992 (at age 100), and his studio is long-gone. These papers survive, highly desirable for their signatures and their dynamic impact on classic Hollywood comedy. <I>Accompanied by LOA from PSA/DNA.</B></I><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Miscellaneous Collectibles, Larg (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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