Laurel and Hardy Visit Tynemouth (1932) - extract

Shot by an enthusiastic amateur on 16mm film, this silent newsreel extract provides a valuable glimpse of the rapturous welcome legendary comedians Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy received when they visited Britain in 1932. Though Hardy hailed from the States, Ulverston-born Laurel was a local lad: he went to school in Tynemouth (where this film was made outside the town's Grand Hotel). With Stan unaware how popular the team had become in Britain, his low-key homecoming - with Ollie tagging along to try some Scottish golf courses - became a full-scale promotional tour, the duo mobbed by hordes of adoring fans wherever they went. (Vic Pratt)

You can see the complete film and over 2000 other titles free in BFI Mediatheques - http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque

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Tags:

• bfi
• bfi national archive
• laurel and hardy
• stan laurel
• oliver hardy
• tynemouth
• england
• uk
• tyne and wear
• north east
• 1930s
• depression

[SpiderMaax]

Both of them are legends and should always remain so...clips like these are just priceless- thanks to BFI for uploading it and thanks to the person who filmed it! :-)

[sylviajorgentorolaf]

Thanks so much, there will never be anyone like these two lovable comdedians

[doubledeckers]

The Theatre Royal at nearby Blyth was built for Stan Laurel's father. Search for "demolition of the Theatre Royal, Blyth."

[kboy20]

@LynxCoding

I see who you mean but I strongly doubt it. But Hitler was always on the far right. And he had no sense of humor. Especially when it came to Fegelein!

[GoldenOldiesOn45RPM]

@ManilaSyndicate They were an Anglo-American act who made films in America. You would`nt be an American attempting to rewrite history again would you ? lol

[GoldBloded]

@LynxCoding LOL thats exactly what i was thinking!

[TrancetasticWilza]

@LynxCoding at 0:14 sitting down? haha

[hydrokephylis]

lovely find,thanks for posting

[hydrokephylis]

@ManilaSyndicate one nation under one sun,eh?

[ManilaSyndicate]

Nice, priceless clip. It's nice to see the British warmly receiving an American act, long before they had reason to resent and envy American dominance and power. :-)