LAUREL and HARDY BOOKS

TALKS and PRESENTATIONS by author A.J Marriot, featuring

Laurel and Hardy stage tours, plus Charlie Chaplin's Music Hall and Vaudeville stage appearances pre-filmmaking.
All the presentations are lavishly illustrated with rare stills and footage, and accompanied by a humorous commentary
from the man who knows more about these subjects than any other - 'A.J' Marriot

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REVIEWS

NEW for 2026 - Cruise Ship Presentations

Choose from the following:

LAUREL and HARDY - The Last Stage The 1953-54 British Tour You've seen the film "Stan & Ollie" now watch the account of the true story of Laurel and Hardy's last British stage tour, by the author of the book on which the film was based.

Best of pals. Newcastle Empire. November 1953		Christmas Day 1953 Bull Inn, Bottesford

LAUREL and HARDY - The Atlantic Crossings

Stan and Babe relaxing on board the Aquitania. 1932	Queen Elizabeth Southampton. 1947	Queen Mary 1952 Leaving via Sun Deck	SS America 1953 En route for Ireland

LAUREL and HARDY The Atlantic Crosssings Those who believe that Laurel and Hardy barely strayed off the path between their homes and the film studios, will be astounded to learn that the screen legends were forced to leave the Hollywood film industry to play stage shows in Great Britain, Ireland, and Europe, in trying to eke out a living. This presentation travels with them on their numerous Atlantic crossings, whilst simultaneously revealing the lavish style of the luxury liners of yesteryear. Richly illustrated with rare photos and footage. To watch an edited-down presentation on YouTube, click on the red play button above.

LAUREL and HARDY in Sweden

A right Royal welcome in Copenhagen. 1947	Waving to fans from their Copenhagen hotel. 1947	Clowning with two Swedish comics in Stockholm. 1947	Savouring some schnapps in Stockholm. 1947

LAUREL and HARDY in LONDON 1947

With 'cop' Harry Moreny London Palladium. 1947	Catching pigeons in Trafalgar Square. 1947	Ideal Homes Exhibition London, 1947	Royal Variety Show London Palladium. 1947

Laurel and Hardy in London by author A.J Marriot

LAUREL and HARDY - The 1932 British Tour

Arriving at Southampton on the Aquitania	Escaping over the rooftops, at their Edinburgh Hotel	Being waved off by fans, at Newcastle Station	Arriving back in New York, on the SS Paris

In 1932 LAUREL and HARDY did a lightning tour of England and Scotland, making walk-on appearances in cinemas and theatres in: London, Newcastle, Tynemouth, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Blackpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, and Birmingham.

LAUREL and HARDY - The 1947 British Tour

Arriving at Southampton, on board the Queen Elizabeth	Backstage at the London Palladium	Opening Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway	With the Mayor, in Tynemouth

Follow LAUREL and HARDY through their 30-week tour of England and Scotland,
playing Variety Shows at all the major Moss Empires, Hipodromes, and theatres in holiday resorts.

LAUREL and HARDY - The 1952 and 1953-54 British Tours

Prince of Wales theatre With Norman Wisdom. 1952	Best of pals. Newcastle Empire. November 1953	Christmas Day 1953 Bull Inn, Bottesford

Laurel and Hardy returned to the British Variety stage in 1952, and 1953.
This presentation is a Pictorial Journey through those tours.
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LAUREL and HARDY - The Wartime Shows in America

The Driver's Licence 1940 Tour	Dressed for the Minnesota v Nebraska game. 1940	Selling War Bonds in Cincinnati. Feb. 1942	Stealing a jeep in Washington. May 1942

[ based on the book 'LAUREL and HARDY The US Tours' ]

The previously untold story of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy living a dual life on stage - performing shows across the USA, plus details and photographs from previously unknown personal appearances and performances at show business events, benefit shows, and award ceremonies.

LAUREL and HARDY - Pilots of the Caribbean

'The Flying Showboat' leaving New York.	Backstage at an Air Base in Puerto Rico. 1941	On an outdoor stage, at an Air Base on St. Croix	Performing to troops in an aircraft hangar.

[ based on the book 'LAUREL and HARDY The US Tours' ]

In 1941, the USO asked for volunteers from among Hollywood stars to go and entertain the troops stationed on Caribbean islands. Laurel & Hardy headed the first ever company to do so, and overcame their fear of flying, to fly the 10,000 miles involved. The talk is rich in photos from those shows on all the islands and bases visited.

LAUREL and HARDY - The Atlantic Crossings

Stan and Babe relaxing on board the Aquitania. 1932	Queen Elizabeth Southampton. 1947	Queen Mary 1952 Leaving via Sun Deck	SS America 1953 En route for Ireland

Many believe that Laurel and Hardy barely strayed off the path between their homes and the film studio, but this presentation travels with them on numerous trips across the Atlantic to play shows in Great Britain, Ireland, and Europe, whilst revealing the lavish style of the luxury liners of yesteryear. Richly illustrated with rare photos and footage.

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LAUREL and HARDY on the EUROPEAN STAGE

[ based on the book 'LAUREL and HARDY The European Tours' ]

LAUREL and HARDY in Denmark and Sweden

A right Royal welcome in Copenhagen. 1947	Waving to fans from their Copenhagen hotel. 1947	Clowning with two Swedish comics in Stockholm. 1947	Savouring some schnapps in Stockholm. 1947

In October 1947 Laurel and Hardy played tours throughout Denmark, and Sweden.

LAUREL and HARDY in France and Belgium (1947)

Tickling the fancy of a French starlet. Paris 1947	LAH with one of the acts at the Lido de Paris. 1947	Arriving at the Alhambra Theatre, Brussels. 1947	Rehearsing at the Alhambra, Brussels. 1947

From late 1947 to early 1948 Laurel and Hardy played tours throughout France and Belgium.

LAUREL and HARDY in France and Italy (1950)

Banner welcoming Laurel and Hardy to Paris. 1950	Locals greeting Stan and Ollie at San Remo Station. 1950	Arriving at Milan, with their wives. 1950	Celebrating Hardy's birthday Paris - 18 January 1951

Then, from June 1950 to the spring of 1951, they made numerous personal appearances in Paris, Marseilles,
San Remo, Genoa, Milan, and Rome. This presentation is a Pictorial Journey through those tours.

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LOCALITIES
Talks custom-designed to suit specific locations. Examples:

LAUREL and HARDY in LONDON 1932

Stan having tea with his dad, at the Savoy	With Joan Crawford and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.	Making a 'live' BBC radio broadcast	Leaving London. August 1932

In 1932, almost at the peak of their film career, Laurel and Hardy spent several weeks in London, attending events,
visiting theatres, and making public appearances. Follow them as they get mobbed everywhere they show up.

LAUREL and HARDY in LONDON 1947

With 'cop' Harry Moreny London Palladium. 1947	Catching pigeons in Trafalgar Square. 1947	Ideal Homes Exhibition London, 1947	Royal Variety Show London Palladium. 1947

Following the de-restrictions of passenger boats crossing the Atlantic, LAUREL and HARDY were the first major Hollywood stars to play the prestigious London Palladium. They went on to play the Coliseum, Lewisham Hippodrome, Wimbledon Theatre, Finsbury Park Empire, and Chiswick Empire, plus visiting many of the main London attractions. This is a pictorial diary of their time in England's capital city.

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Other titles include:

LAUREL and HARDY in MORECAMBE
LAUREL and HARDY in BLACKPOOL
LAUREL and HARDY in PETERBOROUGH

Laurel and Hardy in Peterborough by author A.J Marriot

LAUREL and HARDY in GRANTHAM
LAUREL and HARDY in BARKSTON and BOTTESFORD

LAUREL and HARDY in NOTTINGHAM
LAUREL and HARDY at BUTLINS SKEGNESS

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You can also request talks be compiled to suit your geographical area,
but these will incur additional booking fees. e.g.

LAUREL and HARDY in BRIGHTON

LAUREL and HARDY in YORKSHIRE
(Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield, York)

Laurel and Hardy in Yorkshire by author A.J Marriot

LAUREL and HARDY in LANCASHIRE

LAUREL and HARDY on the LANCASHIRE COAST
(Blackpool and Morecambe)

LAUREL and HARDY in WALES
(Cardiff, Swansea, Rhyl)

LAUREL and HARDY in SCOTLAND
(Edinburgh, Glasgow)

LAUREL and HARDY in NORTHERN IRELAND
(Belfast)

LAUREL and HARDY in IRELAND
(Cork, Dublin, Dun Laoghaire)

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BIOGRAPHIES

STAN LAUREL - From LA to LA (Lancashire to Los Angeles)

STAN LAUREL - From LA to LA (Lancashire to Los Angeles)

From boy comedian in Britain, to ...	... Fred Karno comedian in Britain and America	... to double act in Vaudeville ...	... into solo films with Hal Roach ...	... into finding the perfect partner.
Just how a did a young lad from a lowly town in Lancashire, scale to the heights of one of the greatest screen comedians in Hollywood history? Audience members will follow the show business path the young Arthur Stanley Jefferson trod, starting with the British pantomimes and plays he appeared in as a youth; then travel with him to America with the Fred Karno Company where, between 1910 and 1914, he completes several tours in American Vaudeville.For the next eight yours we see him still learning his craft in Vaudeville, playing comedy sketches with various partners. 1922 to 1926 finds him making solo films, before finally meeting the legendary partner he is to work with for the next twenty eight years. This presentation is illustrated with scores of rare photos and theatre ephemera, plus newsreel footage and home movies. It finishes with a heart-touching montage of Stan Laurel's life from beginning to end.

STAN LAUREL - The Life & Times

From boy comedian in Britain, to ...	... double act in American Vaudeville ...	... into solo films with Hal Roach ...	... into drag ...	... into classic costume ...

... into classic features...	... onto the American stage ....	... onto the British stage ....	... on to collecting awards ...	... into retirement ...

[ based on the book LAUREL - Stage by Stage]

A revealing history of the life of comedian STAN LAUREL - from his humble beginnings in England, into his early stage work; through his apprenticeship in comedy with the Fred Karno Company; on through his years in American Vaudeville; before breaking into films and then teaming with American 'heavy' Oliver Hardy. The presentation ends with a moving slide-show of his life from birth-to-death.

CHARLIE CHAPLIN and STAN LAUREL - The Fred Karno Years

The Fred Karno Company sailing for America. 1910	Outside the stage door of a theatre in Montana. 1911	The Company on board the Karno boxcar they toured in.	1912. On stage in: A Night in a London Club

[ based on the book 'CHAPLIN - Stage by Stage' and LAUREL - Stage by Stage]

A detailed, pictorial history of the years Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel spent in British Music Hall and
American Vaudeville with the Fred Karno Company of Comedians (1908 to 1914).

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CHARLIE CHAPLIN - From Street Urchin to Screen Idol

A clog-dancer with the Lancashire Lads	Into drama as Billy in Sherlock Holmes	Playing multiple roles in CASEY'S CIRCUS	Sails for America as a Fred Karno Comedian	The pupil becomes bigger than the master.

[ based on the book 'CHAPLIN - Stage by Stage' ]

A pictorial history of CHARLIE CHAPLIN, from his humblest of beginnings in a London suburb; through his days on the British stage; and on through his years in American Vaudeville, before making the transition into film in 1914. Includes extremely rare archive material of Chaplin's years traversing America and Canada.

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PREVIOUS SHOWS

DATE	VENUE	CITY	TITLE	LINK	COMMENTS
23 Sep. 2017	Todmorden Hippodrome	TODMORDEN	LAUREL and HARDY in YORKSHIRE		See comment
1 Aug. 2017	Little Theatre	DONCASTER	LAUREL and HARDY in YORKSHIRE	See Review	See Preview
3 Aug. 2017	Lace Market Theatre	NOTTINGHAM	LAUREL and HARDY in NOTTS. and LINCS.	See Review	Great venue

DATE	VENUE	CITY	TITLE	LINK	COMMENTS
4 May 2014	Holiday Inn	CHATHAM	LAUREL and HARDY in LONDON 1932	Helpmates UK	Convention
24 Aug. 2013	Metropole Hotel	BLACKPOOL	LAUREL and HARDY in BLACKPOOL	Read Report	as part of 'Olliday' package
25 Jul. 2013	Sun Hotel	HITCHIN	STAN LAUREL - The Life & Times	Hitchin Initiative	Hitchin Festival
2 Jul. 2013	Sun Hotel	HITCHIN	LAUREL and HARDY in LONDON	Hitchin Initiative	Hitchin Festival
18 Jun. 2013	John Clare Theatre	PETERBOROUGH	LAUREL and HARDY in PETERBOROUGH	Peboro Library	Theatre show
26 May 2013	Holiday Inn	CHATHAM	LAUREL and HARDY in LONDON 1947	Helpmates UK	see 4 May 2014
26 Feb. 2013	Guildhall	GRANTHAM	LAUREL and HARDY in GRANTHAM	Read Review	Theatre show
28 Nov. 2012	Sun Hotel	HITCHIN	LAUREL and HARDY in LONDON	Hitchin Initiative	see Hitchin Festival - July
19 Oct. 2012	Lowther Pavilion	LYTHAM FY8	LAUREL and HARDY in BLACKPOOL	Lowther Pavilion	Theatre show
29 Sep. 2012	Cinema Museum	LONDON SE11	FRED KARNO COMPANY The US Tours	CinemaMuseum	Cinema Show
06 May 2012	Holiday Inn	CHATHAM	LAUREL and HARDY - The Atlantic Crossings	Helpmates UK	see 26 May 2013 and 4 May 2014
26 Sep. 2010	Fun Factory	LONDON SE5	FRED KARNO COMPANY The US Tours	Karno Centenary 2010	Fred Karno Company

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