OT:TCM/Laurel And Hardy news

[Nelson]

Okay, right down to business and here are the latest comedy news from TCM.

Tomorrow night 7/20/08, Turner Classic Movies will present an marathon of classic slapstick films with Buster Keaton, Laurel And Hardy, Charley Chase and Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle.The festival begins, at 8pm (est).

During it's annual "Summer Under The Stars" series on TCM, the channel will present a 24 hour marathon devoted to Laurel And Hardy.The L&H festival will present 18 of the boys, two and three reel comedy shorts and 14 of their feature length films.The Laurel And Hardy marathon kicks off on TCM, Saturday, 8/23/08 at 6am(est).

While on the topic, but there are strong rumblings over at TCM, that the channel is considering putting together a weekly series of the classic Hal Roach sound shorts.It appears that TCM has been lurking and reading the message boards and taking notice of the fan's die-hard request to get a Hal Roach series on the channel and it could possibly happen.The reliable source that reported the news, said that TCM might even have the name for the series which would be titled, "Roach All-Stars".

Now keep in mind that this is only a rumor and any "official" news will be posted right here.

[Jon Cooke]

Thanks for the news, Nelson. I'll have my DVR ready!

[Nelson]

It makes perfect sense to launch a weekly Hal Roach show, cause you don't buy the television right to the Hal Roach library and just show the shorts as "fillers" inbetween features.Just to let everyone know, that the deal between Turner Classic Movies and Hallmark Entertainment(for the Roach library) expires in thirty eight years.

[janiepooh34]

I am really missing my TCM right now.

[Surenity]

If you like Charlie Chaplin, on August 2nd they're having a 24 hour Charlie Chaplin marathon as well.

Thanks for pointing out that Laurel and Hardy film, I haven't had a good laugh like that in a while.

Is it just me, or are those stairs Laurel and Hardy pushed the music box up the exact same stairs the Three Stooges had a hard time delivering ice up in their short "An Ache in every Stake"?

[ohmahaaha]

Is it just me, or are those stairs Laurel and Hardy pushed the music box up the exact same stairs the Three Stooges had a hard time delivering ice up in their short "An Ache in every Stake"?
I'm pretty sure I'd read somewhere before that they were indeed the same flight of stairs as the ones in "An Ache in Every Stake." I wonder if that flight of steps still exists??

What would have been really funny is if it had been the same people getting the ice delivered as the ones getting the music box delivered.

[Shemp]

...are those stairs Laurel and Hardy pushed the music box up the exact same stairs the Three Stooges had a hard time delivering ice up in their short "An Ache in every Stake"?

They are not the same.

THE MUSIC BOX stairs are located at 923 Vendome St., in the Silver Lake section of Los Angeles, one block south off Sunset Blvd.

Also in Silver Lake, the Stooges' AN ACHE IN EVERY STAKE stairs are about 1 mile away, north of Sunset Blvd. They are located at 2200 North Fair Oak View Terrace.

See The Three Stooges Journal # 98 (http://www.threestooges.net/journal.php?action=view&id=98) and Journal # 99 (http://www.threestooges.net/journal.php?action=view&id=99) for more details.

[Stanislav]

One can safely assume that the Stooges short (one of their best, IMHO) was influenced/inspired by "The Music Box." But, knowing that in comedy there is "nothing new under the sun," were L&H inspired by some previous film that might have used similarly steep terraced stairs for gag purposes? Sennett, perhaps?

[Shemp]

One can safely assume that the Stooges short (one of their best, IMHO) was influenced/inspired by "The Music Box."

No, the iceman scenes in AN ACHE IN EVERY STAKE (1941) were a reworking of the Sennett Studios' ICE COLD COCOS (1926), starring Billy Bevan. Both films were directed by Del Lord. The staircase is located a few blocks from the old site of the Sennett Studios in Silver Lake, hence Lord's probable reason for revisiting the same stairs with the Stooges.

THE MUSIC BOX (1932) was inspired by Laurel & Hardy's HATS OFF (1927), where they deliver a washing machine up a flight of stairs. MUSIC and HATS used the same staircase on Vendome St.

[David Gerstein]

The Time: 1933.
The Place: Steps at 923-937 Vendome, Silver Lake, CA.

The Event: Two movers are pushing a piano toward the bottom of the steps, preparing to ascend. Just then, three icemen approach the steps, heading up the sidewalk from the other direction.

Ollie: Excuse me, sir, but I (heh-heh!) don't think we've been introduced.
Moe: What's it to ya, nitwit?
Ollie: Huh? Nit—
Moe: The chump who stands in our way doesn't desoive an introduction.
Ollie: Chump! Well! The idea, calling me a... ooh! Stanley, my pride has been wronged!
Stan: Well, then you'd better ask him to wrong it again, hadn't you Ollie? Because two wrongs make a right.
Ollie: Why, that's a good idea. He'd better wrong it again, because certainly two wrongs make a— ooh! Stanley, just wait till I get you alone.
Curly: Hey, Moe! Hey, Moe! Wait till he gets him a loan, eh? I could use a loan.
Moe (hits Curly): Why, you... borrow this, you loan ranger.
Curly: Woo! Woo! Woo!
Moe: Now up the stairs, knucklehead. We got fifty pounds of ice for Mrs. von Schwarzenhoffen—and we only have ice for her.
Ollie: Now, gentlemen, let's keep our heads. Stanley and I are delivering this piano for Mrs. von Schwarzenhoffen, and I do believe we got here first.
Curly: You got here foist, eh?
Ollie: And the stairs are ours.
Curly: Well, the Zero Ice and Coal Co. takes pryor ority, on account o' ice has that shrinkin' feelin'. Just lookit that big drip.
Larry: He's talking about you, Moe.
Moe (hits Larry): I said up the stairs, stupid! (hits Curly) You too.
Ollie: What are you waiting for, Stanley? Take an end of this piano. If these gentlemen want a race, they're going to get it! Stanley?
Stan: Sorry, Ollie. I was just trying to figure it out.
Ollie: Figure what out?
Stan: Where we... keep our heads... (cries at imminent clobbering)

[Stanislav]

Someone obviously had WAY too much time on their hands last night..... :)

Kidding aside, a funny post. The mind boggles at the thought of such an encounter! :eek:

[Nelson]

I believe Mack Sennett also used the same stairs in some of his great silent comedies, as well.

[ltnut]

I'll admit I haven't looked at this forum in a few days, and I missed the slapstick marathon. :( I'd definitely like to see a regular show with Roach shorts on TCM. I've said before (And even posted it on TCM's message board) that TCM should do a lineup on Saturday and possibly Sunday mornings of classic cartoons, shorts, and serials. They could bring back Cartoon Alley and also carry serials like they did with the Superman serials about a year and a half ago. I can see the Roach shorts show possibly happening, but I'm not holding my breath for anything more.

[Nelson]

I can see the Roach shorts show possibly happening, but I'm not holding my breath for anything more.

The chances for a weekly Hal Roach series is very good, since the Roach shorts are among the most requested films that's currently on TCM's roster.There's still plenty of Charley Chase talkies, that TCM has not shown yet and the rest of the "Taxi Boys" boys series as well as the Harry Langdon shorts he made for Roach during the 29-30 movie season.Several months ago, a TCM spokesperson was quoted that the channel want's to air every single Roach comedy(from the sound era)ever made, but it would take time in doing so.But this year, there has been a lack(or decline)in seeing the Roach shorts on TCM and a good reason is that the owners of the Roach library(Hallmark Entertainment)has been very slow in transfering the films to video tape.

[ebrand11]

I'm pretty sure I'd read somewhere before that they were indeed the same flight of stairs as the ones in "An Ache in Every Stake." I wonder if that flight of steps still exists??


The steps do still exist as seen in Laurel and Hardys The Music Box. According to Hallmarks DVD Laurel and Hardy Volume One. It shows a picture of it in the picture gallery on the special features part of that particular DVD.
Does anyone know why Hallmark discontinued the Laurel and Hardy DVDs after two volumes?
A weekly Roach series sounds like a dream since the Charley Chase talkies are so hard to find.

[Smilodon]

I would guess that they discontinued them because the quality was horrible and word got around.

Oh and those Chase shorts are great. Anyone remember when nostalgia Merchant put out the L&H tapes back in the 80s with the Chase shorts and others as bonuses?

[ebrand11]

Did anyone see the print of Chickens Come Home, with the title card missing!!??!
I was too young to witness those releases. Im only eighteen and the Chase shorts are so much better than most of the modern shows. Laurel and Hardy is what got me interested in the Hal Roach shorts.

[mmtper]

[quote=David Gerstein;117311]The Time: 1933.
The Place: Steps at 923-937 Vendome, Silver Lake, CA.

The Event: Two movers are pushing a piano toward the bottom of the steps, preparing to ascend. Just then, three icemen approach the steps, heading up the sidewalk from the other direction.


I've just read this, David, and enjoyed it. Very clever. Someday you should do Abbott & Costello Meet the Bowery Boys.:)

[Keith Paynter]

Does anyone know why Hallmark discontinued the Laurel and Hardy DVDs after two volumes?

Low sales, poor quality. They threw the "best" features and shorts to the general public, but had no real interest in a quality job.

Perhaps if the upcoming Little Rascals set does well, there may be hope for the L&H Roach catalogue.

"He don't want me...he wants the other monkey!"