The Laurel & Hardy Podcast

Rounding off our deep dive into the waters of Laurel and Hardy's classic short, Men O' War, Patrick is joined by film historian and author, Glenn Mitchell. Discussions cover a range of subjects from the film's production to the film history of Hollenbeck Park, to other interesting tangents, such as the willingness to tackle dark and heavy themes in Laurel and Hardy comedies. As mentioned in the show, here are some useful links that you might wish to check out: Check out Andreas Baum and Michael Ehret's new book, containing a chapter written by yours truly. Laurel & Hardy: A True Love Story www.the-pictorial-history.com Support the show and gain exclusive access to extra podcast episodes by joining one of the two tiers of Patreon membership here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/user?u=88010194⁠⁠⁠⁠ To subscribe to the all-new Laurel & Hardy Magazine and for more information on The Laurel & Hardy Podcast and Patrick's forthcoming series of books starting with Laurel & Hardy: Silents, visit the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.laurelandhardyfilms.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To contact Patrick, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theboys@laurelandhardyfilms.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you'd like to leave feedback about the podcast, make a point, ask a question, or generally join in the discussions about the podcast and all other things Laurel and Hardy related, why not become an official Blog-Head by joining the Blog-Heads Facebook Group here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/2920310948018755⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To purchase CDs of the Beau Hunks Orchestra’s music contained in these podcasts, click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/2CgeCbK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To find the best Laurel and Hardy books and DVDs and Blu-Rays, visit The Laurel & Hardy Podcast's Amazon storefront, click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/laurelandhardyblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To celebrate the podcast's 4th anniversary, we welcome the legendary film critic Leonard Maltin onto the show. Leonard discusses his lifelong love for Stan and Ollie, and Patrick asks him to choose his three favourite films. In addition, Leonard recounts his meetings with Buster Keaton as well as Laurel and Hardy co-stars Billy Gilbert and Dorothy Granger. To gain access to a video version of this episode and an extra slice of this interview with Leonard, as well as more exclusive content and benefits from The Laurel & Hardy Podcast, sign up to show your support and become a Patron of the Podcast by clicking the link here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/user?u=88010194⁠⁠⁠⁠ To subscribe to the all-new Laurel & Hardy Magazine, and for all the back episodes of the Podcast and Patrick's forthcoming series of books starting with Laurel & Hardy: Silents, visit the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.laurelandhardyfilms.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ To contact Patrick, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠theboys@laurelandhardyfilms.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you'd like to leave feedback about the podcast, make a point, ask a question, or generally join in the discussions about the podcast and all other things Laurel and Hardy related, why not become an official Blog-Head by joining the Blog-Heads Facebook Group here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/2920310948018755⁠⁠⁠⁠ To purchase CDs of the Beau Hunks Orchestra’s music contained in these podcasts, click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/2CgeCbK⁠⁠⁠⁠ To find the best Laurel and Hardy books and DVDs and Blu-Rays, visit The Laurel & Hardy Podcast's Amazon storefront, click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/laurelandhardyblog⁠⁠⁠

In this special bonus episode, recorded live in front of a Zoom audience of some of the Podcast’s Patrons, Patrick interviews Laurel & Hardy expert and film historian, Randy Skretvedt, all about his latest book, entitled March of the Wooden Soldiers: The Amazing Story of Laurel & Hardy’s Babes in Toyland. To purchase a copy of Randy’s new book, click here for UK: https://amzn.to/4aHmD4T To purchase a copy of Randy’s new book, click here for USA: https://amzn.to/48FnnWu For more exclusive content and benefits and for your chance to join us on the next Podcast LIVE, sign up to show your support and become a Patron by clicking the link here: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/user?u=88010194⁠⁠ To subscribe to the all-new Laurel & Hardy Magazine, and for all the back episodes of the Podcast and Patrick's forthcoming series of books starting with Laurel & Hardy: Silents, visit the website at ⁠⁠www.laurelandhardyfilms.com⁠⁠ To contact Patrick, email ⁠⁠theboys@laurelandhardyfilms.com⁠⁠ If you'd like to leave feedback about the podcast, make a point, ask a question, or generally join in the discussions about the podcast and all other things Laurel and Hardy related, why not become an official Blog-Head by joining the Blog-Heads Facebook Group here: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/2920310948018755⁠⁠ To purchase CDs of the Beau Hunks Orchestra’s music, as featured in these podcasts, click here for UK: https://amzn.to/3tFM3z8 Or click here for USA: https://amzn.to/41KpRQU⁠ To find the best Laurel and Hardy books, DVDs and Blu-Rays, visit The Laurel & Hardy Podcast's Amazon storefront, click here: ⁠⁠https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/laurelandhardyblog⁠⁠ The Laurel & Hardy Podcast is an Amazon Affiliate and receives a small commission for any purchase made using the above links, at no cost to the purchaser - Isn't that swell?

On September 9th, 1953, Stan Laurel and Oliver ‘Babe’ Hardy arrived on a boat direct from the USA into the small harbour town of Cobh, Ireland, ahead of another tour of the theatres of Great Britain. The boys assumed that they would quietly disembark unnoticed by the townspeople - but that couldn’t be further from what happened. In this special bonus episode of the podcast, Patrick welcomes filmmakers Andy Hollingworth and Matt Holt to discuss the genesis and production of their new documentary, The Last Dance of the Cuckoos, which charts this remarkable and emotive true story. In addition, Patrick invites his guests to share their earliest memories of Laurel and Hardy and also makes them face the Atoll Question. To access an extra 30 minutes of this episode, and many more besides, simply sign up to show your support for the podcast and become a Patron of the Podcast by clicking the link: ⁠https://patreon.com/user?u=88010194⁠ For more information concerning The Laurel & Hardy Podcast, The Laurel & Hardy Magazine and Patrick's forthcoming series of books, starting with Laurel & Hardy: Silents, visit the new website at ⁠www.laurelandhardyfilms.com⁠ More information about Andy Hollingworth can be found here: https://www.andyhollingworth.com/ More information about Matt Holt’s Spoon Jar Films can be found here: https://www.spoonjarfilms.co.uk/ To contact Patrick, email ⁠theboys@laurelandhardyfilms.com⁠ If you'd like to make a point, ask a question, or generally join in the discussions about the podcast and all other things Laurel and Hardy-related, why not become an official Blog-Head by joining the Blog-Heads Facebook Group here: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/2920310948018755⁠ To purchase CDs of the Beau Hunks Orchestra’s music contained in these podcasts, click here: ⁠https://amzn.to/2CgeCbK⁠ To find the best Laurel and Hardy books and DVDs and Blu-Rays, visit The Laurel & Hardy Podcast's Amazon storefront, click here: ⁠https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/laurelandhardyblog⁠

In Episode 32, our attention turns to the first film that Stan and Babe made in 1929, Double Whoopee. Best known for a three-minute sequence starring a young Jean Harlow, Patrick and his special guest, Glenn Mitchell, discuss why the film is so much more than this one scene. In addition, the conversation also looks at the production history of the picture, the unique sound version produced in 1970 by Chuck McCann and a whole lot more! To show your support for the podcast and become a Patreon by clicking the link here: https://patreon.com/user?u=88010194 For more information concerning The Laurel & Hardy Podcast, The Laurel & Hardy Magazine and Patrick's forthcoming series of books, starting with Laurel & Hardy: Silents, visit the brand new website at www.laurelandhardyfilms.com To contact Patrick, email theboys@laurelandhardyfilms.com If you'd like to make a point, ask a question, or generally join in the discussions about the podcast and all other things Laurel and Hardy related, why not become an official Blog-Head by joining the Blog-Heads group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2920310948018755 To purchase CDs of the Beau Hunks Orchestra’s music contained in these podcasts, click here: https://amzn.to/2CgeCbK For more information about The Laurel & Hardy Podcast, click here https://laurel-and-hardy-blog.com/ To find the best Laurel and Hardy books and DVDs and Blu-Rays, visit The Laurel & Hardy Podcast's Amazon storefront, click here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/laurelandhardyblog

Episode 31 completes our deep dive into Stan and Babe's 1929 masterpiece, Big Business. On the previous show, Episode 30, Randy Skretvedt and I discussed the film and also covered the mythology surrounding a couple of famous (or infamous) legends connected to the production - primarily Hal Roach's much-related tale that the wrong house was destroyed in error. Randy sided with Stan Laurel and thought that Hal's story was "a load of baloney". So, in this episode, I'm delighted to welcome back film historian and expert on the Hal Roach Studios, Richard W. Bann. Richard covers some little-known facts about Big Business, as well as laying out all the facts surrounding the 'wrong house' story. With both sides at our disposal, can we finally put this argument to bed once and for all?For more information concerning The Laurel & Hardy Podcast and Patrick's forthcoming series of books, starting with Laurel & Hardy: Silents, visit the website at www.laurelandhardyfilms.comTo contact Patrick, email theboys@laurelandhardyfilms.comIf you'd like to make a point, ask a question, or generally join in the discussions about the podcast and all other things Laurel and Hardy related, why not join the 'Fraternally Yours' Facebook Group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2920310948018755To purchase CDs of the Beau Hunks Orchestra’s music contained in these podcasts, click here: https://amzn.to/2CgeCbKFor more information about The Laurel & Hardy Podcast, click here https://laurel-and-hardy-blog.com/To find the best Laurel and Hardy books and DVDs and Blu-Rays, visit The Laurel & Hardy Podcast's Amazon storefront, click here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/laurelandhardyblog

The Laurel & Hardy Podcast returns with Episode 29 and takes a deep dive into the next chronological release, Stan and Babe's hilarious 1929 release, That’s My Wife.  Patrick welcomes returning guest expert, film historian and co-host of The Silent Comedy Watch Party, Steve Massa. During the show, Patrick and Steve discuss this most risqué of Laurel and Hardy’s films, including a look at supporting players William Courtright and Jimmy Aubrey. Stay in touch with all the latest Podcast news, including updates on my forthcoming book, Laurel & Hardy: Silents by subscribing to the free newsletter here: https://laurel-and-hardy-blog.com/contact/ To subscribe to the all new Laurel & Hardy Magazine, click here: https://www.laurelandhardymag.com/ Join in the discussion and become an official Blog-Head by joining the Blog-Heads Facebook Group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2920310948018755 To purchase CDs of the Beau Hunks Orchestra’s music contained in these podcasts, click here: https://amzn.to/2CgeCbK For more information about The Laurel & Hardy Podcast, click here https://laurel-and-hardy-blog.com/ To find the best Laurel and Hardy books and DVDs and Blu-Rays, visit The Laurel & Hardy Blog’s Amazon storefront, click here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/laurelandhardyblog