Members wanted for Laurel and Hardy’s comedy club

4:37pm Wednesday 14th November 2007

By Gaynor Clarke

STEPHEN Bartley may not be old enough to remember Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in their prime, but he is still a massive fan.

The Radcliffe enthusiast has been watching their films since a youngster and owns many items of memorabilia. He is now hoping to share his love for the duo with fans from the Bury area.

"I GREW up watching Laurel and Hardy on the television as a young boy and they used to show their films at Christmas. I always have a warm feeling when I think of them, because it was a special treat. Throughout my teens there were no videos or DVDs, so I just watched their films.

"Because I grew up with Laurel and Hardy and my father was a big fan, I feel like they are old friends.

"I like their gentle humour and slapstick. The dialogue is really funny and ahead of its time.

"Some of their humour is still going today, with people like the Chuckle brothers.

That's how Stephen Bartley tries to sum up the huge attraction of one of the world's all-time funniest double acts.

From watching their films as a youngster, he developed a life-long admiration for Laurel and Hardy.

He would often waste away a couple of hours by watching a feature-length film, or even squeeze in a short film.

But 20 years ago, Stephen, who was living in St Helens at the time, really started to show his appreciation for their films when he joined the Widnes branch of the pair's international fan club.

Sons of the Desert, named after one of Laurel and Hardy's most successful films, was set up in 1965 by their biographer, John McCabe, with the support of Stan Laurel.

There are now more than 100 branches of the organisation across the world, with each named after one of their 106 films.

As a member of the club, Stephen (53) would attend monthly film screenings and visit national conventions with people who shared his passion.

He also bought a fez and sash, similar to those worn in the Sons of the Desert film, and started to collect other memorabilia in tribute to Laurel and Hardy.

Stephen said: "As well as being able to enjoy the films, being a member of the club allowed me to meet other people who liked Laurel and Hardy.

After marrying his wife Wendy and moving to his current home in Wolsey Close, Radcliffe, Stephen lost touch with the Widnes branch of the fan club.

He is now hoping to reignite his passion by setting up his own branch of Sons of the Desert, which will be named after the Oscar-winning short, The Music Box..

At each meeting, Stephen will show one of Laurel and Hardy's films on a large projector, and the audience will be able to discuss it afterwards.

The night will be open to people of all ages. He is planning to hold the first meeting on Sunday, November 25 at the aptly-named Hardy Hall, in Little Lever.

Stephen, who works at Tesco in Bury, said: "It's a hobby and a passion that I have always had. It will be nice to meet like-minded people, especially because there's nothing like this in the area.

"The laughter really spreads in a full room, and it's much better than watching the films at home by yourself."

As well as people who are already fans of the comedians, Stephen hopes to attract people who have never seen the films before.

By his side on the night will be his ten-year-old daughter Abigayle, who is already a big fan of Laurel and Hardy.

He said: "Abi asks if she can watch a short film every Saturday morning and she really enjoys them. She likes the colour versions, whereas I am old-fashioned and like the black and white films.

"It's a shame that Laurel and Hardy aren't shown on television anymore and if it wasn't for organisations like Sons of the Desert, then they might be lost forever.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the fan club meeting can contact Stephen on (0161) 723 4997 or send an e-mail to: stpbartley@aol.com

STAN Laurel was born Arthur Stanley Jefferson on June 16,1890 in Ulverston, Cumbria. He died on February 23, 1965.

OLIVER Hardy was born Norvell Hardy on January 18, 1892 in Harlem, Georgia. He died in 1957.

THE pair started working together at the Hal Roach studio, in Hollywood, during the 1920s.

THEIR most popular films were "Sons of the Desert" (1933), "Way Out West" (1937), Block-Heads (1938), Big Business (1929), and "The Music Box" (1932).

ONE of their most famous phrases was: "Here's another nice mess you've gotten me into!"

SONS of the Desert has a tongue-in-cheek constitution and pays tribute to the fictional lodge in the film.

LAURELand Hardy made a total of 106 films, 72 shorts, 23 full-length feature films, and 11 guest appearances.