One of the world's great comedy teams set out on a variety hall tour of Britain in 1953. Diminished by age and with their golden era as the kings of Hollywood comedy now behind them, they face an uncertain future. As the charm and beauty of their performances shine through, they re-connect with their adoring fans. The tour becomes a hit, but Stan and Ollie can't quite shake the specter of Laurel and Hardy's past.

In this book, Simon Louvish traces the early lives of Stanley Jefferson and Norvell Hardy and the surrounding minstrel and variety theater, which influenced all of their later work. Louvish examines the rarely seen solo films of both our heroes, prior to their serendipitous pairing in 1927, in the long-lost short Duck Soup. The inspired casting teamed them until their last days. Both often married, they found balancing their personal and professional...

Laurel & Hardy: The comedy duo Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy brought laughter to millions through the 20th century, yet Laurel and Hardy often found it difficult to find laughter, peace, and contentment in their own lives. Tells the story of the men behind the masks and provides a glimpse into the private lives of these two comedians. Utopia: Stan and Ollie inherit an island in the Pacific where uranium is discovered ; Flying deuces: Complications...

"Stan and Ollie are in trouble again in a comedy classic. Wanting to forget the romantic troubles of his past, Ollie persuades Stanley to join the French Foreign Legion with him. Before long the guys are up to their ears in laughs. Before they know what is happening, Ollie ends up reincarnated as a mule. Flying Deuces also features the boys in a rare vaudeville song and dance number to 'Shine on harvest moon'."

This comedy hour combines audio from classic Laurel and Hardy movie clips with a new radio theater production in which "the boys" open a fix-it shop and recall their past failures as they handle a barrage of wacky customers. In the new moments, full of funny sound effects and music, Joe Bev voices not only Stan and Ollie but James Finlayson, Billy Bletcher, Edgar Kennedy, and other characters, including a dog. All of the female roles, including Mae...