PARTNERSHIP SEVERED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22094, 27 April 1935, Page 12 (Supplement)

PARTNERSHIP SEVERED

LAUREL AND HARDY Probably the world's most popular comedy team, Laurel and Hardy, has been dissolved. Hal Roach, the film producer, to whom they have been under contract since they sprang to fame five years ago, has announced that Laurel's contract will not be renewed. His corpulent partner, Hardy, will be retained.

Rergarding the cause of the dispute, Laurel said: "We were unable to agree on the terms of my contract, but I am surprised at Roach's announcement."

Laurel and Hardy's partnership, which made £250,000 for them out of their clowning, began by accident. The two men met for the first time in a Hollywood film set.

Hardy hurt his arm. A comedian was wanted and Laurel stepped in, | proving a decided success. When Hardy recovered Laurel was retained in the film. One scene brought them together and each recognised in the other the perfect foil. They persuaded Hal Roach, their employer, to let them make a film together, so commencing one of the screen's most successful partnerships. They reached Hollywood by very different routes. Laurel, born ,jn Lancashire forty years ago, spent his boyhood in Glasgow, where his father owned a, theatre. In 1910 he was with the Fred Karno company that went to America. Laurel, understudying Chaplin, earned £4 a week. They toured the " smalltime" stands, sharing rooms. When Laurel broke the rules of theatrical lodgings by frying chops in theiu rooms, Chaplin played the mandolin and sang to cover the noise of sizzling. Chaplin accepted a film offer against the advice of his friends, and Laurel went into vaudeville and for years made a modest living doing impersonations of Chaplin.

Hardy's was a well-to-do family in the Southern States. He was a law student, but he wanted to be a singer. He went to Hollywood and entered picture work, though not in musical films. Together the team made about fifty films. Success followed success. Their faces, their tricks, their introductory music, became known throughout the world. Laurel is credited with having invented most of their screen tricks.