I’m looking to put together a post sometime in the near future about how collectors are storing and/or displaying their collections. If you’d care to share, please feel free to reply with any info.
Circa 1936-37 Large 4.5 X 6.25 Nestle's Card featuring Laurel and Hardy
Bob Duncan is a Laurel & Hardy collector who was recently interviewed and featured in Antique Trader Magazine as part of Alan M. Petrillo’s article Stan and Ollie: Laurel and Hardy make popular collectibles. Bob is an active member of two local chapters of the International Laurel & Hardy Society, more commonly called Sons of the Desert. He uses parts of his collection to illustrate talks he gives at the local meet-ups.
As to what type of Laurel & Hardy items Bob collects, well, it runs the gamut from trading cards, figurines which range in size from a few inches to four feet tall, publicity stills, scripts, postcards, posters, decorative plates, to letters handwritten by Stan Laurel. Of these letters Bob told Petrillo and Antique Trader ““Stan Laurel was a very prolific letter writer in his later years and these letters continue to be highly collectible.”
So when I asked Bob the question at the top of this post, I was really curious. Just how would one display such a wide variety of items?
The item are “on display throughout my condo. The walls of the condo are literally full of framed stills, posters, lithographs, etc.” Bob said he kept smaller collectibles such as old cigarette cards and postcards inside 3 ring binders.
But Bob did us one better–he supplied some fantastic photos of those jam-packed walls and was kind enough to allow me to share them with you. Note the captions, written by Bob, for details. Enjoy the tour:
This first photo shows various framed publicity stills with signatures – the lady on the left is Mabel Normand, in the middle is Billy Gilbert, on the right (and almost out of the picture) is Marguerite Roach – Hal Roach’s 1st wife – partially obscured in the lower left is Martha Sleeper.
This next one shows framed publicity stills and signatures of Claudette Colbert (left) and Darla Hood (right). Darla’s still is framed with a 45 from her recording career in the early 60s.
Here are some various Laurel & Hardy figurines – the large pair in the back next to the phony tree originally belonged to Jan Berry – he was the “Jan” of the “Jan & Dean” pop signing group of the early 60s and was quite the Laurel & Hardy fan.
Various smaller figurines in the living room.
Various items on a living room wall – the bottom row includes framed photos, with signatures, of Laurel & Hardy, Thelma Todd, Buster Keaton, Charley Chase and, finally, a Stan Laurel check.
Thanks so much to Bob Duncan for sharing his Laurel & Hardy collection with us.
If you’re interested in more Laurel & Hardy by all means check out Sons of the Desert to see if there’s a chapter near you.
Also, I’ve had a Laurel & Hardy page written by one of our freelancers up on things-and-other-stuff.com up for some time now if you’re looking for a basic biography.
To Bob Duncan: This looks a mighty fine collection… so many items I recognise…. so many items I would love to have! Just a quick question, I used to do pencil drawings of L&H years ago and sold many on Ebay. The pencil style picture in the centre of the 5th photo of your collection, would you mind letting me know the artist if any (I used to sign mine CW or Chris Walkey), for it look similar to one of mine! Congrats on a great collection!
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your comment. I forwarded it along to Bob and he actually got back to me right away, so assuming this info is okay to post, Bob said:
Pretty sure the “Sadderup” one was the one you were referring to Chris, if not let me know. Bob seems to have attributed just about all of them here for us though.
Thanks again, Cliff
Immediate reply or what!! Thanks for that Cliff and ofcourse to Bob.
It does answer my question indeed…. I was just curious to know if it was one of mine! (I would have been proud if it was, to be in that collection!).
Again, thanks Cliff….
Chris.
No problem, Chris, and thanks again to Bob for being so quick w/an answer!
Yes, the photos Bob sent along really blew me away, the only shame of it was I had to shrink them down to fit here–the full-sized ones I originally worked with were exponentially more impressive!
Thanks again, Cliff
I used to collect L&H memorabilia a few years ago, I have slowed down a lot of recent years due to family commitments. I still have a lot of items, though they are sadly packed away in boxes in the garage! I used to have contact with many other great collectors the ‘Big Boss’ of them all was a guy called Gino Dercola (You may know of him + His collection!)… Collecting allowed me the chance to meet and communicate with many fascinating people from round the world.
I hopefully plan to start collecting again soon….!
Chris.
Hi Chris,
Hopefully Bob’s collection gave you a little extra inspiration to get the collection going again … or at the very least to unbox it and get it out on display. Shoot, he has me thinking about buying frames for some of the pieces I have kicking around here!
Thanks again, Cliff
Very nice collection of my favorite boys… I have a question for you. About a year or so ago, I saw an ad on line for a bronze casting (cold bronze) of Laurel and Hardy, done, I believe, by a southern California artist. Stan sitting, Oliver bent over next to him. They were large, cast separately. Do you know where I might find them again? Thanks.
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Just today I found the article interesting thing about your collection. I have a collection that includes more than 120 different characters of the laurel & hardy. I would appreciate if you update me on the places where other characters can be achieved. I live in Israel. thank you.
I have Laurel and Hardy Lamps, but i cant seem to find if they are a one of a kind or if someone made them out of their basement(haha) They do not look like any I have seen on the internet/ ebay/ or on your site. They definitely look vintage. Help? Thanks
I have limited edition artwork by J Capelli(?) of 1 picture of Stan Larel & 1 of Oliver Hardy on what appears to be corkboard(?) in excellent condition. Any idea of interest or value??
I have a Laurel & Hardy wall plaque made in 1972, its seems to be made of a Styrofoam type of material. I am looking to sell, if yourself or anyone maybe interested.
Thanks for your time.
Bonnie Hill