............................................................

USEFUL LINKS

LAUREL & TARTAN, or LAUDER & HARDY?

Anyone with the most basic knowledge of Stan Laurel's early years will know that he was born in England but then, in his mid- to late-teens, spent time in and around Glasgow, Scotland. These were Stan's formative years; not only in that he matured from a callow youth to a mature adult, but also in the learning of his stagecraft. At his father's theatre, the Metropole, he witnessed the stage productions of others; acted on stage himself; and had one of his own first comedy scripts made into a stage sketch, namely: "The Fire Fighters of Frizzlington."

At a nearby theatre, the Britannia, he made his first entry into the world of stand-up comedy, which, although he didn't pursue a career as a patter comedian, was the point at which the stage bug bit. And then, over at the Grand Theatre, was where Fred Karno himself took him on as one of Fred Karno's Comedians - a real life-changing step.

Consequently, Stan held a great fondness for Glasgow, and for the Scots themselves, for the opportunities and encouragement he was given to develop his comedy skills. He never forget the debt he felt he owed them and was determined that, one day, he would demonstrate his gratitude. However, his first appearance in Scottish garb, in a Laurel & Hardy film, did not exactly convey the respect he held for the national costume. "Putting Pants On Philip" was based on the comedy premise that maximum embarrassment can be caused to both wearer and on-looker by the kilt blowing upwards, or the underwear falling downwards.

Some years later, in the film "Bonnie Scotland," Stan had the opportunity to repeat these gags, plus add others, but ignored the easy target and maintained complete reverence to the tartan throughout the film. If one doesn't wish to treat this as a tribute by Stan, then one can't help but accept Stan's next appearance in kilt and full regalia as anything but a tribute.

One of the working titles for the film "Bonnie Scotland" had been "Kilts," but it was in the "real" Scotland that Stan chose next to use the kilt to demonstrate his affection for the Scots. In 1947, Laurel and Hardy's film career was all but over and so, finding himself in Glasgow on a stage tour of British theatres, Stan decided that he and Hardy would appear on stage - IN KILTS.

Newspaper cutting from the Evening Citizen, 30 May 1947, revealing Laurel & Hardy's intent to wear kilts on stage at the Glasgow Empire. Newspaper cutting from the Evening Citizen, 20 June 1947, explaining the difficulty they had had in obtaining the kilts. It must be added that restrictions on clothing, caused by post-war rationing, further complicated the procurement of the kilts.

He must have planned this in advance, as he brought over with him the kilt he had worn in the film "Bonnie Scotland" - which necessitates, here, a further explanation: In "Bonnie Scotland" Laurel wore TWO different costumes: one as a member of the Highland Regiment, and one as his own ancestor, 'Angus McLaurel' - the latter seen only in picture form. The kilt Stan wore as Angus was one given to him by Harry Lauder; of which there are earlier photos of Lauder wearing it.

Laurel also brought with him the five-tassel sporran he had worn for both parts in the film Bonnie Scotland - i.e. himself, and his ancestor Angus. However, for their on-stage appearances in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Hardy wore this sporran, and Stan acquired another.

HARRY LAUDER
who gave the kilt to Laurel

Stan wearing the sporran as a Highland soldier.Angus McLaurel
in the film BONNIE SCOTLAND

Stan wearing the sporran as a Highland soldier.

The sporran as it looks today.
However, when it came to kitting out Hardy in a kilt, all efforts to find him one off-the-peg failed. This necessitated them having one made-to-measure for Hardy, during the process of which it was decided that Stan would have a matching one made. Several days, and several clothing coupons later, Laurel and Hardy's kilts were ready to be displayed to the theatre audiences. The Boys' stay in Glasgow was for two weeks, which turned out to be quite fortuitous, as the kilts had taken over a week to make. Consequently it was Tuesday of the second week before Stan and Ollie paraded them on stage. From at least one local newspaper report, it would appear that the gesture was very much appreciated, and applauded, by the patriots.

GLASGOW EMPIRE
15 June 1947
The kilts and sporrans in the colour photographs, above, are not just ANY kilts and sporrans, as one kilt, and both sporrans, are the ones worn by Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.

So what happened to the kilts after Laurel & Hardy had played Glasgow and Edinburgh? Well they were put in a travelling trunk and never used or viewed again - not by Stan or Babe anyway. On their British tours, Laurel and Hardy travelled with FORTY pieces of luggage. When they effected their enforced return to the U.S. in May 1954, a lot of the luggage containing stage wear and props was left with Stan's sister, Olga, who lived in England. Some years later the luggage went with Olga when she moved from the Red Lion, in Barkston, to the Bull Inn at Bottesford, but when she finally quit the pub trade to retire, she had no desire to take all the baggage with her. At this stage enter Olga's friend, Ethel. One day Ethel saw Olga sorting through the trunks, with the intent of disposing of the contents, as by this time the possibility of Laurel and Hardy returning to England had vanished.

Ethel said to Olga: "Do you mind if I take some of these costumes for our local amateur dramatic society?"

I would advise anyone of a nervous disposition not to read Olga's reply. Look away now.
OLGA: "Not at all. I wish you'd told me sooner - I've been taking them out the back and BURNING them."

Thankfully, Ethel saved and kept some of the items, among which were the kilts in our story. Sadly, Ethel has since passed on, and now the current owner has decided to release the items in the hope that a private buyer will put them on display somewhere.