Stan Laurel's Letter to Betty Healy (The Former Mrs. Ted Healy)
Jim Burns
As many of you here, know, THE SONS OF THE DESERT is the international
Laurel and Hardy fan club. They have chapters (called, "Tents"), in many
cities around the United States, and throughout the world.
THE INTRA-TENT JOURNAL is THE SONS' semi-regularly published
newsletter/magazine.
(Dave and Alison Stevenson are the mag's current editors.)
There's a nice, off-beat, surprise, in the latest SONS OF THE DESERT
INTRA-TENT JOURNAL (#104, Spring, 2002), for Three Stooges fans.
Long-time Laurel and Hardy enthusiast, and historian, Cliff Sawyer,
supplies a 1958 letter, written by Stan Laurel, to Betty Healy.
This is the Betty Healy (nee Elizabeth "Betty" Braun) that Ted married
in 1922--not to be confused with the Betty (nee Betty Hickman) that Ted
married in 1936. It was the second Betty Healy, that would give birth to
Ted Healy Jr., in 1937.)
Although divorced in 1932, the "first" Betty, would have been around
during the formative years of the Stooges, with Ted Healy. As an actress
and dancer, Betty Braun Healy also would have performed on stage,with
Ted and the Stooges, at various times.
The Laurel and Hardy conection came with Betty Healy acting, on her own,
in 1936's Hal Roach Studios feature, "Our Relations." (Betty played
Stan's wife.)
Evidently, Betty and Stan Laurel, had stayed in touch, through the
years.
By the late '50s, Stan Laurel had already moved into his final home, an
apartment in Santa Monica. Although the apartment was relatively small,
it was comfortable, and right by the beach--
And exactly what Stan and his wife, wanted.
(It was this apartment, though, that helped fuel rumors that Laurel was
broke. To the contrary, as Laurel pointed out at one point, he had
invested at least semi-wisely, had various annuities, and--while perhaps
not rich--he was certainly doing alright. Living in the apartment,
rather than a house, was, apparently, by choice... )
It's charming to remember, that Stan always kept his name, and phone
number, listed in the Los Angeles public phone book. He was aways
concerned that an old buddy particularly from Great Britain), might
visit California, and not be able to get in touch with him!
(It was being thus publicly listed, that also enabled many celebrity,
and future celebrity, fans of Laurel and Hardy--like Chuck McCann, Frank
Nastasi (the co-star of the mid-1960s SOUPY SALES SHOW), Dick Cavett and
Dick Van Dyke--to get in touch wth Stan, during this period.)
Just as charming, as long time Laurel and Hardy fans, here, will know,
is that Stan spent part of each day during his final years, sitting at
his Santa Monica apartment's desk, using a portable typewriter, to
personally answer the volumes of fan mail, that he still got, and the
various corespondence he received, from old friends--
Of which the following, is a nice example!
(Not to mention, it's fascinating to get such commonsensical, everyday
advice, from one of the screen's comedy legends)
(A quick note: the "Babe" referred to is, of course, Oliver Hardy.
Hardy was virtually, exclusively, known to his friends, and asociates,
as "Babe." HAGGIS BAGGIS was a 1958 game show, Monday nights on NBC, in
which contestants would try to decipher a photo, obscured on a huge game
board by twenty-five squares, as each square was revealed--upon the
players correctly answering a question...)
The spelling, syntax and style are all Stan's--as printed in the
INTRA-TENT JOURNAL!
Best,
Jim Burns
(James H. Burns)
PS: There is a small mystery with this letter, which maybe some one
here, can answer. Stan makes reference to "Wayne"--Evidently, Betty's
husbsand, by 1958--but my question is, who was he? JB
______________________________________
STAN LAUREL
849 Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica, California
Sept. 14th '58
My Dear Betty,
Thanks your welcome letter 10th. inst. with enclosure of the plans for
your new home. Am certainly happy to know you made the loan OK & will
soon be under construction. I think it's very smart to make that
investment. Betty, you certainly can't go wrong on a deal like that. You
were wise too in retaining half of your property, that's a very good
idea, a protection for you.
The plan of the building is very interesting & certainly sounds very
reasonable in cost. I like the addition of the windows in the bedroom, &
if I may suggest, I definitely think you should put in a 2nd. small
bathroom (shower, toilet & wash basin), most of the new homes have that
now that contain 3 bedrooms--it's really (a) necessary convenience,
especially in case of guests etc. even here in the Apt. we have this
with only two rooms and a kitchen (our house on Franklin also has two
bathrooms, & that was built 15 years ago) the little extra expense is
really worth it, & gives the house more value if you ever want to sell
it--people with families require 2 bathrooms.The car port is very nice,
but I frankly prefer a connected garage, firstly, in bad weather you are
under cover to enter the house, & 2nd. it's nice to have a place to
store things--trunks etc. & as a work shop, also could at any time be
converted into a playroom, & building a car port later on.
I think it's wise when building a place to give it all the "selling"
advantage you can, just in case.
I sure wish you had started this when I left Franklin St. I could have
given you such a lot of things in the way of furniture etc. which I sold
for practically nothing, carpet, tables & chairs, settees & porch
furniture, it would have saved you a lot of money.
I saw the picture of "Babe" on "Haggis Baggis" show, but missed the one
of me, I don't particularly care for this show, so seldom look at it, in
fact any of the quiz shows since the scandal of "Dotto" & "21", I
understand the "64 Thousand Challenge" is now being investigated, it's
sure done them a lot of harm & I wouldn't be surprised to see them all
taken off the air after this season.
That was awful for Wayne having to work so many hours, that must have
ben a terrible strain on him, it's wonderful to make that extra money,
but his health is more important, he certainly couldn't kep that up for
long, that's really too much, trying to hold down two jobs working day &
night, he sure deserves a lot of credit for his effort. Am glad to know
he's quit one of the jobs & will get his proper rest--I understand your
great concern over it.
Note you've got a parakeet, I guess when he (or she) gets to know you
he'll start talking a blue streak, they sure are cute birds and a lot of
company.
Will look foward to seeing you on your next trip down here, our phone is
EXbrook 3-5656, but I guess you will wait 'till the house is finished,
so you will know better just what you need in the
way of furnishings.
Eda joins in love & kind thoughts to you both & wish you lots of sucess
with the new home, know you wil be thrilled and happy with it.
Bye Betty, Good luck & God Bless.
As
ever: --
Stan
PS. I heard a discusion the other night on TV regarding anyone building
anything--be sure to get a COMPLETION BOND! to ensure yourself against
being faced with any furtrher cost after the place is finished. The case
in question was, a guy had a swimming pool built & before it was
finished he had fully paid the cost of it, the builder went broke due to
unforeseen circumstances, & hadn't paid for the labor or materials the
owner had to pay all over again to complete the pool--he was held
responsible--if he'd had a completion bond this wouldn't have happened.
Think you'd beter check on this.
___________________________________
Letter Courtesy of Cliff Sawyer:
THE SONS OF THE DESERT/INTRA-TENT JOURNAL
© 2002 Laurel and Hardy/Sons of the Deseert Archives
(This Rendition, Courtesy, The James H. Burns Archives)
King Pineapple
"Jim Burns" <james...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:29803-3CD...@storefull-2336.public.lawson.webtv.net...
Long-time Laurel and Hardy enthusiast, and historian, Cliff Sawyer,
supplies a 1958 letter, written by Stan Laurel, to Betty Healy.
This is fascniating. I'm sending a copy of this to my brother and sister in
law, who want to build a new house
:-)
Craig