We at the Wax Apple wish all of our readers a very Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year. We thank you for your support of the website and hope you will be equally generous with the printed version of “The Premiere Research Journal Devoted to Laurel and Hardy and the Hal Roach All-Stars” coming your way in 2007. Your support will mean the success or failure of this endeavor.
To help spread the Christmas cheer this season, we offer up some rare photos and curios pertaining to the Christmas holiday from the ones we love best: the stars of the Hal Roach Studios.
First, we give you Thelma Todd, whose attempt at innocence in this photo does nothing to diminish her sexy appeal. Note the lunch pail, baby doll, and odd spelling of “Mary Xmas.” This photo comes courtesy of Richard W. Bann.
Next we have members of the Our Gang Comedies enjoying their very real Christmas presents from Hal Roach. The Little Rascals pictured are Dorothy de Borba, Tommy Bond, Spanky McFarland, Dickie Moore, and Stymie Beard. Behind Spanky is schoolteacher Fern Carter, on whom will be a forthcoming article in the Wax Apple, including an interview with her daughter Ivadell. She appeared fleetingly on screen with the Gang. This photo, too, comes courtesy Dick Bann.
Below we have an actual Christmas card sent out by Charley Chase and his wife BeBe from the late 1920′s. This card is from the collection of Mr. Farrell.
Here’s another Christmas card with wishes from Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Hardy. The inscription was made by Babe’s wife Lucille to James and Margaret O’Connor Arata. Margaret was one of the guests on This Is Your Life when Stan and Babe were honored. Look for an upcoming article on Margaret, who worked with Babe during his Jacksonville days. The card is in the collection of Margaret’s granddaughter, Jayne Arata.
And finally, a second relic from the collection of Mr. Farrell. This is a card that was sent out courtesy Laurel and Hardy Feature Productions during the holiday season of 1941. Note the Morse symbols under the L and H. Inside the card the symbols are repeated with the word “which means –” added. Presumedly, Stan and Babe would have added their signatures here. Unfortunately, this one is unsigned.
Merry Christmas Mother
Merry Christmas Ma
Hi Mommy, Mommy
And a Hot cha cha!
As Stanley might say, “Have a very Christmas and a really new year!” Thank you for sharing these rare and otherwise unseen (publicly) photos and cards. Most such things that still exist are in private collections, but it would be nice if someday all such personal correspondence, cards, etc. could be reproduced in one book.
P.S. Was Thelma Todd the “Hot cha cha”?
On a more serious note, Miss Todd mailed out some Christmas cards just a couple of days before her death, so Stan, Charley Chase, and others received these cards a day or so after hearing the news of her tragic end. Does anyone know if any of these cards exist? I read that Chase’s wife threw it out after awhile because Charley would break down and cry whenever he looked at it.
WOW ! what a wonderful picture of Thelma, Be still, my beating heart. !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fantastic Cards. It’s grand to see hard to find images like these. Thanks for sharing. You guys are swell.
These are wonderful – it’s always great to see rare items
Truly great gems! It is always a pleasure when collectors are willing to share their rarities with others.
PeterM