Laurel and Hardy's Kilts for Sale

[Monkey@Arms]

Lot No: 208

Two costumes previously personally owned and worn by Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy,
the Scottish related outfits comprising:

two kilts, one having been worn by Oliver Hardy on stage at the Glasgow Empire in 1947, the other kilt having been worn by Stan Laurel in the film “Bonnie Scotland”, 1935 (this kilt was a gift to him from music hall legend Harry Lauder), together with two sporrans from the Laurel & Hardy film Bonnie Scotland, one which Laurel wore in the film and which Hardy then later wore on stage at the Glasgow Empire in 1947, a pair of Oliver Hardy’s tartan stockings (not as illustrated in the 1947 photograph), a pair of Stan Laurel’s tartan stockings and a pair of Laurel’s patent leather buckled shoes.

Estimate: £11,000 - 13,000

Footnote:
After the costumes were brought to the UK for use on their theatre tour in the 1940's, they were left in the care of Stan Laurels sister, who later gave them to a local amateur dramatics society in the 1950's, the present vendor acquired them from in 1987 whilst researching a book.

A full provenance describing the history of the kilts and the Laurel and Hardy performances in Scotland is available on request.

Lot Notice
Please note: These items were given by Stan Laurels sisters to her best friend, who owned them until 1987, when they were acquired by the current vendor. Please note: The sporrans have been transposed on the main illustration of this lot

Any takers? More pics of them in the kilts and related marterials here.

Best regards,

Jake

[Mumbles]

Hmm.. which one belonged to which character? hehe

[McClef]

Hmm.. which one belonged to which character? hehe

One of the kilts is larger than the other, ergo belongs to the larger partner in the duo.

If I had the money I would donate them to the Laurel and Hardy Museum in Ulverston, Cumbria (where Stan Laurel was born as Arthur Stanley Jefferson).

[Phil]

One of the kilts is larger than the other, ergo belongs to the larger partner in the duo.

Slightly off subject, my next door neighbour shared a train carriage with them coming to Scotland in 1947. He was in the army at the time and his insignia contained a cross. Stan Laurel leaned across and asked him if he was "an ecclesiastical gentleman". He had to explain the insignia was for his unit in Germany. He said he had never seen anyone before whose stomach covered his knees like Hardy's.

[auld argonian]

That is cool. Let's hope that they end up in a good museum where they can be seen and appreciated by fans everywhere.

Best

AA

[Archangel]

What was the other movie where Stanley wore a kilt in America? Not a trivia pursuit thing, well, yeah, but I've forgotten its name.

[Big Paul]

[McClef]

Just thought I would give the URL for the museum I mentioned, for the benefit of L&H fans http://www.laurel-and-hardy-museum.co.uk/

[haukehaien]

Is it just me, or in the picture of the duo in civilian dress that Big Paul posted, are they wearing their kilts backwards? It's either that or the kilts have the narrowest aprons I've ever seen - or at least that's how it looks.

[Monkey@Arms]

Narrow aprons, I'd say. Good job on the pics, Big Paul.

Best regards,

Jake