Above is an original advertisement as featured in the Western Independent Newspaper (courtesy of Plymouth Library Services. Used with permission)
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Laurel & Hardy visited Plymouth on their 1954 UK tour...Scheduled for a week at the Palace Theatre on Union Street, they only performed on the first night, Monday 17th May 1954.
Due to Oliver Hardy not being well, the rest of the run was cancelled and Ollie spent much of the following days bedridden where they were staying at the Grand Hotel on Plymouth Hoe. It meant that single show was to be the only time the famous duo appeared on stage in Plymouth. The scheduled run in Swansea a week later was also cancelled. After resting for a few days, the pair decided to return to America. That single night on stage in Plymouth would be the last time they performed on stage anywhere in the world. Being the gracious and supportive man that he was, Stan Laurel still went down to the Palace Theatre each night to see how things were going, but he did not go on stage himself. Quoted in the Western Independent newspaper on May 23rd 1954, Stan said "I would not attempt it. I know it would have been disappointing. I am completely lost without Hardy. We do comedy sketches-situations. I am not a gag man". (You can read the complete original version of that article in the cuttings section). |
The Palace Theatre
Originally opened as a music hall in 1898, the venue re-opened in 1899 as the 'New Palace Theatre of Varieties'. This Grade II* listed building (Grade II* structures are judged to be of particular national importance or special interest) has had several closures and re-openings over the century before it was finally shut as a working theatre in 1983. After several stints as a disco and nightclub, it has been closed as an operating venue since 2006. If you wish to visit the location of the Palace Theatre (you cannot go inside) you can find it on Plymouth's Union Street.
The Palace Theatre pre-1950s
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The Palace Theatre in 2019
(in need of restoration) |
Laurel and Hardy's Plymouth Palace Theatre programme May 1954
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Unfortunate lack of photographs
Sadly there seems to be no photographic record of Laurel & Hardy in Plymouth. It seems amazing that no one thought to capture their arrival or time at the Palace Theatre on that first night. There is hope that one day a picture or two might come to light, perhaps captured by a member of the public. If you happen to find any images of the pair in Plymouth it would be amazing to share it with Laurel & Hardy fans around the world, so feel free to get in touch!
There is a page aiming to document local connections to the duos time in Plymouth which you can read here
Copyright © DW. 2019. All Rights Reserved. Hat graphics courtesy of imgbin.com