Stan Laurel 100 years & a day ago

          100 years and a day ago, Stan Laurel performed in person at the Majestic Theatre in Dubuque Iowa for the first of four days. He performed with his common law wife, Mae.
           Even though he would not form his legendary partnership with Oliver Hardy for almost another 10 years, the promotional article in the perdurable* Dubuque newspaper The Telegraph Herald, described him as a ‘former screen star’.  According to the article, at that point he had ‘featured’ in 12 films for the Pathe company. He would not start his famous association with Hal Roach Studios until 1923.
          Laurel and his wife performed ’18 karat comedy antics and burlesque dramatics’ in a comedy skit called ‘With No Mother to Guide Them’.
          Also on the bill were;
          Rosalie Asher, a singer and monologist who billed herself as ‘The little bundle of joy’.
          The Reckless Duo, ‘two splendid specimens of young manhood, (who) perform sensational head balancing, and feats of strength, and also go in for some flying trapeze thrillers.”
          And, ‘Last but not least, … Lolotte, the mammoth Russian bear, that glides about on roller skates and performs any number of laughable antics.’ 
          Stan was born Arthur Stanley Jefferson, June 16, 1890 in Ulverston, Lancashire, England. He was married four times, and was sued by a fifth woman claiming to be his common law wife. Mae’s major contribution to his legend is that she suggested he adopt the stage name Laurel, after the thing Roman Emperors wore. Her name was Mae Charlotte Dahlburg Cuthbert – she was an Australian dancer.             
*The Telegraph Herald continues to be published, literally to this very day.