To celebrate the podcast's 4th anniversary, we welcome the legendary film critic Leonard Maltin onto the show. Leonard discusses his lifelong love for Stan and Ollie, and Patrick asks him to choose his three favourite films. In addition, Leonard recounts his meetings with Buster Keaton as well as Laurel and Hardy co-stars Billy Gilbert and Dorothy Granger. To gain access to a video version of this episode and an extra slice of this interview with Leonard, as well as more exclusive content...

Episode 35 kicks off Season Two of the podcast properly and introduces us to Laurel and Hardy’s talking pictures. Patrick is joined by two of the world’s leading experts in the world of Laurel and Hardy and the Hal Roach Studios. Randy Skretvedt assists in discussing the production history of the boys’ first talkie, Unaccustomed As We Are, and Richard W. Bann reveals details of his exclusive interview with the film’s director Lewis R. Foster. If you like your podcasts entertaining and packed...

In this very special bonus episode, Patrick welcomes Craig Raguse to the show. Craig is the grandson of the man who was given the responsibility of converting the Hal Roach Studios into a studio fit for producing talking pictures, Elmer Raguse. Craig discusses Elmer's early life and background, his move from the Victor Company in New Jersey to Roach's studio in Culver City, and talks about some of the stand-out achievements in his grandfather's career. This fascinating and entertaining...

In this special bonus episode, recorded live in front of a Zoom audience of some of the Podcast’s Patrons, Patrick interviews Laurel & Hardy expert and film historian, Randy Skretvedt, all about his latest book, entitled March of the Wooden Soldiers: The Amazing Story of Laurel & Hardy’s Babes in Toyland. To purchase a copy of Randy’s new book, click here for UK: https://amzn.to/4aHmD4T To purchase a copy of Randy’s new book, click here for USA: https://amzn.to/48FnnWu For more...

To round off Laurel and Hardy's silent era, Patrick invites classic comedy expert Chris Seguin back to take one last look at the whole canon. Join us for a fascinating and fun discussion covering all the boys' films, from The Lucky Dog to Angora Love. For more exclusive content and benefits from The Laurel & Hardy Podcast, sign up to show your support and become a Patron by clicking the link here: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/user?u=88010194⁠⁠ To subscribe to the all-new Laurel & Hardy...

With a tear in the eye, episode thirty-four brings Stan and Ollie’s silent period to a close. To discuss Laurel & Hardy’s swansong of their silent era, Angora Love, Patrick welcomes back to the Podcast classic comedy expert Chris Seguin. As well as discussing the film in focus, Chris and Patrick also consider Stan and Babe’s contemporaries, such as Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin, and how they fared transferring from silent to sound pictures.   To access the extra...

On September 9th, 1953, Stan Laurel and Oliver ‘Babe’ Hardy arrived on a boat direct from the USA into the small harbour town of Cobh, Ireland, ahead of another tour of the theatres of Great Britain. The boys assumed that they would quietly disembark unnoticed by the townspeople - but that couldn’t be further from what happened. In this special bonus episode of the podcast, Patrick welcomes filmmakers Andy Hollingworth and Matt Holt to discuss the genesis and production of their new...

In Episode thirty-three, Patrick welcomes back to the Podcast Laurel & Hardy expert and author of Laurel & Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies and The Laurel & Hardy Movie Scripts, Randy Skretvedt. Throughout the course of the show, Randy and Patrick talk about a film that is often overlooked in the Laurel & Hardy canon, Bacon Grabbers. Patrick and Randy share their love for the film and talk about its production history, paying special attention to the synchronised soundtrack...

In Episode 32, our attention turns to the first film that Stan and Babe made in 1929, Double Whoopee. Best known for a three-minute sequence starring a young Jean Harlow, Patrick and his special guest, Glenn Mitchell, discuss why the film is so much more than this one scene. In addition, the conversation also looks at the production history of the picture, the unique sound version produced in 1970 by Chuck McCann and a whole lot more! To show your support for the podcast and become a Patreon...

Joining Patrick for this special edition of the podcast is Serge Bromberg from Lobster Films. Serge talks about the long-awaited release of Laurel & Hardy's 1927 silent shorts on Blu-ray. During the discussion, we find out what films are included and what we can expect from the set. As usual, Patrick asks his guest how he discovered Laurel & Hardy and how he got into film restoration, as well as the infamous Atoll question! For more information on The Laurel & Hardy Podcast,...

Episode 31 completes our deep dive into Stan and Babe's 1929 masterpiece, Big Business. On the previous show, Episode 30, Randy Skretvedt and I discussed the film and also covered the mythology surrounding a couple of famous (or infamous) legends connected to the production - primarily Hal Roach's much-related tale that the wrong house was destroyed in error. Randy sided with Stan Laurel and thought that Hal's story was "a load of baloney". So, in this episode, I'm delighted to welcome back...

Episode 30 marks the third year anniversary of The Laurel & Hardy Podcast. In today's show, we hear from some of the podcast's loyal supporters about why they love the show so much. The big business in hand, though, is the first part of a two-episode deep dive into Laurel and Hardy's silent masterpiece, Big Business. Patrick discusses the film with regular guest expert Randy Skretvedt, and together they explore the contentious legends surrounding the film's production, such as: were the...

The Laurel & Hardy Podcast returns with Episode 29 and takes a deep dive into the next chronological release, Stan and Babe's hilarious 1929 release, That’s My Wife.  Patrick welcomes returning guest expert, film historian and co-host of The Silent Comedy Watch Party, Steve Massa. During the show, Patrick and Steve discuss this most risqué of Laurel and Hardy’s films, including a look at supporting players William Courtright and Jimmy Aubrey. Stay in touch with all the latest Podcast...

In this very special bonus episode of The Laurel & Hardy Podcast, Patrick chats with star of TV and stage Jeffrey Holland. Jeffrey is someone who can rightly be referred to as a member of UK TV royalty. His acting career on both stage and screen over the years has been prolific, appearing in such TV classics as Dad's Army, Are You Being Served? It Ain't Half Hot Mum, but he became a household name for his roles in the celebrated sit-coms, Hi-De-Hi, You Rang M'Lord and Oh, Doctor...

Under its new title, The Laurel & Hardy Podcast, Episode 27 takes a deep dive into Stan and Babe's wonderful 1929 release, Wrong Again.  Returning guest expert Glenn Mitchell pays a fitting tribute to the late film historian Dave Wyatt. During Patrick and Glenn's discussion about the film in focus, the two shine a torch on the musical score, the mechanics of the horse on the piano gag and Leo McCarey's reminiscences of directing what became one of his favourite of all Laurel and Hardy's...

Episode 26 has very lofty ambitions, as Patrick and his guests discuss Laurel & Hardy’s 1929 short, Liberty. In the footsteps of Harold Lloyd, Liberty is the one and only time Stan and Babe made an out-and-out ‘thrill’ picture and what a hilarious short it is! To help him to discuss the locations used for the filming of Liberty, Patrick welcomes a new guest to the Blogcast, the “great detective of silent film locations”, John Bengtson. As well as hearing John’s Laurel and Hardy...

In this 25th episode of The Laurel & Hardy Podcast, Patrick provides an update on his forthcoming book, Laurel & Hardy: Silents and makes a special announcement about the future of The Laurel & Hardy Magazine. The main business of the day, however, is to take a close look at the 1928 silent short, We Faw Down. To help him with the analysis of the film, Patrick welcomes back to the Blogcast Canadian film historian, Chris Seguin.  In addition to discussing the film in focus, Chris...

In a bumper Episode 24, the Podcast has reached a pivotal moment in Laurel and Hardy’s cinematic history. Today’s film in focus, Habeas Corpus was not only the boys’ first out-and-out scare-comedy, but it was also the moment Stan and Babe took their first steps toward the talkies. Joining Patrick on this deep-dive into Habeas Corpus is first-time guest and scare-comedy expert, Paul Castiglia. Paul discusses the genesis of the comedy horror film, discusses his Laurel and Hardy backstory and...

Joining us on this special bonus edition of The Laurel & Hardy Podcast is a man who has had a number of guises in his life, including as an actor, singer, and playwright, and to that list, he can now add the title author. In 2021, he published an extensive biography of music hall impresario, Fred Karno, entitled Fred Karno: The Legend Behind the Laughter. No discussion of Stan Laurel, Laurel and Hardy – or comedy in its wider sense can be complete without recognising the impact of Fred...

In Episode 22, Patrick celebrates the 2nd anniversary of the Podcast and we hear birthday messages from some of the podcast’s many global listeners. In addition, Patrick also welcomes back to the Blogcast Laurel & Hardy expert and author of Laurel & Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies and The Laurel & Hardy Movie Scripts, Randy Skretvedt. On the show, Randy and Patrick discuss the film in focus which is the fantastic silent short, ‘Two Tars’ and much more besides. To read the...

Episode 21, sees Patrick offer a Laurel and Hardy handshake to returning guest and Hal Roach Studios expert, Richard W. Bann. This episode continues the discussion that Patrick had with Randy Skretvedt in Episode 20 about Stan and Babe’s 1928 silent short ‘Early to Bed’. As Randy didn’t much care for this classic yet divisive short, Patrick invites ‘Early to Bed’ fan, Richard Bann to join him on the Podcast to explain just what he likes about the film. As usual, listeners can expect another...

In Episode Twenty, Patrick welcomes back to the Podcast Laurel & Hardy expert and author of Laurel & Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies and The Laurel & Hardy Movie Scripts, Randy Skretvedt. Throughout the course of the show Randy and Patrick talk about a film that neither of them are overly fond of, Early to Bed, and find that they share a personal reason for taking a dislike to it. In addition to discussing the film in focus, Randy talks about a recent auction win that landed...

Episode Nineteen sees the welcome return of special guest Glenn Mitchell. In the programme Patrick and Glenn discuss the first release from the officially designated ‘Laurel & Hardy’ series, 1928’s Should Married Men Go Home? Patrick explores Babe Hardy’s obsession with golf and also the golfing culture prevalent at the Hal Roach Studios. In addition, Glenn takes an in-depth look at one of Stan and Babe’s co-stars making her final appearance with the boys, Edna Marian. To read the blog...

In this bumper Episode Eighteen, Patrick welcomes Laurel and Hardy and Hal Roach Studios expert Richard W. Bann to the Podcast for the very first time. Richard is one of the foremost authorities on anything and everything connected to the Hal Roach Studios, including not only the films they produced but also its history, reputation and legacy as well. Richard shares his Laurel and Hardy backstory, about how he discovered Stan and Ollie and the Hal Roach Studios in general and also his...