Here’s another nice kettle of fish you’ve pickled me in!

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Although the initial focus of the piece began simply as a production history of the film, Men O’ War, the ultimate scope of the work has become far, far wider. Many fans around the world have been waiting decades for Richard to write and publish a book about the Hal Roach Studios and here, for the first time, and almost by accident, is just such a book. Drawing on hundreds of meetings and interviews with Hal Roach Studios alumni, Richard uses the topic of a single Laurel and Hardy short to discuss a colourful and fascinating plethora of subjects relating to Stan and Babe, the HRS production crew, filming locations and many never-before-published stories, straight from the mouths of people who worked at the famous Culver City studio.  

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Isn’t that swell?!

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We are immensely honoured to have this opportunity of turning Richard’s words into a stand-alone volume. Illustrated with many rare images from his own extensive collection, this volume is a must-have for any fan of Laurel and Hardy, Hal Roach Studios and classic comedy in general.  

This will be the first book published from Twice Two Media Ltd stable, and will become available to purchase, in Autumn 2023.

"Just playing together​"

It’s very nice - brief and right to the point!

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For our Winter 2022/23 issue of The Laurel & Hardy Magazine, we asked film historian and expert on the Hal Roach Studios, Richard W. Bann to write us a 2,000-word essay on the boys’ 1929 short, Men O’ War. Richard agreed and ended up writing somewhere in the region of 54,000 words! Although the initial focus of the piece began simply as a production history of the film, Men O’ War, the ultimate scope of the work has become far, far wider. Many fans around the world have been waiting decades for Richard to write and publish a book about the Hal Roach Studios and here, for the first time, and almost by accident, is just such a book. Drawing on hundreds of meetings and interviews with Hal Roach Studios alumni, Richard uses the topic of a single Laurel and Hardy short to discuss a colourful and fascinating plethora of subjects relating to Stan and Babe, the HRS production crew, filming locations and many never-before-published stories, straight from the mouths of people who worked at the famous Culver City studio.  

THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WE’RE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF AND EXCITED ABOUT AND IT HAS GROWN FAR, FAR LARGER THAN WE COULD EVER HAVE ANTICIPATED.

"Fraternally yours​"

It’s very nice - brief and right to the point!

​

For our Winter 2022/23 issue of The Laurel & Hardy Magazine, we asked film historian and expert on the Hal Roach Studios, Richard W. Bann to write us a 2,000-word essay on the boys’ 1929 short, Men O’ War. Richard agreed and ended up writing somewhere in the region of 54,000 words! Although the initial focus of the piece began simply as a production history of the film, Men O’ War, the ultimate scope of the work has become far, far wider. Many fans around the world have been waiting decades for Richard to write and publish a book about the Hal Roach Studios and here, for the first time, and almost by accident, is just such a book. Drawing on hundreds of meetings and interviews with Hal Roach Studios alumni, Richard uses the topic of a single Laurel and Hardy short to discuss a colourful and fascinating plethora of subjects relating to Stan and Babe, the HRS production crew, filming locations and many never-before-published stories, straight from the mouths of people who worked at the famous Culver City studio.