AUTOGRAPHS of Laurel and Hardy given to a fan when the Hollywood stars visited Bradford 60 years ago are going under the hammer this week.

The comedy duo's signatures are expected to fetch between £300 and £500 when they go before bidders in London on Wednesday.

The scrawlings were obtained by a fan called Norman when the stars appeared at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford, either in July 1952 or May 1954.

As well as signing Norman’s autograph book, Stan Laurel also added the words: "Thanks Norman."

When Laurel and Hardy first appeared at the Alhambra in 1952, they stayed at the Midland Hotel in Cheapside, Bradford, but when they returned for another show at the same theatre two years later, they stayed at The Queens Hotel in Leeds.

The double-act were in their 60s when they first performed in Bradford - Ulverston-born Stan Laurel was 62 and Oliver Hardy was 60.

Telegraph & Argus journalist Peter Holdsworth interviewed the comics when in their dressing rooms when they were in the city for their later visit.

An article published in the paper on May 5, 1954 said: "They had not had any offers of film parts recently, although they were willing to make a new one if invited. Stan said the film industry in the United States was being hit very hard by television.

"'Incidentally,' he [Stan] continued, 'dozens of our old pictures are being shown on that medium in the States.'"

Mr Hardy told the T&A that he and his wife had just visited Harrogate and Knaresborough which he described as "really wonderful" though he couldn't manage the walk to Mother Shipton's cave as it was "a bit too far for me."

The pair also told the paper that despite making more than 300 films together, they never met socially as their hobbies differed - Mr Laurel liked to fish while Mr Hardy preferred golf.

Mr Laurel died in 1965, aged 74, and Mr Hardy died in 1957, aged 65.

The autographs are one of 347 entertainment memorabilia lots on sale at Bonhams in Knightsbridge.

Other items include a signed picture of Clark Gable, a dinner menu signed by stars including Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall and James Bond memorabilia.

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