In the 1990s, West Yorkshire cinema proprietor Charles Morris started something which at the time probably he little thought would become a bit of a tradition.

At his art deco cinema in Elland's Coronation Street, The Rex, he put on a Laurel and Hardy night of film comedies and was both surprised and pleased by the public's response. Since then, Mr Morris has had the pleasure of dipping back into the past for an annual night of film comedy masterpieces by the fat American and thin Englishman.

Stan Laurel (Arthur Stanley Jefferson) and Oliver Hardy made seventy-three 20-minute 'two reelers' and twenty six feature films between 1926 (when films were still silent) and 1952, when their final film Atoll K was released.

Stan and Ollie twice appeared at Bradford's Alhambra. The first time was in 1952 when they stayed at the Midland Hotel. The second time in 1954 they chose accommodation approximately nine miles away in West Yorkshire's other city.

MORE NOSTALGIA HEADLINES

Stan was born at Ulverston. He made his first appearance as a child in the-then famous drama Lights of London but broke into variety in his early teens. He went to America in 1910 as a member of one of Fred Karno’s sketches and remained there to play in Vaudeville, and eventually films. He played under his own name of Stan Jefferson; but when he teamed up with Hardy he changed his stage name to Laurel.

The films selected for this year's show at The Rex represent the period between 1929 and 1934 when they were at the peak of their career.

Liberty, from the silent era, will have live accompaniment on the Conn organ by Ben Hinchcliffe, of Huddersfield, who will also play before the show. Also on the bill is one of their most famous and popular features Sons of the Desert plus the two-reelers County Hospital and One Good Turn.

Charles Morris said: "Our Laurel and Hardy nights have maintained their popularity ever since our first one over twenty years ago. In the last few years they have been held annually, such has been the enthusiasm for them.

"We get members of the Laurel & Hardy 'tents', as the fan club is known, coming from far away and some dress up in all their regalia. We also hope to have some Laurel & Hardy memorabilia stalls, as previously.

"But more than anything it is the atmosphere of three hundred people laughing in unison at the antics of these two clowns which really makes the night. And I think we all need something to cheer us up and get us out of winter. We get people of all ages coming; it really is quite an experience."

This year’s show is on Saturday March 21, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5 for everybody.