Doll-A-Day 151: Happy 124th Birthday to Stan Laurel:Stan Laurel Ventriloquist Dummy

  I decided to put off my post on my flea market find until tomorrow, partially because it rained before I could get all my pictures taken, and partially because I had already planned on a specific doll for today. So I'll get to the Flea Market post this week, probably tomorrow.
    Today's doll is a Stan Laurel ventriloquist doll/dummy, in celebration of what would have been Stan Laurel's 124th birthday today.

 Stan was born in Ulverston, England on this day in 1890. For more information on the real Stan, and to see some other Laurel and Hardy dolls,check out my Oscar Week post on the Hamilton Laurel and Hardy dolls.

In case you forget which one is which.

This dummy was made by Goldberger, who produced many different ventriloquist dummies, also known as 'vent dolls'.

 There was also a matching Oliver Hardy vent doll.The dolls also came in two sizes. (I mean there were two different series. Of course Laurel and Hardy were different sizes.That was kind of the point.)

The string in the back of his neck controls his mouth.

 And also, to some extent, his collar!
 This doll did come with a hat, just not when I got him.

Although most people think of Laurel and Hardy in suits, they did do several shorts dressed in bibbed overalls, but still with their stand up collars, ties, and derby hats.

If you ever check the copyright on a Laurel and Hardy item made from the 60's onward, you'll notice that it says   'Copyright Larry Harmon". Larry Harmon, obtained the rights to Laurel and Hardy's images from Stan and his wife, and Oliver Hardy's widow Lucille. Harmon was a friend of Stan's, and was known as the owner and portrayer of Bozo the Clown. (In spite of Harmon's frequent claims to have invented Bozo, Bozo was created by Alan W. Livingston in the 1940's,and was first portrayed by Pinto Colvig. Bozo even served as the mascot for Capitol Records, before Harmon bought the rights from Capitol in 1956.)

I debated using this guy, or an action figure Stan that Emma bought me. In the end this one was easier to grab and it was about to rain. But the action figure Stan will probably show up on here some day. He came in a really cool 'film canister' and has changeable hands.