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CNN Live At Daybreak

Laurel and Hardy Museum Opens in Georgia

Aired July 17, 2002 - 06:39   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Movie icon's Laurel and Hardy now have their own museum, but it is thousands of miles from Hollywood. Nick Linkler (ph) of CNN affiliate WRDW explains why a small Georgia town landed the showcase.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK LINKLER (ph), CNN AFFILIATE WRDW REPORTER (voice-over): This old post office in Harlem used to sell stamps. Now, it's giving away history.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we have been working on it for, you know, well over 10 years to get a place where we could put the memorabilia.

LINKLER (ph): Oliver Hardy of the comic duo, Laurel and Hardy, was born in Harlem, Georgia. Today, busloads of Laurel and Hardy buffs drove eight hours to see a museum open in the comic duo's honor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We feel part of this -- like this is home. This is -- this means very, very much to us.

LINKLER (ph): Since Hardy's partner, Laurel, was born in Britain, a handful of museum goers flew in from England, including "Happy" Harry Ingle, who says he knew Hardy during the war and comes to Harlem often.

"HAPPY" HARRY INGLE, ULVERSTON, ENGLAND: We do it every two years now with his international convention, and we actually opened (ph) our museum twice.

LINKLER (ph): And actors, like Jerry Tucker, are happy to share stories about the comedians. Tucker starred in the comedy, "Our Gang," and worked with Laurel and Hardy on "Babes in Toyland."

JERRY TUCKER, ACTOR: They were probably two of the nicest people you ever want to meet.

LINKLER (ph): More than 80 years have passed since Laurel and Hardy began entertaining, and organizers hope the museum will answer questions new fans have.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is neat, because...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because it's kind of like....

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... I've never seen them and you get to look all around at them and see all of the pictures.

LINKLER (ph): Pictures that tell stories, written just after the Depression and during war.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome to Harlem, Georgia, of course, the birthplace of Norvelle Hardy.

LINKLER (ph): A decade of work that built the first museum in the U.S. to honor two of its funniest.

Nick Linkler (ph), News 12, Harlem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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