American Toby Jug Museum 

Oliver Hardy wall pocket prototype produced by Royal Doulton of Burslem, England, circa 2000. With Stan Laurel, part of probably the most popular comedy team in motion-picture history, Oliver Norvell Hardy (1892-1957) was born in Harlem, Georgia. The thin Laurel and rotund Hardy became a team in 1927. Their typical routine involved a simple set-up, which is then complicated by their zany antics. Their films are marked by expert pantomime, well-defined character and special care taken with props. They appeared in shorts until 1935 and in features until 1951. Hardy made frequent appearances in straight roles without Laurel. Their best-known films included the Academy Award-winning "The Music Box" (1933), "Fra Diavolo" (1933), "Sons of the Desert" (1934) and "Way Our West" (1937). This was intended to be part of a series of wall pockets featuring black and white movie stars.