1906
Glasgow Britannia Theatre
Laurel began his career in the Glasgow Britannia Theatre of Varieties and Alhambra Theatre Glasgow at the age of 16
Cinema history · permanent subject timeline
Stan Laurel
British-born comic performer and one half of Laurel and Hardy. This page combines historical context with 24 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database cinema archive.
Historical context
Stan Laurel: overview and significance
What happened?
Stan Laurel began in British music hall before developing a film career in the United States and forming one of cinema's most famous comedy partnerships with Oliver Hardy.
Why was it important?
Laurel's performance and writing helped define screen comedy during the transition from silent cinema to sound.
World History Database records
Stan Laurel timeline
The records below are selected from the 2,036-record Cinema History archive and rendered as static HTML in chronological order.
1906
1910
1910
Fred Karno School
Joins Fred Karnos troupe of actors, which also included a young Charlie Chaplin
1917
1917
Nuts in May
Makes his first film appearance in Nuts in May
1919
1919
1st Oliver and Hardy Film
The first film pairing of Laurel & Hardy (albeit as separate performers) took place in The Lucky Dog, produced in 1919 by Sun-Lite Pictures and released in 1921
1919
The Lucky Dog
The first film pairing of Laurel & Hardy (albeit as separate performers) took place in The Lucky Dog, produced in 1919 by Sun-Lite Pictures and released in 1921
1926
1926
Hal Roach Studio
Laurel joins the Hal Roach studio, and begins directing films, including a 1926 production called Yes, Yes, Nanette
1927
1927
Duck Soup
Duck Soup is a 1927 short silent film made by Hal Roach Studios, the first occasion Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy appeared together on screen at Hal Roach Studios. Do Detectives Think?
1927
Film
is a short silent film made by the Hal Roach Studios featuring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy made shortly before they were officially recognized as a double act
1927
Hal Roach Studio
Oliver Hardy, another member of the Hal Roach Studios Comedy All Star players, was injured in a kitchen mishap and Laurel was asked to return to acting, Laurel and Hardy begin sharing the screen in Slipping Wives, Duck Soup and With Love and Hisses
1927
Laurel and Hardy
Laurel & Hardy become friends and their comic chemistry soon became obvious, Roach Studios supervising director Leo McCarey noticed the audience reaction to them and began teaming them, leading to the creation of the Laurel and Hardy series
1927
Slipping Wives
Oliver Hardy, another member of the Hal Roach Studios Comedy All Star players, was injured in a kitchen mishap and Laurel was asked to return to acting, Laurel and Hardy begin sharing the screen in Slipping Wives, Duck Soup and With Love and Hisses.
1929
1929
Liberty
Stars in, Liberty. Stars in, Big Business. Laurel and Hardy successfully make the transition to talking films with the short Unaccustomed As We Are in 1929
1931
1931
Pardon Us
Pardon Us is Laurel and Hardys first feature length comedy film, produced by Hal Roach and Stan Laurel, directed by James Parrott, and originally distributed by MGM in 1931
1932
1932
Academy Award
The Music Box which wins an Academy Award for Best Short Subject
1932
The Music Box
Stars in, The Music Box
1933
1933
Sons of the Desert
Stars in, Sons of the Desert
1935
1935
Bonnie Scotland
Stars in, Bonnie Scotland
1936
1936
The Bohemian Girl
Stars in, The Bohemian Girl. Stars in, Our Relations
1937
1937
Way Out West
Way Out West is a Laurel and Hardy comedy film released in 1937 directed by James W. Horne, produced by Stan Laurel and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Stars in, Way Out West
1938
1938
Swiss Miss
Swiss Miss, is a 1938 comedy film directed by John G. Blystone, produced by Hal Roach and starring Laurel and Hardy. Stars in, Block-Heads
1951
1951
Atoll K
Laurel and Hardy make their final film. Atoll K (also known as Utopia)
1951
Oliver and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy make their final film. Atoll K (also known as Utopia)
1961
1961
Academy Award
Laurel is given a Lifetime Achievement Academy Award for his pioneering work in comedy
1965
1965 23rd February
Death of Arthur Stanley Jefferson Laurel
Death of Arthur Stanley Jefferson Laurel
Editorial provenance
Sources and editorial review
Compiled and edited by World History Database.
Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from World History Database cinema records.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
British Film Institute · Library of Congress · Academy Awards
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