Stan Laurel was the acknowledged creative member of the hugely successful and much loved comedy team Laurel and Hardy. As a man Stan Laurel lived in the USA but he was born and raised in a theatrical family the UK, and it was during his boyhood in the town of North Shields that he developed his passion for making people laugh. This ground-breaking biography of Stan Laurel is distinctive because of its focus on the lasting influence of those boyhood years. It examines Stan's family, boyhood years and initial struggle to establish a career in the theatre and film studio. It describes his pivotal roles both behind and in front of the camera and how his boyhood experiences are echoed in many Laurel and Hardy films. Stan never forgot his boyhood home - "the old town" of North Shields of which he had such fond memories. He returned there when circumstances allowed; friendships forged in his early years lasted a lifetime and he remained in touch with his family and many friends in the UK until his death in 1965.
Danny Lawrence was born and raised in North Shields, just a few hundred yards from Stan's boyhood home. He is a retired sociologist from the University of Notttingham.
The book:
 Discusses his father’s mysterious family background and important roles in the theatrical world of the north of England and Glasgow
 Describes his birth and early life in Ulverston and Bishop Auckland and his family life and boyhood years in North Shields, including his first theatrical performances
 Describes his educational experiences in North Shields, Tynemouth, Bishop Auckland, Gainford (near Darlington) and Glasgow
 Discusses the long road he took from his first public appearance in Glasgow, through years of comparative theatrical obscurity, to international film stardom when teamed up with Oliver Hardy
 Analyses his crucial roles in the creation of the Laurel and Hardy films and the way in which his boyhood experiences are echoed in them
 Plots the later stages of his career after leaving Roach for other studios and his eventual return to the British variety stage in three tours with Oliver Hardy
 Notes his lasting influence on successive generations of comic actors and the wave of recent tributes to him
 Discusses his lifelong links with his boyhood home both through correspondence and the return visits he made when the opportunity arose
 Includes a selection of photographs relevant to his boyhood, some related to themes in the Laurel and Hardy films