Laurel and hardy museum set to open

The City of Harlem is readying for Ollie's moment in the sun.

Tomorrow, Harlem leaders will officially open the Laurel and Hardy Museum - a building filled with memorabilia from their native son. Mr. Hardy was born in Harlem on Jan. 18, 1892.

The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the building near city hall.

Oliver Hardy Committee member Linda Caldwell said attendance for the grand opening is also expected to be impressive.

Two bus loads of the Sons of Desert International Laurel and Hardy Appreciation Society members will make their way from their Nashville, Tenn., convention for the grand opening and the city has received confirmations from as far off as England and Normandy.

"Harlem is world renowned because of this," Caldwell said. "Can you believe it?"

So far, organizers have collected hundreds of pieces of memorabilia, including an Italian movie poster and European bottles of beer with Laurel and Hardy labels.

"The fans from around the world have been wonderful in sending us stuff," Caldwell said. "We have five posters framed now and still have to frame six more."

They were also given puzzles, dolls, comic books, autographed pictures and several reel-to-reel films to put on display. Mrs. Caldwell said they will show VHS and DVD movies in a Theatre located in the back of the museum.