Festival celebrates comedy legend
Kassie Bumgardner, 10, sat on a stool wearing a white trash bag while Jeanne Willis spray-painted her hair.
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Dennis Moriarty (left), a Stan Laurel look-alike, and Dale Walter Sr., portraying Oliver Hardy, entertain visitors to the Oliver Hardy Festival in Harlem, which was held Saturday.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
"I thought it would be cool to color my hair," said Kassie, a Harlem resident. "My mom would always tell me to wait until I got a little older. This is my first year getting my hair colored."
On Saturday, dozens of children displayed different hair colors at Harlem's 16th annual Oliver Hardy Festival, held in honor of Harlem's most famous native son, comedian Oliver Hardy, who was born in 1892.
On Monday, Kathy Ham, the festival's coordinator, said she thought this year's event attracted more people than a year ago, but an exact number had not been tallied. The event attracted about 32,000 people in 2003.
"People are saying it was at least that (this year), if not more people,'' she said. "It was packed.''
The event, which featured vendors selling arts, crafts, jewelry, purses and food, decorated the streets of downtown Harlem.
However, it was the Laurel and Hardy Museum that attracted the most people.
"The museum has been the main attraction," said Denise Carter, a museum employee. Carter said Hardy look-alike Jamie McKenna and Bill Leavy, who depicted Stan Laurel, allured on-lookers with their comedy.
The Dynamic Steppers participate in a parade during Harlem's 16th annual Oliver Hardy Festival. Festival coordinator Kathy Ham said she estimates this year's attendance tops 2003's 32,000. "It was packed," she said.
Photo by Quandra Collins
"They're professional actors from Orlando," she said. "People have just been eating them up."
Fred Jennings, who attended the festival with his wife, Dot, said he remembers watching films with the comedic duo when he was a little boy.
"I used to watch their movies all the time," said Jennings, a Grovetown resident. "I enjoy them because they're real, clean fun.''
Also included in the event were a history lesson about Hardy, a look-alike contest and a parade.
"This is my first time coming to the festival," said Tammy Edwards, of Crawfordville, Ga. "I have nieces and nephews that live out this way, so I thought I'd come. I've enjoyed the school bands playing in the parade. I plan on making this festival a tradition."
Brandi Coleman sings country music at the festival. One major event attraction was the Laurel and Hardy Museum.
Photo by Quandra Collins
The Thomson Shrine Club rides in the parade. Other activities included Laurel and Hardy skits, musical entertainment, carnival rides and movie marathons.
Photo by Quandra Collins
Stevie Reese, 5, cools off with a snow cone during the festival, where vendors sold food and drinks, arts, crafts, jewelry and purses Saturday.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Bill Leavy (left) and Jamie McKenna, actors from Orlando, Fla., portray Laurel and Hardy as they pose for photos with Gloria and Summer Crewsonberry at the festival.
Photo by Jim Blaylock