Heritage Auctions will be including in its May auction an original oil painting portraying Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Bess Flowers, and Vivien Oakland from the 1929 movie classic, “We Faw Down.” The oil painting has been extensively researched and confirmed to be the work of early motion picture costume and set designer, Louise Lauritzen McCaslin (1896-1985). Auction bidding will open on May 3rd, 2024, at HA.com

McCaslin was a documented costume and set designer in the early motion picture industry, and her work for the infamous comedy duo Laurel & Hardy in the 1920s to 1930s was confirmed by historian Lillian Wright and supported by related news articles, books, and askArt.com.

McCaslin’s obituary from Deaths, Monterey Peninsula Herald, and Fresno Bee (03/02/1985), confirms this history, as well: “Mrs. McCaslin worked in Southern California as a designer of sets and costumes in the early years of the motion picture industry.” The term Southern California herein refers to Los Angeles County, where Hal Roach Studios/MGM occupied space in Culver City, Calif., in the Los Angeles region.

McCaslin’s motion picture work was further confirmed by historian Lillian Wright, who documented some of the artist’s architectural commissions in a 17-page article for Pacific Grove’s periodical “Board and Batten” and who was writing McCaslin’s biography at that time.

In a 2013 phone conversation, Wright stated: “Mrs. McCaslin worked with Hal E. Roach Studios when they had a distributing partnership through MGM (circa 1927). She worked on film set design and costuming for Laurel and Hardy films, amongst a host of other stars and starlets. In those days, Hal Roach was producing Laurel and Hardy films in large quantities, along with the Will Rogers, Charlie Chase, and the Little Rascals ‘Our Gang’ series, so the studios had a host of designers— many of them received little or no recognition for their hard work. Mrs. McCaslin also taught costume design at the California School of Fine Arts and deserves some recognition, I think.”

“Proceeds of this sale will benefit the owner who suffers from myasthenia gravis disease.”

According to film archives, the Roach/MGM classic, “We Faw Down,” was filmed on Production Lot-15 at Hal E. Roach Studios between August 23, 1927, and September 1, 1928, with retakes on September 7, 1928. It was released in December of 1928 for 1929 audiences.

The distinguished Laurel and Hardy Society of London featured the painting in its 2015 issue, Vol 9/No 8 of Laurel and Hardy Magazine. At that time, the painting was presented to the L&H Society archive expert, Robert Warren, who was able to find a movie still from the original film, and remarkably, the still was nearly identical to the painting, yet with one prominent exception: The facial expression of Oliver Hardy in the still was that of a grimace, whereas, in the painting, Hardy is portrayed smiling or laughing. There were also some other minor differences such as napkins being removed. Notably, McCaslin in those days would not have acquired access to the film still, unless also having access to the studios.

To confirm the artist’s signature on the painting, the signature and personal note accompanying the piece were compared to another personal letter previously handwritten by McCaslin to the City of Monterey, Calif., where McCaslin had donated personal artwork to the Colton Hall Museum as a permanent gift to the City. This letter, officially on file at City Hall, helped to identify the artist’s full identity, including McCaslin’s maiden name, when the signature on the painting and its accompanying note were compared to the document at Monterey’s City Hall. Said confirmation was performed by the experts at Profiles in Hollywood.

The personal note was further determined by experts to be McCaslin’s own script but was pre-WWII, and slightly after 1939. So, it would appear that the note was attached to the painting some years after the painting’s composition, and just after the commencement of WWII. McCaslin’s accompanying note, which she had attached to the painting, read as follows: “We Faw Down” 1928. Opening Title: This story is based upon the [illegible scribble] assumption that, somewhere in the world, there are husbands who do not tell their wives anything. With Bess Flowers and Vivien Oakland.

The flipside of the note read: Painted on set. 1928.

Louise McCaslin (née Lauritzen, 1896-1985) was an American artist born in Fresno, CA, and also a Fine Arts instructor and fashion design teacher in her lifetime. She received her MA in Fine Arts at the University of California, Berkeley, where she also went on to teach costume design at the California School of Fine Arts (circa 1917). She also attended the San Francisco Art Institute after the original building burned down and operated from the Mark Hopkins Hotel. She subsequently became a costume and set designer in the early motion picture industry in the early 1920s to about 1930. McCaslin taught in her local community schools in her later years (1942-1957).

McCaslin was the understudy of English-born (of Scottish descent) painter and colorist, William Constable Adam (1846-1931), under whom she studied “Plein Air” painting at his “rose-covered” cottage home at 450 Central Avenue in Pacific Grove, Calif. Under Adam’s tutelage, she produced renderings of California architecture, coastline, and landscapes. During her early art career, McCaslin produced more colorful oil pieces, indicative of the early “Fauves,” or “wild beasts,” of whom Henri Matisse would be included, whereby experimentation with bold colors, bawdy and vivid designs were employed during that movement. McCaslin’s Fauve paintings were likely done while attending the San Francisco Art Institute.

McCaslin’s works are referenced in such books as “Artists in California, 1786-1940” (1986, Hughes); “Art & Artists – Carmel, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Big Sur, Carmel Valley, Vol III”; McCaslin is also listed in “Who Was Who in Art America” (1999, Falk). Her architectural commissions are quite plentiful around Pacific Grove where she resided until death, as they were desirable to Pacific Grove residents, libraries, and historians. Some of her watercolor pieces (done in her later years) can be found at Pacific Grove Library, Monterey City Hall, and in Pacific Grove’s Board and Batten. Various other colorful oil paintings by McCaslin— which are quite elusive and more difficult to find— can be found in private collections, more indicative of the Fauves, and of her passion for early Pop Art design. She also was an advertising artist, though further research is needed.

“To date, this is the only known painting ever done of Laurel and Hardy by one of their Golden-Age motion picture costume and set designers, making it a piece of true Hollywood memorabilia. It also demonstrates itself as masterful Pop Art piece.”

It is a possibility that McCaslin asked the actors to pose personally since the painting closely resembles the movie stills, which at that time would have been held privately by Hal Roach Studios. Nonetheless, this rare find unites both Laurel and Hardy, their leading ladies, and their early costume designer in a unique piece of motion picture memorabilia.

For “Sons of the Deserts, (that is, L&H fans), or for any Fine Arts lover or museum curator, this would make a stark presentation piece, or museum piece, as it is very vibrant and well-preserved. McCaslin’s artwork titled “We Faw Down,” dates 1928— a year before the film’s release— and demonstrates an Andy Warhol style long before Warhol ever began his notorious career as a Pop Art icon.

Proceeds of this sale will benefit the owner who suffers from myasthenia gravis (Latin for grave weakness), a rare neuro-muscular disease affecting 1/50 of 1% of the United States population, according to the official Myasthenia Gravis Foundation (www.myasthenia.org). The disease causes severe muscle weakness, balance, and swallowing issues, and it can affect the functioning of the nerves throughout the entire body, including vital organs. Fortunately, there are treatments, and most MG patients live a full life. The seller has held the painting since 2008 and wishes the painting to be preserved for posterity.

Heritage Auctions welcomes all bids when the piece goes up for auction in May in their “Movie Posters Signature Auction.” Opening bidding is scheduled for May 3rd, and the auction is to be held until May 25th, 2024. Please note that auction dates are subject to change by the auctioneer, at will; so, please keep informed by visiting the Heritage Auctions website at HA.com. At the website, viewers can review images, related articles, data, and bidding/auction information. Interested parties can sign up for bidding and place a bid once registered with Heritage Auctions to do so.

Heritage Auctions is an American multi-national auction house based out of Houston, Texas, founded in 1976. Heritage is one of the largest auctioneers of Fine Arts, film memorabilia, numismatic collections, comics, luxury accessories, music, history, real estate, and sports. Auction sales for Heritage in 2022 were $1.45 billion. Heritage Auctions has no connection with this article, its content, or its release. Details and information in the auction listing may vary from the actual content of this article, as Heritage Auctions’ experts see fit. The information presented herein is supplied in good faith by the seller and cannot be deemed authoritative but rather is as best research has indicated.

References

(1985, March 2). McCaslin’s obituary. Deaths, from Monterey Peninsula Herald and Fresno Bee
Wright, L. (2007). The Board and Batten, of the Heritage Society of Pacific Grove, (Fall 2007)
Wright, Lillian. (2013). personal interview
University of Southern California, Hal Roach film archives, production records of the Roach/MGM classic, “We Faw Down.”
Warren, R. (2015). Laurel and Hardy Magazine, 9 (8)
Private Collection, photographs, “We Faw Down” oil painting by Louise Lauritzen McCaslin, 1928, and personal note, private collection, with permission of seller
City Hall of Monterey Calif., personal letter of Louise McCaslin to the City Manager’s Office, April 4, 1977
City Hall of Monterey Calif., Colton Hall Museum, Contract of Gift of Personal Property, by Louise McCaslin, April 11, 1977
Hughes. (1986). Artists in California, 1786-1940
Cunningham/Multiple Authors. (1985). Art & Artists – Carmel, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Big Sur, Carmel Valley, Vol III
Falk. (1999). Who Was Who in Art America
Hughes, E. (n.d.). askArt: askArt.com/artist/Louise_Lauritzen_McCaslin/10033999/Louise_Lauritzen_McCaslin.aspx
Library, P.G.P. (n.d.). Pacific Grove Public Library Administrative Files Library Catalog
Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America. (n.d.).: myasthenia.org/MG-Education/What-is-Myasthenia-Gravis

Also Read

FROM PRISON TO HOLLYWOOD: Dave Vescio’s Incredible Life Story In His Own Words

Story submitted by Amy Rose. The World Art News (WAN) is not liable for the content of this publication. All statements and views expressed herein are opinions only. Act at your own risk. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission. © The World Art News