Stan and Ollie in "Their First Mistake"
You know, I'm often berated (by people from a surprising variety of sources) with Laurel and Hardy being considered too "out of date"..............PHILISITINES! (or, like Stan, should I say "Philadelphians!") "Friends" used one of the funniest pieces of dialogue from "Their First Mistake" when Chandler moved out of Joey's flat and Joey )referring to the pets) says "After all, you wanted this baby! Now you've had you fun, I suppose you're just going to leave me to cope on my own?.........."

Plus - Steve Martin uses Stan's 'removable' thumb top in the children's party scene from "Parenthood", Peter Sellers (whom Stan gave Master Classes to after he has 'retired') uses Stan's gags and ideas time after time (and where would British and American humour be without Sellers now - huh?) E.g. - the flat walk in "Being There", the beckoning finger through a door panel - and the punch in the nose in Sellers' and Milligan's "Running, Dancing and Standing Still film" (and Laurel and Hardy protrait is over the fireplace in Seller's "I Love You Alice B. Toklas"
Plus - (Mike Myers uses Chapin's "The Great Dictator" scene where he dances and plays with a giant inflatable world globe - ok I know it's not Laurel and Hardy but it proves my point!)

Morecombe and Wise used their two-men-in-bed routine time and time again - and poor Ernie's face slap and indeed much of Eric's antics are pure Music Hall.
And there are lots of tiny, tiny details that we take for granted that come from Laurel and Hardy films - the overplayed "DONG!!!"
when someone is hit on the head - the looks into the camera, making the audience feel involved, backdrops (what we would now call green or blue screens), a recognisable signature tune for a peson or act - oh I could just go on and on.............!

Still today they have millions of fans around the world - and their image are as recognisable as Mickey Mouese and Coca-Cola - yet both Laurel and Hardy are strangely forgotten yet each have equally fascinating and absorbing stories - how you ANYONE justify the "out of date" remark - hmmmm?