A history of the Hal Roach Studios

the long version

"This book focuses on an independent film company that found a niche market between 1914 and 1960. The Hal Roach Studios produced short comedies, independent features, featurettes, and weekly television series. Its forty-six-year survival on the fringe of the Hollywood filmmaking establishment makes it a unique subject of study. This history yields insights into its production and marketing strategies and the interconnected nature of the studio system during the 1920s through the 1940s and on into the 1950s, the early days of television. The company was responsible for the Our Gang and Laurel and Hardy series, Topper (1937), and Of Mice and Men (1940)"--Provided by publisher.