Help Secure Vivien Oakland's Final Resting Place

I am Bob Satterfield, Grand Sheik Emeritus of the Way Out West Tent of the Sons of the Desert (the international Laurel and Hardy club). I've been involved in organizing many headstones and five niches for actors in Laurel and Hardy or Our Gang Comedies who have been unmarked or ashes unclaimed in the vaults over the years. Below is information about this current campaign to get Vivien Oakland a final resting place after 66 years being on a shelf in the vault. Won't you please help out?

Actress Vivien Oakland (May 20, 1895-August 1, 1958) appeared in 157 films from 1915-1951. She was a Ziegfeld Girl, half of the act of “The Oakland Sisters” with her younger sister Edna (who later appeared in films as Dagmar Oakland) and appeared on Broadway and early silent films with her husband, actor John T. Murray.

Vivien worked in many Roach films in the silent era. She appeared in the Stan Laurel solo film “Should Husbands Pay?” and in Oliver Hardy solo pictures “Two Time Mama” and “Galloping Ghosts”. The Laurel and Hardy films Vivien co-starred in where: “Love ‘Em and Weep” as Stan’s wife. “We Faw Down” and “That’s My Wife” playing Oliver Hardy’s wife. She was Judge Beaumont’s wife in “Scram!” and the Sheriff’s wife in “Way Out West”. Her last film with the Boys was “A Chump at Oxford” playing a receptionist.

Vivien was also Mrs. Edgar Kennedy, Mrs. Leon Errol and Mrs. Charley Chase among other roles in these three comedians pictures. She appeared in the classics “Call of the Wild” and “Mutiny on the Bounty”. “The Tenderfoot” with Joe E. Brown and even a couple of Olsen & Johnson comedies. Her western films include Roy Rogers’ “Utah” and “Tony Runs Wild” and “The Rainbow Trail” with Tom Mix.

After her retirement from films, she lived in the San Fernando Valley. It’s been reported she worked as a sales lady at a toy store and she and her husband owned a book store. Her husband John T. Murray died from a stroke in 1957 at the Motion Picture Hospital. Vivien followed him the next year.

Like so many others, Vivien’s ashes were placed in the Vault of the Chapel of the Pines and for whatever reason has remained there. With your help, this Go Fund Me Campaign will make sure Vivien will be placed in her own private niche with a name marker next to other Laurel and Hardy actors. Fans and admirers can then visit and pay respects. Please consider donating any amount to help Vivien find a new and dignified home after 66 years in a vault. Thank you in advance for your generous donation.

To help you understand more about the Chapel of the Pines and the people in the vault watch this fascinating video by filmmaker Arthur Dark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XimvnsLSt9c