“Boys At the Bull”
The Nottingham Beau Hunks Tent again invite everyone everywhere to join them in an afternoon of film fun and frivolity at the Bull Inn in Bottesford (between Nottingham & Grantham, NG130BW) on Saturday 22nd June, 1pm until 6pm. The Bull Inn was once run by Stan’s sister, Beatrice Olga and her husband Bill Healey. Stan & Ollie visited the pub on a number of occasions during their 1952 and 1953/4 variety theatre tours of the UK. The pub’s lounge is adorned with photographs and memorabilia all in memory of those very special visits.
This year, we have entitled our film show “LAUREL & HARDY’S ANIMAL CRACKERS”. This is a tribute to the brilliant animals that appear in many wonderful Laurel & Hardy films….including Ethel the chimp, MGM the lion and of course….. poor old Laughing Gravy! Indeed, we will be showing many short Laurel & Hardy films during the day.
The highlight of the day will be a premiere screening of a fully complete and restored version of the silent short DUCK SOUP (1927) by film historian and tent member, Robin Cook. Robin has meticulously restored the US version of this film himself using professional software from four different sources – the 1928 British print rediscovered at the British Film Institute in 2013, the actual Belgian print discovered in 1974, a censored clip from the Library of Congress, USA, and a French 9.5mm home-movie print from 1937. I’ve been told by authorative observers that the print quality is absolutely amazing – indeed the best they’ve seen!
We will also have author Danny Lawrence selling and signing his book on Stan’s father, Arthur Jefferson (AJ), and co-authors Antony and Jo Mitchell-Waite will be talking about their interesting series of books entitled “Two Peas in a Pod”…duh.
John Palmer will also be bringing his fabulous Model T Ford motorcar, presenting an ideal opportunity for photos. We will have the usual raffle and observational quiz.
The event is FREE and all kids aged from 4 to 104 are very welcome.
In the morning, we will again be visiting The Plough Inn in Barkston (4 miles north of Grantham) where Stan’s father, AJ, and his sister, Beatrice Olga, once lived and ran the small pub during the 1940s – and where of course Stan & Ollie made at least one visit during their 1947 variety tour. We will also be visiting AJs grave in the village and paying our due respects to a very special father. Those interested in this pre-event …please meet at the Stag Inn at the centre of this small village (NG322NB) at 10.30 am, Saturday morning.
The Beau Hunks Tent continue to meet every 3rd Wednesday of the month at the White Lion Pub, 24, Middle Street, Beeston, NG91FX, Nottingham at 7.30pm.
All are very welcome to join us.
For more information please contact Grand Sheik, Dave Tomlinson at DTomlinson@tinyworld.co.uk
Bull Inn Bottesford, Easter Sunday 13th April 1952 – a day before they perform “A Spot of Trouble” for a week at the Nottingham Empire theatre.
(courtesy of the Nottingham Evening Post from an article in the Nottinghamshire Guardian Apr 19th 1952 – colourised by the Leicester Mercury in 2010)
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