December Meeting 2023 December 7, 2023

It’s our Christmas film show……and as expected we will be screening the Boys in some of their best talkie shorts that cover the Christmas festive season – and of course, our annual screening of the Boys selling Christmas trees in Big Business!    We also be showing another fine animated cartoon featuring Stan and/or Ollie – this time, a Popeye & Olive Oyl cartoon entitled “Putting on the Act” from 1940 where the cartoon duo contemplate making a vaudeville comeback on the theatrical stage.

There was another fine duo that made a comeback to the theatrical stage in 1953.  That was Laurel & Hardy.  They began their third and final variety tour of the UK at the New Theatre in Northampton on October 19th 1953.  This was a 7-month tour that took on 26 venues around the UK.  Of particular interest to us…was that after engagements in Northampton, Liverpool, Manchester, London, Newcastle, Birmingham and Hull, the Boys (and their wives) arrived in Nottingham …..on Sunday, December 13th 1953 – indeed YES, that’s EXACTLY 70 years ago to the day of our film show!!!  They stayed at the County Hotel (next to the Nottingham Theatre Royal).  They took a week off for rehearsals of their “Christmas Party” show at the Nottingham empire, where they would perform their “Birds of a feather” sketch supported by other variety acts.  The show opened on December 21st and concluded on January 16th 1954…they performed approximately 60 shows over a 4 week period.  That was two or three shows a day with Sundays off!   Indeed, they had quite a tough time!  Whenever they could, Stan & Ollie would commute the A52 to Bottesford and spend time with Stan’s sister, Beatrice Olga and her husband Billy at the Bull Inn.  They spent Christmas Day at the Bull Inn…with Stan & Ollie serving the beers to the locals.  Unfortunately, I don’t have a Tardis …but I hope to take a few moments out next Wednesday just to recomember this amazing time exactly 70 years ago.  Below I’ve attached the original flyer for the 1953 Christmas Party at the Nottingham Empire.

Our pub owner has agreed that we can put on a small christmas fuddle….I’d say it will be more of a supper snack than a buffet…with a few sandwiches, nibbles and of course mince pies – its all free.

We also intend to run the usual raffle with some great prizes just for Christmas –  but, as usual all donations are gratefully accepted.

All are welcome…so please feel free to invite your other halves, family and friends.

So, hopefully,we’ll see you on  next Wednesday.  If not, I wish you a Laurel Christmas and Hardy New Year.  Our next meetings will be back to the usual 3rd Wednesday in the month…..starting with January 17th 2024 when we’ll be celebrating Oliver Hardy’s birthday, 132 years ago.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)