Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,
Exactly a year ago i had to send out an email with the sad news that we had to cancel our March 2020 meeting following a rather sobering TV broadcast by our prime minister to avoid social contact in theatres, cinemas and pubs. Sadly, yet again, we can’t meet this month. However, since my email circular last month, Boris has set forth a roadmap out of lockdown. In this, he hopes that all legal restrictions will be lifted on June 21st – at the earliest, particularly with respect to large indoor gatherings. As we had planned the Bull Inn (Bottesford) event this year for Saturday June 19th and with the continuing uncertainties on what we can do or can’t do within a few weeks of this date, I’ve decided that the safe and prudent thing is to postpone this years event. However, on June 19th, it may be possible for us to meet up in small groups at the Bull inn and at Barkston. We’ll see what is possible nearer the time…..but there won’t be a film show. As regards to our regular monthly meetings it might be possible for us to meet up in the Autumn dependent on a fair wind, but again I wouldn’t want to organise meets without everyone having their 2nd jab and its deemed safe. I’ll keep you informed.
As we are starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel and starting to build some bridges into the future, I couldn’t help myself but theme my “virtual” meeting this month against films where Stan & Ollie go through tunnels, or go over or under bridges in their films.
– “The Second Hundred Years” (1927) – Stan & Ollie attempt to tunnel out of prison.
– “Two Tars” (1928) – Stan & Ollie’s Model T is squished when it enters a railway tunnel.
– “Hog Wild‘” (1930) – Stan’s Model T with Ollie perched on top of a ladder goes beneath a bridge.
– “Another Fine Mess” (1930) – The police chase Stan & Ollie into a tunnel.
– “Swiss Miss‘ (1938) – The Boys get chased by a Monkey on a rope bridge in the high altitudes.
-“ Flying Deuces” (1939) – The Boys escape through a tunnel from Finns jail in the French Foreign Legion, to a wine cellar. Look out for Arthur Housman (hick!)
– “Going Bye Bye” (1934) – i tagged this in as its Walter Longs birthday this month – count how many times the flowers gets passed between Stan & Ollie
I would have probably shown most of these films if we could have met up this month.
There is another Laurel & Hardy book on the loose. its entitled “Hard-Boiled Eggs & Nuts – a Celebration of Laurel & Hardy by 100 sons of the Desert and Friends.” It contains a 100 articles compiled by our friends Roger Robinson and David Wyatt from way down south. Of special interest are articles written by no less than four of our tent members. First of all our young (though not so young now) Keesie Easie Nosey Champion Katherine Elvin has written a superb article entitled *A teenagers perspective”. Katherine’s article is very well written and provides a super advert for our tent and our annual trips out to the Bull Inn and Barkston. Robin Cook has written an article on “How we restored Duck Soup”…if you were at our last Bull Inn event in 2019, you would have seen a near pristine digital restoration of this film. We are hoping that Robin will show us more film restorations at the Bull Inn at a future date….June 2022? Danny Lawrence has written an article on Arthur jefferson, Stan’s father.
I’ve also written an article on a book that I’m very lucky to possess. The book, entitled “Clowns and Pantomines”. is perceived to be Stan Laurel’s favourite book.a book that he personally owned for 30 years before he inscribed and gifted it to Marcel Marceau . Marcel then held it in his possession for a further 50 years!. What is additionally special about it is that Stan used it an a signing-in guest book for all the visitors he had to his home in the late 1930s…including Oliver Hardy and James Finlayson. You can read all about it in Roger and Dave W’s wonderful new book….along with 96 other articles covering an eclectic mix of topics, including articles from a number of others Sons you may know eg Marion Grave, Mark Greenhow, Mark Hammond, Jeffrey Holland, Rob Lewis, Willie McIntyre, Ant Mitchell-Waite, Howard Parker and John Ullah. This is a must buy. For more information and how to purchase this book see
bowlerdessert.com
I have bought a few additional copies of the book which I’m happy to sell for £15 next time we can get back together.
Repeating the mantra…. please stay safe everyone and hopefully we will see you all again real soon!
Laurel & Hardily Yours,
Dave and Denise T
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