May Meeting 2022 May 15, 2022

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

After 819 days since the last Beau Hunks film show….there’s now only 7 days to go before our re-launch show. Horray!!

This will be on Wednesday May 18th 7.30pm till 10.30 pm at the THE BRIDGE INN on Longmoor Lane, Sandiacre NG10 5LW – in the outside function room.

For this first meeting we will be showing our tent’s title film, the 4-reeler, “Beau Hunks (1931)” . This is in tribute to our tent and all our tent members. Indeed, we will be celebrating our 20th, 21st and 22nd years as a tent at some future date. The film features the image of “Jeannie Weenie” , a young Jean Harlow, who was well-travelled and broke many hearts during the 1920s and 1930s. Jean appeared in no less than 3 Laurel & Hardy silent films in 1929 and we also intend to show her first appearance with the Boys in a film celebrating “freedom and high hopes” for the future…..but I’m not at liberty to tell you what the film is just yet! You’ll have to wait and see.

As its May….we will also be paying our traditional tribute to one of Laurel & Hardy’s best loved supporting stars, Annie Mae Busch. Although, her birthday is in June, it falls just two days after Stan’s , so as she’d hardly gets a look in at June meetings, May’s always the best month to celebrate Mae. I have lined up two talkie shorts where she features very well with the Boys. For those who like colour films, I also intend to show one of the only two films that was genuinely shot in colour. No, its not the Rogue song.

There will be the usual raffle, toasts….and I’ll show a L&H cartoon or two in the intermission. The event is FREE and all are welcome to come and enjoy the show. After so long, it will be great to see you again and to hearing you all laugh again at the Boys on the silver screen. As this is our first meeting, can I please ask for everyone to take care, be mindful and supportive of those who would still prefer to wear masks and can I ask, if you can take a lateral flow test, please do so, before coming out.

As I mentioned last month, I’ve decided this year to have just the one meeting in June, that being on Saturday afternoon of June 18th at the Bull Inn, Bottesford 1pm til 6pm. It’ll be our “Twice-Two – Part Deux” film show ….all with the number 2 or 22 in mind, which celebrates our 22nd year in the year 2022. We will be having a marathon film show culminating in the showing of “Sons of the Desert (1933)” with an observational quiz after, and yes with prizes. Undoubtedly, the highlight of the day will be Robin Cook’s showing of his restored version of the Boys silent film “The Second Hundred Years(1927)” in its most complete form based on copies of the original 35mm film elements and specialist film restoration software/techniques. We will have a number of Laurel & Hardy book authors on hand selling their latest books. We are also hoping that John Palmer will be able to exhibit his wonderful Laurel & Hardy car, a genuine Model T Ford. Finally, we are hoping to have a number of known “out of town” Laurel & Hardy guests, including Rob Lewis ,Grand Shieik and founder of the Helpmates UK tent and Laurel & Hardy magazine.

As with all our film shows, the film show at the Bull Inn is FREE and WELCOME TO ALL from toddlers to zimmer-framers including their families and friends. So, please do come along and support us, it will be a great day out. As most of you now know, the Bull Inn was the pub that Olga and Bill Healey ran during the 1950s…Olga being Stan’s younger sister (who incidentally gets a mention in the Beau Hunks film!). During their theatrical tours of 1952 and 1953/4, the Boys and their wives would regularly visit this pub and on Christmas Day 1953, the Boys pulled the pints behind the bar for the locals. The Pub lounge is adorned with photos and memorabilia and there are plaques inside and outside the pub that commemorates their visits,

In the morning of June 18th, I will also be doing a guided walk around Barkston (a few miles north of Grantham), with visits to the Plough Inn on West Street (Olga’s first pub visited by the Boys in 1947) and to Arthur Jeffersons grave (Stan’s father) in the Barkston&Syston graveyard. We’ll start this at about 10am at the Stag Inn in the centre of the village.

So that we can make it a really comfortable day for all at the Bull Inn, please can I ask you to reply to this email just to let me know if you are thinking of coming and on the potential numbers – it doesn’t commit you in anyway and you can change your mind one way or the other right up to the day. I just want to get a rough idea on possible numbers such that i can judge how much I can/should advertise the event outside of the tent and this email correspondence. Obviously i don’t want to be flooded with too many people nor do we want to have so few….I’m just looking for a comfortable number with the virus still on our minds. However, the pub does have open spaces and Bottesford is also a nice village to explore.

Looking forward to seeing you all again next week……I can’t wait.

But until then, keep well and stay safe everyone.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

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May Meeting 2022 – We are back. May 7, 2022

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

After no less than 26 months of no shows, at long last, I can tonight declare that our Re-launch Laurel & Hardy Show will be on Wednesday May 18th 7.30pm till 10.30pm.

We’ve been able to re-secure the THE BRIDGE INN on Longmoor Lane, Sandiacre NG10 5LW – We will again be in the outside function room. Horray!!!

Though we are having to pay a small fee for the booking, the event will remain FREE for all. We have some funds that will cover our start-up and in time we hope costs will be covered by the raffle – so we continue to welcome any good raffle prizes that you would wish to donate. I’ve not planned our first meet yet….but we will be showing a lot of your favourite talkie shorts and will remain in the same format as before. I’ll send a reminder out on the week before the film show event as per we did b4.

I’m really looking forward to this first meeting, seeing the Boys back on a silver screen again, their wonderful comedy and of course hearing all your lovely laughter – i’ve really missed it. We certainly all need a good laugh especially nowadays, don’t we? – So mark it in your diaries. Now, whilst you’ve got your diaries open…I’ve booked the venue for the 3rd Wednesday of each month starting properly in July…that is July 20th, August 17th, Septober 21st, Octember 19th, and Nowonder 16th. Our Christmas meeting, however has been booked for Weds December 14th.

I’ve decided this year we’ll have just the one meeting in June, that being on the Saturday afternoon of June 18th at the Bull Inn, Bottesford 1pm til 6pm. It’ll be our “Twice-Two – Part Deux” film show as I introduced last month. What I can now add is that Robin Cook, our tent’s Hal Roach studios film expert and known film restorer, has kindly agreed to show his restoration of the Boys silent film “The Second Hundred Years(1927)” in its most complete form based on copies of the original 35mm film elements and specialist film restoration software/techniques. Those that were lucky enough to see Robin’s restoration copy of “Duck Soup (1927)” 3 years ago at the Bull Inn would happily testify to say that they were blown away by the absolute quality of the restoration seeing detail that couldn’t be seen in the standard available commercial copies of the film. So, I know from this, that it’s going to bean absolute treat to see a very clean and complete copy of “The Second hundred Years” . Furthermore I know that Robin has been restoring other L&H silent films….so more treats are in the pipeline for the future. My special thanks go to Robin and others for preserving, restoring and keeping the memory of L&H alive.

The film show at the Bull Inn is FREE and WELCOME TO ALL. We will be showing many Laurel &Hardy films on the day, there will be a quiz and a raffle and we are hoping that tent member John Palmer will be able to bring his amazing Model T Ford…so please do come along, it will be a great day out. I will also be doing the guided walk around Barkston in the morning with visits to the Plough Inn (Olga’s first pub visited by the Boys in 1947) and to Arthur Jeffersons grave (Stan’s father). If all goes well, we hope to have Ant and Jo Mitchell-Waite from the Stoke Midnight Patrol Tent who’ll be on hand for book sales and signings. Mark & Theresa Hammond will be up from Brighton and Mark might bring some of his fantastic memorabilia to show. We are also hoping that Rob Lewis (GS of Helpmates tent and founder of the Laurel & Hardy Magazine) will be able to join us.

As we are now approaching the light at the end of the tunnel, this month i won’t tease you with yet another…”well if we had a meet this month, this is what I’ would have shown”.. Instead you might want to keep your eyes on the “Talking Pictures” TV (Sky channel 328) listings. There have been quite a few L&H features and talkie shorts shown over the last few weeks Also you may have caught a re-showing of the “Stan & Ollie” film on BBC2 a couple of weeks ago. Its a very touching film, well produced, worth a watch. However in true Hollywood style it was very loosely based on fact. Recently, I have been made aware of a reasonably good 15min documentary review of the film which you can find here from youtube which does a reasonably good job correcting the myth

https://youtu.be/fcyZ0t35Ly8

Looking forward to seeing you all again next month……I can’t wait…only 23 days to go!

But until then, keep well and stay safe .

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

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April Meeting 2022 Cancelled April 3, 2022

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

Again no show I’m afraid this month. I had hoped to have brought some good news this month on a restart for next month, but with rising infection rates on the Omicron BA.2 variant I think it would be a good and prudent idea to put it off for yet another month, that is until most, if not all, of our over 75s have had their fourth jab and infection rates are back on the rapid fall. So fingers crossed. i’m now thinking of a restart on Wednesday, May 18th evening (7.30pm) dependent on the venue.

On the good news front, I have booked the Bull Inn, Bottesford, for Saturday afternoon June 18th, 1pm to 6pm. Unfortunately as the “skittle alley” has been transformed into a small events area, we are now having to pay a small hire fee….but rest assured, it will remain a FREE event to you and its open to all family and friends. For those that haven’t been before we very much run it as a Laurel & Hardy film show with a few interludes for brief L&H based talks, a L&H film observational quiz (which this year will be based on “The Sons of the Desert” film ), film rarities and of course a raffle…and yes I’ve collected some good raffle prizes in the past 2 years. If all goes well, I’m hoping that John Palmer can bring his wonderful L&H car again – a genuine Model T Ford. John’s car is presently undergoing a few maintenance/repairs at the moment so we wish John well with this.

he Bull Inn was run by Bill and Olga Healey (Stan’s sister) during the 1950s and a number of occasions during that time Stan & Ollie popped in to see them, particularly when they were on tour. They even pulled the pints behind the bar on Christmas Day 1953. The lounge is adorned with photos and memorabilia.

With C-19 in mind I’m not advertising this event too broadly but all tent members on this email, friends and family are warmly invited along with past attendees….so we may get a few from other tents.

As mentioned last month, its our 22nd Birthday as a tent in this year 2022. We tried to celebrate our 20th birthday in 2020 and I had it fully planned out….so based on that plan and where we are now, I’ve entitled our show “Twice Two – Part Deux” . So yes, we’re going to show the Boys “Twice Two” film alongside the Boys “Sons of the Desert” feature….(why this feature film I hear you ask….well its because Ollie lives at “2-2-2-2 Fairview Avenue” and that these two little ducks are like “two peas in a par- deux” Sorry, welcome back to the bad jokes!!!)

In the morning we will do the usual trip out to Barkston and lay some flowers on Arthur Jeffersons grave (Stan’s father) and also see the pub (The Plough Inn) which Bill & Olga ran during the 1940s and Stan & Ollie visited on 16th March 1947…exactly 75 years ago this month.

Its now been 2 years since we last met. We had planned a meeting for Wednesday, March 18th which we had to cancel. We had planned to have a “Tough Guys (& Dolls)” theme where Stan & Ollie are confronted by some really tough characters….one of these is Walter Butch Long, whose birthday we would have been celebrating this month (March 5th). We were going to show a number of Laurel & Hardy short films with Walter Long, Noah Young, Anita Garvin and Frank Brownlee.

We were going to show…

1. Do Detectives Think? (1927) with Noah Young as the Tipton Slasher

2. Any Old Port (1932) with Walter Long – the boxer

3. Blotto (1930) with Anita Garvin – the hard as nails, Mrs Laurel

4. Pick A Star (1937) clip with Walter Long – the mexican bandit

5. The Live Ghost (1934) with Walter Long – captain of a ghost ship

6. The Midnight Patrol (1933) with Frank Brownlee – the tough police chief

7. Going Bye Bye (1934) with Walter Long – the escaped prisoner

If you are going through a really tough time and wanting a really good laugh then why not consider watching one (or all) of the above films.

Hopefully, you’ll be able to tough it out until we can meet up again….in May.

But until then, keep well and stay safe .

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

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Februray Meeting 2022 Cancelled March 5, 2022

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

Again unfortunately I still think it’s a little too early to meet up…the infection rates though falling are still moderately high. Boris has also spoken and he will end all legal restrictions tomorrow which sadly i think is a tad too soon and will at worst increase the infection rate for a while and at best slow its fall. So cautiously, I’m planning now a restart in April – hopefully, April 20th….and yes this year! Horray!! I’ve still got to check up at the Bridge Inn that the room is still available to us, but if that falls through I’ve already got Martin scouting out the Beeston area to find a new venue and we do have a possibility in the making. Last week, as I was passing, I checked out our old venue, The White Lion, but sadly its still stands empty awaiting a new owner. Anyway, watch this space.

I’m also keen to get a film show together at the Bull Inn in Bottesford in June. For those who have recently joined us in the last 2 years, this is the pub that Stan’s sister, Beatrice Olga, and her husband, Bill Healey, ran during the1950s. Stan & Ollie visited the pub on a number of occasions notably, Easter 1952 and Christmas 1953 when they were performing at the Nottingham Empire. That 1st visit was, yes, exactly 70 years ago and it will be nice to celebrate that at the Bull Inn. We tried to plan a visit in 2020, it was going to be our 20th anniversary celebrations, and we had some special items planned (ie restored films being shown and some special books being launched) but unfortunately Covid-19 put paid to all that! We were also denied our 21st “Coming of Age” aninversary last year….so I’m not letting us lose yet another fine event at the Bull Inn. We will scale it back this year to make it comfortable for all attendees, so I won’t advertise it too broadly. You would have noticed that yesterday’s date was 22nd of the 2nd, 22 (22/2/22), it was my son-in-laws birthday….both myself and Denise have birthdays on the 22nd of a month, our 22nd Birthday as a tent is in June in the year 2022, so all the stars are being aligned for a meeting at the Bull Inn on June 22nd…..just unfortunately its not a Saturday!! Doh!… .But it is a Wednesday – so we may try and and have a birthday meet then! I will , however, try and target the Bull for June 11th (which is 1/2th of 22) or June 18th, so keep these dates clear. With all this meticulous ramblings which I have to extricate myself from…it’s very likely that we will name our Bull Inn meeting…”Twice Two – Part Deux” as it will largely be based on what we tried to plan for our 2020 event. Tell me that again….

For those that are suffering major withdrawal symptoms….I thought I would look back to our last film show before Boris told us all to stay at home…that was February 2020…exactly 2 years ago.

Unbelievably, this film show was entitled “Wet n’ Windy” after the passage of then two tropical storms Ciara and Denis. This was the programme back then:-

– “You’re darn Tootin'” (1927) – The Boys play Brass and wind instruments

– “Sons of the Desert” (1937) – The Boys flounder in a Storm. In taking Babe;s temperature…Stan reads his condition as “Wet n windy” …on the barometer.

– “The Rogue Song” (1930) – A short extant clip from this lost colour film where Stan & Babe take refuge from a storm in cave, where unbeknown to them is already occupied by a sore-headed bear.

– During the break we were able to show a 1935 Looney Tunes cartoon entitled “Hollywood capers” with Stan & ollie. Also, we showed a clip from a recent Channel 5 TV show “Secret Scotland with Susan Calman” where she visited the Panoptican theatre in Glasgow, where it is claimed that Stan debutedon stage as a comedy music hall act in 1906.

– “The Go Boom” (1931) – Babe suffers from a virus , which lead to a rather stormy ending. This was the very last firm we showed….how very prophetic of times to come!

With the passage of Dudley, Eunice and now Franklin, you might want to revisit some if not all of these films.

I’m afraid not much else to report this month….there isn’t anymore!

Stay safe everyone and hopefully we will see you all real soon….possibly April 20th.

Laurel & Hardily Yours,

Dave & Denise T

BS If you have any ideas of a potential venue locally to Sandiacre, Beeston, near to the a52 between Derby/Nottingham, please let me know.

BBS Below is a still from the Sons of the Desert – The Boys returning from their stormy voyage expecting a stormy confrontation with their wives at……2222 Fairview avenue…(That’s Twice Twice – Two)

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January Meeting 2022 Cancelled January 21, 2022

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

First of all may I wish you all a very Happy New Year to each and everyone of you. Unfortunately we can’t meet yet again this month but with rapidly falling infection rates, though still high, I’m hopeful that it won’t be too long before we can all get back together again and enjoy an evening in the company of Messrs Laurel & Hardy. Many of the tents have restarted but I think its still a tad too early…but with fingers (and toes) crossed we might be able to restart again in, say, March, that’ll be exactly two years to the date that we cancelled our first meet because of the virus.

Today as many of you know is the University of the birth of Oliver Norvell Hardy…18th January 1892….that’s 130 years ago, in Harlem, Georgia, fondly known to us all as Babe. Happy Birthday, Babe Hardy.

Though we can’t meet, in celebration of Babe’s birthday, you might wish to view any number of L&H films where Babe proudly takes centre stage. These are my suggestions, which I made reference to last year, but there are many many more.

– “Beau Hunks” (1931) – A good film to start the year off, our tent’s namesake film. Babe is in LOUGH with Jeannie Weenie, Jean Harlow.

– “Oliver the 8th” (1934) – Babe gets his dream date, but it doesn’t go too well!

– “Me and my Pal” (1933) – Babe nearly gets married, but unfortunately for him gets too stuck into a jigsaw puzzle!

– “Our Wife” (1931) – Babe elopes with Dulcy (played by another Babe….Babe London). He eventually gets married – but not to Babe London!

– “Should Married Men Go home? (1928) – Babe now happily married but is persuaded to go out a play a game of Golf, indeed Babe’s favourite form of exercise.

-” Chickens come Home” (1931) – Babe (and now not so happily) married, wants to run for “Office” (Prime Minister ?) , but has one or two past life indiscretions that he wishes to bury….that is not the attendence of one or more ill-judged parties!

– “Twice Two” (1933) – Mr & Mrs Hardy and Mr & Mrs Laurel celebrate their wedding anniversaries, Mrs Laurel played by Babe gets the cake!

For the more adventurous of you, if of course you have access, you might want to view one or two of Babe’s solo films . For example,

-“Zenobia” (1939) – The Elephant film with Harry Langdon when Stan was out of contract at Hal Roach

-“The Fighting Kentuckian” (1949) – with John Wayne, filmed at a time when Stan was ill with diabetes.

Both films were well supported by Stan’s blessing.

Unfortunately, I didn’t capture any glimpses of Stan & Ollie on terrestrial TV over the Christmas period…except for their brief cartoon representation in the “Snowman and Snowdog”. Did you see anything else?

Thankfully, the Talking Pictures TV channel are still showing the ocassional film, eg 31st Jan 6am Busy Bodies

Not much else to report this month….there isn’t anymore!

Stay safe everyone and hopefully we will see you all real soon!

Laurel & Hardily Yours,

Dave & Denise T

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Christmas 2021 December 30, 2021

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

What Another Fine Christmas Mess we’ve got ourselves into once again! Although we couldn’t meet yet again this month and possibly not now for a few more months, I just wanted to write to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a safe and healthy 2022…you never know we might even get a meet together next year!

In the meantime..why not watch one of the many Boys Christmas favourites which includes..

“Big Business (1929)” – Stan & Ollie sell Christmas trees….Happy Christmas everyone

“The Fixer Uppers (1935) “ – Stan & Ollie sell Christmas Cards….”Merry Christmas, mother. Merry Christmas, ma. Hi, mommy mommy….and a hot cha cha”

“Laughing gravy (1931)”….indeed poor old……

“Below zero (1930)”…hopefully it won’t be that cold.

“Blotto (1930)”...happy new year to you all

“Helpmates (1932)” – The day after the night before!

Also, a bit of super news…just released is a tiny bit of L&H newsreel footage from circa 1950 on facebook – see https://fb.watch/9LwfDi9RF6/

…you can read more about it on the Bowler Dessert website.

If you haven’t got your calendar it is selling at the “Calender Club” stalls in the Derby Intu and the Nottingham Victoria Centre. I expect its in the High Cross, Leicester too. its selling at £12…but if you wait till Boxing Day, it could be as much as 40% less…..ie missing Septober, Octember, Nowonder and other months 🙂 Ha ha.

Hopefully, very soon in the new year we’ll be back again laughing together in the company of our beloved Stan & Ollie at the Bridge Inn, Sandiacre.

Until then, Denise and I wish you and yours again a Laurel Christmas and a Hardy New Year. Please stay safe everyone.

Laurel & Hardily Yours,

Dave and Denise T

BS Below is the boxcard for Stan & Ollie’s appearance at the Nottingham Empire Christmas 1953.

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October Meeting 2021 Cancelled October 22, 2021

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

As you know I was hoping this month to herald in a new chapter in our tents illustrious illustriousness with our first meeting in 17 months, but alas Covid-19 has upset that, with infection rates still rising to record levels in certain areas of the East Mids….I live in an area where the rates are up at 800/100,000 and there are other areas in Derby where rates are well over 1000 per 100,000 implying now about one in a hundred people now have it!! Thankfully we have the jabs to protect us from serious harm. However, sadly, I have heard that last month the Brighton Tent was a source of outbreak where at least 3 people were infected and one tent member was hospitalised for a day or two. I had a few emails last month, all urging me to remain very cautious. So, sadly until rates fall significantly, I will hold off putting on any meetings. But please do bear with me…we’ll get this show back on the road as soon as we can….well back at the Bridge Inn as soon as most of us feel its safe again.

Traditionally, Octember is the month where we would celebrate the anniversary of the birth of any one of the following: Charles “this is no place for levity” Middleton (3rd Oct), little Daphne “i’m going to cook his goose” Pollard (19th) or Arthur “hiccup” Houseman (10th). As I had hoped to have restarted this month with a replaying of ent title film “Beau Hunks” ….it just had to be the nasty commandant himself…Charles “Ming the Merciless” Middleton to celebrate.

Charles Middleton was born in Elizabethtown Kentucky on 3rd Octember 1874. He worked in a travelling circus, vaudeville and acted in live theatre before he turned to silent films in 1920. With the advent of sound, Middleton’s career bloomed as a character actor in villainous roles. He became an excellent foil to a number of comedy stars including Harold Lloyd, Eddie Cantor and Wheeler & Woolsey as well as for Laurel & Hardy. He was also the prosecutor opposite The Marx Brothers in their version of “Duck Soup”. Middleton also featured in many serial adventures from 1935 to 1947. He is most famous for his villainous role as Ming the Merciless, the evil adversary of Buster Crabbe in the 3 Flash Gordon serials “Flash Gordon(1936)”, “Flash Gordon’s Trip to Mars(1938)” and Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940)”. Middleton sadly died of a heart attack in 1949 at the age of 75. Overall he appeared in nearly 200 films but unbelievably only in 4 Laurel & Hardy films….

– “Beau Hunks” (1932) – commandant in the French Foreign legion

– “Flying Deuces” (1939) – reprised role of commandant in theFrench Foreign legion

– “Pack Up your Troubles” (1932) – orphanage official towards the end of the film

– “The Fixer Uppers” (1935) – Piere Gustave the artist

Your mission this month, if you wish to take it, is to view any (or all) of the above films. You could also supplement this with

-“Slipping Wives” (1927) which is a silent that was later re-worked into the Fixer Uppers…though no Charles M.

Although fewer Laurel & Hardy films are being shown on TalkingPicturesTV it is still worth keeping an eye out for an occasional appearance.

Nothing else to report this month I’m afraid – there isn’t anymore! Hopefully, we;ll have much better news next month. Until then, take care and keep safe everyone.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave and Denise T

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September meeting 2021 Cancelled September 14, 2021

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

Sadly its yet Another Fine Month where disappointingly we are having to cancel our appointment of laughter with the Boys. 18 months on (who would have thought it) without any L&H on the big silver screen. Well Ok its a 6 by 4 ft white screen…but I do feel we’re getting close to the end of this nightmare. Unfortunately the infection rates are still quite high and seemingly hospitalisations and death rates are still on the rise but the jabs are thankfully protecting most of us from serious trouble . The schools have gone back and people are going back to work, so there are still many uncertainties ahead. Many of the tents have gone back to showing films but I’m still feeling we should be very cautious. I ‘m still entertaining the possibility of getting a film meeting together in the 3rd week of Octember and/or in Nowonder. What do you think? I’ll certainly see what the prevailing situation is in early October before I make a decision and I will also see who would be happy to attend. Hopefully, we will still have he Bridge inn.

Traditionally, Septober is the month where we celebrate the anniversary of the birth of the blustering Billy Gilbert who was Professor Theodore von Schwarzenhoffen M.D, A.D, D.D.S., F.L.D.,F.F.F and F in the Oscar winning “The Music Box” (1932). He was born 12th septober 1894 in Louisville USA….ie 127 years ago – just yesterday. Although he appeared in 11 L&H films, he is best known for his drawn out explosive sneezing routine, which was used by Disney for “Sneezey” in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937).

Arguably the best 6 Billy Gilbert appearances , in no particular order, are:-

– “The Chimp” (1932), where landlord Billy awaits the arrival of Ethel….his wife!.

– “The Music Box” (1932) ,where Billy is the Professor

– “County Hospital” (1932), where Doctor Billy is tipped out the window.

– “Pack up Your Troubles” (1934) where in a cameo role, Billy Gilbert plays a brides father.

– “One Good Turn” (1931) where Billy plays a drunk where he accidentally puts a wallet in stan’s pocket to set up the ending of the film

– “Them Thar Hills” (1931) where Doctor Billy examines Ollies gout at the start of the film.

Again, we would have selected and screened a number of the above films at our Septober film show if we could have held it.

I also hope you’ve been enjoying the extended season of Laurel & Hardy films on TalkingPicturesTV….which has been wonderful to see. So on the

14th 4.40am – The Music Box, 15th 3.30pm – Brats, 18th 9.00am – Hog Wild, 22nd 8.35am Below Zero and then on the 23rd 6.30pm Swiss Miss.

Nothing else to report this month I’m afraid – there isn’t anymore! So continue to mask up, social jump whenever anyone breaches the 1m+ rule and stay safe everyone and I hope to see you all again real soon.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave and Denise T

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August Meeting 2021 Cancelled

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

I hope all is well and enjoying the un-seasonally hot sunny weather – indeed as the Mae’s butler remarked in Oliver The Eighth (1934)… nice weather we had tomorrow!

I also hope you’ve been enjoying the short season of Laurel & Hardy films on TalkingPicturesTV between 4-6pm on Saturday and Sundays, with an occasional short film on Saturday morning….I understand that tomorrow is Helpmates (1932) in the morning and Way Out West (1937) in the afternoon, Sunday is Swiss Miss (1938) and next Tuesday, Our Relations (1936) at teatime.

With the ongoing situation with infection rates rising, etc etc, I don’t feel that we are safe enough to meet up for an indoor film show just yet even though Boris has given us the nod and… a unwanted ping. I’m hopeful, however, that we might get something going again in Octember or Nowonder! Lets see.

Though this months meeting is quite obviously cancelled, I think I would have prepared a programme of films with the Tokyo Olly-in-pics tin mind….so if you are not seeing enough of the Boys this month on TalkingPicturesTV then howzabout going for Gold with this little lot:-

The Battle of the Century (1927) – A Boxing and pie-throwing contest

Men O War (1929) – A Rowing and Kayak race

Another Fine Mess (1930) – A triathlon of sorts….Cycling, Equestrian and Archery

Hog Wild (1930) – In the pool for a High Diving contest

A chump at oxford (1940) – celebrating Lord Paddington, Oxfords finest athelete and champion Ear Wiggler

Any Old Port (1932) – More boxing and ear wiggling

The Chimp (1932) – Weight lifting, Equestrian and Pistol Shooting

Helpmates (1932) – Closing ceremony and the final extinguishing of the flame!!

Nothing else L&H to report this month i’m afraid! “That’s all there is…there isn’t any more”

Stay safe everyone and hopefully we will see you all again real soon.

Laurel & Hardily Yours,

Dave and Denise T

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June Meeting 2021 Cancelled June 15, 2021

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

I hope you are all well and still keeping very safe.

I’m afraid again I’m having to say no Laurel & Hardy film shows this week/month….but fingers crossed I’m hopeful we can meet again in the autumn…probably, Octember, all subject to a good positive outcome of the vaccine roll-out and a zapping out of that pesky delta variant. Denise and I, have now been double jabbed and feeling a little confident in braving the new world whilst infection rates are still relatively low. Although we won’t be holding our usual “Boys at the Bull” event this year, we do intend to make the small annual pilgrimage to Barkston in the morning and then to spend an hour or two at the Bull Inn (Bottesford) in the afternoon – THIS Saturday June 19th. All are welcome to join us. We have had some interest in this.. including Ant & Jo from the Midnight Patrol tent from Stoke.

As i mentioned last month, this can only be an informal gathering at the Bull Inn at Bottesford, sadly there will be no film show, and it will be subject to the pub’s social distancing rules with table service. For those that don’t know, the pub was once run by Beatrice Olga, Stan’s sister and her husband Billy during the 1950s. It saw a number of visits by Stan & Ollie during their 1952 and 1953/4 theatre tours…including a visit on Christmas Day 1953, when Stan & Ollie pulled the pints for the locals. Although recently decorated, the lounge exhibits Laurel & Hardy memorabilia and there’s a plaque on the outside wall that commemorates the Boys visits. The pub currently runs with an outside “beer garden” which has now been extended into the car park at the back of the pub (in front of the bowling alley). The tables are well socially distanced so you shouldn’t feel uncomfortable. We will be there at approximately 1pm and should be there for a few hours in the afternoon. I believe its not necessary to book but please can you let me know if you are thinking of coming so I can warn Callum, the current landlord of the pub. It certainly would be good to see many of you again.

In the morning, I plan to lay a few flowers on Arthur Jefferson’s grave (Stan Laurel’s father) in Barkston in memory of a remarkable man. He died in 1949 whilst Olga was running her first pub, the Plough Inn on West Street. I plan to do the usual walk around this very fine village, 4 miles north of Grantham. All are welcome to join me…of course subject to usual social distance rules, meeting at the usual place (The Stag Inn) at 11am.

As mentioned last month, I haven’t advertised what we are doing this year beyond our tent (and the recipients of this email), so numbers will be down, but manageable and safe. But , don’t be put off – all are welcome and please bring family ad friends.

This year we have number of things to celebrate and toast at the Bull Inn….and that’s aside from the progress we’ve all made to end lockdown. First, it’s Stan Laurel’s birthday this week…he would have been 131 years old on Wednesday if he was still alive. So, Happy Birthday, Stan. Secondly, Laurel & Hardy’s first film together was filmed early 1921 and released in October 1921 – 100 years ago this year. That film was “The Lucky Dog” Congratulations Stan & Ollie. Thirdly and not least, the Beau Hunks tent celebrates its coming of age…we are celebrating our 21st anniversary this month. So, well done everybody and thanks for your support…we will have a special celebration later in the year.

Though this months June meeting is obviously cancelled, we would have chosen a programme to reflect all these celebrations….so like me , if you’re missing your monthly injection of Stan & ollie frivolity, then howzabout this”

The Luck Dog (1921) – Stan & Ollie’s 1st film together, though admittedly this was more a chance meeting in a Stan Laurel film production.

Beau Hunks (1931) – Our tents title film and a thank you to all our tent members for their support

Twice Two (1933) – a multi-anniversary celebration

Blotto (1930) – the Boys celebrate with the wifes liquor!

Another Fine Mess (1930) – a Bull Inn favourite, based on Stan’s fathers play “Home from the honeymoon”

Towed in a Hole (1932) – John Palmer’s favourite film – a special thank you to John for making past Bull Inn events so special

Helpmates (1932) – as a thank you to all Helpmates out there who have supported our past events.

Some news…

As part of the 100 year anniversary celebration, Talking Pictures TV is running a season of L&H short and feature films every Saturday/Sunday 4-6pm in July and occasional films on Saturday Morning commencing Saturday 3rd July with Brats at 9.10am then the Music Box at 4pm followed by Pack Up Your troubles (see advert below). Roger Robinson also has tipped me off that his and Dave Wyatts new book “Hard Boiled Eggs and Nuts” will be advertised off the TV channel, though under a different cover. This is a brilliant book with contributions provided by our own tent members. We were hoping to have Dave and Roger up to sell at at the Bull Inn this year – but there is always next year. Being a hard boiled egg-head..it look like I’m going to have to buy another one of these books with the alternative cover design from the TV channel. Doh!

There is another new Laurel & Hardy book out entitled Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy in Film Fun. This is a softback book containing a sample of at least 100 reproduced pages of L&H Film Fun comic strips from the 1940s and 1950s…if you like your Film Fun comics then this is for you. Its available from HOYD Publishing at hoydpublishing.co.uk. Separately, Tent member Steve Holden has just contacted me and has an original 1958 Film Fun Annual in decent condition. It has 2 full Laurel and Hardy Cartoon Strip stories in it, one in full colour. If anyone would like it he can do it for £10 including postage etc; you can contact Steve directly at busesfanclub@aol.com

Finally, but not least, Dave Barson has spotted that the latest (ie June 2021) copy of Best of British has the Boys featuring in a two-page article and also on the front page in colour. It concerns their well-publicised visit in March 1947 to the reopening of the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch railway in Kent. This you purchase at your local WH Smiths. I’ve seen it and its worth the money. See the cover photo below.

Phew…not much else L&H to report this month!

Repeating the usual mantra…. please stay safe everyone and hopefully we will see you all again real soon that is if we don’t see you at the Bull Inn!

The Beau Hunks Tent of The Sons of the Desert

The Nottingham branch of the Laurel and Hardy appreciation society

May Meeting 2022 May 15, 2022

May Meeting 2022 – We are back. May 7, 2022

April Meeting 2022 Cancelled April 3, 2022

Februray Meeting 2022 Cancelled March 5, 2022

January Meeting 2022 Cancelled January 21, 2022

Christmas 2021 December 30, 2021

October Meeting 2021 Cancelled October 22, 2021

September meeting 2021 Cancelled September 14, 2021

August Meeting 2021 Cancelled

June Meeting 2021 Cancelled June 15, 2021

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