Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

I hope you are all swell….unfortunately this “Another Nice Mess” continues and we can’t as yet meet, but I’m very forever hopeful its not too far away now.  I will let you know when…but  sadly I have had to cancel the Bull Inn this year.

If we could have met we would have paid a little tribute to Edgar Livingstone Kennedy who was born this month 131 years ago…April 26th 1890.  Edgar usually played an exasperated figure, often a policeman and he was well known for his “slow burn” look to the camera.   He played in or directed no less than 11 films with Stan & Ollie…but for this month I would highly recommend any of the following films to watch if you have a bad case of L&Hdelirious, or even a double L&Hdelirious,  just like me!

– “The Finishing Touch” (1928) –  Stan & Ollie finish building a house – Edgar plays the cop.

– “Bacon grabbers” (1929) – Stan & Ollie try and serve a writ on Edgar (and Jean Harlow)

– “Unaccustomed As We Are” (1929) – Stan & Ollies 1st talkie – Edgar plays a cop.

– “Perfect Day” (1929) –  Stan & Ollie go on a picnic with Uncle Edgar.

– “Night Owls‘” (1930) – Stan & Ollie are enrolled as burglars by Edgar the cop.

– “You’re Darn tootin” (1928) – Trouser Ripping fun – Edgar as director.

Not much else L&H to report this month.

Repeating the mantra…. please stay safe everyone and hopefully we will see you all again real soon!

Laurel & Hardily Yours,

Dave and Denise T

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

I hope you are all swell….unfortunately this “Another Nice Mess” continues and we can’t as yet meet, but I’m very forever hopeful its not too far away now.  I will let you know when…but  sadly I have had to cancel the Bull Inn this year.

If we could have met we would have paid a little tribute to Edgar Livingstone Kennedy who was born this month 131 years ago…April 26th 1890.  Edgar usually played an exasperated figure, often a policeman and he was well known for his “slow burn” look to the camera.   He played in or directed no less than 11 films with Stan & Ollie…but for this month I would highly recommend any of the following films to watch if you have a bad case of L&Hdelirious, or even a double L&Hdelirious,  just like me!

– “The Finishing Touch” (1928) –  Stan & Ollie finish building a house – Edgar plays the cop.

– “Bacon grabbers” (1929) – Stan & Ollie try and serve a writ on Edgar (and Jean Harlow)

– “Unaccustomed As We Are” (1929) – Stan & Ollies 1st talkie – Edgar plays a cop.

– “Perfect Day” (1929) –  Stan & Ollie go on a picnic with Uncle Edgar.

– “Night Owls‘” (1930) – Stan & Ollie are enrolled as burglars by Edgar the cop.

– “You’re Darn tootin” (1928) – Trouser Ripping fun – Edgar as director.

Not much else L&H to report this month.

Repeating the mantra…. please stay safe everyone and hopefully we will see you all again real soon!

Laurel & Hardily Yours,

Dave and Denise T

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

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

And so it goes on…and on….and on!  Unfortunately, yet again,  we can’t meet this month.  I can’t believe that it’s now been a whole year since we last met on Feb 19th 2020, who would have thought it was going to last this long.  Doh!!  Anyway, with the jab roll-out going strong it shouldn’t be too long before we can all get together in the company of our two favourite comedians…..indeed something certainly to look forward to.   I hope everyone is keeping well, both physically and mentally!

Anyway, something to really look forward to is Shrove Tuesday tomorrow….yes, pancake day!  i don’t know about you, but I love my pancakes and so did Stan & Ollie.  I’ve attached a few images of Stan & Ollie practising the fine art of making and tossing pancakes, at the start of their 1952 UK tour, in the kitchens of the Washington Hotel in London.  As many of you are feeling a little bit “Flat as a Pancake”  because of not meeting this month, I couldn’t help myself but to put together a “virtual” programme  so you can enjoy a Laurel & Hardy Pancake Party in your own home using your Stan & Ollie boxset ….so here we go:-

– “Perfect Day” (1929) –  Stan & Ollie can only dream of a pancake picnic in the countryside but suffer a flat (as a pancake) tyre instead.

– “Thicker than Water” (1935) –  Ollie has his goose cooked by a large pancake frying pan after his grandfather’s clock is flattened like a pancake by a truck in the street.

– “You’re Darn Tootin'” (1928) – Stan & Ollie are musicians.  Ollie’s French Horn plays flat notes after it is also flattened by a truck after Stan tosses it into the street.

– “Below Zero” (1930) – Stan & Ollie are again musicians playing in the snow.  Stan’s organ is  flattened by a truck after the mighty Blanche Payson tosses it into the street.

– “Bacon Grabbers (1928) – Stan & Ollie are bailiffs.  A steam roller flattens Edgar Kennedy (&Jean Harlow’s) radio set followed by the Boys car.  Ouch, sorry John Palmer!

-” The Battle of the Century” (1927) – The biggest pancake pie fight of all time – also recomembering the anniversary of Anita Garvin’s birth on February 11th.

I would have probably shown most of these films if we could have met up…on the 17th our usual 3rd wednesday of the month. So, why not give them an airing….like a pancake.

There is also another treat in store this Friday.  At 8.25pm, the Beeb on BBC1 are premiering on terrestrial TV for the first time the 2018 biographical film “Stan & Ollie” with Steve Coogan (as Stan) and John C Reilly (as Ollie).  As we’ve said before it is a good film, the actors do a good job at capturing their likenesses and chemistry.  However, what lets it down is that the story is very loosely based on fact  concerning the 1953 UK tour and main plot line is far from accurate.  It does however capture the love, affection and respect that these two gentlemen had for each other.  I’ve always had mixed feeling about this film, but one major plus for it, is that it keeps the spirit of Laurel & hardy alive, which I’m all for.  So, I’m hoping we may pick up a few more Stan & Ollie devotees for the tent after its showing.

If you do want to see a good and accurate documentary on Laurel & Hardy, check out “Laurel & Hardy – Their Lives & Magic” .  This regularly crops up on the Sky Arts and Sky Documentaries channels.

Repeating the mantra…. please stay safe everyone and hopefully we will see you all again real soon!

Laurel & Hardily Yours,

Dave and Denise T

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

Happy new year to you all.

Unfortunately we can’t meet again this month…but we can all agree that there’s certainly some light at the end of the tunnel.  I suspect  some of our elder statesmen (and women) would have had their first jab – you lucky people .  I’m sure it won’t be long now before we can all get back together again.

Today as many of you know is the university of the birth of Oliver Norvell Hardy…18th January 1892….129 years ago, in Harlem, Georgia, fondly known as Babe to all Laurel & Hardy fans around the world.   Happy birthday, Babe.

If we could have had a meeting this month, I’d certainly put on a programme of films where Babe takes centre stage.  So again if you’re missing your monthly fix, whilst stuck at home, you might just want to watch one or more of the following films from your Stan & Ollie boxset ….so here we go:-

– “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 favourite homely lockdown pursuit…..a jigsaw puzzle!

– “Our Wife” (1931) – Babe elopes with Dulcy (played by another Babe….Babe London).  He eventually gets married, though with restricted numbers in attendance!!

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

-” Chickens come Home” (1931) – Babe (and not so happily) married, wants to run for “Office” , but has one or two past life indiscretions that he wishes to bury….one not being the incitement of a crowd to threaten and ransack a very important government office!.  Indeed, how times have changed.

I would have probably shown most of these films if we could have met…on the 20th our usual 3rd Wednesday of the month.

The Talking Pictures TV channel has been showing 10 min clips of Laurel & Hardy’s Musical Moments as a filler between films, etc.  I’ve not seen any yet, but i’m reliably told that there’s one showing of it  tomorrow (Tues) 19th Jan at 7.35am and another (or same) showing  on Monday 25th Jan at 10.30am.  Apparently these have been taken from 8mm Walton home movies, so I can’t vouch for the film quality.

Repeating the mantra…. please stay safe everyone and hopefully we will see you all again real soon!

Laurel & Hardily Yours,

Dave and Denise T

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

Just writing to let everyone know the obvious….no meeting this week or even last week (oops)!  Who would have guessed that the last films we showed this year way back at our Feb 2020 meeting…..”They Go boom” (where Ollie was suffering with a virus in bed)…and “Scram”, would be so prophetic for the rest of the year.  Indeed what a crazy year it has been – I hope everyone including all your loved ones have been able keep safe.

Although we can’t have our Christmas meeting….we can at least all have a good laugh, and we certainly need it during these difficult times.  Though unfortunately i’ve not detected anything of the Boys on TV this Christmas…we can still have a good time in the company of L&H with our DVD boxsets.  We would have certainly showed many of the Boys Christmas films at christmas meet….so, as we can’t meet…I’ve this month set out a possible 12 days of Christmas with Laurel & Hardy.. However, instead of the first day of Christmas being Christmas Day I’ve set Day 1 as tomorrow (ie a few days earlier).  Well, at least Boris or the virus can’t stop us  from meeting Stan & Ollie for these 12 days of Christmas.

Anyway here we go..

1st Day – Tues 22nd Dec –  “Big Business (1929)” – Stan & Ollie sell Christmas trees….Happy Christmas everyone

2nd Day – 23rd Dec – “The Fixer Uppers (1935) “ – Stan & Ollie sell Christmas Cards….”Merry Christmas, mother. Merry Christmas, ma.  Hi, mommy mommy….and a hot cha cha”

3rd Day – 24th Dec – “Babes in Toyland/March of wooden Soldiers (1934)” – we’ve not shown this feature for a number of years now.  its a favourite in the USA, shown many times on Christmas Eve…Stan & Ollie help Santa Claus to make toys….but unfortunately the order goes a bit astray as they make 100 toy soldiers 6 ft high…instead of 600 1ft high!!

4th Day – Christmas Day – “Way Out West (1937)‘…I remember this feature being shown numerous times on the Beeb during the 1970s.

5th Day – Boxing day – “Swiss Miss (1938)”…this was another Christmas favouite feature during the 1970s.

6th Day – 27th Dec – “Laughing gravy (1931)”….indeed poor old……

7th Day – 28th Dec – “Below zero (1930)”….recomembering a time when cafes were open!  Also no thoughts about that vaccine and how it should be kept.

8th Day – 29th Dec – “Midnight Patrol (1933)”….particularly thinking about our Key workers this time of year….including the Police.

9th Day – 30th Dec –  “Towed in a Hole (1932)”…usually a time to think about the past year and future plans…post Brexit Trade Deals!

10th Day – 31st Dec – “Blotto (1930)”

11th Day – 1st Jan – “Helpmates (1932)” – The day after the night before!

12th Day – 2nd Jan – “County Hospital (1932)” – looking forward to our jabs from our wonderful NHS

There are many things to look forward to in the new year…including a new book by Roger Robinson and Dave Wyatt entitled, “Hard Boiled Eggs and Nuts” to mark the 100th edition of the Saps at Sea tent magazine called the Periwinkle, which is now regarded as one of the best international L&H magazines .  Roger and Dave have asked a number of Sons and friends of L&H to write an article….I know a few Beau Hunks tent members have been asked to contribute…and I know it will be a cracker.  Optimistically, with a good vaccine roll-out, I’m hoping that it can be launched at our Bull inn event in June.

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 (after watching Swiss Miss)…dependent on stock, it could be as much as 40% less.

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 a Happy 12 days of L&H Christmas and a substantially better year in 2021.  Please stay safe everyone and especially on Christmas Day – possibly wearing the requisite  PPE as shown below!

Laurel & Hardily Yours,

Dave and Denise T

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

I hope you are all OK.  Indeed what Another Nice Mess we’ve now got ourselves into?  With most of us now in the High Risk Tier 2 Lockdown, which also includes  our venue in Sandiacre, we can’t   meet indoors with different households – indeed what a bad state of affairs –  we couldn’t even invite Stan & Ollie.  Doh!!   Despair not,  I have a few suggestions …for your monthly dose of Laurel & Hardy during these dark nights…..infact they usually are!

Traditionally, Octember is the month where we would celebrate the anniversary of the birth of any one of 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).  But, instead, of choosing say Beau Hunks/ Flying Deuces for Charles, Thicker than water (for Daphne) and Scram/live Ghost (for Arthur), I set myself a challenge to identify 7 films from the L&H filmography where Stan & Ollie (from different households) would be in support of the Tier 2 rules.  So, in no particular order:-

–  “Liberty” (1929) ,with plenty of open air space on top of a partly-constructed skyscraper

–  “The Hoose-Gow” (1929), the Boys are inside – but working outside – with plenty of hand (white) wash!

–  “The Midnight Patrol” (1933), the Boys are policemen – handing out summons/fines.

–  “Towed in a Hole” (1932), the boys and their fully outdoor fishing venture to help the economy and cut out the middleman, with profits going to the fish.

–  “The Finishing Touch  (1928), the Boys work from home…..building a house with plenty of ventillation!

–  “Dirty Work” (1933), The boys work as chimney sweeps – but wished they wore their masks!

–   “Hog Wild” (1930), Stan helps Ollie putting an aerial up on the roof, Ollie regularly washes his hands – in the fishpond!

Again, we would have  selected a number of the above films at our film show.  Let me know if you can think of any other films that could also fit the bill!

I’ve not ordered any 2021 calendars this year due to the practicalities of distribution.  However, I have noted that the “Calender Club”  stall in a number of our shopping centres (eg Derby intu) has it stocked and selling for £11.99.  Alternatively you can order it online from Rob Lewis from the Helpmates UK tent at £12.99 from Laurelandhardy.org

Nothing else to report this month, there isn’t anymore, so stay safe everyone and I hope to see you all again real soon.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave and Denise T

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

Indeed again we’re having to cancel this months film show….that’s 7 cancelled shows now on the trot….so no film show tomorrow I’m afraid, Weds 19th August.    Even if we set aside Boris’s rules, which I feel many have now forgotten or are just ignoring, and the fact that the Bridge Inn wouldn’t allow us to meet indoors anyway, I think its way too early for us to get back together again even if we can find a way of 1m+ social distancing.  Leicester is still in partial lockdown measures, national infection rates are rising including those rates in Derby and Nottingham, and of course we’ve had local spikes in Newark, Melton and Newark.  So sadly, I can’t see us getting back again for several weeks yet.   Did you see the front cover of the Daily Mail this morning? …..Indeed What a Fine Mess….see below.

Tomorrow is the university of the birth of Laurel & Hardy’s little nemesis….Charlie Hall.  He was born 19th August 1899…. he would have been 131 tomorrow if still alive!   He appeared in no less than 47 films with the Boys…mostly as a bit-part player taking a supplementary appearance wage to his usual carpenters job in his early days at the Roach studio.  However, in some films he took a co-starring role with Stan & Ollie , the best of which include….

–  “The Battle of the Century” (1927) ,where Charlie throws the first pie of many thrown during this film

–  “Laughing Gravy” (1931), where Charlie plays the restless landlord.

–  “Busy Bodies” (1933), where Charlie plays a fellow carpenter in a Saw Mill.

–  “Them Thar Hills” (1934) where Charlie plays Mr Hall, who plays a tit for tat scene where he ends up tarred and feathered.  Pom Pom

–  “Tit For Tat”  (1935) where in a sequel to Them Thar Hills, Mr Hall, the grocer,  suffers following a clandestine meeting of Ollie with Mrs Hall, as he waits for a street car!

–  “Come Clean” (1931) where Charlie plays an ice cream vendor with no chocolate ice cream.

–  “Twice Two” (1933) where Charlie plays an anniversary cake delivery man….with inevitable consequences!  See below.

We would have probably selected a number of the above films at our film show.   So, again, as Ken Dodd would say, can I challenge you to treat yourself to exercising your chuckle muscle and view one or more of the above films….or any of Charlies 47 films with the Boys.

Although we can’t meet at the moment I’d like to welcome Ian Raven and his family to our tent.  Ian sent me a photo this week of L&H scarecrows he made for his local Scarecrow festival in Western Park, Leicester last year.  He is happy for me to share this with you and I think you would agree that this scarecrows are absolutely brilliant.  Ian is certainly very talented.  For those that can’t  recall the film….I know it’s been a long time since we last met….the film is the Boys oscar winning, The Music Box from 1932.  Anyway, Ian we hope we can get to meet you and your family sometime soon.

As you may or may not know…Antony and Jo Mitchell- Waite have now completed and released their long awaited “LikeTwo peas in a Pod’ book.  This is volume 1 to his volume 2 that they issued a couple of years ago!  This volume is a visual guide to Laurel & Hardy Look-alikes and Tribute Acts on the screen in Film, TV and on the Internet.  It’s an amazing book running at no less than 724 pages and has a whole chapter dedicated to the recent “Stan & Ollie” film.   You can learn more about this book on the Bowler Dessert website (www.bowlerdessert.com) under “Like Two peas in a Pod (volume 1)” link.   TIt is reasonably priced at £28 which includes postage/packing.  For more details on the book and payment you can contact Ant & Jo at  lolarun2@yahoo.co.uk    Ant & Jo are very happy to inscribe.  We had hoped to have had Ant & Jo launch the book at our 20th anniversary June 20th 2020 event at the Bull Inn….but a certain virial interlude put paid to that!  Hopefully, when things get back to a “new” normal  we could ask Jo & Ant to give us a talk on the new book.  But as this may be sometime I do urge you to put your orders in now…you won’t regret it.

Finally, you may or may not know, that in the last couple of months, a new multi- disk all-region L&H DVD/Blu-ray has landed from the US….entitled “The Definitive Restorations – Laurel & Hardy” .  Although its very expensive at approx £60-£70, its an amazing archive of restored L&H film material including expert commentaries and many extras.  it also includes the newly restored and complete version of “Battle of the Century” .  I’ve received my Blu-Ray copy and i was amazed at the quality of the films…particularly The Battle of the Century.  Many of the L&H experts are raving about it….mainly because its been restoration experts that love L&H at UCLA using new 2k/4k digital restorations from original 35mm sources.  I’ve not gone through all the disks yet…which will probably take quite some time, but if you are looking for something special…then you don’t need to look much further than this set.  You won’t be disappointed.  You can find out more about this on the Bowler Dessert website or other L&H websites.

Anyway, thats it for this month, there isn’t anymore, so stay safe everyone and I hope to see you all again real soon.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

This month the Beau Hunks tent was hoping to celebrate its 20th year University with a film show at the Bull Inn, Bottesford on Saturday 20th June 2020.

As with all good things this year we have had to accept the inevitable and we have had to cancel our annual event.  Doh!  It’s a shame, as we had themed our show “The second 10 years” with a special restored viewing of “The Second 100 years” by film expert Robin Cook…..and of course a rather fitting showing of “Twice Two”!

A few of us are still hoping to make the short trip out to Bottesford and then on to Barkston to pay our annual respects to Arthur Jefferson (Stan Laurel’s father) by the laying of flowers on his grave….of course, all in accordance with the current social distancing rules.  Anyway, we will celebrate our 20th as soon as its deemed safe and we can show films again at the Bridge Inn, Sandiacre, Nottingham…and of course, we will have our coming of age, 21st anniversary, to look forward to next year…provisionally booked for Saturday June 19th 2021.   Stay Safe everyone and hope to see you all again soon.

Tootle loo.

Dave Tomlinson

GS Beau Hunks tent of Nottingham

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

I hope all’s well with you all and not going stir crazy after being locked up…down for so long!    Sadly. again, and on the eve of Stan Laurels birthday, we’re having to cancel this months meetings, firstly our monthly film show at the Bridge Inn on Wednesday June 17th and then our annual event at the Bull Inn, Bottesford on Saturday June 20th.  It’s a real shame as on Wednesday we would have celebrated Stan’s 130th birthday….which is actually tomorrow, and then of course on Saturday we would have celebrated our own tents 20th anniversary.

To be honest, Stan probably wouldn’t have cared too much for us celebrating his 130th….he was quite superstitious and had his name changed from Stan Jefferson….13 letters long to Stan Laurel…10 letters….that 13×10=130, indeed!  However, this didn’t always work out for him as sometimes he was known as Stanley Laurel….which is back to 13 letters!  One film we may have shown this month was where Stan….addressed  himself as “Sir Stanley Laurel”.  That film would have been the Boys first ever feature film, the prison break film, Pardon Us with Walter “The Tiger” Long.  However, in the current climate,  that might not have been the best film to show at this time, as I wouldn’t want to provoke any thoughts that they were in any way racist via use of black face to create a comic disguise.  I’m fully 100% behind the peaceful BLM movement, but sadly IMO this has been hijacked by many distractions (eg statues).  Stan & Ollie and the Hal Roach studio (particularly with the Our Gang series) were absolute pioneers at creating comedy that was loved and enjoyed by all creating no divisions of any kind.

Our Bull Inn event has now been formally cancelled until next year….I’m aiming now to have our 21st year celebration on Saturday, June 19th.  This year I would have themed it the 2nd 10 years for our 20th year anniversary…which is a play on one of the Boys early silents….”The 2nd 100 years” ….another Prison break film.  We were hoping that Robin Cook would be able to show his latest restoration of this film…but alas that will have to save.  As present restrictions now allow us to travel, I will be making the car journey to Barkston to tidy-up and lay a few flowers on Arthur Jefferson’s grave…followed by a short walk around the village. Anyone wishing to join me, I will be outside the Stag Inn at 11am…..obviously all subject to current social distancing/group sizing rules.    As Nottingham University’s  goverment Covid scientist, Professor Van-Tam, said at one of Boris’s press conferences, as long as we don’t “tear the pants” out of the gatherings we should be safe…I was wondering if he was thinking about “You’re darn tooting” where at the end of the film….several pairs of trousers get ripped off.

Afterwards, I may pass by the Bull Inn…raise a bottle of soda to the tent, before a swift return home to go to the loo!  Therefore, on a practical point, if you are to make the journey…please be sure you’ll be able to make the round trip…I don’t think there will be any public loos open on the trek!

So for your homework this month…. I’d suggest any or all of the following films from the 21-DVD Boxset…

“The Second 100 years”  –  a prison break

“Twice Two” –  The Boys celebrate a double anniversary

“You’re Darn Tooting” – pants ripping fun!

“The Hoose Gow” – another prison break film

“County Hospital” – celebrating William “Hardy old bean you’ve got my trousers on” Austins birthday on June12th.

And of course, don’t forget to raise a glass to Stan (130 tomorrow!) and to the Beau Hunks tent (20 this month) and yes, to the tent founderer and exhausted Grand Sheikh, Dave Scothern.

If I don’t see you Saturday –  stay safe and keep in touch.  Hopefully we can meet again soon.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T