Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,
Our next film show is this Wednesday, 21st Nowonder at the usual location, THE WHITE LION….24, Middle Street, BEESTON, NG9 1FX commencing at the usual time of 7.30pm.   I‘m expecting that we will be upstairs again.

All are welcome and entry is free.

This month, we will be commemorating 100 years since the World War 1 Armistice with the screening of a related L&H short silent film and with the screening of the wonderful 1938 feature film favourite, “Block-heads”, from the Hal Roach film studios.  In this feature film, Stan returns to the USA as a war hero ….that is after being discovered still guarding a trench on the front line 20 years after Armistice!!

We will also be the celebrating the birthday of Dorothy Granger, an actress who played a minor supporting role in at least 4 Laurel & Hardy short films at the Hal Roach studios…one of them, which we’ll show where she plays two separate roles.

We will also be continuing our series of Laurel & Hardy cartoons from the 1930s and of course we will have our usual raffle, any donations are always gratefully accepted.

Our Christmas meeting has also been provisionally set for the usual 3rd Wednesday….December 19th .  We intend to show the usual traditional Christmas films and to have another mini-buffet….indeed, just like the one we had last year.  All are welcome.

Talking about Christmas….and more specifically Christmas presents, I have now secured a total 20 Laurel & Hardy 2019 calenders from Rob Lewis at the Chatham L&H convention.  These I can sell at the reduced price of £10 each….there should be enough for all who originally requested them but I’m afraid they will have to be sold on a first come first served basis, as I can’t recomember who asked for one. Doh!   I’ve also secured a few  “A Spot of trouble in Southend” books written and signed by Roger Robinson.  This is a significantly expanded re-issue of his original book that not only covers the Boys visit to Southend in 1952 but several chapters covering a context to this; covering the 1952 tour in general and their other tours and performances.  These are signed by Roger and are available at a reduced price of  £10 each.

I have been lucky enough to have now seen the new Stan & Ollie biopic film –  I have to say that it is absolutely brilliant and well-recommended to watch in January when it is on general release in our cinemas…..its a good story and characterisations of Stan & Ollie are absolutely spot on during the film.  The only (minor) negative comment i have against it is that the storyline is very loosely based on fact which sadly is full of misleading information and is totally lacking in any significant biographical content….but unlike Laurel & Hardy’s Christmas cards (in The Fixer Uppers)…its full of sentiment and reflects the true love and respect that these fine men had for each other at the end of their lives.  So, its highly recommended.  If I get to learn about any advance showings in our area, i’ll certainly let you know.

Hopefully, we’ll see you on Wednesday.  Please bring friends and family – all are very welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

Our next film show is this Wednesday, 17th Octember at the usual location, THE WHITE LION….24, Middle Street, BEESTON, NG9 1FX commencing at the usual time of 7.30pm.   I‘m expecting that we will be upstairs again.

All are welcome and entry is free.

I want to thank Danny Lawrence for his fascinating talk on Arthur Jefferson, Stan Laurel’s father last month.  I know that many of you learnt a lot and were surprised at how interesting AJ was as a character and what a significant influence he was on Stan’s life and career.  Thanks again Danny.

This month, we will be celebrating the birthdays of two of the most significant supporting actors/actresses in Laurel & Hardy films ……  the diminutive and forceful Daphne Pollard (October 19th) and the eternal drunk Arthur “Hiccup”  Housman (October 10th).   We’ll be showing a number of L&H films that they appeared in together or separately – particularly one of my favourites, the Hal Roach feature film “Our Relations”, where Stan & Ollie eventually meet their twin brothers Bert and Alf.  Daphne plays Mrs Hardy…and Arthur Housman is the drunk!

We will also be continuing our series of Laurel & Hardy cartoons from the 1930s and of course we will have our usual raffle, any donations are always gratefully accepted.

I’m afraid no more news on the Stan & Ollie film, except that it will be premiered in London next Sunday (21st October).

There’s been much chatter concerning the trailer amongst the Sons….but I think the attached pdf presents a representative set of thoughts by highly respected USA Son, Tracy Tolzmann. Stan & Ollie essay

Our Christmas meeting has also been provisionally set for the usual 3rd Wednesday….December 19th .  We intend to show the usual traditional films and to have another mini-buffet….just like the one we had last year.  All are welcome.

Talking about Christmas and Christmas presents, I will be at The Helpmates UK Laurel & Hardy Convention on Saturday 3rd November at the Holiday Inn in Chatham.   No doubt Rob Lewis will be selling next years calendars…if you want one, let me know and I’ll try and get you one.  They are presently selling at £13 each on the L&H website (http://www.laurelandhardy.org/2019_CALENDAR.html), but if I buy in bulk, I maybe able to get them a little cheaper from Rob just as we did last year.

I also understand that Antony and Joanne Mitchell Waite will be launching their new book entitled “Like Two Peas in a Pod – A visual guide to Laurel & Hardy Look-alikes  and Tribute Acts on the stage: in Pantomime, Theatre, Burlesque and Street Performance” at the Helpmates Convention…I’ve been given a sneak preview at a few of the early chapters and it looks very interesting.  From other books Ant and Jo have produced I have no doubts it’ll be a sure hit…and there’s even a short foreword written by…a certain Beau Hunks Grand Shreak  – which was an honour for me to write.  I’m hoping to get Ant & Jo to one of our future meetings, but if you want an advance copy let me know.  Price is still yet to be determined.

I also (also) understand that Roger Robinson is launching a re-edit and expansion of his “On the Spot” book based on the Boys appearance in Southend in 1952.  Again, if interested, let me know and I’ll find out price and I’ll obtain the book in Chatham.

The Helpmates UK Laurel & Hardy Convention is always a great Laurel & Hardy day out and tickets are still available…  Information can be found on the Laurel & Hardy Magazine website  http://www.laurelandhardy.org/convention.html

Our next film show is on the usual 3rd Wednesday of the month….November 21st at 7.30pm, when we will be commemorating 100 years since the  Armistice in our own little way,  with the showing of the Laurel & Hardy feature film “Block-heads” .

Hopefully, we’ll see you on Wednesday.  Please bring friends and family – all are welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,
Our next film show is this Wednesday, 19th September  at the usual location, THE WHITE LION….24, Middle Street, BEESTON, NG9 1FX commencing at the usual time of 7.30pm.   Hopefully we’ll be back upstairs again.

All are welcome and entry is free.

This month, we are celebrating the university of the birth of Stan Laurel’s father “Arthur Jefferson” (senior), who’s date of birth (we think) is September 12th, 1862.  In celebration, our very own Danny Lawrence, has kindly agreed to give us a small talk on his  book entitled “Arthur Jefferson – Man of the theatre and Father of Stan Laurel” that he released late last year.  Arthur Jefferson Senior was a very colourful person….not the least of it, his birth!    Most people know that Stan’s real name is not Laurel but Jefferson……but not many know that AJ’s father was probably not a Jefferson….but very probably a Gough!   Under different circumstances….we may have known the Boys…not as Laurel & Hardy…..but Gough and Hardy!  AJ was a successful man of the theatre….a comic actor, a theatre owner, a playwright.  He was also a politician….but sadly not a great businessman.    It is full of many interesting and fascinating new facts not only on Arthur Jefferson but on the other members of his (and Stan Laurel’s) family.  I’ve read Danny’s book and it is absolutely amazing…and I’d say one of the most important books written concerning Laurel & Hardy in the past 10 years.    Indeed yes, I highly recommend it and Danny will be bringing books to sell and sign.  Danny’s talk will also be supported by some rare film footage.   I’ll also be showing some interesting Jefferson family memorabilia, some of which was once owned by the family (ie Beatrice Olga Jefferson).

We will of course be showing a good number of Laurel & Hardy (or I should say Gough & Hardy) short films throughout the evening….all with a good connection to Stan’s father, Arthur Jefferson.

We will also be continuing our series of Laurel & Hardy cartoons from the 1930s and of course we will have our usual raffle, any donations are always gratefully accepted.

Thanks to the wizardry of Mark and Fran Elvin, our Beau Hunks webpage has been updated with a write-up and a few photos of our day-out to the Bull Inn, Bottesford and to Arthur Jefferson’s grave in Barkston.  See  http://www.laurelandhardynottingham.uk/

Our next film show is on the usual 3rd Wednesday of the month….October 17th at 7.30pm.

Hopefully, we’ll see you on Wednesday.  Please bring friends and family – all are welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,
Our next film show is this Wednesday, 8th August  at the usual location, THE WHITE LION….24, Middle Street, BEESTON, NG9 1FX commencing at the usual time of 7.30pm.   Hopefully we’ll be upstairs again.

All are welcome and entry is free.

As you know, we brought our August film show a week earlier than the usual 3rd week but we’ll be back to the usual 3rd Wednesday, next month (ie September 19th).  But, back to our August film show it will be our “by special request” evening where YOU will select the short films you want to see from a list of films.  As it is the university of the births of James Finlayson (on the 27th)  and Charlie Hall (on the 19th), I’ve prepared a list of 10 films to choose from where one or both of them appear and indeed these are films we haven’t seen for at least 3 months!

So that you can get your thinking caps on….you can choose any 3 from the following list of ten Laurel & Hardy films:-

Films that BOTH Charlie and James appear in:-

1. Men O war (1929) –  The Boys go boating in the local park
2. Me and My Pal (1933) – Stan starts a Jigsaw on the morning of Ollie’s wedding
3. Thicker Than Water (1935) – The Boys win a grandfather’s clock at an auction

Films that only James appears in

4. Night Owls (1930) – the Boys attempt to burgle the police chiefs house
5. Our Wife (1931) – Ollie elopes with Babe London
6. The Chimp (1932) –  With Ethel and the of course the flea circus.

Films that only Charlie appears in

7. Laughing gravy (1931) – with poor ole Laughing gravy!
8. Them Thar Hills (1934) – pom pom
9.  Tit For Tat (1935) – between the Boys electrical shop and Charlie’s grocery shop
10.  The Live Ghost (1934) – the Boys are shanghaied onto a ghost ship!

You can indeed choose on the night and for one night only….there will be choices of color or b/w!!.

We will also be continuing our series of Laurel & Hardy cartoons from the 1930s, and we have a good one this month….Disney’s Mickey;s Gala Premiere from 1933 and we also have a few rarities to show.  We will have the usual raffle, any donations are gratefully accepted.

As its the school summer holidays you are cordially invited to bring all the kids….little and big kids alike aged from 4 to 104!  This is always a family friendly film show.  As mentioned at our Julyt film show we will be running our annual Keesie Earsie Nosey tent championship.  This is an open competition to all competitors not just for the little kids but also for the big kids too.   So don’t feel embarrassed, join in….andof course a little practise may help.  I know our current champion, Katherine is very good (OK, OK ..yes, she’s absolutely brilliant)….but I’m sure she can be beaten and if not there are always 2nd & third prizes available.   So keep practising.  See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiFEFL6ThRI

Some final news…..The world premiere of the new Stan & Ollie film will close the BFI London Film Festival on 21 October, and it’s set for nationwide release on 11 January 2019.  I understand that there maybe simultaneous premiere viewing at a selected number of cinemas – so I’ll let you know as soon as i know.

Hopefully, we’ll see you on Wednesday.  Please bring friends and family and of course, the kids – all are welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

Our next film show is this Wednesday, 18th July  at the usual location, THE WHITE LION….24, Middle Street, BEESTON, NG9 1FX commencing at the usual time of 7.30pm.   Hopefully we’ll be upstairs again.

All are welcome and entry is free.

Our film show is a sequel to our Laurel & Hardy in Bully-wood theme where we have a continued emphasis on wood, trees, etc.   This month we’ll be showing the Laurel & Hardy feature “Fra Diavolo” aka “The Devils Brother or “Bogus Bandits”.  It’s a film we haven’t seen in 6 years, so is definitely due an airing.  In the film Stanlio and Ollio become reluctant bandits to the feared Fra Diavolo in the forests of Northern Italy.  The film was a favourite of both Stanlio and Ollio and it is deemed their most successful film at the box-office.  It doesn’t get a regular airing because it runs at 90 mins and does have a few operatic interludes which can put one or two off.  However, it is a Hal Roach film production with many magical Laurel & Hardy moments…including the Finger-wiggle and the Kneesie, Earsie and nosey routines .  It also features many Hal Roach regulars including James Finlayson and the beautiful Thelma Todd.  As its  the university of Thelma Todd’s birth this month, we will also be paying tribute to her during the evening.

We will also be continuing our series of Laurel & Hardy cartoons from the 1930s and we have a few rarities.  We will have the usual raffle, any donations are gratefully accepted.

Thanks to everyone who attended our event at the Bull Inn  and for making it a great success.  Special thanks goes to John Palmer for bringing his Model T Ford which provided many photo opportunities especially with L&H lookalikes Gregg Taylor and Tom Seymour.  Also, special thanks goes to Dave Wyatt for a re-showing of the most complete version we have of Battle of the Century, which was projected from 16mm film.  We had over 60 attend with visitors from 7 different tents and from the village of Bottesford. We had visitors from Huddersfield, Sheffield, Ulverston (including Marion Grave from the L&H museum), Southend, Gillingham (including Rob Lewis from the L&H Magazine),  Stoke and Brighton.   We also had a surprise visitor, Ron Stokoe from Southend….Ron was Laurel & Hardy’s actual taxi driver for the week in Southend in 1952.  Ron hasn’t been too well of late (now 92) so it was great to see him in fine spirits in Bottesford.  I’ve attached a photo from the event below, Ron and Marion are in the front seat of John’s Model T.  I hope to put some more photos up on our website in time (http://www.laurelandhardynottingham.uk/).  And indeed, yes…..we shall do it all again next year.

Due to holidays, we are having to move our August meeting a week earlier to Wednesday 8th August, which will be a “by special request” evening where you will chose the short films you want to see……but, it must feature either James Finlayson or Charlie Hall as we celebrate their birthdays in August.  I will prepare a list of films to chose from nearer the time.

Hopefully, we’ll see you on Wednesday.  Please bring friends and family – all are welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,
This is a reminder that we have two film shows next week.

Our first film show is on  Wednesday, 20th June at the usual location, THE WHITE LION….24, Middle Street, BEESTON, NG9 1FX commencing at the usual time of 7.30pm and hopefully in the upstairs function room – in the “Beeston cinema”.   

Our Wednesday show we will be screening the Boys 4th Fox feature film  from 1943….entitled “The Dancing Masters” .   Being a Fox film, admittedly its not one of their best.  As the film was tightly scripted they lost a lot of creative control particularly through lack of input and an inability to improvise on set.  As we have not seen this film for 13 years, its well overdue a showing ans re-evaluation.  However, like a lot of these latter films there are some very good routines and some routines copied from their earlier films with Hal Roach..ie Thicker than Water, County Hospital, Battle of the Century, Block-heads and Dirty Work.  So, I think you will be surprised and I’m sure you will enjoy it.  The film also hasa few other familiar faces….Daphne Pollard and Charley Rogers from Hal Roach L&H films, Margaret Dumont familiar from Marx Brothers films….and a very young looking Robert Mitchum.

This Saturday (June 16th) will be the university of Stan’s birthday, 128 years ago….so we will also be celebrating this on Wednesday with a piece of birthday cake.  As is the tradition, we’ll also be showing a Stan Laurel silent solo film.  This year it will be the 1-reel (10min) solo film  “The Noon Whistle” from 1923 which  features Stan in the lead comedy actor role supported by James Finlayson and Noah Young.   This is a good solo film with the action based in a wood/lumber yard.  On the night, we will also be showing a few other L&H  short films which follow a “wood” based theme – in what is our first cut of wooden-based films in advance of our second cut of films in the second of our film shows this month.  Tell me that again?  We will also be showing the cut-up extant version of Battle of the Century that is available on DVD, so you can thoroughly appreciate the longer version that we’ll be showing in our second film show.  There will be the usual raffle (all donations gratefully accepted) and we’ll be continuing our series of animations

As per usual – all are welcome and entry is free.

Our second film show is on Saturday, June 23rd, 1pm-6pm, at the Bull Inn, Bottesford (NG13 0BW)  entitled “Laurel & Hardy in Bully-Wood”.  This will be our 2nd and prime cut of Laurel & Hardy short films with an emphasis on wood, wood products and trees.  The highlight of the day will be a re-showing of the most complete version of the Boys silent film Battle of the Century – which includes the recently discovered complete 2nd reel  on 16mm by our special guest, Dave Wyatt.

Weather permitting, our very own John Palmer will be be bringing his wonderful working Model T-Ford to exhibit and photograph.

We will also have a number of special guests with us from all around the UK…..Antony and Jo Mitchell-Waite (from the Stoke Midnight Patrol Tent ) will be briefly talking about their forthcoming books and selling/signing their earlier books covering L&H in animation, advertising and compilation films (including Robert Youngson)….Roger Robinson (from the Southend Saps at Sea Tent) co-authored with Dave Wyatt, will be selling/signing their recently issued book on Laurel & Hardy at the London Palladium…Danny Lawrence will be selling/signing his superb book on Arthur Jefferson (Stan Laurel’s father).  Also, for the first time ever, Rob Lewis (GS of the Rochester based Helpmates Tent and editor of the Laurel & Hardy Magazine) and his family will be joining us.  As many of you know, Rob has been a major ambassador for Laurel & Hardy not just in the UK but internationally through the UK Helpmates tent, Helpmates conventions and the L&H magazine which he has been doing for over 40 years.  He doesn’t usually travel to other tent events, so it is an honour for him to join us.   He has also been selling L&H merchandise for many many years.  He won’t be bringing his stall with him, but if you are wanting to purchase anything from him on the day and hence save on postage…check out http://www.laurelandhardy.org/

We also have a number of other special guests joining us from the UK Helpmates tent….Mark Hammond (from Brighton) is a well-known Laurel & Hardy autograph and playbill poster collector.  We also have Helpmates Laurel & Hardy lookalikes Gregg Taylor and Tom Seymour joining us….and hence there will be plenty of photo opportunities.

For those that are new to the tent, the Bull Inn was regularly visited by Stan & Ollie during the early 1950s as Stan’s sister Beatrice Olga and her husband Bill Healey ran the pub as landlords.  In the lounge there are numerous photos of their visits….including photos of the boys pulling the pints behind the Bull Inn bar on Christmas Day 1953 which was during their 4 week “Laurel & Hardy Christmas Party” variety show at the Nottingham Empire theatre.  There is a plaque in the pub that mentions their visits.  There used to be a plaque on the outside of the pub.  However, the brewery for reasons unknown have not allowed it to be re-fixed following the external refurbishment.  The plaque is still owned by the pub and will be available to view on the day.  I will, however, be writing to the brewery to get this sorted – and I may need your support if I don’t get anywhere.

In the morning of June 23rd, we will  again be venturing out to Barkston (a few miles north of Grantham) to lay flowers on the Stan Laurels father’s grave (AJ) and to visit the Plough Inn (the pub that Beatrice Olga and Bill ran during the 1940s).  Meet at the Stag Inn, Barkston 10.30am (NG32 2NB) or catch up with us through this small village….I expect to be at the Barkston & Syston cemetery at 11am and the the Plough Inn (22 West Street) at 11.30am.

All are welcome to Bottesford & Barkston, and it always makes a fun day out…..and this I believe will be our best ever.

All this information is on our website, thanks to Mark Elvin…

http://www.laurelandhardynottingham.uk

Our July film show will be on the usual third Wednesday July 18th.

So, hopefully,we’ll see you TWICE TWO next week.  All are welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,
Our next film show is this Wednesday, 16th May  at the usual location, THE WHITE LION….24, Middle Street, BEESTON, NG9 1FX commencing at the usual time of 7.30pm.   Hopefully we’ll be upstairs again.

All are welcome and entry is free.

I’ve themed our May film show “Nothing but Mae” show in tribute to the eternally ever-popular Mae Busch.  Though her birthday is next month (June 18th) , this mega supporting star, rarely gets the tribute she deserves, as her birthday is only 2 days after a certain Mr Stan Laurel.  Though she was a major silent film star of the 1920s….she was actually a year younger than Stan, born June 18th 1891.  I intend to show nothing but a series of Laurel & Hardy short films in which the eternally ever popular Mae Busch provides a supporting, and in one film, a top billing role!

We will also continue our history of L&H cartoons with a cartoon from 1933 entitled “Scrappy’s party” , where Scrappy throws a birthday party and invites many famous guests, not only Hollywood celebrities….but also some other familiar personalities of the time including Einstein, Gandhi and a rather surprising appearance of Adolf Hitler (6 years before WW2 and his universal infamy).     We will have the usual raffle, any donations are gratefully accepted.

May I remind you that we have two film shows next month.  Firstly, we will be celebrating the university of Stan’s birth on Wednesday, June 20th with a rare showing of the 1943 Fox feature film “The Dancing Masters”.

Then, on the following Saturday, June 23rd, we have our annual  “Boys at the Bull”  film event at the Bull Inn in Bottesford (between Nottingham & Gantham),  with the usual 1pm start (until 6pm).   This year it will be themed “Laurel & Hardy in Bully-Wood”….with an emphasis on wood….trees….etc.   Dave Wyatt has agreed to visit us and re-show the complete version of Laurel & Hardy’s The Battle of the Century, which will be a real treat again to see this projected from 16mm film.   This is a very rare film.  It’s not available on DVD and sadly it maybe many many years (if not longer!) before it becomes available on any other medium……best of all, it is a very funny film.  This pie-fight film was originally made to top all other pie-fight films.

For those that are new to the tent, the Bull Inn was regularly visited by Stan & Ollie during the early 1950s as Stan’s sister Beatrice Olga and her husband Bill Healey ran the pub as landlords.  In the lounge there are numerous photos of their visits….including photos of the boys pulling the pints behind the Bull Inn bar on Christmas Day 1953 which was during their 4 week “Laurel & Hardy Christmas Party” variety show at the Nottingham Empire theatre.  In the morning, we will be again be venturing out to Barkston (a few miles north of Grantham) to lay flowers on the Stan Laurels father’s grave (AJ) and to visit the Plough Inn (the pub that Beatrice Olga and Bill ran during the 1940s).  Meet at the Stag Inn, Barkston 10.30am.  All are welcome to Bottesford & Barkston, and it always makes a fun day out……and best of all – IT’S ALL FREE.    We have already started to advertise the event amongst the Laurel & Hardy fraternity, so we are hoping for a few “out-of-towners” with us.

Hopefully, we’ll see you on Wednesday.  Please bring friends and family – all are welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

Our next film show is this Wednesday, 18th April  at the usual location, THE WHITE LION….24, Middle Street, BEESTON, NG9 1FX commencing at the usual time of 7.30pm.   Hopefully, for a second month on the trot, we’ll be back upstairs again.

All are welcome and entry is free.

This month we’ll be paying yet another birthday tribute to very important Laurel & Hardy supporting player…..Edgar  Livingston  Kennedy, who was born  April 26th, 1890.    I’m hoping to show at least three short films that he appears in with the Boys….including the wonderful “Night Owls”.  Time permitting we’ll also re-show the alternate ending to this film from the Spanish phonetic version entitled “Ladrones”.

Our main feature for the evening is the Boys second feature at the Hal Roach studio, “Pack Up Your Troubles” from 1932, where the Boys after the Great War endeavour to return Eddie Smith’s baby to his parents…with the aid of a telephone book listing all the Smiths in the New York area!!   Listen out to a mention of 49 Colebrook Avenue…it was recorded as an in-joke after Stan had visited his own father at that address in Ealing, London just a few weeks earlier.  What a thrill it would have been for his father, AJ, to have heard that mentioned in the film.

We will also continue our history of L&H cartoons with thanks to Antony Mitchell-Waite with a Krazy Kat showing of “Seeing Stars” , which coincidentally was released in the same week as “Pack Up your troubles”….and we will have the usual raffle, any donations are gratefully accepted.

The “Boys at the Bull” is set for Saturday 23rd June with the usual 1pm start at the Bull Inn in Bottesford.  It will be themed “Laurel & Hardy in Bully-Wood”….with an emphasis on wood….trees….etc.  Dave Wyatt has agreed to re-show the complete version of Battle of the Century.

Our May film show  is on Wednesday, May 16th….and themed “Nothing but May….Mae Busch”  where all our films will be Laurel & Hardy short films with… ahem  Mae Busch.  We will also be celebrating Stan’s Birthday on Wednesday, June 20th with a rare showing of the Fox feature film “The Dancing Masters”.

Hopefully, we’ll see you on Wednesday.  Please bring friends and family – all are welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

Our next film show is this Wednesday, 21st March at the usual location, THE WHITE LION….24, Middle Street, BEESTON, NG9 1FX commencing at the usual time of 7.30pm.   

All are welcome and entry is free.

This month we’ll be paying a birthday tribute to not one but two Laurel & Hardy supporting players.  Firstly, as it was Jean Harlow’s birthday on March 3rd (1911), we will be showing a talkie version of the film that Jean is best recommembered for with the Boys….this will be followed by our tents title film…the 4 reeler Beau Hunks, where Jean “Jeannie Weenie” Harlow is very well travelled and loved by all.   Our second birthday tribute  is to our favourite villain….Walter “Mugsy-Tiger”  Long whose birthday it was on March 6th (1879) – I’m hoping to show at least two talkie shorts he appears in with the Boys….including the boxing brilliant Any Old Port.

Sadly, as you will already be aware, the Tattaflarious and Plumptious Ken Dodd passed away last weekend.  Denise and I consider ourselves so very fortunate to have seen his brilliant show on a number of times, we have loved every minute of his shows, which were indeed very long all finishing after midnight!   I’m afraid to admit that I have also been picked upon on two occasions – all in great fun (you know, I must have one of those faces!)  He is/was certainly a national treasure and will be very sorely missed by everyone.  Doddy also had a great love of Laurel & Hardy, they were amongst his comedy heroes, which he deemed them to be The “Kings of Comedy”.   We were also able to attend his unveiling of the Laurel & Hardy statue at Ulverston in 2009 where he spoke extremely well of the Boys and we were lucky enough to see his show in the Coronation Hall shortly afterwards , which was superb.  We were also given an opportunity to meet him.  We will be paying a little tribute to Doddy during our film show on Wednesday and of course raising “a big bottle of brown beer”  or two in full appreciation, of yes another King of Comedy.

We will also continue our history of L&H cartoons….and we will have the usual raffle, any donations are gratefully accepted.

The “Boys at the Bull” is now set for Saturday 23rd June with the usual 1pm start at the Bull Inn in Bottesford.  Dave Wyatt has agreed to re-show the complete version of Battle of the Century.

Hopefully, we’ll see you on Wednesday.  Please bring friends and family – all are welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,
Our Christmas film show is this forthcoming Wednesday, 20th December at the usual location, THE WHITE LION….24, Middle Street, BEESTON, NG9 1FX commencing at the usual time of 7.30pm.  I’ve confirmed that we are in the upstairs function room, in the “Beeston cinema”.   

All are welcome and entry is free.

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 at the height of summer in Big Business!

Early in the evening (at about 8.30pm), we will be holding our 3rd annual Kneesy Earsy Nosey competition….it’s an open competition and anyone can join in and have a bit of fun.   But I hear you say…..what is this……well check this out on Youtube..and it will kind of explain it…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiFEFL6ThRI

The clip is from the Laurel & Hardy film Fra Diavolo.  You have now just four days left to practice the basic movements.   There’s a tent trophy and a prize for the winner….but you need to practice very hard to beat our current  young tent champion Katherine Elvin, who has won it for the last two years.   Denise and Martin will be on hand to show you the basic movements on the night…..Denise, incidentally is a 3-times world champion from the Wigan Laurel & Harday – but she’s not permitted to compete!!

Again, the pub owner has agreed that we can put on a small christmas fuddle….I’d say it will be more of a super snack than a full buffet as last year!!   We’ll bring the food so all you need to do is bring yourself, friends, relatives, etc.

We also intend to run the usual raffle with some great prizes –  all donations are gratefully accepted (but please no VHS tapes).

Danny Lawrence has written a superb 320 page book entitled  “Arthur Jefferson – Man of the theatre and father of Stan Laurel” , which I’ve read and I would highly recommend.  Danny has done a lot unique research into the subject matter and its all very interesting – particulary seeing the parallels and influences that AJ has on his childrens lives, particularly Stan’s life.   All being well, Danny will be on hand on Wednesday to sell his book and of course will be happy to sign and inscribe it.  Undoubtedly, this will make an ideal Christmas present.  Danny has kindly agreed to give us a talk on his book early next year at one of our meetings.

I still have a few brand new copies left of an amazing Laurel & Hardy picture book entitled “Laurel & Hardy – The Sound shorts”  at cost price from the author, Russell Babidge.  This large hardcover book is beautifully bound and contains no less  than 270 pages of photos and words that document all the short talkie films of Laurel & Hardy.  They normally sell at £20 but I can sell them at the amazing low price of £5 each – these would also make an ideal Christmas present.

So, hopefully,we’ll see you on Wednesday.  If not, I wish you a Laurel Christmas and Hardy New Year,

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)