July Meeting 2024 July 15, 2024

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

It seems a very long time since our last meeting.  First of all, I hope you all enjoyed the little film show at the Bull Inn.  We had a great turnout and I thank you all for your support – it wouldn’t work without it.  The weather was a bit mixed but we were able to take a few photos outside – which I’ve attached below.  I had hoped to have had our Junel meeting at the Bridge Inn…but due to circumstances beyond my control I had to cancel this Stan Laurel birthday meeting.  However, we hope to have a belated birthday celebration this forthcoming Wednesday.

As promised, next Wednesday, I intend to show a 1940s Laurel & Hardy feature film from the Fox film studios….entitled “The Bullfighters” which although is set in Mexico…it was filmed at the Fox studios in California.  It is a film we haven’t seen for 7 years so is overdue an airing.  In the film,  Stan is mistaken for a professional bullfighter who is his exact doppelgänger.   There are many films where Stan and Ollie are twinned, mixed up as others or just totally mixed up!!   So accordingly, we’ll support this Fox feature film with two  Hal Roach studio films where Stan and Ollie suffer from an identity crisis.  In recomembrance of Stans birthday I will also take the opportunity to show one of his 2 reel silent solo films from 1925 that was produced for Joe Rock entitled ‘”Twins”.  This was filmed before Stan was paired with Ollie at Hal Roach .  The copy, I will show has recently been restored in the US and released on the “Laurel or Hardy”  blu-ray boxset.  It’s a pristine copy and presents gags that are highly reminiscent of the mix-ups that occur in the later Laurel &Hardy feature “Our Relations”.

As we are coming to the end of the 1930s/40s cartoon series, I will unashamedly re-show the Porky Pig “The Timid Toreador” from 1940 – as it fits our theme very well.   We will have the usual raffle and toasts, all donations are gratefully accepted – particularly as we ran down our bank of raffle prizes at the Bull Inn.

We will also be paying a little tribute to the beautiful Thelma Todd,  her birthday will be is on July 29th.  She was a major star on the Hal Roach studio lot and only made 6 films with the Boys…but all very memorable.

Before then, hopefully, we’ll see you next Wednesday.  Please bring friends and family – all are very welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)