June Meeting 2026 June 5, 2026

Our next film show is next week on Wednesday June 10th  in our NEW time slot of 7.00pm till 10.00pm at the usual venue, THE BARGE INN,  at 177 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1DH.  We are up on the upper deck.

On Wednesday, we will be celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Ulverston born Stan Laurel on the 16th June 1890.  Our film show will therefore have a bit of a bias to  Stan and a  number of film firsts.

First of all, we will be showing Laurel & Hardy’s first ever film together as recorded in the various filmographies.  This is the silent short “Lucky Dog (1921)”.  Though deemed a Laurel & Hardy film, Stan Laurel is the lead comedian with Babe providing a supporting role as a villainous “heavy”.   Stan’s younger brother, Teddy Jefferson, also makes an appearance as a butler in the film.   It would be another 5 or 6 years before Laurel & Hardy would be seen together in front of the camera, this time, at the Hal Roach studios.  For the first time, we will show the recently restored version of this in full HD supported by a Randy Skredvedt commentary.

Our main feature of the evening will be a showing of “Sons of the Desert (1933)”, one of the Boys best features, where Stan reminds us that “honesty is the best politics”.   Stan was particularly influential in the creation of the Laurel & Hardy Appreciation Society aka The Sons of the Desert based on this film now over 60 years ago.  Again, we will show a restored version of this film in full HD.

After the break, we will continue to look at what was happening at the Hal Roach studios exactly 100 years ago…and in a tent first, we are going to show, the silent short “Get ‘Em Young (1926)”.  This was the film that Stan was supposed to direct Babe Hardy, but due to Babe having an unfortunate accident whilst basting a leg of lamb, Stan had to fill in for him.  This is quite a pivotal film in the history of Laurel & Hardy as it put Stan back into pictures and later created the opportunities for Laurel and Hardy to work together in front of the camera.  In the film, Stan plays a very significant supporting role to the fading star, Harry Myers.

We also plan to show “Unaccustomed As We Are (1929)”, the Boys first ever talkie short.  As a tent first we will show the very recently restored version of this film in full HD.

Yes, at the break we’ll have a birthday cake and I have few interesting film items to show  including a short documentary on the silents film restorations by Serge Bromberg and of course  another Larry Harmon L&H cartoon entitled “Flea’s a crowd (1967)”, shown as a precursor to our “Animal Magic” film show at the Bull Inn.

There’ll be the usual raffle – all donations gratefully accepted….and of course we will have the loyal toasts.   Again, we shall target to finish at 10pm.

Announcements…

1).   Talking Pictures TV are airing  a short season of Laurel & Hardy films between Saturday June 6th and Thursday June 11.  See attached

2).    Don’t forget, our afternoon Laurel & Hardy film show at the Bull Inn, Bottesford on the following Saturday, 13th June 1-6pm.  We have an “Animal Magic” theme to our show,  celebrating the animals that supported Laurel & Hardy…including the flea circus!  John Palmer is planning to be there with his super vintage Ford Model T motor car with Stan & Ollie.  Also there will be visitors from other tents selling all sorts of L&H merch and books.  Also, in the morning, we will be walking round Barkston, visiting AJs grave and the Plough Inn.   Meet 10.30am at the Stag Inn in the centre of Barkston.   Please  refer back to last months circular email or our website regarding all the details.

3).  Our July film show will be on  Wednesday July 22nd as the Barge Inn when I’m hoping to celebrate Thelma Todd.    After that, our meetings will return to the usual third Wednesday in the month.

So, hopefully, we’ll see you next Wednesday.

Please bring your friends and family – all are very welcome.