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

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.

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

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

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

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!

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