Brian Calladine April 4, 2026
March Meeting 2026 March 13, 2026
Our next film show is next week on Wednesday March 18th in our NEW time slot 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.
All are welcome – entry is free.
This month we’ll also be paying a small tribute to Jean “Jeannie Weenie” Harlow who was also born this month; March 3rd back in 1911. So, we will begin the evening (at 7pm!) with a tent premiere showing of the recently restored version of the Laurel & Hardy silent Double Whoopee from the 1929 silents restoration HD US boxset. This we will show with another fine commentary by Richard Bann who eloquently describes( or I should say, exposes) the goings on (or I should say, off) during Jean Harlow’s scene with the Boys.
We’ll also show another Larry Harmon L&H cartoon “Ups and Downs” from 1967 where the Boys are employed to fix an elevator/lift which has a tenuous connection to Double Whoppee. We’ll also have another quick look at what was happening at the Hal Roach studios exactly 100 years ago…this time during March 1926, with a screening of a small 5mins clip from Thundering Fleas (1926). This was an Our gang film supported by Oliver Hardy as a policeman. There’ll be the usual raffle – all donations gratefully accepted….and of course we will have the loyal toasts….with a target of finishing at 10pm.
So, hopefully, we’ll see you next Wednesday….at the new time of 7pm!. Please bring friends and family – all are very welcome.
February Meeting 2026 February 13, 2026
Our next film show is next week on Wednesday February 18th 7.30pm till 10.30pm at the usual venue, THE BARGE INN, at 177 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1DH. We are up on the upper deck.
All are welcome – entry is still free.
I’ve also selected two talkie shorts we haven’t seen in quite a while. The first is the rather politically scandalous film , “Chickens Come Home (1931)”, which is quite topical at the moment in the news. The second film is “They Go Boom (1929)” – this is the last talkie short to show that hasn’t been seen since the pandemic.
January Meeting 2026 January 16, 2026
Our next film show is next week on Wednesday January 21st 7.30pm till 10.30pm at the usual venue, THE BARGE INN, at 177 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1DH. We are up on the upper deck.
All are welcome – entry is still free.
This month is Oliver Norvell Hardy’s birthday, born 18th Jan 1892. So, we’ll be celebrating the 134th university of his birth…now 134 years ago! So, as the tradition, we have prepared a strong programme of Hal Roach Studio short film subjects which are all very Ollie-eccentric.
I’ve selected three talkie shorts we haven’t seen in quite a while…“Another Fine Mess (1930)”, “Busy Bodies (1933)” and “Me and My Pal(1933)”. I’m pleased to also announce that this will be our 2nd meeting where all of the films have been recently restored and will be shown in HD.
December Meeting 2025 December 11, 2025
Our Christmas film show is on Wednesday December 17th, 7.30pm till 10.30pm at THE BARGE INN, at 177 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1DH on the upper deck.
All are welcome – entry is free.
November Meeting 2025 November 15, 2025
Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,
Our next film show is on Wednesday Nowonder 19th, 7.30pm till 10.30pm at THE BARGE INN, at 177 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1DH. As per usual – we are on the upper deck.
All are welcome – entry is free.
This month we’re planning to show two more Laurel & Hardy films that we haven’t seen since the dreaded covid shutdown.
The first film is the Hal Roach feature film “The Bohemian Girl (1936)” , their third comedy operetta based on the 1843 opera by Michael W. Balfe. This was one of a number of a favourites with the Boys and is supported by James Finlayson, Mae Busch, Thelma Todd, a very young Darla Hood (from Our Gang) and yes…poor old Laughing Gravy. Sadly, the film is now mostly remembered for being Thelma Todd’s last ever film as she sadly died in suspicious circumstances just before it was released. It’s a good Laurel & Hardy film and although it does have a few musical interludes, the comedy in-between is 1st class L&H. It was certainly a big hit at the box office.
The other film is the silent short “Early to Bed (1928)”. This has recently been restored and it will be shown from the new US HD Blu-ray boxset of 1928 silent restored films accompanied by a commentary by top L&H expert Richard Bann.
This month we will also be celebrating the university of the birth of Dorothy Granger, born November 21st 1912. She appeared in 4 Laurel & Hardy films and is best remembered as Mrs Hardy’s maid in the talkie short “Hog Wild (1930)”. This will be screened in full HD from the Definitive restorations blu-ray. We also plan to show a short slideshow of stills from this film and its phonetic versions in the break.
Finally, we plan to show the jail-break talkie short “The Hoose-Gow (1929)” as a tongue in cheek tribute to our justice system!
There will be a related L&H cartoon, the usual raffle and of course the toasts in accordance with the Sons of the Desert constitution.
Our Christmas film show will be on the usual third Wednesday in the month..December 17th. We plan to show the usual Christmas L&H short films served with plenty of mince pies and various table snacks.
Before then, 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)
October Meeting 2025 October 12, 2025
Our next film show is on Wednesday Octember 15th, 7.30pm till 10.30pm at THE BARGE INN, at 177 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1DH. As per usual – we are on the upper deck.
All are welcome – entry is free.
Our Nowonder film show will be on the usual third Wednesday in the month..November 19th with a plan to show “The Bohemian Girl (1936)”.
September Meeting 2025 September 12, 2025
Our next film show is on Wednesday September 17th, 7.30pm till 10.30pm at THE BARGE INN, at 177 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1DH. As per usual – we are on the upper deck.
All are welcome – entry is free.
Our Octember Halloween film show will be on the usual third Wednesday in the month..October 15th which should be a scream !
August Meeting 2025 August 16, 2025
Our next film show will be on Wednesday August 20th, 7.30pm till 10.30pm at THE BARGE INN, at 177 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1DH. As per usual – we are on the upper deck.
All are welcome – entry is free.
Our September film show will be on the usual third Wednesday in the month..September 17th when we will be celebrating Billy Gilbert’s birthday and a long overdue showing of “Way Out West (1937)”
July Meeting 2025 July 8, 2025
Our next film show will be on Wednesday July 16th, 7.30pm till 10.30pm at THE BARGE INN, at 177 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1DH. As per usual – we are on the upper deck.
All are welcome – entry is free.
As you may have already seen, thanks to Mark Elvin, pictures from the Bull Inn have been loaded up on our tent website http://www.
Our August film show will be on the usual third Wednesday in the month..August 20th when we will be celebrating Jimmy Finn’s birthday with a showing of Fra Diavolo..with Fin as Lord Rocburg and Thelma Todd as his young wife, Lady Pamela.