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)

Hello Gough & Hardy friends,
Our next film show is this  Wednesday, 15th Nowonder at the usual location, THE WHITE LION….24, Middle Street, BEESTON, NG9 1FX commencing at the usual time of 7.30pm in the upstairs function room – in the “Beeston cinema”.   

All are welcome and entry is free as per usual.

This month, we have a special guest.  Danny Lawrence, has kindly agreed to give us a small talk on his new book entitled Arthur Jefferson – Man of the theatre and Father of Stan Laurel.  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.  Danny’s book is absolutely amazing…with some excellent new research concerning Arthur Jefferson’s life  and his family.  I highly recommend it and Danny will be bringing his book to sell and sign – making it an ideal Christmas present.

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

Last month we completed the UK end of the 1947…this month, I will be showing some rare film footage from exactly 70 years ago of their tour on the continent and their return back to the UK for their one-off Royal Variety Performance….in front of the King.

Our Christmas meeting has been set for the usual 3rd Wednesday….December 20th .  We intend to show the usual traditional films and to have another mini-buffet….just like the one we had last year.  We will also be running our Beau Hunks tent Kneesie, Earsie, Nosey  competition.  All are very welcome.

Talking about Christmas and Christmas presents;  I attended The Helpmates UK Laurel & Hardy Convention and I have got 20 2018 L&H calenders for sale on a first come first served basis at the reduced price of £10 each.  I’ve also secured a few  “It Sure Is – Laurel & Hardy at the London Palladium” books signed by Roger Robinson/Dave Wyatt , these are available at £15 each.    I also have a few Laurel & Hardy autographs for sale – if interested, please email me.

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

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,
Our next film show is this  Wednesday, 18th Octember at the usual location, THE WHITE LION….24, Middle Street, BEESTON, NG9 1FX commencing at the usual time of 7.30pm in the upstairs function room – in the “Beeston cinema”.   

All are welcome and entry is free as per usual.

This month, by special request by one of our tent members, we have themed our meeting “Dizzy spells and Drunken Ghosties”……yes, because its Halloween!  Indeed, the all clues are there…..we hope to show the Laurel & Hardy  feature film  “A Chump at Oxford”….Stan has quite a few dizzy spells, including an a-mazing encounter with a Ghostie.  We will also be showing 3 Hal Roach two-reeler shorts…..two that will feature resident studio drunk, Arthur “Hic-cup” Housman, whose university of his birth it is this month…128 years ago on October 10th.  Indeed, one of those films….he is a live drunken ghostie….in the other one he’s a ghostie faced drunk!

As time allows….we will also try and catch up ,a little bit, with the 1947 tour; which exactly 70 years on, has now left these shores for Denmark!  If time permits…we’ll also show the Driver Licence sketch as performed by the Lucky Dog theatre company at the pre-international convention in Southend last year…and we’ll also play a 5 min audio clip of the sketch actually performed by the Boys, October 4/5th 1947 in Copenhagen.

Our own Danny Lawrence has been busy writing a new book entitled Arthur Jefferson – Man of the theatre and Father of Stan Laurel.  This has been 6 years in the making…and I know will be a very interesting read….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!  Well it is Halloween!  AJ ran a string of theatres and was a major influence on his son’s life and artistry. Of course, there’s also the strong link to our tent via Barkston.  I’ve only read one chapter…and I know that alone is worth the purchase price.

The book is to be launched in North Shields next week so Danny can’t make our Octember meeting, but he has kindly agreed to give us a little talk on Arthur Jefferson next month at our Nowonder meeting (ie Weds, November 15th).  He will also have some books available to sell and personally sign……which I know will make an ideal Christmas present for any Laurel & Hardy fan that doesn’t want to receive socks again from their nearest and dearest!

Our Christmas meeting has also been provisionally set for the usual 3rd Wednesday….December 20th .  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 4th 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, but if I buy in bulk, I maybe able to get them a little cheaper from Rob.  Roger Robinson/Dave Wyatt are  also launching their “It Sure Is – Laurel & Hardy at the London Palladium” booklet – this covers not only the Palladium engagements but also other events during their stay in London in 1947….including the Boys trip up to Barkston in March 1947.  This is a also a recommended buy.  The price is £15, but again on the day, I might just be able to ask Roger/Dave for a discount on a bulk order …just let us know if you want one.

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   The latest news is that Laurel & Hardy experts, Randy Skredvedt and Richard Bann will be video-calling LIVE from Los Angeles.

Other great news this month is that Talking Pictures TV is presently in negotiation for screening a number of short film subjects.  L&H back on TV soungs very good.

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

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

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

Our first film show is this  Wednesday, 21st June at the usual location, THE WHITE LION….24, Middle Street, BEESTON, NG9 1FX commencing at the earlier time of 7.15pm in the upstairs function room – in the “Beeston cinema”.   

Our Wednesday show I’ve entitled “The Bullfighters – part 1″…..  After showing Way out West last month, we remain way out west and travel a little “way down south”…..to Mexico (before they build the wall!).  We will be showing the Boys penultimate film from 1945….a Fox film, entitled, you guessed it “The Bullfighters” .   Being a Fox film, admittedly its not one of their best….but is probably one of their best during the post Hal Roach studio period and has some good comedy moments with Stan & Ollie which are worth seeing.

Yesterday was the university of Stan’s birthday, 127 years ago….so will be celebrating this with a piece of birthday cake….and keeping in with the Bull-fighter  theme, we’ll be showing the Stan Laurel solo “Mud & Sand” from 1923….which we also see Mae Laurel…Stan Laurel’s common-law wife who he met in vauderville.  She was responsible for changing Stan’s name from Jefferson to Laurel.  “Mud & Sand” is actually a comedy parody on Rudolph Valentino’s Bull-fighter film “Blood & Sand”, a major film production from 1922.  As you may have noticed, I’m hoping to start the film show 15 mins earlier than normal…..this is because I would like to screen the beginning and end of Valentino’s film…..so that you can appreciate more of the comedy in Stan’s solo film…where he plays Valentino as Rhubarb Vaselino.  The Valentino film also strongly features a Spanish/Mexican bandit….played by a young looking, Walter Long….so its worth seeing the clips just for this.  If you can’t make it 15 mins earlier no problem…we’ll start the show with the Laurel Solo film at 7.30pm.

We shall also be continuing our recomembrances of the 1947 tour….which will include some brief film footage of the Boys trip back to Ulverston on 27th May 1947 during their theatrical stay in Morecambe, before they moved onto Blackpool and then Glasgow where Stan celebrated his birthday.  We hope also to show a couple of L&H short films.

As per usual – all are welcome and entry is free……and don’t forget your ponchos and sombrero hats.

Our second film show is next Saturday, June 24th, 1pm-6pm, at the Bull Inn, Bottesford (NG13 0BW)  entitled “The Bull Fighters – Part deux”…..indeed like “two peas in a poduh”.  This will have a strong programme of short films where the Boys become wrapped up in battles including a good number of tit-for-tats.  The highlight of the day will be a showing of the most complete version of the Boys silent film Battle of the Century….which includes a showing of the recently discovered complete 2nd reel  on 16mm by our special guest, Dave Wyatt.   This  is not to be missed.  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 bar.

In the morning, 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)  All are welcome to Bottesford & Barkston, and it always makes a fun day out.

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

http://www.laurelandhardynottingham.uk

Our next meeting is on the usual third Wednesday July 19th.  Due to holiday arrangements….our August meeting has provisionally been switched to the 4th Wednesday August 23rd, when we may have our tent’s Kneesie Earsie Nosey championships.

So, hopefully,we’ll see you this Wednesday (and then Saturday).  All are welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

Our next film show is this Wednesday, 17th May at the usual location, THE WHITE LION….24, Middle Street, BEESTON, NG9 1FX commencing at the usual time of 7.30pm in the upstairs function room – in the “Beeston cinema”.
All are welcome and entry is free.

This month, we have themed our film show “May Out West”. After so many requests….yes, this month we will be showing one of the Boys best feature films ….”Way Out West”. This was actually released in April 1937…so what a good way to celebrate its 80th birthday with a showing this Wednesday. But I hear you ask….why theme the show “May out West’…well, I’m not thinking Theresa May – infact, Wednesday eve will be an election free zone – nor am I thinking Mae West !! Yes, OK it is May….and the reason being is that the tent has made the month of May when we celebrate the university of the birth of Annie Mae Busch. Admittedly, her actual birthday is in June…just 2 days after Stan’s…but, then obviously our thoughts of Stan would over-shadow Mae’s birthday. So ,after so much of my peramubulating waffle… we will be showing at least 3 short Laurel & Hardy film subjects where Mae Busch takes (almost) top billing with Stan & Ollie…..and infact one of the films we are showing could have been alternatively titled “May out West” . I will let you try and work that one out on the night. We shall also continue our recomembrances of the 1947 tour….which will include a showing of the Boys antics at the Daily Mail Film Awards ceremony on April 28th 1947.

In June, we have two film shows…

Firstly, our regular 3rd-Wednesday-in-the month, evening show will be on Wednesday, June 21st….where will be celebrating the summer solstice with a trip to Mexico…and the showing of the 1940s Fox film “The Bullfighters” …themed “The Bullfighters – Part 1”. We will also be celebrating Stans birthday.

Then, on Saturday, June 24th, 1pm-6pm, we will be at the Bull Inn, Bottesford for “The Bull Fighters – Part 2”. This will have a strong programme of short films where the Boys become wrapped up in battles including a number of tit-for-tats. The highlight of the day will be a showing of the most complete version of the Boys silent film Battle of the Century….which includes a showing of the recently discovered complete 2nd reel on 16mm by our special guest, Dave Wyatt. This is not to be missed. 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 bar. 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. We have already started to advertise the event, see under coming events on the Bowler Desert website, http://www.bowlerdessert.co.uk/

So, hopefully,we’ll see you this Wednesday. All are welcome.

Fraternally Yours,
Dave T
(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)