Bulletin
August 2008 
2008 International
Convention At http://www.tellmethatagain.info
you will find a guestbook for the Amsterdam
Convention. There is also a photo-sharing group at
http://www.flickr.com/groups/convention. Future International
Conventions At the International
Convention this year it was formally agreed that
the 2010 International Convention will be held in
Sacramento, there being no other bids. Four possible venues for
the 2012 event were also announced: Alaska, New
England, London and Williamsburg,
Virginia. Laurel
and HarDay in Wigan Midnight Patrol Tent's
new Grand Sheik At the International
Convention in Amsterdam I announced that I would be
stepping down as Grand Sheik of Midnight Patrol
#209, due to work and other commitments, which mean
that I am not always able to attend our meetings
etc. The good news is that my wife, Joanne, is now
going to be our Grand Sheik - a role that she is
mostly doing anyway in answering e-mails, setting
up meetings, typing up our newsletters
etc. The address for all
correspondence is the same: Joanne Mitchell-Waite,
9 St Georges Road, Poolfields, Newcastle, Staffs,
ST5 2NE. Antony
Mitchell-Waite The Live Ghost Tent
meeting You are invited to another
evening of fun and frolics when The Live Ghost tent
holds another fine meeting on Saturday
August
2nd, 5.30pm until
11.00pm at The Calthorpe Arms, 252 Grays Inn Road,
London WC1X 8JR for a tribute to director Charles
Parrott who was born August 2nd 1892. They say,
"There will certainly be the usual mix of films and
fun happenings that we are used to at our tent
meetings." Silent
Clowns Paul Merton returns with
his Silent Clowns show, with Neil Brand
providing musical backing, at the Filmhouse in
Edinburgh from 8th till 16th August. Podcast The official launch of the
podcast will take place shortly. The opening
episode will be an interview with Bernie Hogya,
webmaster of lettersfromstan.com. Don't forget to
tune in via the Laurel
and Hardy
Forum. The Forum is running a
competition on its Podcast. It is your chance to
win a new book. Click here. Did you
see? On Weakest Link
(BBC2, 07.07.08.) a contestant was asked which one
of the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy used the
catchphrase "That's another fine mess you've gotten
me into." (No, it's nice mess.) The contestant got
it wrong, choosing Stan, but in a way Stan does use
the phrase in a film. I can't remember which
one. Nick
Rich M
Finn Best duo
poll There is an Internet poll
entitled Which is the best double act? This
is unofficial research for a TV documentary with
the working title of The Best Comedy Duo Ever.
The poll is at http://www.goodieandnick.com.
It will close on 15th August.
Heppy of the Brats Tent
returned home from the International Convention in
Holland. He took with him a heavy bag with castors,
which contained his belongings, a bag which he has
used on several other occasions. He has always
carried the bag as the handle was made of fabric
and he thought that it might rip if he pulled the
bag on its castors. On his way back to the airport
John Saunders asked why he was carrying the heavy
bag when he could pull it on its castors. Heppy
explained his predicament to which John said, "Why
that's not the handle for pulling it!" and he
pointed to another handle, which was sturdy and
which elongated when he pressed it. "That's the
handle for pulling it with!"
A new revised and updated
edition of Glenn Mitchell's Laurel & Hardy
Encyclopedia is now available. Published in
paperback by Reynolds & Hearn Ltd on 10th July.
ISBN-10: 1905287712 and ISBN-13: 9781905287710.
RRP: £12.99. With over 600 entries,
ranging from Academy Awards to Zoos, the book has
been reissued in a more accessible format and
includes synopses and critiques of all the Laurel
and Hardy films, comprehensive biographical
information, the Boys' solo film careers, co-stars,
directors and promotional artwork. For sale Nick Rich still has for
sale the Laurel and Hardy super 8 film Chaos on
the Highway. It is approximately 50ft of film
and the price is £25. He also has for sale the
book The Comedy World of Stan Laurel at
£150. The book is a 1975 first edition
hardback autographed by Lois Laurel. Contact Nick
Rich, 5 Pococks
Bank, Four Elms, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8
7PR. Comedy
clip Steve Bartley has
posted a clip on YouTube, from the 1990
Come Clean Tent's convention in Haydock.
View it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YcINtdane8. Job
Culture Jonathan Hayward tells us
that, after innumerable problems, he has bought the
HD camera which he has been aiming for. He says,
"It's very impressive indeed and we now have
something that the Job Culture film project
can be made on." Sam and
Stan Showbiz Sam continues to
answer the question, "Can you tell me where Stan
Laurel was born?" John Bogie spotted the latest
mention in the Daily Record on 5th
July. Blockheads' new
season Meetings of the Blockheads
Tent of Edinburgh start again on Sunday
7th
September, but
thereafter meetings will be on the second Sunday of
each month. Meetings start at 2.00pm in the
Edinburgh City Football Club at 7 Baxter's Place
and normally finish around 5.00pm. Dorothy
Layton Jonathan Hayward
points out that Dorothy Layton, who
appeared in a few Laurel and Hardy films
around 1932, is in her nineties and known
to be living in the Baltimore
area. Stanlio
Ollio Jean Poulain found Italian
Stan and Ollie lookalikes singing Honolulu
Baby on the Internet. Go to Google and key in
"Stanlio Ollio Sigla Ending". Left: Charlie Hall with
his mother (Maria) and sister
(Florence) New book on Charlie
Hall I am in the early stages
of writing a new book on Charlie Hall. The book
will be called This Is More Than I Can
Stand. It will contain new information
about his early life in Birmingham, photographs of
his brothers and sister, interviews with people who
met him, plus one or two surprises. If anyone has spotted
Charlie on TV or in any film after Laurel
and Hardy, or has any information about him that I
could use, I would be very interested to hear from
you. John
Ullah
Individuals, tents or
groups of people can become members of the 100 Club
simply by donating £100 to the Statue Fund.
The Club is growing day by day. Have you joined
yet?
Hugh Lloyd
RIP Hugh Lloyd died on 14th
July aged 85 years. He was best known for his role
as Tony Hancock's sidekick in Hancock's
Half-Hour and later as Terry Scott's unassuming
flatmate in Hugh and I. The Telegraph.co.uk
website (14.07.08.) said this: Racing I spotted a horse named
Kneesy Earsy Nosey running at Beverley racecourse
on 5th July. It didn't come last! I mentioned a while back
that there is a racehorse called Mister Hardy.
There is now also a racehorse called Mister
Laurel. Both horses are owned by the same
syndicate, the Cosmic Capers, and trained by RA
Fahey. So there is definitely a Laurel and Hardy
connection. I had the TV
channel At the Races on "in the background" on 17th
July, and racing from Fairyhouse in Ireland was
being screened. Not paying much attention to the
race that was on, I suddenly heard Stan Laurel
mentioned by the race commentator. Now, my
attention grabbed, I eagerly awaited to see a horse
named Stan Laurel win at a canter. My
excitement didn't last long as there wasn't
a horse called Stan Laurel. I must have
overheard a blend of the names of
two horses named Takestan and Laurel Creek,
which finished in close vicinity of each other (9th
and 11th respectively) blended together to make
"Take Stan Laurel Creek". Doh! You can lead a horse to
water but a pencil must be lead! John
Burton Colonial
guarantee As mentioned earlier, Bill
Roth will hold the inaugural meeting of the Their
First Mistake Tent at the Old Colonial Theatre in
Phoenixville, Philadelphia on
27th
September. The
theatre says on the Internet, "When was the last
time you laughed, really laughed, out loud at a
movie? The Colonial, in combination with the
newly-formed chapter of the international Laurel
and Hardy society, is proud to present Stan Laurel
and Oliver Hardy in one of their funniest feature
films, Way Out West, accompanied by two of
their most hilarious shorts, Brats and
Hog Wild. As always, this show features our
special Laurel and Hardy guarantee - if you don't
find yourself laughing out loud (not just smiling
or chuckling), your admission fee will be gladly
refunded (along with our sincerest
condolences)."
Impressed
on
Saturday 6th
September
You don't believe
me!
Revised
encyclopedia
100
Club
Stan and Ollie lookalikes Gary Slade and Rob Graham entertained at a party at Haydock Race Course on 13th July and in the next room was boxer Ricky Hatten with his family and management. Gary says, "We asked the manager if it was OK to go and say 'Hello' to him. We did a few tricks and the fork illusion blew him away as he thought he could untwist the fork."
And finally
A few more photos from the Amsterdam Convention:
