04.02.26.
Hexham show
The Beau Chumps Tent of Sunderland will be running their fourth Annual Big Screen event at the Forum Cinema in beautiful Hexham in the Tyne Valley on Saturday August 15th.
Laurel and Hardy at Work will be this year's theme and the programme on the afternoon will comprise Towed in a Hole (1932); Busy Bodies (1933); Dirty Work (1933), followed by possibly the high point of an already exciting afternoon, the Academy Award winning The Music Box from 1932. The usual charity raffle will be held, a souvenir stall will be available and all will be very welcome. The Forum has its own bar and I think you know by now, but there is a splendid Wetherspoons downstairs and, from experience, more than a few Chumps will convene there both before and after the show. What's not to love!
As soon as I have more details regarding tickets etc., the details will be published here.
Mike Jones
Elland show
We now have a confirmed date and programme for this year’s event at the Rex in Elland:
Proprietor Charles Morris:
There are two principal events that stand out in the Rex’s calendar. One is the Christmas Eve showing of It’s A Wonderful Life which is always a sellout, and the other is our annual Laurel & Hardy Film Night which we have been running for more years than I care to remember. The next Laurel & Hardy night is on Saturday 21st March at 7.30pm. The feature film will be BLOCK-HEADS and the first half of the programme will be made up of three “two-reelers” WRONG AGAIN (accompanied on our organ by Ben Hinchliffe, himself a Laurel & Hardy aficionado), BRATS and THEIR FIRST MISTAKE.
Neil Brand Tour dates
For dates go to
https://www.laurelandhardypresentedbyneilbrand.co.uk/tour-dates
After the Laughter draw
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Craig's artwork
We are reminded of the enormous talent of Craig Nightowler by the lovely logo he drew for the Leave 'em Laughing Tent of Liverpool.
Good bye to Harry
Michael Schmitz tells us that on a very sad day (23.01.26.) a truly beautiful funeral service was held for Harry Hoppe. Roger Robinson adds, “Harry would surely have appreciated it.” Both tell us of a really good eulogy, perfectly chosen music, and many references to Stan and Ollie. Deep inside. “I feel immense gratitude that Harry enriched my life so much,” says Michael.
Peter Küppers tells us that, “The weather was OK and the nice afternoon in Sandra's flat was entertaining with such a good company of L&H friends. And the supply by Sandra and her ‘stuff’ was excellent. Drinks, a nice soup and cakes.”
Visit to the Museum
The day after Harry’s funeral some of the UK contingent visited the Laurel and Hardy Museum in Solingen. Roger reports, “The first film Wolfgang put on the screen was in honour of Harry - That’s My Wife. And we had a good laugh, which Harry would have liked very much.”
The Repair Shop on the Road
BBC Scotland (19.01.26.) showed The Repair Shop on the Road, in which Dom Chinea and his team visited the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall in Glasgow. A neglected piano player was in need of repair and was given the team’s famous attention.
Time was also spent showing viewers the hall, which is where Stan Laurel made his stage debut and which is the home of meetings of the Call of the Cuckoos Tent.
View on
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002qcxg/the-repair-shop-on-the-road-series-2-glasgow
Ornament
I was given this by a client. He collects antiques, saw this and thought of me! Very kind.
It clearly isn’t an antique; Stan and Ollie have mobile phones (!) but can anyone shed any light on it? It measures about 6x6 ins, has no identifying marks and is surprisingly heavy for its size.
Mike Jones on Facebook
...and finally