06.01.24.
The Last Dance of the Cuckoos
We’re kicking off 2024 in style with a special screening of our #laurelandhardy film “The Last Dance of the Cuckoos” at the fabulous Slapstick Festival.
So banish those winter blues with a heartfelt celebration of the world’s finest comedy double act. Join me, Andy Hollingworth and Marcus Brigstocke at the Bristol Beacon on 15th February.
Tickets available here:
Matt Holt
Spoon Jar Films Ltd
2024 UK Convention
John Ullah and Mandy have made progress in finding a possible new venue for this year’s UK Convention. We expect news within the next few days.
The Laughing Gravy Annual
The Laughing Gravy Annual brightened up our Christmas once more, thanks to John and Mandy and the team at the Laughing Garvy Tent.
Beau Chumps Tent at Christmas
We enjoyed a splendid themed buffet put together by tent members, collected an incredible £130 for the amazing raffle and decided that next year's Charity will be 'The Sunderland Soup Kitchen'. I made the final £100 donation to the RNLI after our get together and this means the tent has donated £810 to the RNLI and #breastcancernow and $175 to Laurel and Hardy appeals in 2023. An amazing total I'm sure you will agree, and thanks again to all who helped achieve this!
At the meeting, I announced that I have been working on a book which is based on the A-Z of films page on the Chumps website. It will have 272 pages and over 300 photographs, many of which are rare and some of which don't appear on the website... yet. This includes almost 100 publicity posters and lobby cards where I've tried to include one for each film.
The idea was to develop a quick reference guide with a release date and plot for each picture, some trivia, classic dialogue and a look at continuity. I've also included a chapter on cameos and guest appearances, as well as a 'behind the scenes' image section.This isn't expected to make any money, but any surplus will be added to Chumps funds and ultimately, our charity and L&H related appeals.
On the evening, I polled the attendees for the favoured title from a shortlist of four, and am happy to confirm my volume will be called 'TWAS EVER THUS - an A-Z of the wonderful films of Laurel and Hardy.
Thanks so much to several for their help and guidance and for everyone's positive response and I'll be in touch soon with pricing and how to get your hands on a copy when I have it to hand, but I expect the book will come in at about £10. If you think you might like a copy, please let me know so I have a rough idea of how many to publish. I'm happy to post anywhere in the UK, and will check out the likely cost of overseas postage if required.
Mike Jones
Greetings
A splendid Christmas card from Roger Robinson
Happy memories
Vintage catalogue spied on the internet
Blockheads Tent of Edinburgh diary
I’ve managed to book the room at the Scots Guards Club for 2024. Please note the dates below:
Sunday January 7th
Sunday February 4th
Sunday March 3rd
Sunday April 7th
Sunday May 12th
Sunday June 9th
Sunday September 8th
Sunday October 6th
Sunday November 3rd
Sunday December 8th
Charlie Lewis
Plymouth note
Steve Hewlett is currently in the pantomime in Plymouth in Goldilocks and the Three Bears at the Theatre Royal. He sent me a video clip and photo of the plaque and the now closed theatre where Laurel & Hardy appeared in 1954. This link gives further details about their visit:-
laurelandhardyinplymouth.weebly.com
Roger Robinson
Thursford
The Thursford Christmas Show in Norfolk runs for three weeks and is truly spectacular. It began 490 years ago, seats 1,400 people, there are 140 performers and has a stage that is 140 feet wide.
I went with Doug McMahon (retired Policeman trip) and he did some detective investigation behind the scenes to discover a plaque for Laurel and Hardy high up on a wall. As there are a lot of ex-fairground rides there, I am guessing that it came from a fairground or possibly a circus.
The event is thoroughly recommended. It sells out very quickly as soon as it starts. During the rest of the years it reverts back to being a Steam Museum.
Roger Robinson
... and finally