April-June 2002 Volume 35, Number 2 NOTE: This is an old issue of the Brushwood Gulch Gazette, which has been archived for reference purposes. Although some links have been updated, the text of this archived newsletter remains unchanged. Please keep in mind that these articles have NOT been updated to reflect changes that may have occurred since they were originally printed. Return to the index of archived issues.

Contents:

April 1 Way Out West Tent Meeting at Silent Movie Theatre About the Theater Mabel Langdon Remembered Notes from the February 2002 Meeting Get Well Soon

Martin Short International Convention Peggy Sue's '50s Diner Birthdays

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April 1 Way Out West Tent Meeting at Silent Movie Theatre

The next Way Out West Tent meeting will take place on April Fool's Day...and that's not a joke! We will meet on the evening of Monday, April 1st at the famous Silent Movie Theatre in Hollywood. This is a regular meeting and is free to all members who have paid their dues for 2002. Non-members are welcome, but must pay a door charge of $10.

Joining us in person will be Edith Fellows, who we will also see on the big screen as Charley Chase's daughter in the film Movie Night. Edith appeared in The Devil's Brother with L&H and also with Our Gang. Of course, Laurel and Hardy will also be providing many laughs. We will see the Boys in the silent comedies From Soup to Nuts, Leave 'Em Laughing, Their Purple Moment, Liberty, and Two Tars.

The doors to the theater will open at 6:30 P.M. and the meeting will begin promptly at 7:15 P.M. The Silent Movie Theatre is located at 611 North Fairfax Boulevard, just south of Melrose Avenue. Ample parking can be found on the street or in the lots nearby.

The theater's concession stand will be selling items such as popcorn, candy, and sodas. However, hot-dogs will not be available, as they normally are at our meetings. Please stop for dinner before the program, if you want a more substantial meal than popcorn and candy.

Many of our members are undoubtedly frequent patrons of this theater, and we are pleased to bring a Way Out West Tent meeting to this special location for the first time. We'll see you April 1!

Click here for a map to the Silent Movie Theatre...

About the Theater

Founded as the "Old Time Movie" by John and Dorothy Hampton, this movie house on Fairfax Boulevard has kept silent film alive in Hollywood for the past sixty years. It opened February 25, 1942 with Cecil B. DeMille's The King of Kings, which was a mere fifteen year old classic at the time. Mr. Hampton may have been one of the first film preservationists, transferring many decomposing 35mm prints to newer stock himself. After being closed for over a decade, the theater reopened as the Silent Movie Theatre in the 1990s. All types of silent films are shown, from dramatic features to comedic short subjects. The great comedies from Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Harry Langdon, and of course Laurel & Hardy, are shown on almost a daily basis. Owner Charlie Lustman bills the theater as the last fully operational silent cinema in the nation. Daily program information can be heard by calling the theater at (323) 655-2520 or by visiting their website at http://silentmovietheatre.com/.

Mabel Langdon Remembered

The Way Out West Tent lost one of its most long time members on September 16, 2001. Mabel Langdon, the widow of comic great Harry Langdon passed away after a year long bout with cancer. I remember meeting Mabel after my second Sons of the Desert meeting as a 14 year old. Mabel was the guest of producer Joe Rock. Since then she attended countless meetings, banquets, and was one of the guests at the Hollywood '80 International Sons Convention.

At one meeting featuring a screening of The Flying Deuces, Mabel brought the caricature that Harry Langdon created for the credits of that film. Of course, Mrs. Langdon was also on hand at a meeting when we showed Zenobia. She brought members of her family, including her only son Harry Langdon, Jr., of whom she was very proud. At another meeting, Harry Langdon III came along with his grandmother, wife, and daughter.

Mabel will be missed at our meetings, but her wonderful personality and laugh will be with all who had the pleasure and honor of meeting her. I know I will treasure those memories and count knowing her as one of the highlights of being a member of the Way Out West Tent. --- Bob Satterfield

Notes from the February 2002 Meeting

The Way Out West Tent started off 2002 in grand style with a Laurel and Hardy Marathon at the Mayflower Club on Sunday, February 10. There were many new faces and old friends alike attending the six hour long meeting. The film program consisted on Do Detectives Think?, Double Whoopee, Perfect Day, The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case, Helpmates, Them Thar Hills, Tit for Tat, The Live Ghost, Oliver the Eighth, County Hospital, and The Music Box. Lunch was provided free to all members.

Twenty nine members of our tent proved themselves as true Laurel and Hardy fans. They stayed for all eleven movies, watching a combined total 4 hours and 28 minutes of film. Those members were: Bob Satterfield, Len Kuhn, Lori Jones, Ron Young Robert Service, Loretta Saxon, Dave Hernandez, Steve Nelson, Jay Dare, Kathy Seeley Byrnes, Eleanor Stanske, Dorothy Barnhart, Jayne Barnhart, Neal Pinyan, Stephen Winkler, Gerald Pike, Kurt Young, Jeff Stine, Wayne Lawless, Frank Labrador, Dave Greim, Jimmy Wiley Jr., George Stanske, James Saxon, Michael Scott, Alton Brown, Kevin Bell, Maze Bell, and Kris Wiley. These members received certificates to commemorate their accomplishment.

It was nice to see so many new faces at this meeting. We welcome the newcomers and hope they can join us again this year. Thank you to all who helped throughout the day, especially Dave Greim for providing all of the films and running them all day long.

Get Well Soon

Our best wishes to Lois Roberts, who suffered two broken ribs and a fracture of a vertebra earlier this year. Lois is said to be recovering quite well.

Martin Short

At a recent seminar at the Museum of Television & Radio in Los Angeles, Martin Short stated that Jonathan Winters, Harpo Marx, and Stan Laurel were his comedic influences.

International Convention

The next Sons of the Desert International Convention will be this summer in Nashville, Tennessee. Many members of the Way Out West tent are signed up, but if you plan on joining them you'll have to act soon...the deadline for registering will be the end of June. For more information, please visit the convention website at http://www.nashville02.com/.

Peggy Sue's '50s Diner

On your next trip to Las Vegas, you may wish to stop in at this classic 1950s diner for more than a quick bite to eat. The diner is decorated with film posters, photos, and other artwork...including the likenesses of Laurel and Hardy. Laurel and Hardy collectables can also often be found in their gift shop. It's located at the Ghost Town Road exit, off of I-15 in Yermo, CA.

Birthdays

April 13 is the birthday of our long time friend and celebrity member, Jay Dare. Jay worked for both 20th Century Fox and MGM Studios as a costume designer for Laurel and Hardy. He also had a speaking part in the Janet Gaynor and Frederic March film, A Star is Born. Jay has long been a part of the Way Out West Tent, telling his stories and showing pictures of the Boys. He was even amongst the dedicated few who stayed for our entire L&H film marathon in February. We wish him the very best for his 92nd birthday!

The Way Out West Tent would also like to wish our own "Bonnie Scotland," June Lang, a very happy birthday on May 5. June too has been a long time member of the tent. Besides being the romantic lead in Bonnie Scotland, she also starred with Oliver Hardy and Harry Langdon in Zenobia. June is one of Hollywood's most popular and beautiful leading ladies, starring in such other films as Wee Willie Winkie, Captain January, Captain Fury, and Stage Door Canteen.

On June 13 Ralph Edwards will celebrate his 89th birthday. He was the host of the live 1954 television program This is Your Life, which featured Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy as its guests. This was the Boys last appearance together. Ralph has had distinguished career in radio and television as both a performer and producer, and we wish him well on his upcoming birthday.