Laurel and Hardy Society Sons of the Desert Way Out West Tent Los Angeles
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The Brushwood Gulch Gazette is the newsletter of the Way Out West Tent. It is published six times a year, shortly before regular tent meetings. Members receive the complete printed edition in the mail. The online edition features most of the articles found in the printed version, minus photos.

Family Fun at the Way Out West Tent August 13, 2013

Stan and Babe besides playing their normal Laurel & Hardy characters, also played their own kids, their own wives, and their twin brothers in two different shorts and a feature. For our next meeting, on Tuesday night, August 13th, we will screen those three films plus a Charley Chase short where Charley plays himself, his three brothers, and his sister. Now how's that for a night of acting versatility!

We'll start the evening's film program off with Brats (1930). In this short, Stan and Ollie have a really tough evening baby-sitting their two young sons (that bare a striking resemblance to each of their fathers). Also, for the first time at a Way Out West meeting, we will see Brats with completely restored title cards and music score.

In the short Twice Two (1933), Stan's wife (Babe) and Ollie's wife (Stan) plan to give the Boys a surprise anniversary party. As Laurel & Hardy fans know, one set of Laurel & Hardys working together on something usually means trouble. Can two sets of Laurel & Hardys mean "double trouble?"

By the time the short Four Parts was filmed in 1934, Laurel & Hardy had already completed Brats and Twice Two. Maybe Charley Chase not only wanted to match them, but wanted to completely top Laurel & Hardy's multi-role films forever. In Four Parts, Charley is one of four quadruplets and plays the quadruplets not only as adults, but as babies. Charley also plays his own sister! Charley's co-star, Betty Mack, runs into each of the brothers individually in different parts of town and thinks that the four are all the same person. Soon, she thinks she is seeing things and going crazy. Charley also sings an original T. Marvin Hatley ditty, "Auntie Has Ants in Her Pantry," plus an instrumental rehearsal of a very familiar Laurel & Hardy song.

Our feature for the evening is Our Relations (1936). In Our Relations, Stan and Ollie's twin brothers--who are sailors that the Boys haven't seen in years--suddenly arrive unannounced in the same town where Stan and Ollie live with their wives. Soon Ollie's wife (Daphne Pollard) and Stan's wife (Betty Healy) think that Bert (Babe) and Alf (Stan) are Ollie and Stan. Then Bert and Alf's Captain (Sidney Toler) and their shipmate (James Finlayson) think that Ollie and Stan are Bert and Alf. Besides the actors already mentioned, the Boys are also supported by Iris Adrian, Lona Andre, Alan Hale Sr., and Arthur Housman.

The Mayflower Club is located at 11110 Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Our meeting starts at 7:15 p.m. "Fisher Franks" (100% beef hot dogs) with your choice of chips will be sold at The Mayflower Club Kitchen. Refreshments will be sold at The Mayflower Club Bar. Free cake will be served on our second break. Skip the TV reruns, join your friends on Tuesday, August 13th for a night of laughs and fun!

Click here for a map to the Mayflower Club...


Raffle To Raise Money For UCLA's L&H Fund Deux

As I mentioned in our last newsletter, we will have one more raffle in 2013 to raise money for UCLA's Laurel & Hardy Film Preservation Fund. In case you missed our last meeting or you want to give more money, you will have another chance to give at our August meeting. As always, the money donated to the fund will go towards the restoration and preservation of the negatives of Hal Roach sound Laurel & Hardy films.

All the money that we raise from selling raffle tickets, as we did in our June raffle, goes to UCLA. In June, your generosity raised $237.00. Can we match that?

If you don't want to get involved in the raffle, you can always donate cash. If you have any Laurel & Hardy item(s) that you think would be good for the August raffle, please bring it or them to the meeting.


2014 SOD International Convention In Hollywood

As most of you know, Bob Satterfield (three-time former WOW Grand Sheik) will be hosting the 2014 Sons of the Desert International Convention in July 2014, right here in Hollywood! To get all the information about the Convention and to sign up to receive regular updates by e-mail go to: http://www.laurelandhardywood.com/


L&H at The Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo

On the weekend of November 15th, 16th, & 17th, The Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo will have a program of silent (with live organ accompaniment) and sound Laurel & Hardy films. Admission is $10.00 ($8.00 for seniors 62+) For more information about the Old Town Music Hall and showtimes for the program go to: http://www.oldtownmusichall.org/films.html


Way Out West Special Event Saturday, October 19th

By the middle of September, we will mail information and registration forms for our Saturday, October 19th Special Event. The Event will be at The Mayflower Club and the admission charge will be similar to last year's Special Event. Like last year, we will offer dinner as part of the Event. Information will also be on our web site, on this page.


Notes From Our June Meeting

What could be better than enjoying a Stan Laurel solo film and four Laurel & Hardy films with friends and cake to celebrate Stan's 123rd birthday? You got it. To be able to do all of that with Stan Laurel's daughter Lois, Stan's great granddaughter Cassidy, Stan's great-great granddaughter Lucy, and Stan's great-great grandson, Tommy. Yes, at our June meeting the Laurel family joined us once again to celebrate Stan's birthday. It's always great to have them at one of our meetings, but it's particularly special at Stan's birthday meetings when they join us in singing Happy Birthday to Stan. Those are moments to remember! Thank you Lois, Cassidy, Lucy, and Tommy! It's always an honor for Way Out West to have you at a meeting.

Our films for our June meeting were: Smithy (a solo Stan Laurel silent), Putting Pants on Philip, The Live Ghost, Another Fine Mess, and Come Clean. Thanks to James Romero Jr., Dave Griem, Bob Duncan, Bart Williams, Ken Runyan, J.T. Tropper, and Bob Brauer for helping me with the toasts and singing the Sons of the Desert Song. Thanks to author Richard W. Bann and actor Bart Williams for joining us for the evening. Thanks, also to Bart Williams for driving The Laurels to our meeting. Thanks to James Romero Jr. for drawing raffle tickets and Jayne Barnhart for selling raffle tickets. Thanks to Jayne Barnhart and Tom Marshall for donating raffle prizes. Thanks to everyone for another great turnout, your generosity in buying raffle tickets, and your laughter. It makes being the Grand Sheik a pleasure.




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