Midnight Patrol Tent
Oasis #57
San Jose, CA

Next Tent Meetings

Sunday, October 19, 2040

The Niles/EssanaySilent Film Theater & Museum

www.nilesfilmmuseum.org

37417 Niles Boulevard, Fremont CA

 

Dear Fellow Sons of the Desert, Midnight Patrol Tent Members and Friends of The Sons;

Great upcoming weekend at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum and Original Edison Theater!

First: It'll be Derbies and Porkpies during a really 'Spooktacular ' Saturday 18 Oct program that includes not only 'The Boys' in 'Habeas Corpus' (Hal Roach,1928) but great Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd gems as well.

Then Sunday 19 Oct is a very special Party and showing of the Original "Captain January" (1924) in honor of the Film Star's 96th Birthday, with NS&ASFM Darling (and just wonderful person) "Baby Peggy" herself in attendance.

And all with Live Piano accompaniment!

For further info on Saturday's program and Sunday's Special Celebration, please look-over the Theater's eNewsreel below.

Wishing you all the best!
Laurel & Hardily Yours;

(The Infamous) David J. Allard, Grand Sheik
The Midnight Patrol Tent, Oasis #57
Sons of the Desert, Int'l.
Carmel-Monterey-San Jose-Niles
(831) 229-8045

 

Tent History

The Midnight Patrol Tent celebrates Laurel and Hardy as Police Officers. Our tent was founded in 1984 by three cops and two Dixieland Jazz Musicians, who all shared the common bond of loving Laurel and Hardy films. At our first organizational meeting, a decision had to be made of which title of an L&H film would we use for our tent title. The musicians wanted "Jitterbugs," the cops wanted "The Midnight Patrol." It went to a vote, and the cops won 3 to 2. Besides, they had guns!

Our first meeting was in Monterey in 1984. We have hosted meetings since in Carmel, Seaside, Morgan Hill, Santa Cruz, and for the last 5 years in San Jose, California. Our tent has hosted many banquets over the years in which we have welcomed:

  • Lois Laurel Hawes (Stan's Daughter)
  • Tony Hawes (Stan's Son-in-Law)
  • Henry Brandon (Barnaby from "Babes in Toyland")
  • Tommy "Butch" Bond (from Our Gang/Little Rascals and the Football brat from "Block-Heads")
  • Dorothy DeBorba (from Our Gang/Little Rascals)
  • Jacquie Lyn Woll (the little girl from "Pack Up Your Troubles")
  • Eugene "Pineapple" Jackson (from Our Gang/Little Rascals)
  • Eleanor Keaton (Buster Keaton's widow)
  • Ron Fields (W.C. Fields' grandson)
  • Colleen Deach (Edgar Kennedy's daughter)
  • Anthony Caruso (from "Jitterbugs")
  • Phyllis Coates (TV's first Lois Lane)
  • Virginia O'Brien (dead-pan singer from MGM musicals)
  • Aldo Ray (revered screen actor)

By virtue of our tent title, we established notoriety among other tents. We flourished with the cop theme in conventions and banquets offering us the opportunity to satirize the ultimate authority figure.

Edgar Kennedy

Edgar Kennedy was born in Monterey County in 1890. A comedian in his own right, he supported Laurel and Hardy in 10 of the duos films, frequently as a cop. The "Master of the Slow Burn" got his start in movies for Mack Sennett and was cast as one of the original "Keystone Kops."

In 1997, the Midnight Patrol celebrated the life and career of Edgar "Laurel and Hardy style" by hosting the first ever "Edgar Kennedy Celebration" in Monterey. Over 200 Sons of the Desert representing five different countries were in attendance. Highlights of this three day event include an Edgar Kennedy family reunion, hosted by Edgar's daughter Colleen Deach; a Laurel & Hardy softball game (skinniest vs. the portliest); a vaudeville talent night; a "Pair of Tights" ice cream catching contest; and Edgar vs. Ollie "gouty foot" relay contest; and a radio reenactment of an original radio broadcast that featured L&H with Edgar Kennedy.

Information for first time attendees

The Midnight Patrol Tent is the San Jose/Monterey chapter of the Sons of the Desert - the international Laurel & Hardy organization.

You may contact Grand Sheik Dave Allard by email at:

Click here to reveal address

PO Box 2309, King City, CA 93930

(831) 710-0836

We hope to see you at an upcoming Midnight Patrol Tent meeting.



Last updated October 14, 2014