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NOTE: This is an old issue of the Brushwood Gulch Gazette, which has been archived for reference purposes.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. |
Don't miss out on the fun October 25th at the Way Out West Tent's first Halloween themed event in over a decade. Everyone in attendance is encouraged to get into the Halloween spirit and wear their favorite costume. Costumes will be judged by our own Lori "Mama Hen" McCaffery in the following categories: Best Single Costume, Best Couples Costume, Funniest Costume, and Most Far-Out Costume. Winners in each of the four categories will receive a free Way Out West Membership for 2006! No one is required to wear a costume, but if you do you'll really add to the atmosphere of the meeting...and, who knows, maybe you'll win a free membership too.
The "spooky" film program for the evening will include Laurel & Hardy in Habeas Corpus (1928), The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case (1930), and The Live Ghost (1934). There will also be a tribute to Tommy "Butch" Bond, who passed away last month. We will see "Butch" in Glove Taps (1937) and be joined by "Butch's" sidekick, Sid "Woim" Kibrick (schedule permitting).
The meeting will take place at the Mayflower Club, located at 11110 Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 7:15 p.m. Hot dogs will be for sale from the kitchen, and drinks will be for sale at the Mayflower Bar. Cake will be served during the intermission. See you Tuesday, October 25th.
Click here for a map to the Mayflower Club...
Best known as the tough guy in Our Gang films, Tommy "Butch" Bond passed away on September 24, 2005 at the age of 79. He appeared in Our Gang films between the years 1932 and 1940. Tommy also appeared with Laurel & Hardy in a memorable scene from Block-Heads (1938), as the boy whose football is kicked down the large flight of stairs. At our January 2004 meeting, Tommy told our members that "Stan developed that scene right on the spot." He also said that seeing the Boys driving around the Roach Studios in their Model-T is one of the things that stuck in his mind that made the Roach Studios the "Lot of Fun."
In 1947 Tommy Bond was reunited with Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer in several Gas House Kids films. Tommy became Jimmy Olsen in the Superman serials made in 1948 and 1950. In the 1951, Tommy moved behind the camera. He worked as a stage manager at television station KTTV-11 in Los Angeles, and later at KFSN in Fresno. He retired in 1991.
Tommy was a longtime member of the Way Out West Tent. He attended the Our Gang reunion at the 1980 Sons of the Desert Convention in Los Angeles, meeting up with his old nemesis "Spanky" McFarland and his old Pal Sid "Woim" Kibrick. In 2000, Tommy "Butch" Bond received the Way Out West Tent Lifetime Achievement Award. "Butch" was a favorite at many Way Out West Tent meetings and banquets over the years, including our most recent banquet in October 2004. Despite his Our Gang on screen persona, Tommy was always friendly and very approachable for members of the Way Out West Tent. Tommy Bond is survived by his wife Polly, son Thomas Jr., and grandson.
John McCabe, Laurel and Hardy biographer and Sons of the Desert founder, passed away on September 27, 2005. He was 84. As a Shakespearian scholar, McCabe headed the Department of Drama and Theater Arts at Lake Superior State University in Northern Michigan for many years. He studied at the Shakespeare Institute in Birmingham, England.
In 1953, while earning his PhD, John McCabe saw a Birmingham theater advertising Laurel & Hardy in "Birds of a Feather." Not recognizing the film title, McCabe went to the theater to discover that it was an original sketch to be performed live by Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Following the performance, McCabe made his way backstage to meet Stan and Ollie. This chance meeting would eventually lead to McCabe becoming the official biographer of Laurel & Hardy.
John McCabe was the author of four books on the Boys. He penned three biographies: Mr. Laurel & Mr. Hardy (1961), The Comedy World of Stan Laurel (1974), and Babe: The Life of Oliver Hardy (1989). In 1975, McCabe co-authored the photo filled filmography simply titled Laurel & Hardy, along with fellow Sons Al Kilgore and Richard Bann. John McCabe also wrote biographies on George M. Cohan (1973), James Cagney (1976 & 1997), and Charlie Chaplin (1978).
After the success of Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy, John McCabe approached Stan Laurel with the idea of an organization where fans could get together to watch the old films. Stan liked the idea, and the club was formed in New York City in 1965. The organization took its name from the 1933 L&H film, and John McCabe took the title "Exhausted Ruler" (which was what Stan called the "Exalted Ruler" in Sons of the Desert).
John McCabe remained active in the Sons of the Desert for the next 25 years. He attended most of the early International Conventions, where he gave scholarly lectures on comedy. He also frequently wrote for Sons publications such as the Intra-Tent Journal and Pratfall. After taking a hiatus as Exhausted Ruler in the '90s, John McCabe returned to the helm of the organization in July 2004. Although his health prohibited him from attending the 2004 International Convention, he answered questions from Sons members via a phone linkup between the convention hotel and his home in Michigan.
After the passing of McCabe's first wife, Vija Valda Zarina, John met Rosina Lawrence at a Sons of the Desert Convention. He later married Rosina, who was best known for her co-starring role with Laurel & Hardy in Way Out West. After Rosina passed away, McCabe married his third wife, Karen. John McCabe is survived by Karen and his three children.
In August, Stan Laurel's former yacht was sold at an auction. It was purchased by two accomplished deep sea fishermen and Laurel & Hardy aficionados in San Francisco; a prominent surgeon and his life-long childhood chum, a noted architect. They intend to completely restore the yacht.
Lois Laurel Hawes spent a day with the new owners discussing her memories and sharing photos of her father's yacht. Lois and her family were ecstatic to find that the new owners were true Laurel & Hardy fans, and are delighted with the plans to restore the boat. Restoration has begun and the yacht is scheduled to be on display from time to time at the San Francisco Maritime Museum, starting in 2006.
A walk of fame in London's Covent Garden has been dedicated, featuring famous personalities from Britain and the Commonwealth. Stan Laurel was among the first 100 stars to appear on the London Walk of Fame. The walk was made by Britain's ITV television network to commemorate their 50th anniversary. The dedication ceremony was televised in the United Kingdom. Stan Laurel's great-granddaughter, Cassidy, was invited to the dedication ceremony to represent the Laurel family, but was unable to attend.
Sharron Fisher has moved to Northern California and will no longer be in the kitchen preparing hot dogs. Over the past three decades, Sharron and her late husband Al volunteered their time at every meeting to feed hungry Way Out West members. In their honor, these hot dogs became known as the "Fabulous Fisher Franks." A big thank you to Sharron for her years of service.
A great help in the kitchen at our last meeting were Marjorie Campbell and her daughter. Marjorie was made an honorary member of the Way Out West Tent at our October 2004 banquet, for her role as Ollie's baby in the film Their First Mistake. Thanks for your help!
If you are interested in lending your help to the tent (especially in the kitchen), please let us know at the next meeting.
In July, we welcomed Burr Middleton to the stage of the Mayflower Club. Burr is the grandson of Charles Middleton, who starred with Laurel & Hardy in Beau Hunks (1931), Pack Up Your Troubles (1932), The Fixer Uppers (1935), and Flying Deuces (1939). We screened both Beau Hunks and Pack Up Your Troubles. Burr was interviewed and took questions from the audience. He did a terrific impression of his grandfather and displayed a pistol that his grandfather had used in Vaudeville (pictured). Our special video program for the evening included a clip of Charles Middleton in a Flash Gordon serial, and a short video which included clips from all 106 of Laurel & Hardy's films.
Our last meeting for 2005 will be December 13th at the DeMille Barn in Hollywood. Details will be available in our next newsletter. As a reminder, our annual holiday food drive for the Maude Booth Family Center will take place at that special meeting venue.
A new book entitled A History of the Hal Roach Studios provides a historical overview of the "Lot of Fun." It was written by former Way Out West Member Richard Ward and is 288 pages. Another new book called Images of America: Culver City tells the history of downtown Culver City, which was used as a backdrop in many early Laurel & Hardy films. The author is Culver City historian Julie Lugo Cerra and the book is 128 pages. Both books are available from Amazon.com.
The Laurel & Hardy Collection Vol. II contains three of the Boys' best films: Way Out West, Block-Heads, and Chickens Come Home. This DVD is available now in North America.
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Sons of the Desert founding member | |
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Our Gang | |
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Lois Laurel Sr. |
Mrs. Stan Laurel |
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Our Gang | |
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Arthur Jefferson |
Stan's Father |
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Our Gang | |
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Our Gang | |
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Block-Heads, Our Gang | |
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The Big Noise, Our Gang | |
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Joy Lane |
Babes in Toyland, Our Gang |
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Wild Poses, Our Gang | |
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Lois Roberts |
Mrs. Thomas Benton Roberts |
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Composer | |
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Director | |
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Our Gang | |
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Stan Laurel Impresionest | |
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Our Gang | |
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Our Gang | |
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Cameraman | |
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Madge Jefferson |
Stan's Mother |
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Our Gang | |
Halloween Costume Meeting October 25th