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.


Founding Sheik Bill Patterson Memorial December 10th

It is with profound sadness that we must announce the death of our founder and first Grand Sheik, WILLIAM T. PATTERSON. Bill died last week at his apartment in Las Vegas.

Always helpful and faithful to the tent he started after reading John McCabe’s book “Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy,” Bill was always available for advice and support.

The Way Out West Tent and Bill’s daughters, Karen, Sheri, and Rita invite you to attend a celebration of his life and work on Monday, December 10, at 7:00 PM at the Mayflower Club, 11110 Victory Blvd. North Hollywood.
If you have a fond remembrance or funny story about Bill, please Call Lori Jones McCaffery at 818/845-4048 so you can be included in the program.

Yes, we will show some film. A bit of Bill’s life, the history of our club, and perhaps a L&H short.

The brief service will be followed by a repast, so you needn’t stop for dinner before you arrive. There will be no bar service, but soft drinks will be provided.

Please come to pay respects to the man who started it all in Los Angeles some 40 years ago.

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


It's All About Food at Way Out West's November 13th Meeting

As the year 2007 winds down, it is getting close to that time of the year when we gather with family and friends for holiday meals. With that theme in mind, our next meeting on Tuesday, November 13th will feature films in which Stan and Ollie have a meal.

In Twice Two (1933), Stan and Ollie are married to each other’s sisters, who throw a surprise birthday dinner party for Ollie. In You’re Darn Tootin’ (1928), Stan and Ollie’s landlady finds out at the dinner table that the Boys have lost their jobs and can’t pay their overdue rent. Ollie and Stan have dinner at the home of a widow, who Ollie thinks just might be a good pick for his wife, in Oliver the Eighth (1934). Our feature for the evening will be Swiss Miss (1938), in which Stan and Ollie must work at a hotel when they can’t pay for their meal.

For your meal, the Mayflower Kitchen will be selling our famous Fisher Franks with your choice of chips. To quench your thirst, the Mayflower Bar will be selling your choice of drinks. Free cake will also be served.

Join us on the evening of Tuesday, November 13th at the Mayflower Club, located at 11110 Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood. Doors open at 6:30 PM and the meeting will start at 7:15 PM. We hope to see all of you there!

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


Bring Canned Goods to Next Meeting

It is also the time of the year to give thanks for all we have and help people that are less fortunate. As we always do at our year’s last meeting, we ask each of you to bring canned goods or give a cash donation for the Maud Booth Family Center. The organization helps people in North Hollywood get back on their feet with food, child care, and educational programs.


Four Free Drawings at Next Meeting

To show our appreciation for the great turnout at our meetings and events this year, we will have four separate drawings for Laurel & Hardy collectibles. When you check in with Lori, be sure to get your free ticket. The first drawing will be after the toasts, the second after the first break, the third after the second break, and the forth after Swiss Miss.


From the Grand Sheik

At the close of my second year as Grand Sheik, I want to give special thanks to Bob Duncan and Lori McCaffery for their help, ideas, and support. Big thanks to Stan Taffel for supplying and screening the films we’ve had at our meetings. Also thanks to Colin McCaffery, David Rodriguez, Jane Barnhart, Neil Pinyan, Elaine Schulman, Stan Schulman, Rick Rogers, Sharon Evans, Bob Satterfield, and John Duff for their help during the year. And my love and very special thanks to my family, Kris and Jimmy III, for their help and support at our meetings and in my life. And finally thanks to all our members who have been so nice to me and my family and who have supported our meetings and events so well this year. To everyone, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!


Notes From Our September Meeting

On September 25th we honored Billy Gilbert, one of the earliest and most famous celebrity members of the Way Out West Tent. We screened four Laurel & Hardy films featuring Billy Gilbert: Them Thar Hills, Their First Mistake, Towed in a Hole, and The Chimp. As an added treat, we were honored to have Judy Cooper and her son Brian Cooper (pictured). Judy is Billy Gilbert’s niece and Brian is Billy’s grand nephew. Judy and Brian told us a little about themselves, and Judy told us about her memories of Billy. We also screened, for the first time at a Way Out West Meeting, Rhapsody in Brew, a comedy short starring Billy Gilbert and Billy Bletcher. Special thanks to Stan Taffel for inviting Judy and Brian to our meeting and bringing and screening Rhapsody in Brew. Thanks also to Randy Johnson, Chris Spicher, Stan Taffel, Bob Duncan, Ken Runyan, and Brian Cooper for helping with the toasts.


Ideas for 2008

We are currently reviewing our 2007 meetings and events to decide what worked well and what could have been better. We are also trying to come up with new things to do for next year. If you have any ideas, write them down and submit them in the jar that Lori will have at the check-in table next meeting.


Cathy Ledbetter Taylor

It is with great regret that we report to you the recent passing of Cathy Ledbetter Taylor. Our condolences to her husband Jack Taylor. Jack and Cathy were the hosts of the very popular 2000 International Sons of the Desert Convention, which took place in Tacoma, Washington.


2008 International Convention

Registration for the 2008 International Sons of the Desert Convention in Amsterdam is now officially full. If you’re still interested in attending, please contact the host tent to be added to the waiting list.