Next Meeting - 25th Anniversary event!

All Are Cordially Invited to Attend the Silver Anniversary Event for the Midnight Patrol Tent, Sons of the Desert, Int’l. Calling All Sons of the Desert! (and their Family, Friends, Pals, Buddies, Acquaintances and Wannabe Sons!) The historic Niles District of Fremont (between San Jose & Oakland) is the home of the Niles EssanaySilent Film Museum and Edison Theater, as well as the Vintage Niles Canyon Railway. Our program starts with lunch during a vintage train ride thru Niles Canyon, to be followed by time for an 'On Your Own' exploration of the District and it's many quaint shops, capped by a special selection of vintage comedy films shown at the Edison Theater, which will be preceded by several special presentations by/about our special guests. Tickets are a must for this Special Event since space in the Historic Theater is limited, therefore tickets willbe sold on a First-Come, First-Served basis.

Special Guests Guest of Honor :
Dorothy DeBorba, Our Gang's "Little Echo"
Memories of Edgar Kennedy by Grandson Mark Kennedy
Ben Ali Shrine, Keystone Kops

Film Program:
"Berth Marks"L&H '29
"Choo-Choo"Rascals '32
"Midnight Patrol"L&H '33
"The Perfect Day" L&H '29

Adults: $45
Youth (under 16): $35
TICKET PRICE includes the train ride, box lunch on the train, the District tour-time, museum exhibits & tour, the pre-film celebration and the Full Film Program. Further Info: Contact Dave Allard 831-710-0836
Tickets available at www.nilesfilmmuseum.org

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.

Upcoming Meeting Dates

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.

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