Oasis #57
San Jose, CA
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.
![[Leave 'Em Laughing Photo]](laughing.jpg)
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.
The Midnight Patrol meets every two or three months at the Garden City Hofbrau in San Jose. We welcome new members to join and attend out meetings that feature film showings and special events.
For more information about our tent,
upcoming banquet, or membership information, write to Grand
Sheik Bob Zeroun, 373 Curie Dr., San Jose, CA 95119 or you
may E-Mail Sheik of Police Bill Cassara at
.
by Tony Hawes.
