FUNDRAISING FINDS TALENT IN THE TENT - kahooma€¦ · MARCH 2018 THE NEWSHEET OF LAUGHING GRAVY BIRMINGHAM FREE TO MEMBERS FUNDRAISING FINDS TALENT IN THE TENT As many of you will

MARCH 2018 THE NEWSHEET OF LAUGHING GRAVY BIRMINGHAM FREE TO MEMBERS

FUNDRAISING FINDS TALENT IN THE TENT

As many of you will remember, Nigel Clarke used to play the Ku Ku Song on his recorder at tent meetings then take his fez round to collect money for Sandwell Young Carers. Unfortunately, due to the illness of his father, Nigel is no longer able to attend our tent meetings. We want to carry on raising money for this great cause. So we have decided to let some of our very talented members take on the role of fund raisers.

Stephen Ling started the ball rolling in January, playing ‘Trail of the Lonesome Pine’ on his guitar. He was ably assisted on vocals by Kevin Pullinger and a very glamorous backing group! (Phyllis, Mandy and Pat).

And in February our International Membership Secretary, Graham Hollister (complete with pith helmet) gave us a rather splendid rendition of Gunga Din.

Between them, Stephen and Graham raised £130.50, which I’m sure you’ll agree is a great start.

So who will be next to offer their services for this worthwhile cause? If you’ve got a talent, now is the time to share it! Let John know if you would like to do a ‘turn’. We wait with baited breath!

EYES DOWN FOR SOUTHPORT !

In August 1952 Laurel & Hardy performed at the beautiful Garrick Theatre in Southport. Today it is a Mecca Bingo Hall. As you can see from this photograph, it is a very impressive building. The good news is that the current manager of the building (Brian Hennigan) has very kindly offered to let us have a look around this wonderful venue, when we visit Southport in May. As it will be open for Bingo that morning, this is a very kind gesture on his behalf (so if we make any noise we will have to make it quietly!). As a gesture of thanks, we have invited Brian to join us for afternoon tea.. One good turn deserves another!

JOHN ULLAH

As you are reading this Talking Pictures [Sky343, Freeview81, Freesat306, Virgin445] has just

finished their 2nd wave of Laurel & Hardy featuring the ever popular short two-reeler films. Stay

tuned, they may show more films if they get a demand for them, so set your TiVo boxes to record

them!

In a recent edition of the Birmingham Mail it highlighted the need to refurbish graves of historic

importance in St Phillips churchyard in the City Centre. One such example is Nannette Stocker.

She was a regency showbiz giant, even though she was only 33” tall.

Nanette was born in Austria in 1780 and teamed-up with German born

John Hauptman [who was 36”tall]. Together they toured Europe.

Nannette was an accomplished piano player. After arriving in

England they ended up playing Birmingham’s Onion Fair, and were

the headline act in Aston. After performing at the Onion Fair in May

1819 Nannette died, and was buried in St Phillip’s churchyard. Her

gravestone reads:

“IN MEMORY OF NANETTE STOCKER, WHO DEPARTED

THIS LIFE MAY 4TH 1819, AGED 39 YEARS. THE SMALLEST

WOMAN EVER IN THIS KINGDOM POSSESSED WITH EVERY

ACCOMPLISHMENT, ONLY 33 INCHES HIGH, A NATIVE OF

AUSTRIA”

The grave is located to the right of the entrance of St Phillip’s

Cathedral, not far from the Princess Diana Memorial tree.

I wonder if Laurel and Hardy will still be appreciated in 200 years? Maybe we will all be turned into

Cyborgs, like in one of Baba Vanga’s predictions (a modern day Nostradamus—Google her.].

I just hope people will still be able to laugh at Laurel and Hardy in 2218!

JASON WANDBY M.D., A.D., D.D.S., F.L.D., F.F.F. & F.

PUTTING THE KING TO ‘WRIGHT’

I had a very good response to my article about Dennis King in the Laughing Gravy Annual. I know a

lot of people (including myself) were surprised at just how big a part Birmingham played in his life.

Also I learned a great deal about Dennis’s wonderful career in the US. I did however get one of my

facts wrong. I wrongly stated that his wife was Evelyn Laye. Evelyn and Dennis appeared on stage

together in Edinburgh (1916), when they both vowed that they would become future stars. Dennis was

in fact married to Edith Wright.

The photographs that Ann shared

with us (for the article) are just a small

collection of her memorabilia on

Dennis. I have included another one

here. It is a photo of Ann, her

mother (Marie) and Dennis King in

Cannon Hill Park in the 1950’s.

And I’m pleased to announce that

Ann will be joining us for our 25th

Birthday Lunch at the Tally Ho Club

on Sunday 1st April. Which is

another good reason to come along.

JOHN ULLAH

THE DOC ON …. BEING A LITTLE PUZZLED One of The Doc's patients was concerned about the mental health of his elderly mother and asked The Doc if he could visit her. The Doc dutifully obliged and called in the following day. A little silver-haired lady came to the door and said, "Can you please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can't figure out how to get started." “What is it supposed to be when it's finished?" The Doc enquired. The lady said, "According to the picture on the box, it's a rooster." She showed him the puzzle spread all over the dining table. The Doc studied the pieces for a moment, then looked at the box. He turned to her and said, "First of all, no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a rooster." He took her hand and said, "Secondly, I want you to relax. Let's have a nice cup of tea, and then," he said with a deep sigh ..... "we'll put all the Corn Flakes back in the box."

YOU DON’T BELIEVE ME ……! By Pat Finney

When I was on holiday at a Warner’s complex, I did not expect to come across anything to do with Laurel & Hardy, but ….. I went on an excursion to Bridport and came across an old cinema. It was called the Electric Palace and it had just been totally refurbished (thanks

to a gentleman in the area who was the financier). It was very unusual, in that large watercolour paintings adorned the walls. In fact the final one was still in progress and it was depicting The Great Gatsby. Even more unusual was the fact that behind the seats in the auditorium was a bar! The cinema was in the Art Deco style. The foyer displayed several posters of previous films. So I went in search of the Boys and succeeded. They had been shown there in ‘Fra Diavolo’.

Back in the hotel, we had a different menu card each night with a variety of different historical facts printed on the back, pertaining to

that day of the week. The first thing I spotted on the Thursday night was two bowler hats! And sure enough it was about the Boys. It stated that their first film together had been ‘Lucky Dog’ shown on Thursday 10th October 1921. It went on to say how they then became a famous double act which is still an inspiration to many comedians.

NOT THE LAST POST In the Laughing Gravy Annual you would have seen

that I received a card in the post from one of our

members, despite the fact that the address on the

envelope only read ‘Laurel & Hardy Soc, Laughing

Gravy Tent, Birmingham’. Well incredibly I have since

received a ‘Thank You’ card from the postman (Glen)

who wrote on the front of that envelope “Try 42 York

Road, Erdington, B23 6TG”.

So how did this come about? Well, if you take a look at

the note Glen wrote in his thank you card, all will be

revealed. As it should have been me thanking him, I

sent him a copy of the Laughing Gravy Annual, along

with a set of our Stan & Ollie badges. Twas ever thus!

JOHN ULLAH

TRIP TO ULVERSTON 2018

SATURDAY 7th JULY

SPECIAL PRICE FOR MEMBERS: Only £10

(Children £5)

The coach will depart from Erdington at 8.00am then Colmore Circus at 8.15am

And leave from Ulverston at 7.00pm to be back in Birmingham for last buses

N.B. This is always a popular trip, so book early to avoid disappointment. See Mandy at a tent meeting or contact John to book your place

(Contact details below)

Costumes for this year’s parade: It’s mortar boards and capes this year as we

will be Chumps at Oxford So if you want to join in, let our wardrobe

Mistress Jackie Mobbs know

B.S. We will be taking bookings from Members Only to begin with

Then from Thursday 3rd May we will open it up to Non-Members

(Cost for Non-Members: £13)

Contact: Grand Sheik, John Ullah 0121 628 6919 [email protected] website: www.laughinggravytent.co.uk

SILVER CELEBRATIONS—DETAILS AND UPDATES:

Sunday 1st April - Birthday Lunch, live entertainment and dancing Tally Ho Banqueting Suite, Pershore Road, Edgbaston, B5 7RN 11.30am-5.00pm. Booking deadline: Thurs 15th March Cost: £20 (payment in advance is required)

Saturday 19th May - Coach trip to Southport Depart from Erdington at 8.15am, then Colmore Circus at 8.30am. We will see the hotel and the theatre visited by the Boys, then there will be plenty of free time, before we meet at the Nostalgia Tea Rooms for Afternoon Tea Return from Southport at 6.45pm. Cost: £17.50 Only a few places left — so let us know a.s.a.p. if you want to come along.

Thursday 21st June - Towed in the Hole Barge Trip - 7-9pm Meeting point - International Convention Centre Quay side A midsummer cruise round the canals of Birmingham, which includes a Fish & Chip supper. Also, the boat has a licensed bar. Cost for boat trip and supper: £12

You can book a place for any of these events at a Tent meeting, or contact John and Mandy (details below)

THEM THAR HILLS

RAMBLE

SUNDAY 18TH MARCH

We kick off our 25th Birthday special events and step in to Spring with a stroll in

the countryside

The walk will set off at 11.00am Meeting point:

Geswolde Arms Hotel High St, Knowle, B93 OJU

Suggested route by public transport: Train from B’ham Moor St to Solihull

Then take a bus to Lodge Road

The Hotel serves breakfast for anyone wishing to fuel up before the walk.

And they serve lunch and snacks for those wanting a bite to eat afterwards. And of course, there is also a bar!

Graham Hollister will be our guide for the morning and the pace of the walk will be

very gentle. So why not get your walking shoes on and

come and join us.