July Update

The next meeting of the Bonnie Scotland tent is at 7:30pm on Wednesday 27th July 2011, at the Tartan Rose, Paisley. This month's feature is Saps at Sea (click on the graphic for a video clip). The tent is also planning a trip on the Waverley on Sunday 31st July - if you're interested let Janice know by emailing her at chonziecats@yahoo.co.uk.

Saps at Sea
After working in the noisy horn factory, just the sound of one drives Oliver into a violent fit. Dr. Finlayson prescribes a long, restful sea voyage, so Stan and Oliver rent a boat and set sail, unaware that escaped killer Nick Grainger has stowed away onboard. To disable the crook, the boys prepare him a meal using string for spaghetti, sponges for meatballs and soap for cheese. But Grainger discovers their plan and decides to make them eat the stuff themselves.

Sons of the Desert Convention Paisley 2011

At last - some video from the 32nd Annual UK Sons of the Desert Convention in Paisley - click on the convention poster for the video clip.

This link takes you to one of the stories the local newspaper ran on the convention.

May Update

The next meeting of the Bonnie Scotland tent takes place on Wednesday 25th May at 7:30pm, in the Tartan Rose, Broomlands Street, Paisley. There will be a DVD with highlights of the recent UK Convention held in Paisley and the usual Laurel and Hardy movies, finishing off with Tom & Jerry.

April Update

Our next meeting takes place on Wednesday 27th April at the Tartan Rose, Broomlands Street, Paisley at 7:30pm. The main feature is Sons of the Desert -very apt as it is two days before the start of the 32nd Annual UK Sons of the Desert Convention in Paisley! Other films planned for that night include Them Thar Hills and Another Fine Mess.

Sons of the Desert (1933)
So that he and Stan can sneak away to Chicago and attend the annual "Sons of the Desert" lodge convention, Ollie pretends to be sick, and gets a doctor (who turns out to be a veterinarian) to prescribe a long ocean voyage to Hawaii. Decked out in leis and strumming ukeleles, they return home only to learn that the ship supposedly carrying them has sunk. Their hastily- contrived tale of "ship-hiking" their way back cuts no ice with their wives, who've been at the movies watching a newsreel of the lodge's convention parade, starring... guess who?

Trivia

Three decades after the movie's release, its motif inspired the creation of an "international Laurel and Hardy appreciation society," named after the movie and created by Stan Laurel and his biographer John McCabe.

Stan and Olly @ Magners Comedy Festival

Well, not quite - but as part of the Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival, Call of the Cuckoos Tent are putting on an 8 hour Laurel and Hardy film show in the Panopticon.

It starts at 11:30am and entrance is free. However, spaces are limited - so get there early.

March Update

The next meeting is on Wednesday 30th March, 7:30pm in the Tartan Bar, Paisley. Hopefully we'll have the sound system fully restored in time so we can have Stan and Olly drown out any noise from the bar.

The main feature is likely to be Bonnie Scotland - and why not! This is the second last meeting before the Convention comes to Paisley so if you can help out please come along and let Janice volunteer you! It will also give those going to the convention an extra bit of practice with the toasts.

Convention Update: all the available rooms at the hotel are now booked for the convention. Day tickets are still available -but the forms need to be in by 31st March -come along to the March meeting and fill inyour form. Also the Tent is holding a second hand book stall at the convention to raise funds - so bring along any books you want to donate.

Bonnie Scotland
Mclaurel and Hardy travel to scotland in this comedy classic. But much of the action takes place in British India. The film is from the Hal Roach studio and produced by Hal Roach and directed by James W. Horne. Laurel and Hardy were best in their short comedy films but this is one of the best longer adventures. There are plenty of laughs and a funny dance routine (click on the Bonnie Scotland poster on the right hand side of this webpage for an example). The film also stars the familiar face of James Finlayson as the Sergeant Major.

February Update

The next meeting of the Bonnie Scotland Tent is on Wednesday 23rd February at 7:30pm in the Tartan Rose, where One Good Turn will be one of the movies shown.

We now have 76 people booked for the UK Sons of the Desert Convention in Paisley and are fast running out of hotel rooms! It looks like we may need to think about an overspill hotel.

Don't forget, there are daily rates for Bonnie Scotland members (see Janice) who want to come to the Convention.


One Good Turn
Stan and Ollie are victims of the great depression and are begging for food. A friendly old lady provides them with some sandwiches. Enjoying their meal they hear that the old lady will be thrown out of her house because she is robbed and cannot pay her mortgage. They don't know that the old lady is rehearsing a play. Stan and Ollie decide to repay the old lady by selling their car. During the auction a drunken man puts a wallet in Stan's pocket. Ollie accuses Stan of having robbed the old lady but when they return to the old lady's place they hear the truth. Stan takes revenge on Ollie in a violent way.

Memorable Quote:
Ollie to the old lady: "We haven't tasted food in three whole days".
Stan:" Yesterday, today and tomorrow".