Please note that all of our future Tent meetings will now take place on Saturday afternoons.
Our first meeting of the new year on Sat., Jan. 9, 2010 will be a game of “Pick a Number.” Four of the meeting’s attendees will each be asked to pick a number from 1 to 21. From there, I will pull that number’s DVD from the L&H 21-disc DVD set and show a short subject from it.
As befits Valentine’s Day, our meeting on Sat., Feb. 13, 2010 will feature L&H shorts with the theme of marriage: “Our Wife” (1931), “Twice Two” (1933), “Me and My Pal” (1933), and “Oliver the Eighth” (1934). These shorts will be preceded by the Popeye cartoon “Wimmen Is a Myskery” (1940).
Our meeting on Sat., March 9, 2010 wishes a happy birthday to L&H villain Walter Long (born March 5, 1879), with movies that showcase him: “Any Old Port” (1932), “The Live Ghost” (1934), “Going Bye-Bye!” (1934), and a clip from the feature film “Pick a Star” (1937).
Our meeting on Sat., April 10, 2010 honors the anniversary of L&H’s classic Western comedy “Way Out West” (originally released on April 16, 1937) with a screening of the movie. It will be preceded by the Popeye cartoon “Me Feelins Is Hurt” (1940).
Our meeting on Sat., May 8, 2010 will have the theme “Laurel & Hardy Storytellers.” The meeting will feature L&H shorts which have an interesting story about their origins, including the silent short “Wrong Again” (1929) and the sound shorts “The Perfect Day” (1929), “One Good Turn” (1931), and “On the Wrong Trek” (1936).
Our meeting on Sat., June 12, 2010 wishes a happy birthday to the “ever popular” Mae Busch (born June 18, 1891) with short subjects that showcase her: “Chickens Come Home” (1930), “Come Clean” (1931), “Them Thar Hills” (1934), and its sequel, “Tit for Tat” (1935).
As always, the Tent meetings will be held at the Jacksonville Public Library's Pablo Creek Branch, located at 13295 Beach Boulevard (between Kernan and Hodges Roads). Meetings will take place from 4:00 to 5:45 p.m. on the listed afternoons. Light snacks and soda will be served free of charge.
The following points cannot be emphasized enough: Viewers of all ages are welcome, and admission is absolutely free! Donations are optional and are gladly accepted, but we cannot and do not beg, borrow, or steal. The sole purpose for the creation of this Tent is to share the work and joy of two classic comedians, and to encourage people's consistent attendance so that this Tent will thrive.
Jacksonville is the city where Oliver Hardy began his filmmaking career. There is next to nothing commemorating that fact in this city. Please attend our meetings, show your support for these timeless comics, and share the laughter!
For further information or directions, please call the Tent's "Grand Sheik" Steve Bailey at (904) 246-0312, or E-mail him at stevebailey61@gmail.com. The Pablo Creek Branch Library's number is (904) 992-7101.