Sons of the Desert

The Sons of the Desert was a Laurel and Hardy film released in 1934. It is my favourite feature film. It is also the name of the "fan club" dedicated to keeping the films and memories of Stan, Ollie and their supporting actors and actresses alive.

The Fraternal society was initally started by a group of guys in America, under the guidance of Stan himself. John McCabe had initially met Stan and Ollie backstage in Birmingham, during their UK tour in 1953. Years later, McCabe put it to his good friend Stan, that there should be an organisation which actively promoted the films, and kept their memories alive. Stan believed it was a wonderful idea, as long as there were plenty of fun, cocktails and laughter. John McCabe drew up the first constitution, with Stan's assistance, and cartoonist Al Kilgore created the Sons' badge.

At their first inaugural meeting, McCabe and three others met in New York, and McCabe became the first tent's Grand Sheik. The New York tent became Oasis #1, and as tents sprouted up all over the world, John became known as "The Exhausted Ruler". Fans of the original film "Sons of the Desert" will immediately recognise the terms "Grand Sheik" and "Exhausted Ruler"!

There are branches, or "Tents" all over the world, notably in the United Kingdom and the United States. Each tent is named after one of the films Laurel and Hardy made together. I am a member of four :

Beau Hunks of Nottingham,
Hats Off of Derby,
Early to Bed of Chesterfield,
Helpmates UK of London, a huge tent with members worldwide, producing a top quality magazine,
Fra Diavolo of North Lanarkshire,
Way Out West of Los Angeles, which I joined as a member in 1997, only being able to attend one meeting!

I was also a proud member of the Fra Diavolo Tent, based in Nottingham, prior to its sad demise in 1993. This was the first tent I was a member of, and I remember their meetings very fondly.

I'd like to thank the International Laurel and Hardy Appreciation Society, and John McCabe for providing the above information. If you're unsure whether to join the Sons of the Desert, I'd thoroughly recommend them. Click on the link below, and you'll go straight to the Helpmates website.

Helpmates' Laurel and Hardy Magazine

If you wish to join a tent, and you are based in one of the following countries, there is someone waiting for you to get in touch!