Stan Laurel’s family was in attendance, including his daughter Lois, great-granddaughter Cassidy, and great-great-grandchildren Tommy and Lucy. The " Them Thar Hills" banquet was hosted by Midnight Patrol Tent in the main ballroom of the Holiday Inn. Click here to see the video presetation on YouTube. Following the video a vote was called for and the bid won unanimously. Carol and Steve Rugh (One Good Turn Tent, CT) presented a video on behalf of Dave and Ali Stevenson. The On the Loose Tent of Manchester, New Hampshire made the only bid for July 2012. The only other business to discuss was the location for the next international convention.
Roger Gordon gave a brief update on the status of the Intra Tent Journal. Bill Leavy and Jamie McKenna also performed a very funny magic act as Laurel & Hardy.īack at the hotel, Bob Satterfield (Way Out West Tent, CA) conducted the Grand Council meeting. At the theater, we screened One Good Turn and Our Relations. A small, informal parade left the capitol grounds for the Crest Theatre, located several blocks away. Buses returned to the hotel in time for lunch.ĭelegates found their way to the steps of the California State Capitol Building, where we met on the front step for a group photo. Volunteers offered demonstrations and a self-guided tour was available of the 1846-era trading post and military fortress. Participants have three chances to hit the pee-wee in this challenging contest, which was officiated by Roger Gillette and Elaine Johnson (Block-Heads Tent, MN).įollowing the contests, delegates entered Sutter's Fort, which bears a resemblance to Fort Arid from Beau Hunks. When hitting one of the tapered ends, it will fly up into the air so you can hit the pee-wee like a baseball. As seen in the film Babes in Toyland ( March of the Wooden Soldiers), the Pee-Wee Contest involves hitting a small, round piece of wood that is tapered at both ends with a stick. The putting contest was conducted by Glenn and Tammi Campbell (Blotto Tent, NJ), and afforded contestants three putts to get a golf ball closest to a marker on the lawn. On the lawn outside the fort, conventioneers gathered to participate in two long-standing traditions: the Oliver Hardy Putting Contest and the Pee-Wee Contest. Afterwards, the downstairs film room opened for several hours.īuses departed the hotel early Thursday morning, and headed for the state park at Sutter's Fort.
Laurel & Hardy look-a-likes Bill Leavy and Jamie McKenna performed a perfectly choreographed dance to "At the Ball, That's All" from Way Out West to conclude the party. Traditional Sons of the Desert toasts were given and a half-dozen birthday cakes adorned with childhood photos of Stan were served. This convention took place a month earlier than previous conventions, affording us cooler than average weather and the chance to gather on Stan Laurel's actual birthday. Old friends had a chance to catch up with each other and new friends were made. The goal was to guess the name of the person on your label by asking only yes or no questions of the other delegates. Upon entering the room, a label was placed on everyone's back with the name of a person or character related to the films of Laurel & Hardy.
But on Wednesday night we gathered on the 16th floor in a large, windowed room overlooking downtown Sacramento. The main banquet room, film room, and dealer's room were located on the ground floor of the high-rise hotel.
Registration was open most of the afternoon for Sons of the Desert to check in and receive their name badge, t-shirt, and foreign legion style Sons of the Desert hat.
Most delegates arrived at the hotel on Wednesday. The Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza was conveniently located in downtown Sacramento, between an outdoor shopping mall and Old Sacramento (an old west style town filled with restaurants and shops). On Tuesday, the tour visited a historic gold mine in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The tour on Monday visited several wineries in the Napa Valley area. On Monday and Tuesday, the Another Fine Mess Tent arranged two pre-convention tours for delegates that wanted to see a little bit more of the Sacramento area while on vacation. Pre-Convention Activities: Monday, June 14 - Tuesday, June 15