Bulletin 25.05.09.

On eBay Found on eBay was a framed cheque signed by Stan plus a postcard photo of him and one of him and Ollie. Should anyone want it it's available as Buy Now and the item number is 380043880353. Tony Hillman Impersonators At our recent meeting of the Any Old Port Tent near Baltimore, Maryland, one of our members, Bob Cartwright, brought in a photo (above) taken of Laurel and Hardy impersonators that he had met back in September 1985. The occasion was an event at the (then) recently opened Valley Mall in Hagerstown, Maryland. Apparently the impersonators were hired to roam the Mall as a promotional event and did routine impersonations of the Boys. Bob was nice enough to allow me to share his personal photos with other Sons, but has asked that they not be used by anyone for any monetary purpose. Jack Roth advises that these impersonators are Jim Mulleague and Rick Underwood. He says they were the first of the best Laurel and Hardy impersonators. Gino Dercola Will Hay book The Will Hay book by Graham Rinaldi is a must-buy for Sons. I didn't know that James Finlayson had been in the Will Hay film Dandy Dick. James came over to England to promote Babes in Toyland and while he was here he made the film Dandy Dick. Sadly his scenes were cut from the film. Also Hey Hey USA, Will Hay's fated USA film with Edgar Kennedy. There is the story of how Charlie Hall got a part in the movie and lots of nice bits about Laurel and Hardy, the gift they gave to the Water Rats for the dinner, and their membership of the Rats. Also mentioned is an interview with Tony Baker, who drove the train Gladstone in Oh Mr Porter! and was given a watch by the team for his work on the film. You can buy the book from Tomahawk Press for £12.50 or £11.12 from Amazon. Nick Rich Will Hay's parents were Scottish and he lived in Ulverston for a while.   Stan and Babe play Stan and Babe is a new play by James Phillips. Début performances are to be held at THE CASA, 29 Hope Street, Liverpool on. . . MAY 2009: Wed 27th, Fri 29th & Sat 30th @ 19:30 (Matinee on Sat 30th @ 14:30). TICKETS cost £8:00 & £5:00 (concessions). Tickets are available if calling in person at the THE CASA (info on 0151 -709-2148) or from USHER TRAVEL SERVICE on 0151-638-5926 (27 Wallasey Road, Liscard - all major credit cards accepted. Keith Davidson has posted the details on his site, so please visit the following link for further information http://www.anotherfinesite.com/latest_news.htm#New%20Play%20in%20Liverpool:%20Stan%20And%20Babe.   Keith says, "It would be great if we could put up a good turnout; something that is so vital to ensure a play continues to be performed elsewhere."  Ear ear - the House of Beau Hunks With all the recent shame-inagens in the House of Commons, the Nottingham Beau Hunks Tent re-themed its meeting on 20th May as Honesty is the Best. . . Politics, after Stan's famous gag in Sons of the Desert. For what was a late shift, the House was packed with nearly twenty MBs - that is Members of Beau! The evening started with a Party Political Broadcast from our Right Honourable Grand Speaker Dave Scothern, followed by a showing of Chickens Come Home, where Ollie presents his case to become the next Speaker of the House. This was hastily followed by a debate on The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case (where I'm afraid this financial claim had to go unrewarded); the cost of the Douglas Hogg Wild moat; and finally The Hoose-Gow, which is the new second house where ex-parliamentarians go when they stand down. The meeting closed when we reviewed the latest statutes in North Shields, Bishop Auckland and Ulverston. Sadly, the meeting was closed before we could debate interest payments on the Duck Soup house. Dave Tomlinson Laurel and Hardy in Cartoonland Where did the 1990s screen saver of Stan and Babe putting up pictures originate? When was the Duracell Stan and Babe toy doll advert first aired? Does anyone have any episodes of Animaniacs that feature the Rita and Runt opening sequence; Tiny Toons Inside Plucky Duck; Disney's Recess The Diggers Split Up; Pound Puppies Secret Agent Pup; Tommy and Oscar with Alien Stan; Smurfs' Trojan Smurfs and the Naranjito Laurel and Hardy episode. My updated book is coming along nicely. Thank you to those who have given me some great ideas over the last couple of weeks. Antony Mitchell-Waite Did you see? Janice Hawton and Tony Hillman tell us that Coronation Street (ITV1, 20.05.09.) had Ramsay Clegg (Andrew Sachs), Ken Barlow (William Roache) and Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride) singing The Trail of the Lonesome Pine. Ken, Deirdre and Emily were with Norris's brother, Ramsay, who was telling them about Australia. He mentioned the Blue Mountains and Deirdre said, "I wonder if it's like in Virginia. You know that Laurel and Hardy song," and started singing, "On the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia," and the rest of them joined in.