Post by mgm on Aug 13, 2009 15:43:59 GMT
Another fine gig ...
Published Date: 13 August 2009
Proud Sons of the Desert will descend on Wigan next month as local Laurel and Hardy fandom enters a new era.
There have been large and popular annual festivals dedicated to the comedy duo since the early 1990s, but this will be the first year when the event will have been organised by its very own branch or "tent."
Up until now the Laurel and Harday has been in the gift of the Bacon Grabbers UK (each tent is named after one of Stan and Ollie's films) which used to cover both Wigan and St Helens.
But now Wigan is going it alone with the Dirty Work tent which has been planning a fun-packed debut day at Upper Morris Street Working Men's Club in Scholes on the afternoon of Saturday September 5.
For the 14th year running the festival will feature the World Kneesy, Earsy Nosey Championships – a bizarre hand co-ordination game mastered by Stan.
And new this year will be Babes in Toyland Bullseye Darts! This will take its inspiration both from Jim Bowen's famous quiz show and the finale to the boys' 1934 feature film which saw an attack on Toyland by hordes of Boogymen partly by hurling large darts at them.
Organisers say the throwing will be confined to a darts board in this game, although a few grand sheikhs' pictures might be incorporated to sharpen participants' aim!
The beleaguered tent bosses will also find themselves in a pillory and drenched with water in the popular Soak the Sheikh game. There are some films too with plenty of screenings of Stan and Ollie's own works plus home movies by the Sons.
These will include footage of the unveiling in April by Ken Dodd of the Laurel and Hardy statue in Stan's home town of Ulverston. The landmark edifice, made by the same sculptor who crafted the hit Eric Morecambe statue, was paid for by the Sons after years of fund-raising and many from Wigan were among the 1,000-strong crowd.
Not present for the first time this year will be expert film archivist David Wyatt who was badly injured in a fire at his London home earlier this year and is still convalescing.
But despite the regular questionmaster's absence there will still be a big quiz, along with raffles, a charity auction, raffle and caption competition.
Dirty Work vice-sheikh Stephen Barlow said: "We really have got a packed programme organised – you will hardly have time to draw breath.
"Chris Coffey did a great job organising the Laurel and Hardays in Wigan and we are hoping to continue that success. Wigan is a huge area for Laurel and Hardy with a lot of love for them."
Doors open at 12.30pm with events running until about 6pm. Admission is £5 for adults while under-16s get in free.
The full article contains 478 words and appears in Wigan Evening Post newspaper
Last Updated: 13 August 2009 11:29 AM
Source: Wigan Evening Post
Location: Wigan
Published Date: 13 August 2009
Proud Sons of the Desert will descend on Wigan next month as local Laurel and Hardy fandom enters a new era.
There have been large and popular annual festivals dedicated to the comedy duo since the early 1990s, but this will be the first year when the event will have been organised by its very own branch or "tent."
Up until now the Laurel and Harday has been in the gift of the Bacon Grabbers UK (each tent is named after one of Stan and Ollie's films) which used to cover both Wigan and St Helens.
But now Wigan is going it alone with the Dirty Work tent which has been planning a fun-packed debut day at Upper Morris Street Working Men's Club in Scholes on the afternoon of Saturday September 5.
For the 14th year running the festival will feature the World Kneesy, Earsy Nosey Championships – a bizarre hand co-ordination game mastered by Stan.
And new this year will be Babes in Toyland Bullseye Darts! This will take its inspiration both from Jim Bowen's famous quiz show and the finale to the boys' 1934 feature film which saw an attack on Toyland by hordes of Boogymen partly by hurling large darts at them.
Organisers say the throwing will be confined to a darts board in this game, although a few grand sheikhs' pictures might be incorporated to sharpen participants' aim!
The beleaguered tent bosses will also find themselves in a pillory and drenched with water in the popular Soak the Sheikh game. There are some films too with plenty of screenings of Stan and Ollie's own works plus home movies by the Sons.
These will include footage of the unveiling in April by Ken Dodd of the Laurel and Hardy statue in Stan's home town of Ulverston. The landmark edifice, made by the same sculptor who crafted the hit Eric Morecambe statue, was paid for by the Sons after years of fund-raising and many from Wigan were among the 1,000-strong crowd.
Not present for the first time this year will be expert film archivist David Wyatt who was badly injured in a fire at his London home earlier this year and is still convalescing.
But despite the regular questionmaster's absence there will still be a big quiz, along with raffles, a charity auction, raffle and caption competition.
Dirty Work vice-sheikh Stephen Barlow said: "We really have got a packed programme organised – you will hardly have time to draw breath.
"Chris Coffey did a great job organising the Laurel and Hardays in Wigan and we are hoping to continue that success. Wigan is a huge area for Laurel and Hardy with a lot of love for them."
Doors open at 12.30pm with events running until about 6pm. Admission is £5 for adults while under-16s get in free.
The full article contains 478 words and appears in Wigan Evening Post newspaper
Last Updated: 13 August 2009 11:29 AM
Source: Wigan Evening Post
Location: Wigan
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