1983 Sons of the Desert Banquet

Above, the banquet program with autographs from Hank Worden and Hal Roach Sr.

Thirty-five years ago this month, I attended the 13th Annual Banquet of the "Way Out West" Tent of the Sons of The Desert at the Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City with Glenn Thornhill and Mark Rosenthal. The banquet was held on October 15, 1983.

It was there that I met and obtained the autographs of actor Hank Worden (Mose Harper of The Searchers) and Hal Roach Sr. on my program.

Above, actor Hank Worden. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At the table I was seated at was actress Joyce Compton, who was tickled that I remembered her starring with Bela Lugosi in Scared To Death.

Other stars were in attendance at the banquet, including Vivian Blaine, Alan Young, Henry Brandon and Anthony Caruso.

Above, yours truly with Mark Rosenthal (center) and Glenn Thornhill at the banquet.

Herald-Examiner columnist James Bacon was also in attendance and he wrote this in the October 20, 1983 edition:

Some of us were discussing John Wayne this morning and I noted that I met two actors in a clip from The Searchers: Hank Worden and Henry Brandon (Comanche Chief Scar). This led me to dig though my files of the banquet. 

"March of the Wooden Soldiers" (1934)

Since this is the Christmas season, I was on the lookout for a copy of March of the Wooden Soldiers (1934) (also known as Babes In Toyland) starring comedy greats Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. It has been a while since I last saw the movie and I wanted a copy for viewing.

Above, Charlotte Henry.

Being unsuccessful at local stores, I turned to Amazon and ordered a copy. They told me that it will be arriving tomorrow. My roomie and I plan to pop some popcorn and enjoy it.

The movie is based on Victor Herbert's 1903 operetta Babes In Toyland, but tailored by Hal Roach Studios for Laurel and Hardy. Along with Stan and Ollie, the other standouts are Charlotte Henry (what a hottie!) as Bo Peep and Henry Brandon as the evil Silas Barnaby.

Brandon was a regular attendee of the Way Out West Tent (Los Angeles) of the Laurel and Hardy fan organization, Sons of the Desert, back in the 1980s. I was a member of the Way Out West Tent back then. Brandon was a very nice guy who enjoyed mingling with fans. The members hissed at him when he was introduced at the meetings. It was all in fun. Brandon was around 22 years old when he made March of the Wooden Soldiers. You really couldn't tell he was that young with the Silas Barnaby make-up he wore. He passed away on February 15, 1990.

I am looking forward to viewing it tomorrow night!

Hal Roach Studios Stationery

Chuck Harter, one of the authors of a new biography/filmography of comedian Harry Langdon, sent over this sample of movie studio history:

It is stationery from Hal Roach Studios of Culver City, California.  This sample is circa 1931-1932.  The Roach Studios produced the Laurel & Hardy, Our Gang, Thelma Todd-Zasu Pitts and Charley Chase comedy shorts.

I met Hal Roach back in the 1980s at a Sons of the Desert banquet in Studio City.  He also signed my dinner program.

Thanks to Chuck Harter for sharing this piece of movie studio history!