Sorry we had to cancel in March - let's try this again! Our next meeting will be Sunday, April 6th, 2014, at 3:00pm. After the meeting and movies we will head to the Publik House for some pub grub!








Welcome to the THEM THAR HILLS tent, Number 281, of the Sons of the Desert!

The Sons of the Desert is the international Laurel and Hardy appreciation society and strives to perpetuate the memories and movies of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.




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The Sons of the Desert was founded in 1965 by John McCabe, Al Kilgore, Orson Bean, Chuck McCann, John Municino and with the blessing of Stan Laurel himself. Since that time, more than 300 chapters have joined the fold and we are proud to be the 281st "Tent". Each tent is named after a Laurel and Hardy film and, since we are here in the heart of the Catskills, we felt that Them Thar Hills was an appropriate appellation!







The Sons meet at the Chelsea Rialto on Briggs Highway in Ellenville, NY. We look forward to growing our membership and are confident that there are fans of "The Boys" in the area anxious to satisfy their need to enjoy the timeless comedy that originated at Hal Roach Studios. In addition to Laurel and Hardy, we enjoy the antics of Our Gang (aka The Little Rascals), Charley Chase, Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly, W.C. Fields, Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, and all the great comedians of the golden age.







Our next meeting will be Sunday, April 6th, 2014, at 3:00pm. We will feature a very rare screening of the very first film in which Laurel and Hardy both appeared - THE LUCKY DOG. We will also screen a new uncut MGM print of THEIR FIRST MISTAKE and the rarely seen Streamliner version of the Boys' 1940 feature A CHUMP AT OXFORD. AND we'll have a vintage Krazy Kat cartoon, SEEIN' STARS, which features Stan and Babe in animated form. After the meeting we will head to the Publik House on Canal Street in Ellenville for some pub grub!










Of course, a Sons meeting is much more than merely watching movies. The primary reason for getting together is, well, getting together! Below is the Constitution's instruction as to how the Sons of the Desert annual meeting should unfold:




1. Cocktails.
2. Business meeting and cocktails.
3. Dinner (with cocktails).
4. After-dinner speeches and cocktails.
5. Cocktails.
6. Coffee and Cocktails.
7. Showing of Laurel and Hardy film.
8. After-film critique and cocktails.
9. After-after-film critique and cocktails.
10. Stan has suggested this period. In his words:
"All members are requested to park their camels and hire a taxi;
then return for 'One for the desert'!"

We mix up our monthly meetings with meals, snacks, and rendezvous at local hot spots. And all members will receive information about, and be eligible to attend, the International Conventions, which take place every-other year in locations all around the world. The 18th International Convention will be held in June, 2012, in New Hampshire





Dues for membership in the THEM THAR HILLS Sons are $20. annually for individuals and $35. annually for families (couple and one child between the ages of 12 and 18; $5 for each additional family member). Guests are welcome but are asked to pay a $2. guest fee. After a guest joins us for two meetings he is asked to join as a regular member. Membership includes a subscription to the Intra-Tent Journal, the quarterly publication of the Sons of the Desert. And don't let the "Sons" of the Desert mislead you - gals are more than welcome as members and are encouraged to join the fraternity!

If you're interested in joining the fun,
or need DIRECTIONS to the Sons,
please write to:


[IMAGE]


Ray Faiola
Grand Sheik
Sons of the Desert - Oasis # 281


or Right-Click HERE and download a Membership Application!




Click below to print our membership flyer:


Our meeting dates for 2014 are as follows:

March 2nd
April 6th
May 4th
June 1st
June 29th
August 3rd
September 7th
October 5th
November 2nd


Meet the Officers:

Grand Sheik - Ray Faiola
Vice Sheik - Rokki Carr
Secretary - Dianne Krulick
Treasurer - Steve Krulick
Delegate-at-Large, Sergeant-at-Arms and Official Kibitzer - Stan Rubin

Kibitzer Stan Rubin whiled away his hours
creating this "silent butlers" of Stan and Ollie
wearing genuine woolen wardrobe!



CLICK HERE TO HELP UCLA
PRESERVE THE LAUREL AND HARDY LEGACY!

Click Here to Visit our Photo Album


Click Here to read about
a visit by Sons Founding Member
ORSON BEAN
Click Here to listen to
the Theme Song of THEM THAR HILLS,
"The Old Spinning Wheel"


Click Here to listen to
"We Are The Sons Of The Desert"


Click Here to listen to
"The Dance of the Cuckoos"


Click Here to View Craig Marin's
portrait of "The Boys",
cherished art hanging in the Them Thar Hills gallery!





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Links



Click to OPEN (PDF) or
Right-click to SAVE a
complete set of Screening Programs
from Them Thar Hills 2009-2013


















CLICK HERE to view pictures of
The Sons marching in
the 2011 Ellenville July 4th Parade!



CLICK HERE to view pictures of
The Sons marching in
the 2010 Ellenville July 4th Parade!



CLICK HERE to view pictures of
The Sons marching in
the 2009 Ellenville July 4th Parade!





THEM THAR HILLS on Facebook


The Intra-Tent Journal


SONS OF THE DESERT New York Founding Tent


The Laurel and Hardy Forum


The Laurel and Hardy Magazine


Founder Chuck McCann's Website


The Nutty Nut News Network


Bowler Dessert - a U.K. Dish of L&H Mishigas


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