Business first. That’s my motto. Although I was ready to indulge in plenty of Laurel and Hardy frolics and frippery with my fellow Sons of the Desert, there was a historical location nearby that I needed to get under my belt. Although Bob and I had driven by the New Hampshire state capitol in Concord the previous Friday, weren’t able to go though it since it was after-hours. I had thus far only compromised going inside a capitol building one time, and visiting this this one would give me six on this trip that were fully toured. So that’s how I started my day on Thursday, July 19, 2012.
I met up with the Wileys and David in the lobby of the hotel, and we headed out to visit my seventh and final State House of the trip. This would take my grand total to 28. This one was unique in that it is the oldest state house in the country in which the legislature still occupies its original chambers. The building was completed in 1819 and featured a hall of flags similar to Boston’s capitol but on a much smaller scale.
Seventh State Capitol of the year, 28th overall
Just to make sure I had the right place, I found this sign
I promise that I didn’t crack this
From about 8:45 to 9:45, we explored the building, checking out the galleries of the Senate and House of Representatives, getting into the Governor’s reception area, and checking out the exterior of the building. The street in front of the capitol had been closed off for a street fair that was about to take place, but it didn’t cause too much havoc with our visit.
One of the most amazing and interesting things to be found in the New Hampshire State Capitol in Concord: a functioning phone booth
From the balcony of the House of Representatives gallery. Second from right is a painting of President Pierce
Heading into the Governor’s digs
Painting of Josiah Bartlett in the Governor’s reception room. Josiah was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and the fictional ancestor of President Josiah Bartlet in The West Wing
Waiting for the Governor…or someone…anyone
Jimmy and me in the Senate gallery
The Senate Chamber: despite being alone on the tour, I respected the little velvet ropes that kept us out of the chambers
The door to the House chambers, located right next door to the Senate chambers. Who would have occasion to use this peep door?
Statue of President Franklin Pierce, New Hampshire’s only President
With the state capitol visit out of the way, it was back to Laurel and Hardy-world, and our first convention activities of the day. By going to the Capitol we missed the morning orientation hosted by Chuck McCann, but were able to catch the 11am Authors Panel which featured Chuck and also Scott McGillivray, the author of Laurel and Hardy: From the Forties Forward. After the session, I had Chuck sign a nice photo montage that was kindly given to me by fellow son Flip Lauer.
A quick break for a Drake’s Coffee Cake. I’ve got another one… but I’m saving it for later.
Chuck signs my photo; a curious bystander looks on
Me and Chuck
The inscribed montage in which he identifies himself as Ollie, the Dreamfinder form Epcot’s Journey Into Imagination, and the guy in the medicine cabinet who says “Hi Guy!”
Far-out space nuts
Scott and his book
An artist works on Bob’s second caricature of the week
Lunch was on our own that afternoon, so we simply ate at JD’s Tavern inside the hotel. They had a mighty nice barbecue pizza on the menu that went down quite nice. Many other sons including Bob and his Scrub gang (they did fishes) and Chuck also dined in the same restaurant.
Lunch in the hotel. Whole pizza? Yes, please.
Jimmy has a contemplative moment in the restaurant
We stuck around for Gino Dercola’s presentation “Collecting L&H Memorabilia,” a lengthy slideshow in which Gino attempted to capture photos of his massive collection of Laurel and Hardy stuff. It ranged from one-of-a-kind art projects to highly collectible autographs and lobby cards. Q.
Cliff and Bob enjoy Gino’s presentation
I decided to skip the movie program (although I caught a few minutes of La Senorita de Chicago, the Spanish version of The Pip from Pittsburgh), and head back to our room to rest for a bit. The nap never really quite happened.
A little over an hour later, I met up with everyone in the lobby again at 5:30, this time to catch a bus to Lake Winnipesaukee. Movie buffs such as myself might note that this was the supposed location of most of the action in the film What About Bob?, but sadly, the footage wasn’t actually shot here – so my hopes of catching another film location were dashed.
Jimmy and David on the bus
Jimmy and Kris inside the bus
Brad and Bob about the bus
We departed from Weirs Beach in Laconia on the M/S Washington, a motor ship first built in 1888, promptly at 7:30. There was a very nice prime rib buffet onboard. There was plenty of entertainment – most of which we’d catch the next night at a Vaudeville performance – but I didn’t see any of it. I opted to just enjoy this three hour tour (three hour tour) on the deck of the ship socializing with David, Gary Cohen, Ed Greim, and Emo Philips. Yes, that Emo Philips, the stand-up comedian whom David Letterman once threatened to swat with a stick. He was a very nice guy and a very big Laurel and Hardy fan. We’d have further run-ins with him throughout the convention weekend.
Lake Winnipesaukee
Motor Ship Washington. Peter strolls by on deck. Hmm.
With my old pals Dee and Carl Ahlm at dinner
Sundown on the lake
David clearly irritates a passenger
There’s something exciting on this ship
Nothing exciting here with David and Gary Cohen
OK, this lovely patriotic sunset was pretty exciting
And of course, my encounter with Emo Philips was rather exciting
Trying to figure out where Dee ends and Lee begins was pretty exciting
But topping it all off was this pair of future convention co-chairs
Not to be anti-climatic but here is Kris, Mary May, and Irene in her dark, dark shades
We docked a little bit after 10:30 and then picked up our shuttle bus back to the hotel, which we reached at around midnight – just in time for Midnight Madness in the dealer’s room. I didn’t spend very much at all, opting to purchase a new L&H book by Roger Robinson titled A Spot of Trouble in Southend and a hefty pack of Beatles trading cards. I also talked David out of buying a poster.
Cannons had been in short supply on this trip, so I was pleased to find this one as we walked back to our bus
Poster found in the dealer’s room. Buy guy? Nope.
I didn’t retire to my room until about 1:30am. It had been a good first full day, but I wanted to make sure I didn’t oversleep the next day. After all, there’d be a vote for the next convention the next morning and I still recall what happened the last time I overslept for one.
The 2012 Sons of the Desert convention will continue…
I particularly like photo fx11.
Peter
September 5th, 2012
Scott McGillivray=Canadian carpenter and tv host.
Scott MacGillivray=American non-fiction author.
Be careful! Confusing the two can have dire consequences.
Chris
September 6th, 2012