I must confess that as I look at some of the photos from the 1986 Valley Forge Sons of the Desert convention, I get a little bit annoyed at myself for not spending more time with my family. As I was fourteen years old, it might be tempting for me to say that I thought I was a little too cool to hang out with them – but the fact is that they simply weren’t geeky enough for me. Whereas Mom, Dad, and Denise were hanging out together and snapping photos of Denise mingling with the celebrities (and the great family shot at left, which I missed out on), I was off alone hob-knobbing with the stars and club ‘bigwigs.’ So while my goal at that time didn’t involve getting pictures with any of them, Denise ended up with a whole slew of great shots. Dumb kid.
I spent the early morning of Sunday, July 27, in the Dealer’s Room, browsing through my new pal Bob Satterfield’s array of autographs and photos, shelling out a small fortune, even though he cut me a generous deal. I was also trying to convince Denise that she needed some of these autographs and at age ten, she purchased a few as well. The jury is still out on whether she is today glad that she bought them.
At 10am that morning, the Celebrity Panel was held in the Grand Ballroom. Presiding over the session was Steve Randisi, who would eventually become a friend of mine. The stars in attendance were Laurel and Hardy co-stars Rosina Lawrence, Thomas Benton Roberts, Virginia Karns Patterson, Henry Brandon, Our Gang member Dorothy deBorba, Stan Laurel’s daughter Lois Laurel Hawes, Venice Lloyd (wife of studio cameraman Art Lloyd), Mae Questel (the voice of Betty Boop), and L&H authors William K. Everson and John McCabe. I don’t remember a lot about the event, but do recall chatting with Bill and Virginia Patterson after the event and looking at their memorabilia, signed photos, and a handwritten letter from Stan Laurel.
Celebs at Valley Forge: William K. Everson, John McCabe, Rosina Lawrence, Thomas Benton Roberts, Virginia Karns Patterson, moderator Steve Randisi, Dorothy deBorba, and Henry Brandon
Thomas Benton Roberts answers a question while Virginia Karns looks on
There was a brunch at 11:30 back in the Lily Langtry room and a General Session following that. This was the precursor to the Grand Council meeting of later conventions and I do not recall attending it. If I had any sense, I would have never attended any of the later ones. But one thing that I know came out of this one was the destination of the next convention – St. Paul, Minnesota in 1988.
I most likely spent the afternoon milling about in the Dealer’s Room, the Memorabilia Room (which had a very impressive array of lobby cards, movie posters, and some L&H autographs – mostly all from the collection of Kevin Mulligan), or the film room. At 4:00, we assembled back in the Grand Ballroom for an hour of a ‘special showing’ of Laurel and Hardy presentations. This included the very impressive find of an additional reel of footage from the L&H short Laughing Gravy and the less exciting colorized version of The Music Box. However, I do recall being wow’ed by the computer coloring at the time.
Immediately following the screening was the cocktail mixer out by the pool. I doubtlessly headed down there early while my family got ready for the event. The most memorable thing I recall during the mixer was that the British Sons came dressed in full Redcoat regalia, complete with a military drummer, and made a proclamation in fun that England was rising again.
That evening at 6:45 began the Honolulu Baby Hawaiian Luau. As per usual, I did not participate in the dressing up for the luau, but Mom and Dad wore a matching Hawaiian dress and shirt, and Denise went all out in a grass skirt. This was held outdoors by the pool in the warm evening air, complete with Hawaiian music and an actual pig roast. With a welcome by Sons founder John McCabe and the obligatory singing of Honolulu Baby by Marshall Korby (and naturally some fat old men dancing in grass skirts), I remember that the ambiance of this event was second to none. There was a lot of excitement in the air, at least on my part, and it was this experience that made the later Sons ‘luau’ in Georgia a complete joke.
Denise and Mom in full luau garb
A rare photo of me parked at our table hanging out with Mom
Fellow Towed in a Hole tent members Nancy and Vic Duane
Sharon and Steve Stayonovich, fellow tent members who lived in Lima, Ohio. We only saw them at conventions. Mom and I are at our table in the background.
Mostly I remember that this is where Felix Knight who played the role of Tom-Tom in Babes in Toyland first showed up and was reunited with two co-stars from that film, Henry Brandon and Virginia Karns, for the first time in over 50 years. It was an incredible event to witness. The three sat together and signed autographs for fans, yours truly among them.
Toyland stars reunite: Henry, Virginia, and Felix
The Toyland trio greet their fans
The Ahlms (Carl, Stacey, Holly, and Dee) and I await our turn with Henry Brandon
I circled the area chatting with the celebs, most memorably Mae Questel (whose autographs I will display at a later time), along with my Sons pals from Springfield, and new pals Bob and Dwain – while my family took pictures of Denise with the celebrities at the event…of which I am jealous. But still, I wouldn’t have traded that night for the world. We partied into the late evening in this Hawaiian, Valley Forge, Sons of the Desert, Laurel and Hardy paradise.
Denise gets Felix and Virginia to sign her photo and program
Henry Brandon signs Denise’s program
Denise with Venice Lloyd and Dorothy deBorba
The convention will continue…
I recognize the Hawaiian dress and shirt your mom and dad have on. Tom and I bought them in Hawaii, and I still have them in my closet. Unfortunately, they don’t fit either of us anymore.
Diana Claude
November 26th, 2008