Jacksonville Subcultures # 1: Sons of the Desert
The longer I live in Jacksonville, the more weirdos I come across. Eccentrics, obsessive enthusiasts and out-and-out lunatics all rub shoulders on the banks of the St. Johns River. They form multiple subcultures, of which many of us remain totally unaware
They usually welcome Joe with open arms. They understand that I have a duty to my public to report the peculiar. So, this is the first in an occasional series. We’re starting with the local chapter of the Laurel & Hardy Worldwide Fan Club.
"C'mon Stanley..."
Now, my agents tell me that this whole Laurel and Hardy Fan Club gig is bigger than Ben Hur. Apparently its a GLOBAL movement, like the boy scouts or Al Qaeda. They are called “the Sons of the Desert”. WIKIPEDIA says:
The Sons of the Desert is a Laurel and Hardy appreciation group founded in 1965 by L & H biographer and admirer John McCabe. There are now chapters all over the world. The organization was named after the comedy film Sons of the Desert.
Each local chapter is known as a “tent” and is named after one of the comedy team’s movie titles. For example, the Hollywood tent is called “Way Out West,” the Boston members are the “Brats,” and the Glasgow Sons belong to “Bonnie Scotland.”
Jacksonville’s ‘Tent’ is the “Any Old Port Tent“. You see what they did there? Nice.
Any old Jaxport
“Tent” meetings take place monthly and movies are shown. The movie Any Old Port which I saw on TV when I was 8, is described on the ‘Tent” website:
Ashore from a whaling voyage, Stan and Ollie check into a seedy hotel, to find a equally seedy proprietor trying to force a young girl to marry him. They rescue a girl but leave their money behind. To raise some cash, Ollie happens upon an old friend who is looking for boxers for a prize fight. He offers Ollie $50.00 for a boxer. Ollie accepts the offer, unbeknown to Stan, Ollie plans to have Stan take part in the fight as a boxer. Once in the ring they find the identity of his opponent to be the angry hotel owner!
The usual.
For more information about the Sons of the Desert and specifically, the Any Old Port “Tent” email grandsheik@asu2000.net. Or call Joseph Fortunato on 904 443 2828.
Tell him that Harold Lloyd sent you.