The Sons of the Desert is an international fraternal organization devoted to memory of the persons and films of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. The organization is named for the Laurel and Hardy film of the same name. It was founded in 1964 in New York City, by Orson Bean, Al Kilgore, John McCabe, Chuck McCann, and John Municino. Since then, many local chapters have been founded around the world. Th
ese chapters are known as "tents" and are named after a Laurel and Hardy film. Each tent also receives an oasis number, which corresponds to the order in which they are admitted to the organization. The Way Out West Tent is the Los Angeles chapter of the Sons of the Desert, founded April 7, 1967 and named after the 1937 classic film. Sons of the Desert founder John McCabe presented his Founder's Award to the Way Out West Tent July 31, 1982, at the Third International Sons of the Desert Convention in Detroit. Representatives from our tent have been present at all International Conventions. The Way Out West tent meets about every other month, and has a yearly special event. The special event may be a bus tours of the L&H film locations around Los Angeles, which includes a walk up the Music Box stairs, a first hand look at the Big Business house, as well as a visit to the grave sites of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Or it may just be a special meeting or banquet. We have also taken part in such things as a Laurel and Hardy scholarship fund for promising comedians, helping erect a commemorative plaque at Ollie's grave, and creating a small park named for Hal Roach at the site of the studio, in Culver City. Part of our membership dues also provide flowers to the graves of the boys and other celebrities who are no longer with us. Meetings typically consist of a none-too-serious business meeting, guest speakers, and maybe even a door prize raffle. And, of course, no meeting would be complete without the films. Laurel & Hardy are always the focus of our film program. On occasion we may also show a Charley Chase, Our Gang, or other comedy from the Hal Roach Studios, when it is relevant to the program. We always have a no-host bar and hot dogs on sale. We normally meet at the Mayflower Club, located at 11110 Victory Boulevard (west of Vineland Avenue), in North Hollywood, California.
