Tag: laurel and Hardy

Memory Lane: Boogiemen

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

Image result for boogeymen in march of the wooden soldiers

A Boogieman in Babes in Toyland (1934)

No matter how you spell it–boogieman, bogeyman, boogeyman–these guys are bad news.

My mother always used to watch Laurel and Hardy in Babes in Toyland when it was on TV at Christmastime. When I was a little boy, the scenes with the boogiemen upset me–although I didn’t say so, or then I wouldn’t have been allowed to see the movie. I also had a lurking suspicion that some of those boogiemen were living in Edgar Woods, practically next door to us.

Why have I thought of boogiemen today? I dunno–maybe listening to the news and hearing political idiots warning us that President Trump is gonna tear children from our arms, next. (That was Michael Steele, spouting that.) Maybe it’s from driving to and from the vet’s, through what used to be “the country” but isn’t anymore–just a wilderness of McMansions, strips malls, and a lot of Agenda 21 crap. Nothing beautiful is allowed to survive.

Maybe the boogieman isn’t imaginary, after all.

Laurel and Hardy Live Next Door

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

The wind is blowing really hard this afternoon, tossing our lawn chairs around, etc. So naturally the guys next door decide this is an ideal day for raking up half a year’s worth of leaves.

First they tear the leaf bag and the whole load blows back over the yard. As they rake them up again and try to fill a new bag, the wind blows most of the leaves away as they’re trying to load them into the bag. My wife had to come back indoors because she didn’t want the guys to see her laughing.

Hmm… They seem to have abandoned the enterprise.

We both thought of Laurel and Hardy. This is exactly how Laurel and Hardy handle this job. I couldn’t find a video of them raking leaves, but watch what happens as they try to do a sinkful of dishes.

Oops, Wrong House!

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

Image result for images of laurel and hardy in big business

Laurel and Hardy wrecked Jimmy Finlayson’s house in “Big Business”

A contractor in Fort Worth spent three days gutting a house, only to discover, after they’d finished, that it was the wrong one ( http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article133378524.html ).

On top of that, the owners were just about ready to close a deal on selling the house. That’s gotta hurt.

Everyone involved is saying it was an honest mistake, no harm intended, and the contractor is expected to make it good with the owners. Which is more than Laurel and Hardy were prepared to do for Jimmy Finlayson, when they trashed his house in Big Business. To film this comedy short, Laurel and Hardy wrecked a real house. There is an urban legend that they wrecked the wrong house; but, as one commentator observed, the story is probably too good to be true.

The moral of the tale: the more power any mortal is given to make mistakes, the more mistakes he will make. Even if he means no harm. Something to keep in mind when you’re setting up a government agency.

Memory Lane: Windshield Wipers

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

Remember when you could just go into any auto parts store and buy windshield wiper blades when you needed them, and put them on yourself in a matter of minutes? Can’t do that anymore.

Anco Windshield Wipers had this series of ads featuring two guys doing a rather fine imitation of Laurel and Hardy. I wonder who they were. I never thought to ask for Anco wiper-blades by name, when I needed some–but then I’m sure Laurel and Hardy would’ve forgotten that, too.

Now I have to go to my mechanic and buy these modular things which he has to install with special tools. I am happy to report that he doesn’t have Laurel and Hardy working for him. No offense, guys–but after seeing you try to deliver a piano (in The Music Box), I don’t want you working on my brakes.