"Count The 14th International Convention Of The Sons Of The Desert A Big Winner."

14^th International Sons of the Desert Convention

by Roger L. Gordon

Count the 14^th International Convention of the Sons of the Desert a big winner. Over 230 Sons gathered at the Hyatt on Capitol Square in Columbus, Ohio from July 15-18, 2004. It featured non-stop action even including the pre-convention trips that visited nearby amusement parks, the Air Force Museum in Dayton, the Rock and Roll Hall of  Fame in Cleveland the NFL Hall of  Fame in Canton.

There were so many Convention highlights it is impossible to list them all. The top thrill for many was the visit to the beautiful and ornate Ohio Theatre where a mammoth organ rose from the orchestra pit playing a medley of familiar songs. What an experience to see our Convention celebrities Jean Darling and Mildred Kornman in the Our Gang film “Playin’ Hookey” accompanied by the mighty organ.  The silent Laurel and Hardy film, Big Business followed, also with organ accompaniment. Sound films Towed In A Hole and the feature Sons of the Desert concluded the program. It seemed to many like time had been reversed back to the 1920’s and ‘30’s and what a setting!   

A new feature of the Convention was “the midway” which featured games of skill, fortune telling and just plain fun in a circus like atmosphere. Tickets were a minimal price and the proceeds went to charity. The New York founding tent had a “toss the bean bag” and one of the targets looked strangely like the infamous Larry Harmon.  [ED NOTE:  Actually, the Busy Bodies Buzo Beaner was the creation of Gary Logsted and the Busy Bodies Tent of Albuquerque.]  What made it even more exciting is that everyone came in costume depicting characters from the movies made by “the boys.” Even Ethel (the Flying Deuces Tent) made an appearance, posing for pictures. As the dinner bell rang, nobody wanted to leave.

Another highlight of the Convention was the outstanding video show by Jimmy Wiley III (Way Out West Tent) at the concluding Saturday night banquet. He put together live action clips and still pictures in a masterful presentation featuring almost every celebrity who has attended a Sons of the Desert function in our nearly 40 year history.

All the other features of past conventions came to life at this one including the Pee-Wee Contest, the Dealer’s Room, the non-stop Laurel and Hardy films showings, the Babe Hardy Golf Tournament, the Laurel and Hardy Trivia Contest and the Keynote Speech delivered on video tape by Exhausted Ruler John McCabe. There were many other highlights including a picnic at the Columbus Zoo and a visit to the city’s other Art-Deco theatres.

At the closing Sunday brunch, there were many hugs and teary eyes as the Sons said good-bye to long time friends and new acquaintances. In the Grand Council meeting, held earlier in the Convention the Sons voted to hold the 2006 Convention in Harlem, (Augusta) Georgia. To say that the Perfect Day host tent did an outstanding job is putting it mildly. A warm thank you to Rick, Mark and all the gang………..

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