The Live Ghost tent is the London branch of the Sons of the Desert, the International Laurel & Hardy Appreciation Society. The aim of this site is to create a friendly and informative resource for everyone who shares our love of the world's best known comedy double-act. Please bookmark this site and revisit often to keep up with developments. We hold meetings every two months or so - the date of the next meeting will always be on the meetings page, which also has directions and a map of the venue. Please feel free to come along to a meeting, watch a few films of the boys and chat to other members. We look forward to seeing you there. This site is dedicated to the memory of Tony Hawes, a much loved and respected member of the Live Ghost tent. Tony drew the Live Ghost tent's logo (top left, a larger version can be seen by clicking on it or here).

The Live Ghost tent was foundered in 1994. The founders were all members of the Helpmates tent of Kent at that time, but we always thought that there were not enough meetings to satisfy us and so on a regular basis we used to meet up in a pub called "The Hole in the Wall" which is adjacent to London’s Waterloo Station. Of course, we named our group “The Hole in the Wall Gang”. We did not have the capacity to show films, but the social side of our organisation was well covered. We decided though, that we ought to form an official tent, because London deserved a tent of its own. Tony Hawes and his lovely wife, Lois Laurel Hawes, encouraged and helped us to set up (Tony also drew our tent logo for us). We wanted to name our tent after a Laurel & Hardy film title that had not been used before and out of those available we chose the 1934 film "The Live Ghost" because it is funny all the way through and has so many of our favourite co-stars. We announced the formation of the new tent at the 1994 International Convention in Tarrytown, New York. We were allocated the oasis number of 179 and Del Kempster was elected Grand Sheik, a title he still holds. Since then we have always held regular meetings in London and have been represented at every International, European and U.K. Convention. Each member of The Live Ghost tent, Oasis #179 agrees that joining the Sons of the Desert was the best move he, or she, ever made!

©2008 "The Live Ghost"