To some, having 400 Laurel and Hardy enthusiasts from all over the world converge in one place might seem strange. But to the small city of Harlem, there is no greater accomplishment.
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This is a 1936 photo of comedic actors Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.
AP / File
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"It's humongous,'' Harlem Mayor Scott Dean said Wednesday.
Harlem's Laurel and Hardy appreciation society, the Berth Marks Tent, has been tapped to play host to the 15th International Sons of the Desert Convention in July 2006. The decision was made by attendees at this year's convention in Columbus, Ohio.
The convention, named after the 1933 Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy film Sons of the Desert, is the largest worldwide to honor the early-1900s comedic duo. Because Hardy was born in Harlem in 1892, the small city is a Graceland of sorts to Hardy enthusiasts.
Until now, Harlem's Berth Marks Tent had missed out on landing the convention. With a lot of hard work this year, though, including a schedule of four days' worth of Laurel and Hardy activities based on the names of their movies, Harlem's group received an overwhelming number of votes from people at the convention.
"I think the presentation the ladies (of the Tent) made showed that we were welcome in Georgia and that they were looking forward to having us there,'' said Bob Satterfield, the chairman of the convention's Grand Council.
"It's time to have one in Oliver Hardy's hometown.''
To do so, the passing of a crystal pineapple from Columbus to Harlem officials had to occur first.
The tradition is also taken from the Sons of the Desert movie. The pineapple is now housed at the nation's only Laurel and Hardy museum in Harlem, where it will stay until a new city is named for 2008 honors.
"This is definitely a huge accomplishment for the Berth Marks Tent,'' Mr. Dean said.
Although it might not seem to be Augusta's party, most of the convention's visitors will be staying at the Radisson Riverfront Hotel Augusta and are expected to contribute more than a quarter-million dollars to the area's economy.
Barry White, the executive director of the Augusta Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, based that estimate on the 350 people who attended the Columbus convention July 14-18.
Denise Carter, the grand sheik of the Berth Marks Tent, which has 26 members, said as many as 700 fans could attend, including many from overseas.
"It's excellent to have a group of this caliber meeting in the metro Augusta area," Mr. White said. "Especially when you look at the size of the cities of the previous meetings, it speaks volumes for metro Augusta and Harlem to have won this bid."
Harlem, a city of 2,100 residents, held its first Oliver Hardy Festival in 1989. The October festival draws as many as 35,000 people to the town for one day.
The Berth Marks Tent bid on the 1992 Sons of the Desert convention in 1990 but lost to Las Vegas, Mrs. Carter said.
In the past, much larger cities, including Tacoma, Wash.; New York City; Nashville, Tenn.; and Birmingham, England, have played host to the convention.
Mr. White is not only considering the estimated $250,800 the visitors will be spending, but also the possibility of the visitors returning.
"We want to get them here," Mr. White said. "When they come here, we will show them a great time.''
Reach Valerie Rowell at 868-1222, ext. 110 or valerie.rowell@augustachronicle.com
Convention facts
Harlem's Berth Marks Tent will meet later this year to assign committees to plan the 2006 Sons of the Desert Convention.
Past Convention Hosts:
2004 - Columbus, Ohio
2002 - Nashville, Tenn.
2000 - Tacoma, Wash.
1998 - Birmingham, England
