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By CityCinema 5
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Cinema 5A local spot to get your Laurel & Hardy fix
2005-11-22
Article Written by: Sami Jo
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the hilarious antics of Laurel & Hardy, the duo performed slapstick comedy in the 1920's and beyond. When mainstream motion picture was still silent movies, Hal Roach "accidentally" founded this pair, and to this day, they remain one of the best comedic duos of all time. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were two of very few performers that successfully transitioned from silent film to "talkies" and eventually to full-length feature films. Their ability to appear as innocent—and about as intelligent—as children makes them extremely lovable, and they have a unique ability to create a gag in an otherwise mundane situation. Then they top the gag. Then they top their topper.
As evidence of their undying popularity, there are currently more than ninety Laurel & Hardy fan clubs or "tents" around the world, each of which is named after one of the duo's films. One of these tents, "The Blockheads," is located right here in Daytona Beach . "The Blockheads" was founded by a local group of GE Engineers looking for a diversion from work. Run by Evan Robinson and John McKeehan, they get together twice a month (the third Tuesday and Friday of each month, with holiday exceptions) at Cinema Five. At each gathering, "The Blockheads" show at least one Laurel & Hardy film and sometimes a second film, which is usually a film with the Marx Brothers or Buster Keaton. On the last Saturday of each month, Cinema Five also features a musical. Due to copyright laws, Cinema Five does not charge for tickets, however, they do a "pass the hat" donation to pay for popcorn and refreshments.
"The Blockheads" have nearly 100 of the Laurel & Hardy films that they keep in rotation. According to McKeehan, "We are the only G-rated movie house in town," and "we have a lot of fun."Approximately 15-20 people attend each viewing and the crowd consistently rotates; people come from DeLand, Palm Coast and even up from Titusville to join in the laughter. "Humor adds to your age," said McKeehan. "Comedians seem to outlive other people." "The Blockheads" attribute much of their fun to the fact that laughter is contagious. It's better to watch comedy in groups, as you can enjoy other people's laughter and feed off of it.
Cinema Five is free and open to the public. For a complete schedule of movies, please visit http://whatshappeningdaytona.com/movie/event/1223 . Cinema Five invites you, and What's Happening Daytona encourages you to join in the laughter.
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