Florence, the “Sons of the desert” are back, the fans of Laurel and Hardy

After two years of stoppage, due to the pandemic, “The Sons of the Desert” of Tuscany are back together. They are fans of the films of Laurel and Hardy, aka Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy who periodically get together to carry on the memory of the most famous comedy duo in the world. The international association “I Figli del Deserto” (“Sons of the Desert”) was created by Stan Laurel himself who, in person, approved and integrated the semi-serious constitution of the association, which aims to preserve and perpetuate the memory and the study of the life and works of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, alongside a wholesome entertainment in the name of the cinematic couple whose popularity, even today, shows no sign of diminishing.

Over the years the association has grown and local sections have sprung up all over the world. It includes students, professionals, workers, employees, all united by the desire to enrich their culture (not just cinematographic), have fun in a healthy way and support charitable initiatives in the name of Laurel and Hardy. The Tuscan section, “Teste Dure”, was born in February 2006 in Prato and has members throughout the peninsula. The “Teste Dure” organize at least one annual film event dedicated to the couple, whose films are projected on the big screen, in a restored and often unreleased version in Italy; contributes to the financing of the restoration of the films of the Roach Archive and publishes a study and documentation magazine entitled “L’Eco del Cuckoo”.