Amsterdam Convention Friday
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008
Since we were in Europe, it was assumed that most of the convention-goers would probably prefer to get out and see the local sites rather than stay around the hotel. But since I was in Europe for a full fifteen days, and was at this point just about to complete my first week, I was looking forward to some standard convention fun without all the hustle and bustle. Friday, July 11, 2008, was the day that felt most like a good old regular Sons of the Desert convention. Read the rest of this entry »
For the first full day of the Sons of the Desert convention, Thursday, July 10, we basically spent the entire day in Amsterdam again. Not that touring the city wasn’t enjoyable, but it certainly didn’t feel much like a real convention, given that we were away from the hotel for almost the entire day. That morning I had another one of those huge, filling, and delicious European breakfast buffets in the hotel restaurant and then quickly caught one of four buses transporting the convention delegates to Amsterdam. 
It was nice to finally get a chance to sleep in on Wednesday, July 9, 2008. After four full days of traveling from sun-up to sundown (and the sun went down late), it was a much-needed refresher. Unfortunately it meant sacrificing some precious time in the city of Amsterdam. Afterall, we were at the ‘Amsterdam’ convention, but since we were staying in Alphen aan den Rijn, on the outskirts of the city, we had yet to see the famous and debaucherous Amsterdam. 
Rand Brooks achieved fame for his role in Gone With the Wind, playing the pivotal role of Charles Hamilton, brother to the character of Melanie’s brother and first husband of Scarlett O’Hara. The victim of battle in the Civil War, his scenes are confined to the beginning of the film. Rand went on to star in more than 100 various roles in both films and television until he retired from acting. He passed away in 2003. 
Charley Chase is an unjustly forgotten comedy star from the 1930’s who worked at the Hal Roach Studios at the same time that Laurel and Hardy and the Our Gang did. In fact, in their day, they might be considered the ‘big three’ comedy short subject stars. Although it is difficult to find Chase comedies in the mainstream world, videos of his films along with ‘real’ 16mm and Super 8 film have long circulated in the collector world. Chase’s films are among some of my favorites. Sadly, Charley Chase himself died quite young in 1940, but I was especially happy to find that my friend Bob had an address for Mrs. June Hargis, Charley’s second and youngest daughter.