I’ve always been a huge fan of Laurel and Hardy.

This week I found a silent film that Stan Laurel made in 1923 called ‘The Soilers’. A camp cowboy appears regularly throughout the ten minute film. Here are two clips:

Stan grew up in and around theatres in Britain because his father was a theatre manager. Many of the characters and routines in the early days of the movies would have been inspired by variety acts in the music halls and no doubt this kind of character would have been part of that. But it’s unusual to get a glimpse on film from this period and for it play such a major part in the storyline.

Bea Arthur, who starred in the US television sitcom The Golden Girls has died of cancer at the age of 86.

As well as winning an Emmy for The Golden Girls and an earlier sitcom Maude, Bea Arthur won a Tony for the musical Mame.

In Britain The Golden Girls was something of a gay cult in the late 1980′s, when it was shown by Channel 4 and, in October 1988, the cast appeared on the Royal Variety Show at the request of the Queen Mother.

The BBC reports on the latest video footage that has emerged, showing G20 protesters being hit by police.

The video, by Camp for Climate Action, shows IT worker Alex Cinnane being banged with a shield on the side of his head. In a second incident a man is punched in the face by a police officer.

The BBC adds: (more…)

Last night as Alex Thomson presented More4 News live from the City, a man pushed his way in front of the camera. (more…)