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Sons of the Desert Stamped Fez

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia / Movie - Memorabilia Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,400.00 USD
Sons of the Desert Stamped Fez

This red printed fez was worn by a background character in the 1933 comedy, “Sons of the Desert,” starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. The fez is constructed of maroon felt with gold paint design featuring the “Sons of the Desert” lodge logo on the front, and the top of the fez used to be adorned with a cloth tassel (later removed or lost).

The film follows the antics of Laurel and Hardy who tell their wives back home that they’re going to Hawaii for some doctor prescribed rest but actually go to Chicago to attend a Sons of the Desert event with their lodge brothers. The boys get caught in their deception when the ship they supposedly were returning home on sinks, and their attempts at maintaining the lie ends with hilarious consequences. There were multiple lodge member characters seen throughout the film and most of them wore fezzes with hand painted logos on the front rather than embroidered fezzes, which were used exclusively for featured characters that appeared in close up shots. A painted fez worn by a woman can be seen clearly in a montage shot at the beginning of the lodge convention sequence.

In an interesting side note, this style of stamped fez was also sold as an advance promotional item for the film for the low 1933 price of only 35 cents, and may have actually been the same fezzes worn by the numerous background lodge members during filming. Also offered were sashes and “Application For Membership” to the fictitious lodge from which the film takes its title.

The fez is in good screen used condition with some minor loss and cracking of yellow paint due to age. Accompanied by a letter of authenticity from the costume house.