On February 1, 1966, Buster Keaton passed away. On February 8-9, 2015, a blogathon shall celebrate the cinema immortal's memory.Film historian and writer Lea Stans of Silent-ology is hosting the first Buster Keaton Blogathon and this correspondent, classic comedy buff and enthusiastic "Buster Booster" is happy to be among those participating.
Joseph Frank Keaton, born on October 4, 1895, was not merely among the greatest of movie and stage comedians, a remarkable acrobat/stuntman and a surprisingly good character actor. He was also a brilliant filmmaker, director, writer, editor, cameraman, special effects designer and a gifted engineer! Almost 50 years after his death, there is still only one individual in the history of motion pictures who mastered ALL OF THE ABOVE: Buster Keaton.
Even at the low point of his professional and personal life, starring in big budget feature films for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or headlining 2-reelers made for miniscule budgets in the latter 1930's and early 1940's, Buster could - and did - continue to make magic onscreen (too bad Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg said no to Keaton's idea of co-starring in an all-star spoof of Grand Hotel with, among others, the two fellows pictured below).
Buster, long after directing his last movie, would carry that magic well into the television era.
The Buster Keaton Blogathon lineup:
Big V Riot Squad | The Keaton family in vaudeville
BOOKSTEVE’S LIBRARY | Early 1960's T.V. appearances
Caftan Woman | Neighbors
Critica Retro | Speak Easily
Girls Do Film | Keaton’s development as a screen artist in his 1917-1923 shorts.
In The Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood | The Navigator
Lone Wolf Says |Cops
Margaret Perry | Keaton’s career after the silents
Marty Jones | The origin of the name “Buster”
Mildred’s Fatburgers | The Cook
Moon in Gemini | Twilight Zone episode “Once Upon a Time”
MovieFanFare | A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
MovieMovieBlogBlog | Sherlock Jr.
Movies Silently | Contemporary views on Keaton films compared to 1920s reviews
My Classic Movies | The Villain Still Pursued Her
Mythical Monkey | Keaton in Arbuckle's Comique films
Nitrate Glow | Our Hospitality
Once Upon a Screen | What! No Beer?
Public Transportation Snob | Daydreams
Second Sight Cinema | The General
Silent-ology | A Country Hero
Silents, Please! | One Week
Silver Screenings | Go West
Sister Celluloid | Childhood memories of Buster’s films
Special Purpose Movie Blog | The Awakening T.V. episode
Way Too Damn Lazy To Write A Blog | Parlor, Bedroom and Bath
Wide Screen World | Steamboat Bill Jr.
Wolffian Classic Movies Digest | Sunset Blvd. and In The Good Old Summertime
Wonderful World Of Cinema | Free And Easy
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