#vintage hollywood
Jane Powell passed away yesterday at the age of 92. Read all about her here: https://www.classichollywoodcentral.com/news/jane-powell-dies-at-92/
Post link
#SaturdayCaptions Caption this seemingly steamy moment between Buster Keaton & Marion Byron on the set of “Steamboat Bill Jr.” 1928.
#FanArtFriday @GretaBowie’s stunning digital portrait is pastel perfection. Send your fan art to socialmedia@busterkeaton.org for a chance to feature in future, or in our magazine, “The Keaton Chronicle.”
Buster Keaton’s biography is a very in depth and provocative biography that leaves no stone unturned.
This biography is a very interesting read that gives a lot of details from the birth to his death. It includes almost minute by minute details of his films, stage performances and life. It is a very comprehensive read that fully immerses itself into the life of Keaton.
The author has done a phenomenal job giving a comprehensive study of a comic genius from cradle to death and to gather interviews from vaudeville and silent screen is a major feat within itself. The making of the shorts and how each comedy section in the films in great deal is a treasure trove of information. The book does jump from the last film Keaton did and back to his birth and forward, but this is very sporadic and does not take away from the rhythm of the book.
Curtis traces the growth of Keaton and then we get the downward years which are simply heart-breaking. We follow his decline and how a company did not appreciate the genius that they have and how this would lead to drink and a sense of helplessness.
Overall, this is an excellent biography and though it is very lengthy the reader will end up aficionado of all of Keaton work and will start to hunt down his career via his silent films and other work. I know I did. I liked Keaton but because of this book, I am now a true fan and will be doing a Keaton series on my show in the next season to celebrate the man and his work. The only bad thing is because of the in-depth writing, I spent weeks and weeks reading this book which put my other reviews on the side but saying that I am glad I did. Fantastic and a must read.
Post link
This Day in Buster…May 12, 1928
“Steamboat Bill, Jr.” has its World Premiere in New York. The movie took the place by storm.
#ThrowbackThursday A series of posters from the “Steamboat Bill, Jr.” pressbook. The film premiered 94 years ago today!
This Day in Buster…May 11, 1924
“Sherlock Jr.” has its general U.S. release. The game was indeed afoot!
“Back Stage” is one of the shorts that will be shown at our 2022 International Buster Keaton Society Convention: Buster’s Back. Find out more & sign up here: busterkeaton.org/convention-2022
#WIPWednesday Buster Keaton considers whether the butler did it in this promo pic from the set of “Sherlock Jr.” which went on general U.S release 98 years ago today.
This Day in Buster…May 10, 1924
The News-Pilot reported that when Buster Keaton recently needed a birth certificate, his father Joe wrote a letter to Piqua, Kansas & had it returned with ‘no such place’ written on it. Nearby Cherryvale confirmed the town had been blown away in a cyclone & that what was left was repurposed in their town. The whole thing was a Keaton family tall story - today Piqua is the site of the Buster Keaton Museum kansastravel.org/busterkeatonmuseum.htm
In 1920, Buster Keaton suffered a broken ankle filming a sequence with the moving staircase he built for The Electric House. Production was stopped while he recovered, and the movie was restarted from scratch in 1922. No footage from the original production is known to survive.
Torn tendons in that ankle, rather than a break. Still weeks of recovery in a cast.
#MovieMonday “The Cameraman,” 1928 was Buster Keaton’s first film with MGM. There was a script, but he was able to make the film as he saw fit which did not involve much of the original screenplay. MGM used Buster’s film as an example of how to write a romantic comedy for decades afterwards.
#SundaySales This limited edition print (the one pictured is my own, framed - Ruth) is a one-off celebration of Buster Keaton reaching his 125th year…in spirit. Get your own while stocks last busterstuff.com/product/buster-keaton-125-print/365
