2000 Highlights:
People & events
highlighting this year's Buster Keaton Celebration--
 Buster's
Keaton's granddaughter, Melissa Talmadge Cox.attended
the festivities. Melissa was delightful and enthusiastic. She brought
family photos of her Keaton and Talmadge relatives, sharing them with
individuals one-on-one. Pix included a family picnic  with
Great-grandma Myra Keaton, Great Aunt Louise, Great Uncle Harry and
Grandpa Buster. In one, small Melissa, in a swimsuit, holds hands in
a wading pool with Grandpa Buster. Also, there was a rare photo of Grandpa
sporting a big smile! Melissa's father, Jimmy and uncle, Bobby, are
well and live in southern California. Melissa has two sons and a daughter,
all high school-aged.
 Steve
Allen,
also seen recently at the University of Kansas, attended the Celebration.
He spoke before lunch on Saturday, and again in a Question and Answer
session held after lunch. Keaton had appeared on the Tonight Show in
the early 1950's when Allen was host. Mr. Allen was witty and thought
provoking. He talked of talent and music and self-censorship and "what's
funny." On Saturday afternoon he was presented with the Annual Buster
Award. Mr. Allen, in photo right, is seen with authors John
Tibbetts and James Welsh. Attendees
were shocked and saddened when Mr. Allen died on Oct. 30.
The
comedy movie team of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy
were also a focus of this year's celebration. Attendees had the opportunity
to see silent and sound Laurel and Hardy classics. Iola attendees included
members of the Sons of the Desert fan club. Left below, is Jim
Peters, Exhausted Ruler, Hog Wild tent, Sons of the Desert.
Second left is John Marrim, a young, but enthusiastic L&H
fan. Also below, at right, are two license plates seen parked
near the Bowlus. In years past, there have been Keaton
tags observed, as well.
   
 A
first-ever Keaton raff le
was held, and featured a quilt made by Kathy Metzenbauer of Wisconsin
Dells. Kathy, a long-time quilter, attended the event. The quilt was
queen-sized and featured five photos of Buster printed onto fabric and
positioned in keys spaces within the quilt design. Lucky winner of the
quilt was Bill Nix, projectionist for the Bowlus. Bill worked
very hard throughout the Celelbration festivities. Other items auctioned
included books about film, t-shirts, buttons from past Celebrations,
and handcrafted one-sheet displays of movies shown at this event and
past Celebrations.
 Of
interest
was the showing of a video done by Martha Jett of Bridgeport,
West Virginia. Her documentary, call "My Career at the Rear." was a
discussion of Keaton's tour of duty in the U.S. Army during World War
I. Shipped into France, Keaton served in the 40th Division, also known
as the Sunshine Division, where he became adept in the use of Morse
Code in support of the fighting troops. Later, because of his reputation
in vaudeville, he was assigned to entertain troops as a Sunshine Player.
On Oct. 1, 1918--just three days before his 23rd birthday-- Keaton was
made Corporal and his salary raised to $41./month. The armistice was
signed Nov. 11, 1918 but Keaton was not discharged until Apr. 1919.
Little has been written about Keaton's military career other than by
Keaton himself. He includes a chapter about his experience in his autobiography,
My Wonderful World of Slapstick. Keaton nearly lost his hearing
during the months he served in the Army. He caught cold from sleeping
on drafty floors and on the ground. He was treated at a military hospital
upon returning to the States, but his hearing was permanently damaged.
Martha
was fortunate to have access to Keaton's personal diary of his time
in service while researching her project. She describes herself simply
as a "Keaton fan" and her impressive documentary was done for the love
of her hero--Buster Keaton.
Thanks
go also to presenters Patty Tobias, Frank Scheide,
Steve Allen, David Macleod, Joe Adamson, John
Tibbetts, and David Shephard (see "Schedule," below.)
Special Recognition:
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| Mary
Martin and John Tibbetts have been involved in all 8
Keaton Celebrations. Mary co-chaired this Celebration and manages
the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. John, a KU professor, has presented
every year. |
Amy
Specht, right, lives in Buster's hometown of Piqua, seven
miles west of Iola. She has served on the Keaton Committee since
its inception. |
David
Macleod, left, comes the farthest (from London)
to celebrate each year. His introductory presentations are always
insightful and clever and he is a joy to have around. David helped
found Britain's Keaton fan club, The
Blinking Buzzards. |
Bill
Shaffer, Committee member, is about as talented, hard-working
and pleasant as anyone on earth. Thanks, Bill! |
The
co-chair
of this year's Keaton Celebration Committee was Frank
Scheide, Ph. D. professor of Communication Arts, University
of Arkansas-Fayetteville. He has been associated with our Celebration
for most of its eight years. His students have videotaped the entire
two days of proceedings most of those years. Frank won't stand still
long enough to have his photo taken--but he deserves the thanks
of everyone who enjoys attending these Celebrations. |
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| The
facilities at Bowlus Fine Arts Center are key to the success
of the Keaton Celebration. Built in the early 1960s with funds provided
in the will of Iola resident Thomas H. Bowlus, the center is a beautiful,
clean and comfortable locale for Celebration activities . |
The
Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra
performed at its third Keaton Celebration. They make good movies
magical. Musicians are James Becker, cornettist; Brian Collins,
clarinetist; Kevin Johnson, cellist; Rodney Sauer, pianist; and
Susan Hall, violinist. |
Thanks
to the local sorority sisters who prepare and serve meals for Keaton
presenters, Committee and staff. Each year these volunteers prepare
a theme and dress for the occassion. |
There
was an interesting review written of this event for the New York
Times
There was also a nice review of the event in the Topeka Capital-Journal
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