Keaton and Pickford festival logo 1998

Keaton & Pickford: "Everyman" & "America's Sweetheart"
-- Sixth Annual Celebration --

Buster Keaton and Mary Pickford:
their art,their roots, their time, and their legacy

Bowlus Fine Arts Center
205 E. Madison
Iola, Kansas 66749
315-365-4765

September 25-26, 1998

All photos © 1998 by Carol Yoho
Select a thumbnail to see the larger version of each photo:

The Keaton Celebration is held each year at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center in Iola, KS. Iola is just north of Piqua, KS, where Buster was born in Oct. 1895. The Bowlus is a jewel of a facility, perfectly meeting the physical needs of this event.
 Front view, Bowlus Fine Arts Center Mary Martin, in charge of the Bowlus Mary Martin is in charge of the Bowlus. She has supervised all six of the Keaton Celebrations and does an excellent job.
Clyde Toland is a drving force behind the Keaton Celebration. A  long-time resident of Iola, Clyde is also involved with the Allen County Historical Society.
Clyde Toland, Iola Keaton Committee
 Patty Tobias, founder of the Damfinos Patty Tobias, president and founder of the U.S. Keaton fan-club, The Damfinos--has helped planned the Celebration and presented at events since 1994.
Amy Specht lives in Piqua, KS, Buster's birthplace. A founding member of the Keaton Celebration, she has been involved since 1993. Amy is seen here with fellow committee member Frank Scheide.
Amy Specht and Frank Scheide
 Bowlus lobby The lobby of the Bowlus is where everyone registers and meets to share information about Buster. Books, coffee mugs and t-shirts may be found here to purchase.
These photographs were shared by Ted Keaton, Buster's third cousin. They came from the Keaton family albums.
 Reproductions of Keaton family phtos A group of speakers and committe members From left to right: Bill Shaffer of public TV's KTWU,Cari Beauchamp spoke about Frances Marion, Elaina Archer is manager of the Mary Picford Library, Tino Balio spoke about United Artists, and John Tibbetts presents, does Keaton illustrations and plans publicity.
David MacLeod, right, has come from London to the last three Celebrations. Besides writing a book on the talkies' work of Keaton, he is president of the British fan club, The Blinking Buzzards.
 David MacLeod, founder of Great Britian's Blinking Buzzards Rodney Sour and Susan Hall Rodney Sauer and Susan Hall are two-fifths of the Mont Alto Theatre Orchestra. They delighted the Sat. nite crowd with musical accompaniment to Keaton's The Cameraman.

Schedule:

FRIDAY, September 25, 1998

Beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Alice Artzt and Bruce Lawton:
The Sound of Silent Films

Lunch -- 1 hr. for lunch on your own

Patricia Elliott Tobias:
Contrasting Comic Styles of Keaton & Pickford
Fred Krebs:
Keaton and the Everyman Tradition
Frank Scheide:
Interview with Ted Keaton
John Tibbetts:
The Literature of Pickford's Films 
SATURDAY, September 26, 1998

Registration Begins 8:30 a.m. and continues all day

Welcome
David Macleod:
Historic Review--Keaton and Pickford
Tina Balio:
Mary Pickford's Relationship with United Artists
Elaina Archer:
The Pickford Library and Foundation, with film clips from the Eisenhower LIbrary

Lunch -- 1 1/2 hrs. for lunch on your own

Cari Beauchamp:
Strong Women of Hollywood--Frances Marion
Christina Mugno::
Unrecognized Women in Early Filmmaking--Mable Normand
Video presentation of a talk with Eleanor Keaton and her friends, and video of the presentation of the "Buster" award to Eleanor Keaton
Panel Discussion: moderated by Robert Butler 
Films at 7:30 p.m. each night:
Friday Evening:
Pickford biograhy from the Pickford Foundation
Amarilly of Clothesline Alley with Mary Pickford 
Saturday Evening:
The Cameraman with Buster Keaton. This pristine and unique print is a most nearly complete version, more complete than the current MGM prints.
--with live musical accompaniment

Speakers List

  • Alice Artzt
  • Elaina Archer'Tino Ballio
  • Cari Beauchamp
  • Christina Mugno
  • Patricia Tobias
  • Frank Scheide
  • John Tibbetts
  • David Macleod
  • Robert Butler
  • Steve Friedman (video interview with Eleanor)

Highlights

  • Mary Pickford narrating her favorite movie clips, courtesy of the Eisenhower Library in Abilene, Kansas
  • World Premiere of the Picford Biography from Timeline Films, narrated by Whoopi Goldberg
  • A rare, pristine print of The Cameraman, with original lost footage
  • Rare showing of Pickford's Amarilly of Clothes-Line Alley
  • Keaton/Pickford film festival Friday and Saturday evenings in the Bowlus Auditorium
  • Panel discussion moderated by Robert Butler, movie editor for the Kansas City Star
  • Displays, books, souvenirs, autographs and new friends

Principal funding for this program is provided by the Kansas Humanities Council, a nonprofit cultural organization encouraging the appreciation of history, heritage and values. Sponsored by the Keaton Celebration Committee in cooperation with the Bowlus Fine Arts Center.

--with help from the Iola Tourism Fund and private donations


See 1997 celebration: "Keaton and Chaplin"
See 1996 celebration: "Keaton and Arbuckle"
Speakers List: 1993-1995
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© 1998 by Carol Yoho
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