A woman walks her dog near a mural of Buster Keaton from his 1926 film, The General, in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Fans gathered to celebrate the film’s centennial with a conference, look-alike contest, 1920s costume party, and tours of the film’s locations.
After the Civil War, the South wasn’t receptive to humor, prompting Buster Keaton to head west. He ended up in Cottage Grove to shoot a film inspired by a real train chase. Last weekend, nearly 80 Keaton enthusiasts assembled in this rural city to celebrate his work on The General. They donned porkpie or straw hats, discussed favorite scenes, and learned to do the Charleston as the Eugene-based band The Fat Dandelions played 1920s jazz.
Buster Keaton keyrings and souvenirs were on display at the conference.
The attendees, known as “Damfinos,” a name stemming from Keaton’s typical response of “damfino” to questions he didn’t know the answer to, included Lloyd Williams, former president of the Cottage Grove Historical Society. He organized the centennial event.
A diverse group of fans attended. Chloe Fadem from Chicago, wearing a Keatonesque two-piece suit, prepared for the look-alike contest with a rainbow bowtie and porkpie hat. Joining her was 13-year-old Aden Blatchford, dressed in a true-to-life cosplay of Keaton, which he has done for three Halloweens. His father, Steve Blatchford, explained that Aden uses a sign that says ‘Trick or Treat’ and then flips it to reveal ‘Buster Keaton, the 1920s silent film star,’ while playing ‘The Entertainer’ on a Bluetooth speaker.
For Aden, silent films require attention similar to comics since you can’t rely solely on the soundtrack. You risk missing important title cards if inattentive. Ultimately, Liz Bartholomew of Portland won the lookalike contest. Dressed as “Sherlock Jr.”, she impressed with a fake mustache, magnifying glass, and a book titled How to Be a Detective, honoring her mother’s passion for Keaton by attending the festival together.
“I love dressing up in a costume,” she said. “And today I walk away a winner.”
Fans had the opportunity to meet some of Keaton’s relatives. Chloe Fadem and Aden Blatchford met Keaton’s granddaughter, Melissa Talmadge Cox, who Fadem had met years before in Michigan. Cox shared stories about Keaton, emphasizing the importance of passing on these memories.
An essential part of the celebration was the chance to learn new stories from Keaton’s fans, stories about his cinema approach that Cox hadn’t previously known. Another family member, Keaton’s nephew, Harry Keaton Moore Jr., recalled his time with his uncle, noting his preference not to drive despite doing so often in films.
Keaton Moore Jr. joined fans on a tour of filming sites for The General, culminating in the location of a famous train crash scene. Keaton initially sought Southern locations but settled on Cottage Grove, Oregon, after finding a short line railroad through the Cascades, helping transform the Pacific Northwest town into a Civil War-era Southern setting.
“This is perfect,” Keaton purportedly said.
During filming of the complex and costly train crash scene, over 4,000 people gathered to watch. The event featured vendors and a carnival-like atmosphere. The extravagant shot cost over $40,000 and was, reportedly, the most expensive shot of the silent film era.
Attendees of the centennial convened at the crash site, revering over movie stills and remaining parts of the set. Aden Blatchford, excited to be there, called it the highlight of the trip. Chloe Fadem, using film perspectives, admired the location’s cinematic historical significance.
“It’s kind of full circle,” Fadem noted, comparing the blend of film and real life.
Fadem, studying film and television at Emerson College, hopes to adopt Keaton’s work methods in her projects, noting his dedication in both literal and metaphorical terms. The next major event for fans is the annual International Buster Keaton Society Convention in Muskegon, Michigan, just before Keaton’s would-be 131st birthday.