A woman is seen walking her dog near a mural of Buster Keaton from his 1926 film, The General, in Cottage Grove, Oregon. The centennial celebration of the film brought fans to the town for a conference, look-alike contest, a 1920s theme party, and tours of film locations.
Following the Civil War, the South was not in the mood for humor. Therefore, silent film star Buster Keaton moved west. He traveled to Cottage Grove, Oregon, to create a film based on a real train chase during wartime. This shift led to his acclaimed film, The General.
This past weekend, around 80 Keaton fans gathered in Cottage Grove. They wore porkpie or straw hats, discussed their favorite scenes, and learned to dance the Charleston while the Eugene-based band The Fat Dandelions played 1920s jazz.
Among the attendees were Joy Blatchford dancing with her son Aden and Katrina Nguyen with her husband Khoi Nguyen at a 1920s themed dance. Buster Keaton keyrings and other souvenirs were on display as well.
“Damfinos” is the name fans use for themselves, derived from Keaton’s saying “damfino” whenever he lacked an answer.
Lloyd Williams, a former president of the Cottage Grove Historical Society and the lead organizer for the event, remarked on the widespread recognition of Cottage Grove due to the film.
Khoi Nguyen competed in the look-alike contest with an impression of Buster Keaton. The event attracted participants like 21-year-old Chloe Fadem from Chicago, dressed in a two-piece Keatonesque suit with a rainbow bowtie and a porkpie hat.
At the contest, 13-year-old Aden Blatchford from Ontario, Canada, appeared as his idol Keaton, performing his routine from previous Halloweens. His father, Steve, noted Aden’s sign that flips to reveal a description of Keaton as a 1920s star. Aden comments that silent films require full attention, akin to reading comics.
The winner of the contest was Liz Bartholomew from Portland. Dressed as “Sherlock Jr.”, complete with a fake mustache and detective book, she attributed her participation to her bond with her mother, who is an ardent Keaton fan. Bartholomew found joy in both the costume and the win.
Keaton’s relatives joined the event, establishing connections with fans. Melissa Talmadge Cox, Keaton’s granddaughter, recounted stories and memories of Buster, which had been shared over the years by fans.
Harry Keaton Moore Jr., Keaton’s nephew, shared his experiences living with his uncle and even driving him to film shoots later in his career. Harry noted Keaton’s preference not to drive.
Fans went on a bus tour to filming sites, concluding at the location of a famous train crash scene. This scene was shot in Cottage Grove when Keaton decided against the South. The site involved a real train crash watched by over 4,000 spectators at Culp Creek in 1926, becoming one of the silent era’s most expensive shots.
The occasion left fans in awe as they stood where The General‘s key scenes were filmed. They matched old photos with the current scenery to visualize the historic shoot.
Fadem, studying film and television, expressed her intent to incorporate elements of Keaton’s dedication into her projects. The site’s history inspired her, having seen the film and now visiting the location.
The celebration continues with an upcoming event. Muskegon, Michigan, will host the International Buster Keaton Society Convention in October, shortly before Keaton’s 131st birthday.