It’s fair to say the Buster Keaton Celebration never took hold in Allen County. Over the past 23 years, it’s mostly been out-of-towners who attend the two-day event.
Next year will be the last hurrah for the local Buster Keaton Committee to recognize the Great Stone Face, who by happenstance was born in Piqua.
For those of us who have enjoyed the evening showings of Keaton’s myriad antics, we’ll miss the opportunity to view the silent films projected up on the Bowlus screen.
We were the casual fans.
The true aficionados attended the lectures throughout Friday and Saturday. To call them simply film buffs would not do them justice, for these devotees delighted in learning not only about the man, Buster Keaton, but also the era in which he thrived.
As a silent film actor, Keaton’s heyday was from 1920 to 1929. His career was cut short, in part, by the advent of the “talkies” in the 1930s, as well as by professional squabbles and alcoholism.
Even so, Keaton was unparalleled for his ability to maintain a deadpan expression no matter the circumstances; his athletic stunts that defied gravity, and his ability — no surprise, considering his break-your-heart expressions — to always get the girl.
Equally entertaining has been the Mont Alto Orchestra of Boulder, Colo., which has provided the accompaniment to the silent films. As the only sound for the films, the orchestra melodiously portrays the elements of surprise, danger, sorrow and happiness.
Knowing this is all about to end, locals should take advantage of this weekend’s showings beginning Friday night.
IOLA WILL BE the lesser with the loss of the Buster Keaton Celebration.
Over its course, it has brought fans from across the country — and world — our way. Most were charmed by our “quaint” town and delighted in taking in the sights and sounds of a pastoral setting.
The small fanship undoubtedly brought additional revenue to our stores, restaurants and hotels.
Kudos go to the members of the Buster Keaton Committee who continued to find new ways to project Keaton, including sharing the spotlight with his co-stars Fatty Arbuckle, W.C. Fields, Douglas Fairbanks, Will Rogers and Mary Pickford, among others.
Though the end is in sight, hopefully the Buster Keaton Celebration has spurred others to think of how Iola — particularly because of the Bowlus — can capitalize on unique opportunities like it.
That would be a lasting tribute.
— Susan Lynn
