Cue the trumpets, my friends–for our annual celebration of all things Buster Keaton is coming back for a sixth year in a row!
(Yes, I’m having it in March this time–all the February dates were already gobbled up by other blogathons. Man, my fellow bloggers are fast. Next time I’ll have to announce it in July! 😉 )
I’m also thrilled to share that this year the venerable International Buster Keaton Society is our blogathon’s official sponsor! Founded by Patricia Tobias in 1994, the Keaton Society (nicknamed the “Damfinos”) has worked tirelessly to help preserve Buster’s legacy and introduce him to new generations. From their website:
Mission Statement
- to foster and perpetuate appreciation and understanding of the life, career and films of comedian/fimmaker Buster Keaton;
- to advocate for historical accuracy about Keaton’s life and work;
- to encourage dissemination of information about Keaton;
- to endorse preservation and restoration of Keaton’s films and performances;
- to do all of the above with a sense of humor that includes an ongoing awareness of the surreal and absurd joy with which Keaton made his films.
I can personally vouch for this iconic organization (I’ve even written for their Keaton Chronicle). One of the most perfect experiences of my life was attending their annual Damfino convention in Muskegon, Michigan in 2017 (where I gave a presentation, too!). Let me tell you–a nicer and more dedicated group of fans simply can’t be imagined. If you get a chance to go to a convention, for heaven’s sake, go! RUN!!
As the official sponsor, the Society is graciously offering a $50 gift certificate for Buster Stuff to one lucky blogathon participant. Buster Stuff is the society’s official store, selling everything from Battling Butler DVDs to custom-made porkpie hats. I’ll be conducting a drawing for the certificate on March 11.

Sybil talking about how much she loves the Damfinos.
When: Monday, March 9 and Tuesday, March 10, 2020.
Where: Right here on Silent-ology!
How: To join in, please leave me a comment on this post and let me know which Buster film or Buster-related topic you want to cover! (Or feel free to send me a message). Please add one of my banners to your blog to help spread the word about this event. During the blogathon itself, when you publish your post leave me a comment with the post’s link, or send me a message, whichever you prefer. Please mention my blog and the name of the event in your blogathon post (such as “This post is part of Sixth Annual Buster Keaton Blogathon hosted by Silent-ology.”) Post whenever you have time during March 9 and 10th, no pressure! If you post before March 9 that’s fine too, just give me a head’s up.
What to write about: Anything and everything related to the brilliant Buster Keaton’s life and career. (Check out his filmography for some ideas.) Articles about his crew and the many wonderful actors who appeared in his films are welcome, too.
For ideas and inspiration, here’s the links to the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Buster Blogathons. Whew–we’ve got quite a library of Keaton essays going!

(Buster avidly reading our past posts.)
Details:
- This year, post about whatever film you like–duplicates are fine! That’s right, my friends–I’ve set you free! 😉
- If you want to be extra creative–say, submit drawings, poetry or other art related to Buster, that works too.
- And as always–“Make Buster proud!” There’s a lot of dubious information out there about his life and career, so let’s try and steer clear of those myths and rumors. We want Buster smiling down on us, folks. (And I recommend checking out the Buster Myths page on the Damfinos’ site!)
Banners:
The Roster:
Silent-ology | Reviewing All Of Buster’s Educational Shorts
MovieMovieBlogBlogII | The General
Shadowplay | TBA
Critica Retro | Sherlock Jr.
Way Too Damn Lazy To Write A Blog | Speak Easily
Big V Riot Squad | The Saphead
Cameras Against Humanity | Keaton and the Kuleshov Effect
Taking Up Room | In the Good Old Summertime
Talk About Cinema | The Railrodder and Buster Keaton Rides Again
David Skold | Fan trailer for The Cook
MovieRob | The Navigator and The Stolen Jools
Thoughts of One Truly Loved | The Navigator
The Everyday Cinephile | The Cameraman
Groovy Like a Silent Movie | Essay on Buster’s fandom
Wonderful World of Cinema | Day Dreams
Reblogged this on MovieMovieBlogBlog II and commented:
What better way to end the year than with the announcement of Silent-ology’s Sixth Annual Buster Keaton Blogathon?
Might as well go for the biggie this year — me want “The General”!
You got it! Welcome back to the Busterthon, Steve!
I’d love to take part in this — is there any way to get a reminder around March 1st?
Deeply enmeshed in Buster researches just now for video essay on forthcoming box set…
Absolutely! I always send out a reminder a little early, too. Thanks so much for joining!
One of the best events of the year is back! Yay!
I’d like to finally write about Sherlock Jr, please!
Thanks! Have a nice holiday season!
Le from Critica Retro
Fabulous, welcome back Le!! I always look forward to your posts. 🙂
“Speak Easily?”
Sounds good! One of my favourite MGMs. Welcome back to the blogathon!
Pingback: The Sixth Annual Buster Keaton Blogathon | VaudeVisuals
Hi Lea. A blogathon making it to six years is a remarkable accomplishment. I would like to write about:
Buster Keaton’s First Feature, The Saphead.
The Big V Riot Squad
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/
Awesome, Joe–looking forward to it! (And I watched THE SAPHEAD recently, too!)
My blogathon entry is now live at: https://moviemovieblogblogii.wordpress.com/2020/01/01/general-information-everything-you-always-wanted-to-know-about-the-general-1927/
This has to be a record for the earliest blogathon entry of all time. 😉
Sorry, I had too much time on my hands yesterday.
Hi, Lea! I’d love to review “In the Good Old Summertime” if no one else has claimed it. So glad you brought this blogathon back!
Absolutely! Thank you so much for joining, Rebecca!
You’re very welcome, Lea!
Can I participate in this blogathon? I’d really like to review The Railrodder and Buster Keaton Rides Again if possible.
Also, sorry if this message turns up multiple times. I kept trying to comment and it didn’t seem to work for some reason.
Absolutely you can, I’ll look forward to reading your posts! Thanks for joining.
Awesome, thanks!
May we contribute a video tribute (mock trailer) for The Cook? Also having trouble with the comments not going through. Thank you
Heck yes you can! 🙂 Not sure why the comments are being wonky, I’m afraid. Maybe WordPress has been updating some things.
Not able to get through. Or blogathon post is up. https://silver17productions.blogspot.com/ Thanks!
Hi Lea, can i do The Navigator (1924) and the Stolen Jools (1931)?
Absolutely! Welcome back to the blogathon. 🙂
almost missed it… glad I didn’t tho 🙂
Hello! I am busterthenavigator on WordPress and I will be writing on The Navigator! Thank you for your tribute to the Great Stoneface!
This is busterthenavigator again. I am going to be posting tonight, because I do not know when I will have time to again. The URL is
the-navigator and this is the link
https://thethoughtsofonetrulyloved.wordpress.com/2020/03/06/the-navigator/
Thank you so much! God bless!
Sounds good, thank you! Welcome to the blogathon! 🙂
Can I throw my pork pie hat in the ring and do The Cameraman?
Absolutely! Welcome to the blogathon. 🙂
Pingback: The Buster Keaton Blogathon – The Stolen Jools (1931) | MovieRob
Hi there – I am only just NOW learning about this, and have a previous post on my own blog (I’m watching all of the “1001 Movies To See Before You Die”). I had somewhat of an interesting reaction to THE GENERAL, which I realized after some thought was because I was watching it about two days after the Charlottesville Riots.
Just in case, here it is – if I’m good to go, let me know and I’ll pull a banner.
https://moviecrashcourse.com/2019/02/20/the-general-1926/
Hi there! Yes, you can join in. Welcome to the blogathon!
Pingback: The Buster Keaton Blogathon – The Navigator (1924) | MovieRob