“Keaton Takes The Honors!”–Tie-Ups And Ballyhoo In The Age Of Exhibiting Buster

This is my own post for the 10th Annual Buster Keaton Blogathon–I hope you enjoy it!

What was the moviegoing experience like when Buster Keaton films were first released back in 1920-1928? If you’re imagining seeing a few Buster posters displayed at the front of a theater, buying a paper ticket from a gal in a little glass booth and then heading inside to enjoy a couple short films and Sherlock Jr. all accompanied by a rinky-tink piano…okay, you’re on the right track.

Maybe the theater looked just like this!

But! There was much more to the picture (so to speak). If there’s anything you should know about the Jazz Age theater-going experience, it’s that theater owners didn’t just think of themselves as business managers–no, my friends, they were showmen. And they had innumerable tricks up their sleeves to entice audiences to their latest films. Let’s see how Buster’s films were marketed back in the age of “ballyhoo”!

~The 10th Annual Buster Keaton Blogathon~

It has begun! We’ve done it, my friends: We’ve reached the 10-year milestone of this online event. There’s not a lot of blogathons that have this distinction–just amazing!

Fitting for this decade-long celebration of all things Buster, our turnout this year is excellent! There’s a wide variety of posts in store, definitely a little something for everyone. I’m happy to see that not only a lot of our previous blogathon “veterans” have returned, but we have some new joiners, too! Welcome everyone!!

Less Than A Week Until Busterthon 10!

Only a few days to go, my friends, until we reunite for our 10th straight year of celebrating our favorite comedian!

It’s exciting to see how many of you signed up–I know it’s going to be another memorable event! I’ve been gearing up for the event with Comique shorts viewings, myself (they are the gifts that don’t stop giving).

The Traditional Update: As I do every year, I’ll be holding a “Thank You” drawing for all blogathon participants. This year the prize will be a Blu-ray copy of The Cameraman (1928)–the Criterion Collection version, mind you. This is one of the finest, most charming comedies of the 1920s if you ask me! The drawing will be held on March 6, conducted with assistance from my trusty cloche hat.

The Roster:

Silent-ology | “‘Keaton Takes The Honors!’–Tie-Ups And Ballyhoo In The Age Of Exhibiting Buster” article, and…

A roundup of Buster posts I’ve written in the past

The Thoughts of One Truly Loved | Music video “The Joy of Buster Keaton”

nitrateglow | Spite Marriage (1929)

Cinematica | Special essay on Buster

Wolffian Classic Movies Digest | Review of Buster shorts and a review roundup

Edendale Cyclorama | Buster and the influence of Mack Sennett and William Selig

Gary McGath | Steamboat Bill Jr (1927)

Big V Riot Squad | Three Ages (1923)

Taking Up Room | Steamboat Bill Jr (1927)

Welcome to my Magick Theatre | Sherlock Jr (1924)

Silver Screenings | Cops (1922)

18 Cinema Lane | “Once Upon a Time” episode of The Twilight Zone

Crítica Retrô | The Great Buster (2018)

In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood | The General (1927)

The Everyday Cinephile | The Saphead (1920)

Whimsically Classic | Our Hospitality (1923)

Silent Locations | “Buster Keaton’s San Francisco Footsteps.”

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See you in a few days!!

Thoughts On DeMille’s “The Affairs of Anatol” (1921)

Most of us have a weakness for a “so bad it’s good” film, something so cringey or badly written that you have no choice but to love it. Or, at least, snicker in wonder that those lines were left in, and that ludicrous plot twist was considered a good idea, and my gosh, why wasn’t that horrible special effect scrubbed entirely?

Could I pick a few silent films that fit the “so bad it’s good” bill? Other than a no-brainer like The Sheik (1921), it’s not an easy question–in my opinion, anyways. Silents tend to come in five flavors: Masterpieces of Cinematic Art, Really Good, Pretty Good, Dull, or Just Plain Awful. The Just Plain Awful also has multiple subcategories (one is “Italian Stage Divas Who Don’t Translate Well to Film”).

Sorry, Pina.

But as far as “so bad it’s good”? Here’s the deal: if a silent film’s bad, it’s usually just plain ol’ bad, if you get what I mean. It’s boring, or the story’s been done a zillion times, or the plot is preposterous and it’s a good half hour too long, etc. Instead, what tends to come to my mind is a film that’s quite good and well-made, but has preposterous things in it. And thus I come to a film like The Affairs of Anatol (1921).

Yes, there’s some hypnosis involved.

ANNOUNCEMENT: The 10th Annual Buster Keaton Blogathon!

When I first started our annual Busterthon back in 2014, little did I know that one day I’d be creating this post! My friends, I’m very pleased and proud to announce:

What a milestone! Has it really been ten whole years?! Think about it: this blogathon is now older than the entire runs of certain T.V. shows. It’s older than the majority of elementary school children. That’s right, most of today’s elementary school children didn’t even exist back in 2014!

Well, it’s true. Anyways! On to the details of this fine annual event:

When: Monday, March 4 and Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

Where: Right here on Silent-ology!

How:

• To be a part of this extra-special blogathon, simply leave a comment on this post to let me know which Buster topic you’re going to cover. (You can also contact me by sending me a message).
• Please help spread the word about the event by adding one of my banners to your blog! (I posted them below.)
• During the blogathon itself, when you publish your post please leave me a comment with the link to it (or send me a message). Publish it whenever you have time during March 4th and 5th, no pressure!
• Don’t forget to mention Silent-ology and the name of the blogathon in your post–it really helps publicize this event.
• If you publish your post before the 4th, just give me a head’s up!

What to write about: No matter how long this blogathon runs, there’s always plenty to cover! There’s Buster’s own incomparable silent films (check out his filmography for some ideas), various talkie shorts that not everyone knows exist, short industrial films and multiple T.V. appearances from his later years, countless colorful personalities he worked with throughout his life–anything and everything that interests you! In the past people have also shared posts about Buster-themed artwork, Buster-themed events, various filming locations and how they look today…the sky’s the limit!

Take notice: Duplicate topics are 100% allowed! Since everyone has a different perspective, 2-3 posts on the same film are welcome.

I will be hosting a drawing for all blogathon participants after the event as a “thank you” to everyone who joined. The prize will be announced closer to the event dates.

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 as best we can. I’m happy to say that we’ve been making Buster pretty darn proud these past ten years–let’s keep it up!

For ideas and inspiration, here’s all the links to the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh,  Eighth aaaaaand the Ninth Annual Buster Blogathons!

Banners:

The Roster:

Silent-ology | TBA and a roundup of Buster posts I’ve written in the past

The Thoughts of One Truly Loved | Music video “The Joy of Buster Keaton”

nitrateglow | Spite Marriage (1929)

Cinematica | Special essay on Buster

Wolffian Classic Movies Digest | Review of Buster shorts and a review roundup

Edendale Cyclorama | Buster and the influence of Mack Sennett and William Selig

Gary McGath | Steamboat Bill Jr (1927)

Big V Riot Squad | Three Ages (1923)

Taking Up Room | Steamboat Bill Jr (1927)

Welcome to my Magick Theatre | Sherlock Jr (1924)

Silver Screenings | Cops (1922)

18 Cinema Lane | “Once Upon a Time” episode of The Twilight Zone

Crítica Retrô | The Great Buster (2018)

In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood | The General (1927)

The Everyday Cinephile | The Saphead (1920)

Whimsically Classic | Our Hospitality (1923)

Thank You, Fellow Bloggers!

And once again, another successful Buster Keaton Blogathon has come to a close! To everyone who stopped by to read the posts, and especially to my fellow bloggers who took the time and care to contribute:

Some of you have shared with me that you look forward to this celebration of Buster’s work every year. So do I, and I can’t believe it’s been almost a decade! We might look at it as our own small way of helping share Buster’s legacy. You never know how many readers around the world may have been introduced to his work over the years, or inspired to see more.

And now it’s time to pull out my handy cloche-style hat for our annual drawing for blogathon participants! This year I’m giving away a copy of Doughboys (1930), one of Buster’s better MGMs. Drumroll, please…

And the winner is:

Congratulations to Carrie-Anne of Welcome To My Magick Theatre! We’ll be in touch.

Alrighty everyone, thank you again! And I look forward to seeing you next March for the blogathon’s ten-year anniversary–it’s going to be an epic Busterthon ’24!

He’s already studying up for it!

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Buster And “Big” Joe Roberts, A Lasting Friendship

This is my own post for the Ninth Buster Keaton Blogathon. Please enjoy, and don’t forget to check out all the other wonderful posts, too!

If there was an official “gentle giant” of silent comedy, in my book it would have to be “Big” Joe Roberts, of Buster Keaton film fame. The jowly, 6-foot-3-inches performer played a number of intimidating “heavies”–and at least one bashful farm hand–in nearly twenty of the famed (and more diminutive) comedian’s films.

But Buster and Big Joe weren’t just coworkers but long-time pals, vaudeville veterans who spent their summers in the same quiet neighborhood of Muskegon, Michigan and shared countless memories of lakeside fun and hijinks. In fact, Big Joe’s house was just down the hill from the Keaton family.

The Ninth Annual Buster Keaton Blogathon

*Checks calendar* What, it’s that time of the year already? Why yes! It’s time for:

If you told me back in 2015 that this blogathon would be going strong almost a decade later…well, I would’ve been darn pleased!

I’m excited about the variety of topics our participants chose this year (not that every year isn’t exciting) and I hope you are, too! My fellow bloggers always do a lovely job and I know our readers appreciate it. So let’s get to it!

Bloggers: Please send me the link to your post whenever it’s ready today or tomorrow! I’ll be updating the roster throughout the blogathon. Don’t forget that I’ll be holding a drawing for all participants, the winner receiving a copy of Buster’s talkie Doughboys (1930). The drawing is scheduled for March 15.

Readers: Drop by periodically to see the latest posts–and don’t forget that we bloggers love to read comments!

Wondering what the previous ‘thons were like? Here are the links to the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh aaaaand Eighth Annual Buster Blogathons–okay, I should really start a BK Blogathon Library page at this point!

The Roster:

Silent-ology | “Buster and ‘Big’ Joe Roberts, a Lasting Friendship” essay

Classic Film and TV Corner | Sherlock Jr (1924)

Silver Screenings | One Week (1920)

Cinematica | The Cook (1918)

Nitrateglow | “A Spotlight on Kathryn McGuire” essay

The Thoughts of One Truly Loved | “Inaudible Melodies” tribute video

Welcome to My Magick Theatre | Our Hospitality (1923)

Big V Riot Squad | “Buster Keaton’s Silent Shorts–Reel Two and a Half” essay

Taking Up Room | Parlor, Bedroom and Bath (1931)

Whimsically Classic | “Buster Keaton’s Influence on Lucille Ball” essay

The Inimitable BK | “Natalie Talmadge: The Early Years” essay

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Ninth Annual Buster Keaton Blogathon!

Were you waiting for it? At last, I’m making the official announcement that our great Busterthon is returning for a ninth–ninth!–time! Almost a decade of our annual Buster celebration, folks. Isn’t that amazing?

Many Thanks, Film Bloggers!

Aaaaand the second Silent Movie Day Blogathon is a wrap! To all the talented bloggers who took the time to participate, a very hearty:

We had a fine variety of posts this year on topics ranging from 1922 box office hits to Sennett’s Bathing Beauties, and I know I’m still going through them all myself! Many thanks as well to the many readers took the time to stop by and read the posts–and are still stopping by, might I add.

Will it be back next year, becoming an annual tradition much like our Buster blogathon? Hmm…it’s always a possibility!

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