From Brian Bull
A woman walks her dog near a mural depicting Buster Keaton from his 1926 film, The General, in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Fans gathered in the town to celebrate the film's centennial with a conference, a look-alike contest, a 1920s costume party, and tours of film locations.

Celebrating a Cinematic Milestone

The South wasn't in a laughing mood after the Civil War, so silent film star and comedian Buster Keaton went west. To make a film based on a real wartime train chase, he ended up in Cottage Grove, Oregon. This past weekend, about 80 Keaton fans gathered in the small rural city to celebrate Keaton's move, which led to his critically acclaimed film, The General. They wore porkpie or straw hats, discussed favorite scenes, and learned how to do the Charleston as the Eugene-based band The Fat Dandelions played 1920s jazz through the evening.

The Damfinos Unite

They call themselves "Damfinos." (Whenever Keaton was hit up for an answer he didn't readily have, he'd say "damfino" — as in, "damned if I know.")
"I wasn't even aware that people across the country would know where Cottage Grove was, but they did," said Lloyd Williams, smiling. He's the former president of the Cottage Grove Historical Society and lead organizer for the centennial celebration of The General.

Among the fans in Cottage Grove was 21-year-old Chloe Fadem, who arrived from Chicago gleefully sporting her own Keatonesque two-piece suit. "I picked up a little rainbow bowtie that is not 'on era' branding for the outfit, but I love it," she said, prepping for the evening's Buster lookalike contest.
13-year-old Aden Blatchford, from Ontario, Canada, also dressed as his idol, a true-to-life cosplay that his father, Steve, said he's done for three consecutive Halloweens. "He has a little sign that says 'Trick or Treat' and he flips it over, and it says 'Buster Keaton, the 1920s silent film star,'" said the elder Blatchford. "He has 'The Entertainer' playing on a Bluetooth speaker."

A Contest of Look-Alikes

Aden Blatchford got hooked on Keaton when he was 8 years old and likens silent films to reading comics. "With talkie movies, you can look away and just hear the soundtrack that's playing. But with silent films you have to pay close attention because if you miss a title card, you can miss a big part of the film."

Ultimately, the winner of the Buster lookalike contest was 37-year-old Liz Bartholomew of Portland. She paraded past the judges dressed as "Sherlock Jr." with a fake moustache, magnifying glass, and a book titled How to Be a Detective. Bartholomew said she's not the biggest Buster Keaton aficionado — but her mom is. "She flew from out of town to come to this festival. So to me, Buster Keaton means a way to get closer to my mom and something for us to bond over."

Family Connections

If it's any consolation to people like Fadem and Blatchford, they've become close with some of Keaton's family. Both posed with the actor's granddaughter, Melissa Talmadge Cox, who first met Fadem at another Keaton celebration ten years ago in Muskegon, Michigan. "She took me under her wing and started telling me these stories about Buster," said Fadem. "Trying to pass on that knowledge and those memories on to another generation."