WITH:

British film historian David Macleod

Other guests and speakers to be announced.

FILMS:

Feature: Our Hospitality

Short: The Iron Mule (featuring several uncredited appearanced by Buster)

Documentary: Making Comedy Beautiful

On the big screen at the Frauenthal Center, with live music by theater organist Dennis Scott.

About the Earl Twins:

The Earl Twins' career spanned stage, film and television in the 1950s, and they earned the respect and friendship of some of the biggest names in entertainment - including Buster & Eleanor Keaton. “Buster was like a step-father to us,” said Ruth. “We would do normal family things together.” The Earl Twins have countless fond memories of their time spent with Buster and Eleanor, and we look forwarding to hearing their stories as our special guests at the Damfinos 2013 convention!

About Bart Williams:

Bart Williams began acting career at 11. Credits include (film) Bye, Bye Birdie, Hello, Dolly! and Tunnelvision; (TV) General Hospital, America’s Funniest People, Weird Science, Mad TV, Stanley’s Smogless Steamer (as co-host) and Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld; (theater/stage) national and regional productions, USO tours, and title role in The Wizard of Oz at Radio City Music Hall. Bart has won two Drama-Logue Critic’s Awards. In New York, he re-created Classic Burlesque Comedy with Irving Benson for the documentary, The Last First Comic.

About Harry "Jingles Jr." Keaton:

Harry "Jingles Jr." Keaton is the nephew of Buster Keaton and lived with the Keaton family from birth until his parents moved to Nevada during WWII. During the 1950s and 1960's, Harry worked for Buster as a driver and assistant, and spent many hours with Buster on various film sets, television studios and performance venues. Harry currently lives in Nevada and is dedicated to researching his Keaton family history and helping others to learn more about "Uncle Buster."

About David Macleod:

David Macleod, Scottish born, has worked for Channel 4 Television in London for 20 years. Author of two books on Buster and editor of a third, he runs the UK Buster Keaton appreciation society, The Blinking Buzzards, which he founded in 1996. The society meets quarterly at – most appropriately – the Cinema Museum in Lambeth.

About Dennis Scott:

Dennis Scott is president of the Chicagoland Theater Organ Society and the Silent Film Society of Chicago. In demand as a silent film organist, he began accompanying silent films in the 1970s, and has been staff organist at Chicago’s Music Box Theater, plus having performed at the Travoli Theatre Guild, the Oriental Theater in Milwaukee, for the Racine Theater Guild, and is a regular for the Sound of Silents Film Festival in Three Oaks, Michigan. Since 2000, he has been featured in the Silent Film Society of Chicago’s Silent Summer Film Festival. He recently recorded a CD with the West End Jazz Band of Chicago.