Fans Celebrate ‘The General’ Centennial in Cottage Grove

A woman walks her dog near a mural depicting Buster Keaton in his 1926 film, The General, in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Fans gathered in the town to mark the film’s centennial with a conference, look-alike contest, 1920s costume party, and location tours. The South had little humor post-Civil War, leading silent film star Buster Keaton to head west. To create a film based on a real wartime train chase, he found himself in Cottage Grove.

This past weekend, approximately 80 Keaton fans converged on the small rural city to celebrate Keaton’s time there, resulting in his renowned film, The General. They donned porkpie or straw hats, chat about favorite scenes, and learned the Charleston as the Eugene-based band The Fat Dandelions played 1920s jazz throughout the evening.

Celebrating the Comedy Legend

Conference attendees Joy Blatchford danced with her son Aden while Katrina Nguyen twirled with her husband Khoi during the 1920s themed dance. Buster Keaton keychains and souvenirs were on display at the event.

“I wasn’t even aware that people across the country would know where Cottage Grove was, but they did.” – Lloyd Williams

Lloyd Williams, former president of the Cottage Grove Historical Society, led the centennial celebration. Known as “Damfinos,” fans laugh at Keaton’s frequent response to tricky questions, “damfino.” Among them was 21-year-old Chloe Fadem, arriving from Chicago in a Keatonesque two-piece suit. Ready for the look-alike contest, Fadem wore a rainbow bowtie—a twist on the era’s style—and a porkpie hat, honoring Keaton.

Keaton Look-Alike Contest

Thirteen-year-old Aden Blatchford from Ontario, Canada, dressed as his hero, continuing a tradition he’s upheld for three Halloweens. His father, Steve Blatchford, noted Aden’s sign flips from “Trick or Treat” to “Buster Keaton, the 1920s silent film star,” accompanied by “The Entertainer” on a Bluetooth speaker.

Eventually, Liz Bartholomew of Portland triumphed in the look-alike contest, striding past the judges as “Sherlock Jr.” with a fake moustache, magnifying glass, and a book titled How to Be a Detective. Though not a Keaton expert, she savors the bond with her Keaton-loving mom. “Buster Keaton means a way to get closer to my mom and something for us to bond over,” she said.

Family Ties

Fadem and Blatchford have fostered connections with Keaton’s family, posing with his granddaughter, Melissa Talmadge Cox, who met Fadem a decade ago at a Michigan Keaton event. “She took me under her wing and started telling me these stories about Buster,” Fadem said. Talmadge Cox learned new stories from fans, having never seen Keaton’s work until after his passing.

Attendees valued the presence of Keaton’s nephew, 84-year-old Harry Keaton Moore Jr., who fondly recounted driving his uncle to shoots. Keaton Moore Jr. joined fans on a bus tour, exploring locations of The General‘s filming and revisiting the famed train crash site.

Filming Locations

Keaton encountered resistance filming in the South but found Cottage Grove, Oregon ideal with its Cascades foothills and short-line railroad. An authentic train crash scene involved over 4,000 spectators and meticulous preparation. Locals temporarily halted business, eager to catch a glimpse. “There were hot dog vendors and all sorts of carnival atmosphere,” said Williams.

The shoot cost more than $40,000, the most expensive of the silent-film era. One confused witness mistook a papier-mâché dummy for a real person. Last weekend, attendees became reflective at the site, comparing old film photos with the current landscape.

Aden Blatchford expressed excitement at being in such a historic spot. “He shot the main scene here. This is the biggest scene he’s ever shot. This is the biggest highlight for me on the trip,” he said.

Fadem shared a similar sentiment, eager to integrate Keaton’s influence in her future film work. “You could see him throwing himself, into his work,” she remarked.

The celebration coincides with another significant event: Muskegon, Michigan’s annual International Buster Keaton Society Convention, marking the filmmaker’s looming 131st birthday in October.