For the Love of Buster


All about one of the most interesting, imaginative, and beautiful geniuses that ever lived. BUSTER KEATON

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busterness:

Monday Evening Mystery!

Most Keaton bios seem to agree that Buster’s signature porkpie hat was born on the day he made his debut in film with Roscoe Arbuckle in “The Butcher Boy.”  I recall reading somewhere that Buster had used a similar hat in his Vaudeville days, but since we don’t have any on-stage pictures to examine from The Three Keaton’s era, it’s hard to verify when the legendary porkpie made its first appearance.

While rummaging through some of the pics we took on one of our research trips, I noticed the one above.  It was mis-labeled as a pic of Buster, his sister and his Dad - but someone had corrected it to read “uncle.”  Supposedly, the pic was taken in Muskegon, MI.  Louise looks to be about 2 yrs old or thereabouts, so that would put Buster around 12 or 13.

Look what’s on his head!  The crown is a tad higher, but there’s no mistaking that shape!  Could we actually have the first porkpie pic?  Porkpie Beta 1.0?  What do y’all think?

  1. victorspinetti reblogged this from busterness
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  3. monocoleporter said: Oooh, maybe… Brim isn’t straight enough but maybe he hadn’t perfected it yet? I don’t know. But wouldn’t Buster have mentioned in his autobio if he had come up with it much earlier?
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  9. bustermylove reblogged this from busterness and added:
    I posted a picture with Buster and family on my blog with said same hat. So yes, I’d have to say that Buster liked to...
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