In Cottage Grove, Oregon, roughly 80 devoted Buster Keaton enthusiasts gathered over the weekend to celebrate the centennial of the 1926 silent film masterpiece The General. Organized by the Cottage Grove Historical Society, the multi-day anniversary event featured 1920s jazz, period dancing, and a lookalike contest commemorating Keaton’s historic move west.
The Bottom Line
- The Milestone: Buster Keaton’s Civil War train chase epic, The General, is marking its 100-year anniversary in Oregon.
- The Celebration: Around 80 fans, known as “Damfinos,” gathered in Cottage Grove for costume parties, lookalike contests, and local film location tours.
- The Legacy: Multigenerational fandom was on full display, highlighted by attendees dressing up as iconic Keaton characters and bonding with the late star’s family members.
Why Cottage Grove Became the Epicenter for Keaton’s Masterpiece
When Hollywood found itself constrained by post-Civil War sensitivities in the South, comedy pioneer Buster Keaton packed up his production and headed west. He landed in the rural Oregon logging hub of Cottage Grove to film. According to local organizers, the town has long embraced its accidental place in film lore, though the nationwide draw of the centennial celebration exceeded local expectations.
“I wasn’t even aware that people across the country would know where Cottage Grove was, but they did,” said Lloyd Williams, former president of the Cottage Grove Historical Society and lead organizer for the centennial event, as reported by NPR. Williams spearheaded the effort to bring fans together for screenings, historical talks, and tours of the exact tracks where Keaton’s locomotive chaos unfolded a century ago.
The Rise of the “Damfinos” and Multigenerational Fandom
Devotees of the silent film icon refer to themselves as “Damfinos”—a playful nod to Keaton’s signature deadpan catchphrase whenever he was asked a question he didn’t know: “damfino,” short for “damned if I know.” This tight-knit community turned out in full costume over the weekend, sporting authentic porkpie and straw hats, practicing the Charleston to music from the Eugene-based band The Fat Dandelions, and swapping favorite cinematic gags.
The demographic makeup of the gathering proved that physical comedy from the 1920s still transcends generational divides. Among the crowd was 21-year-old Chicago resident Chloe Fadem, who donned a Keatonesque two-piece suit and a rainbow bowtie, alongside 13-year-old Aden Blatchford from Ontario, Canada, who has dressed as his silent-film idol for three consecutive Halloweens. Fadem and Blatchford are part of a dedicated subculture of young cinephiles who discovered Keaton early in life.
“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,” Aden Blatchford explained to NPR. For fans like Liz Bartholomew of Portland, who won the weekend’s lookalike contest dressed as Sherlock Jr. complete with a fake mustache and magnifying glass, the fandom also serves as a bridge for family bonding, shared alongside her out-of-town mother.
By the Numbers: Celebrating a Century of Cinema
To understand the enduring scale of The General and its centennial footprint, consider the core metrics of the Cottage Grove celebration and the film’s production background:
| Category | Details & Figures |
|---|---|
| Anniversary Milestone | 100 years since production/release roots (1926) |
| Event Attendance | Approximately 80 dedicated fans (“Damfinos”) |
| Primary Location | Cottage Grove, Oregon |
| Key Organization | Cottage Grove Historical Society |
| Lookalike Winner | Liz Bartholomew (dressed as Sherlock Jr.) |
Connecting Modern Audiences With Keaton’s Descendants
The weekend celebration offered more than just retro entertainment; it reinforced a living lineage between modern cinephiles and the Keaton family. Attendees frequently mingle with Buster Keaton’s granddaughter, Melissa Talmadge Cox, who regularly attends fan gatherings. Fadem first met Talmadge Cox a decade prior at a similar Keaton event in Muskegon, Michigan, noting how the family has embraced the community of young fans.
“She took me under her wing and started telling me these stories about Buster,” Fadem shared regarding her relationship with Talmadge Cox. In return, Talmadge Cox has frequently noted that she learns new perspectives on her grandfather’s filmmaking genius directly from the fans who pore over every frame of his catalog. As physical media collectors and revival houses continue to champion classic silent cinema, events in towns like Cottage Grove ensure that the iron wheels of Keaton’s legendary locomotive keep turning for a new century.
What are your favorite cinematic stunts from the silent film era, and have you ever made the pilgrimage to a classic movie filming location? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
