ICFS and HMATOS Present: Buster Keaton Shorts with Live Organ

A giant of American comedy, a filmmaker of grace and beauty, and a performer of the impossible! Indeed, those words best defines the work of actor and filmmaker Buster Keaton. Working without special effects or stuntmen, Keaton’s ability to hold a straight face through every calamity while also being so incredibly expressive, seems impossible. Further, his towering achievement of producing 19 silent short films and 10 silent features over the course of years would be called impossible if it were not for the fortunate fact that the films exist. Join us as we celebrate four of Keaton’s greatest shorts. Also, watch our calendar as we add a second, and possibly third program of Keaton Shorts!

Providing musical accompaniment for all of these treasures is – a treasure himself – Carl Hackert, Program Director of the Hudson-Mohawk American Theatre Organ Society and one of New York’s most celebrated theatre organists. Hackert’s performance partner for this event will be the magnificent “George,” an incredible recreation of George Wright’s famous Hollywood Philharmonic recording studio organ!  

One Week (1920)
A newly wedded couple attempts to build a house with a prefabricated kit, unaware that a rival sabotaged the kit’s component numbering.

The Goat (1921)
Keaton is mistaken for notorious bad guy, Dead Shot Dan. Hilarity ensues. 

Cops (1922)
Keaton gets involved in a series of misunderstandings involving a horse and cart, eventually causing him to infuriate every cop in the city when he accidentally interrupts their police parade.

The Blacksmith (1922)
Keaton clowns around in a blacksmith’s shop until he and the smithy get in a fight that causes the smithy to go to jail. On his own, Keaton attempts to shoe horses and repair automobiles with decidedly mixed results.

NOTE: This program is not rated and has a total running time of approximately 85 minutes.