ICFS and HMATOS Present: Buster Keaton Shorts w/Live Organ (Program 3 of 3)

Our third and final program of Buster Keaton Shorts concludes with some of his most celebrated work. A giant of American comedy, Keaton was also a filmmaker of grace and beauty, and a performer of the impossible! Working without special effects or stuntmen, Keaton’s ability to hold a straight face through every calamity while also being incredibly expressive, certainly seemed impossible. His towering achievement of producing 19 silent short films and 10 silent features over the course of only eight years would also be called impossible if it were not for the very fortunate fact that his films still exist as evidence!  

Providing musical accompaniment for these American treasures is – a treasure himself – Carl Hackert, Program Director of the Hudson-Mohawk American Theatre Organ Society and one of New York’s most respected theatre organists. Hackert will be joined for this event by another amazing local talent, Malcolm Kogut, and both will perform on our magnificent “George,” a mindblowing recreation of George Wright’s famous Hollywood Philharmonic recording studio organ. Titles on this program include: “The Haunted House,” “The Paleface,” “The Love Nest,” and “The Scarecrow.” Not rated. Total running time approx. 90 minutes, including a brief break.