1On the set of The Cameraman (1928).
2Joe Keaton in blackface with his infant son. Courtesy of the International Buster Keaton Society.
3Tony Pastor. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery.
4Joseph Frank Keaton, circa 1900. Courtesy of Karl Thiede.
5Elbridge T. Gerry. Author’s collection.
6“The Man with the Table.” Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
7Buster in costume for Little Lord Fauntleroy. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
8The Keaton family at their summer cottage in Bluffton. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
9The Keatons on the road, circa 1910. Courtesy of Melissa Talmadge Cox.
10Buster in his more mature stage persona. Courtesy of the International Buster Keaton Society.
11Highlights of the Keaton act. Courtesy of Ron Pesch.
12Joseph M. Schenck. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
13The 20th Century Garage in New York City. NYC Municipal Archives.
14A still posed on the set of The Butcher Boy. Courtesy of the International Buster Keaton Society.
15On the grounds of the Balboa Studio complex. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
16A raucous moment from A Country Hero (1917). Courtesy of the International Buster Keaton Society.
17As the deadly Bill Bullhorn, proprietor of the Last Chance Saloon. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
18Charles Chaplin tours the Balboa Studio. Courtesy of the International Buster Keaton Society.
19Arbuckle, Al St. John, Keaton, and Luke. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
20Corporal Joseph F. Keaton (center) in France. Courtesy of the International Buster Keaton Society.
21Actress Viola Dana and Keaton. Courtesy of Dr. Macro.
22Keaton and Arbuckle appropriate a gag from The Garage. Alamy Ltd.
23Ingram Pickett, Keaton, and Bartine Burkett in The High Sign. Courtesy of the International Buster Keaton Society.
24Keaton, as Bertie Van Alstyne. Author’s collection.
25Buster regards his handiwork in One Week. Courtesy of the International Buster Keaton Society.
26Keaton poses with Sybil Seely. Courtesy of Dr. Macro.
27The cast of Neighbors admires the signage on the new Keaton studio. Courtesy of the International Buster Keaton Society.
28Keaton at the conclusion of Hard Luck. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
29The wedding of Natalie Talmadge and Buster Keaton. Courtesy of Melissa Talmadge Cox.
30The all-Keaton minstrel line. Author’s collection.
31Keaton also portrayed various members of the audience. Author’s collection.
32Buster is ready to launch The Boat. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
33Roscoe Arbuckle with attorney Frank Dominguez. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
34The Paleface title lobby card. Author’s collection.
35An entire municipal police force gives chase in Cops. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
36An aerial view of the Keaton lot. Hollywood Photograph Archive.
37Keaton and crew on location at Truckee. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
38At work on Three Ages. Courtesy of Dr. Macro.
39A breathtaking aerial stunt salvages a missed leap. Alamy Ltd.
40Keaton prepares to film a scene for Three Ages. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
41Keaton shows a double how he wants Margaret Leahy dragged. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
42Three generations of Keatons. Courtesy of the International Buster Keaton Society.
43The waterfall for Our Hospitality. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
44Keaton prepares to shoot the waterfall rescue. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
45Joe Roberts poses for a still. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
46The dreaming projectionist approaches the screen. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
47Sherlock Jr. is about to go racing down Santa Monica Boulevard. Author’s collection.
48Donald Crisp directs a scene from The Navigator. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
49Natalie Keaton cradles Robert Talmadge Keaton. Courtesy of Jordan Young.
50Keaton proposes to bit player Jean Arthur. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
51A church full of eager brides. Alamy Ltd.
52On location in Arizona for Go West. Courtesy of Kevin Brownlow.
53Keaton prepares to signal action with a revolver. Getty Images.
54Keaton incorporated actual city locations with business district exteriors. Courtesy of the International Buster Keaton Society.
55Keaton smugly poses in a gag shot. Courtesy of Dr. Macro.
56Keaton, in costume, with his camera crew. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
57The Southern army’s retreat. Courtesy of the International Buster Keaton Society.
58Director Keaton lines up a shot at Carlton, the Union army supply base. Photo by Walter Harmon, courtesy of Justin Reeves.
59The great bridge collapse. Courtesy of Dr. Macro.
60Keaton on the grounds of his Italian Villa. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
61Filming College on the water at Newport Bay. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
62Keaton surveys the damage to the town of River Junction. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
63Keaton and director Edward Sedgwick arrive in New York. Courtesy of the International Buster Keaton Society.
64Filming the changing room scene with Edward Brophy. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
65Bill drags his son to a haberdasher’s shop. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
66Keaton and Ed Sedgwick visit Lon Chaney. Courtesy of Michael F. Blake.
67Keaton with actress Dorothy Sebastian. Courtesy of James Karen.
68Elmer struggles to put a drunken Trilby to bed. Courtesy of Photofest.
69Keaton hated the clown outfit and makeup. Courtesy of Photofest.
70Keaton was drunk when he played this scene. Author’s collection.
71Supervisor Lawrence Weingarten, Ed Sedgwick, Keaton, and Edward Brophy. Author’s collection.
72Gilbert Roland, Norma Talmadge, and Keaton on holiday. Alamy Ltd.
73Reggie fends off the insistent Polly Hathaway. Courtesy of Dr. Macro.
74The former Keaton studio awaits demolition. Hollywood Photograph Archive.
75Keaton with his beloved dog Elmer. Courtesy of Melissa Talmadge Cox.
76Keaton poses outside his land yacht. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
77Keaton casts a wary glance at Mae Elizabeth Scriven. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
78Keaton and crew during the filming of The Gold Ghost. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
79Keaton’s performance as a hardened criminal in Le Roi des Champs-Elysées. Author’s collection.
80Buster, Joe, Louise, and Myra Keaton reunite. Author’s collection.
81Keaton in despair. Alamy Ltd.
82In Grand Slam Opera (1936). Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
83Pest from the West was a superior reworking of The Invader. Courtesy of Dr. Macro.
84Keaton confers with Groucho and Chico Marx. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
85Dining with Dorothy Sebastian. Courtesy of Los Angeles Public Library.
86Keaton on the occasion of his 1940 marriage to Eleanor Ruth Norris. Courtesy of Patricia Eliot Tobias.
87Keaton serving drinks at the Hollywood Canteen. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
88Jon Hall, Louise Allbritton, and Keaton in San Diego I Love You. Author’s collection.
89Joe Keaton, late in life. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
90Keaton observes the rehearsal of comedy business. Courtesy of John McElwee.
91Keaton studies his likeness on a poster. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
92Judy Garland and Van Johnson collide under Keaton’s direction. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
93On the set of Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard. Author’s collection.
94With Frank Buxton in Three Men on a Horse. Courtesy of Melissa Talmadge Cox.
95Keaton performing the “Butcher Boy” sketch. Courtesy of the International Buster Keaton Society.
96A newspaper ad. Author’s collection.
97Performing the Spite Marriage routine with Eleanor. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
98Working with Charles Chaplin. Author’s collection.
99Ben Pearson. Courtesy of Elizabeth Schretzman.
100Keaton with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Courtesy of Melissa Talmadge Cox.
101Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., welcomes Keaton. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
102Keaton talks with Cantinflas. Courtesy of Karl Thiede.
103A family gathering at 1043 South Victoria. Courtesy of Melissa Talmadge Cox.
104Donald O’Connor, Cecil B. DeMille, and Keaton. Courtesy of Karl Thiede.
105Ralph Edwards, Buster, and Eleanor Keaton. Courtesy of James Karen.
106James Karen, Keaton, and Jane Dulo. Courtesy of James Karen.
107Keaton onstage in Newcomers of 1928. Courtesy of Karl Thiede.
108Eleanor and Buster at home. Courtesy of Melissa Talmadge Cox.
109Natalie Talmadge in 1949 with grandchildren. Courtesy of Melissa Talmadge Cox.
110Keaton waits on songwriter Jimmy McHugh and actress Jane Russell. Author’s collection.
111Keaton is presented with an honorary Oscar. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
112Keaton as King Sextimus. Author’s collection.
113Keaton chats with veteran comedy director Norman Z. McLeod. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
114Keaton and Ernie Kovacs. Getty Images.
115Keaton on the set of Ten Girls Ago. Courtesy of John Sebert.
116With George Maharis and Martin Milner. Author’s collection.
117Keaton and Joe E. Brown. Author’s collection.
118Samuel Beckett, director Alan Schneider, and Keaton. Author’s collection.
119Keaton serenading Bobbi Shaw. Courtesy of Bobbie Shaw Chance.
120Keaton and director Gerald Potterton. Courtesy of Patricia Eliot Tobias.
121Eleanor and Buster at the funeral of Stan Laurel. Courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library.
122With Lucille Ball in A Tribute to Stan Laurel. Author’s collection.
123Acknowledging cheers at the Venice Film Festival. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
124With Phil Silvers, Jack Gilford, and Zero Mostel. Author’s collection.
125Keaton with director John Sebert. Courtesy of John Sebert.
126Eleanor Keaton is escorted from Forest Lawn’s Church of the Hills. Courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library.
127Raymond Rohauer and Leopold Friedman. Author’s collection.
128Buster and Eleanor backstage at Cirque Médrano. Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.