This time last year at Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club Jeff Barnhart presented his Silent Comedy Film Festival - Reel 1. St Augustine's audience loved it and the popular American promised to return with more classic material from cinema's pioneering years. True to his word our piano master returned with 'Reel 2' under his arm.
Buster Keaton is a hero for Barnhart and always features in his silent film presentations. Reel 2 included The Bell Boy (Keaton, co-star and director, 25 mins) from 1918. As Barnhart observed, Keaton's on-screen performance alongside Fatty Arbuckle received favourable reviews and as his co-star would soon be engulfed in scandal this was, in some ways, a pivotal moment.

One year on (1919) Billy Blazes, Esq from the Hal Roach studio paired Keaton with Bebe Daniels, a star in her own right who would later in life spend some time this side of the Atlantic. Great routines, Keaton on top form, Barnhart suggested this spoof of the Hollywood western wasn't Clint Eastwood!
Barnhart considered The Goat (1921, Keaton co-director with Malcolm St. Clair) a Keaton masterpiece. The plot - Keaton, mistaken for villain Dead Shot Dan, is pursued throughout twenty seven minutes of brilliant set-ups. Serious talent on screen (Keaton), serious talent at the keyboard (Barnhart). Reel 3 at Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club is on the cards for 2020.
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Calvert & the Old Fools @ Hash Bar & Kitchen, Darlington - September 21

Russell
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