Two of my favorite silent movie stars were born in Kansas, Buster Keaton and Louise Brooks. Buster's birth story, as told by his father, may or may not be truthful. Buster's parents were part of a travelling medicine show which included soon-to-be famous Harry Houdini. They were traveling through Piqua, KS, a very small town just west of Iola, KS, where they set up their performance tent. While settling into a local boarding house, a tornado blew through town carrying away their tent. Buster's father took off running to find the tent. When he returned to the boarding house, Buster had been born. The date was October 24th, 1895.
Louise Brooks was born in Cherryvale in southeast Kansas, later moving to Wichita. She took up dancing at an early age, eventually making it to Ziegfeld's Follies in NYC. From there the movies beckoned. Her bobbed hair and stunning looks made her an icon and a symbol of the 1920s flappers.
I have visited the birthplace of both stars.
For 28 years the Kansas Silent Film Festival has presented Buster and Louise and a multitude of other silent stars on the big screen. The event is held at the White Recital Hall on the campus of Washburn University in Topeka, KS. Footprints has been a proud sponsor of the festival for several years. All the performances are free to attend. All films have live musical accompaniment.
With silent film you witness the birth of cinematic techniques. Exuberant visual storytelling without talking is paired with live music. It is a form of art which transcends time and technology. If you have not experienced a live performance, you should.
Kansas Silent Film Festival details:
https://www.kssilentfilmfest.org/kssff2025/program2025.html
— Mick
