Kops and Custards: The Legend of Keystone Films

by Kalton C. Lahue, Terry Brewer, Kent D. Eastin (Foreword)

Is the history of the Keystone Film Company, the madhouse firm that produced those zany comedies of wild car chases and hordes of bumbling cops, and in doing so dominated the motion picture comedy from 1912 to 1920.

More than that, this book is also a reflection of what made America and the world laugh in those days. Additionally, it is a study of Mack Sennett, the comedy mastermind who brought slapstick humor to the point of being a fine art.

With Mabel Normand, a feminine counterpart of Charlie Chaplin, Fred Mace, Marie Dressler, cross-eyed Ben Turpin, Fatty Arbuckle, Slim Summerville, and Polly Moran-later Gloria Swanson, Wallace Beery, Marie Prevost, and Bebe Daniels joined the group-Sennett taught what could be done with a camera.

Utilizing the memories of individuals who took part in the making of the Keystone comedies and the data found in various private collections, the authors give an accurate appraisal of the comedies and their creator. A complete listing of the comedies is appended, together with production information not previously published. Many rare photographs from the films contribute to the enjoyment and value of the book.

Kalton C. Lahue is the author of a number of books about films and cameras, among them Continued Last Week: A History of the Moving Picture Serial, World of Laughter: The Motion Picture Comedy Short, 1910-1930, and (with Joseph A. Bailey) Glass, Brass, and Chrome: The American 35mm Miniature Camera, all published by the University of Oklahoma Press.

Terry Brewster is a free-lance writer who specializes in educational television scrips.

213 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Born and educated in Richford, Vermont, Kalton C. Lahue became interested in motion pictures at an early age. Living next door to the Park Theater, he practically grew up in a theater seat and later worked as projectionist and assistant manager. Transferring to active duty from reserve status during the Korean War, he was assigned to the Signal School at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and then sent overseas as a combat photographer in Korea. After his discharge in 1955, he enrolled at the University of Vermont to study history and became interested in silent movies for their historical value. In attempting to learn all he could about the early days of pictures, he found reference material both scanty and conflicting so he decided to write his own book. An ex-history teacher, he held an M.A. from San Jose State College and served as
Director of Educational Resources Project at Johnson State College, Johnson, Vermont, as well as Director of the Instructional Materials Center in Springfield, Vermont.

source: about the author Bound and Gagged: The Story of the Silent Serials

Reviews

[Laini · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I'd known when I bought it that this is basically a recap of Mack Sennett's autobiography from years before. You can save some money by buying it instead, and get everything right from the horse's mouth.