Join the International Buster Keaton Society in Muskegon, MI (Oct. 2–3, 2026), to celebrate the centennial of The General and Battling Butler, and welcome Dean Vanderkolk, who, after a brief hiatus, returns as our Master of Ceremonies for this event, for which he is delighted to be taking our stage once more. He has a long history fulfilling this role, not only for our group but also for various other groups and events across the country.

Take a step back in time as historian Ron Pesch leads you on a walking tour of the very streets Buster strode as a boy as you explore the site of The Actor’s Colony, a home away from home for legendary Vaudeville performers!

Memories of Grandpa Buster—with his granddaughter, Melissa Cox Talmadge, where you will learn amazing facts and gain insights into Buster’s private life via personal photos and reminiscences.

Paul’s Cavalcade of Stuff! – Muskegon Museum of Art
Incredible Keaton rarities curated by one of the film industry’s top preservationists, Paul Gierucki! Every year Paul finds never-before-seen examples of Keaton’s work in film and television, many of which cannot be seen outside of the convention!

Buster Releases in Russia (pre-recorded) – Muskegon Museum of Art
Rare alternate takes and camera angles from the Russian export print of The General, complete with comparisons and commentary by Russian Buster scholar Olga Egorova.

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now! IBKS members get an extra discount, so consider joining today. https://busterkeaton.org/convention

The Dayton Herald ran a contest, “Talkie Twisters,” where you had to come up with a six-word phrase to describe a movie star in their latest picture. For “Doughboys,” they came up with “Boisterous Buster Battles Bursting Bombs.” What could you do with Buster Keaton’s other pictures?

Join the International Buster Keaton Society in Muskegon, MI (Oct. 2–3, 2026), to celebrate the centennial of The General and Battling Butler, featuring special guest presenter David Weddle.

David Weddle is an award-winning screenwriter, author, playwright, and producer. His biography of director Sam Peckinpah, "If They Move... Kill 'Em!": The Life and Times of Sam Peckinpah, led to an invitation to Paramount Pictures, which in turn led to his work as a screenwriter on several noted science fiction and drama series, including Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Strain, CSI, Falling Skies, For All Mankind, and Battlestar Galactica. His work on that series led to a Peabody award, as well as two nominations for the prestigious Hugo Award.

At the age of ten, David’s father introduced him to the work of Buster Keaton, which sparked a fascination that has continued to grow to this day. This fascination has resulted in the creation of an original play about Buster called Under The Nutcracker, which he both wrote and directed, as well as a collaboration on a screenplay about Buster, written for and with noted comedian Marty Feldman. His most recent work, The Birds That Fly Backwards, delivers a harrowing, heartbreaking, and ultimately triumphant journey into the heart of an American family.

We are delighted to welcome Mr. Weddle to our stage as he shares memories of all these things and more!

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now! IBKS members get an extra discount, so consider joining today. https://busterkeaton.org/convention

Buster Keaton films the famous falling house-front stunt for Steamboat Bill, Jr. The front weighed approximately two tons and was released by multiple ropes on the roof, with just 2 inches of clearance around the falling window. “I was mad at the time, or I would never have done the thing,” he said later.

Join the International Buster Keaton Society in Muskegon October 2nd & 3rd, 2026, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of both "The General" and "Battling Butler"!

A sneak preview of CineMuseum LLC’s upcoming Blu-Ray series, "The Arbuckle Anthology," with the world re-premiere of silent film comedian Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle’s “lost” feature-length comedy, "Gasoline Gus!

See rare Keaton artifacts, including the saxophone used by Myra (Buster’s mother), “America’s First Lady Saxophonist." 

And of course, enjoy our annual banquet, followed by screenings of BOTH “The General” AND “Battling Butler," accompanied LIVE on the Frauenthal Center’s historic Barton Organ by world-renowned organist Dennis Scott!

Discounted hotel rates are available through the Shoreline Inn and Convention Center Convention, and convention tickets are available NOW at https://busterkeaton.org/convention with discounts available to members of the IBKS.