end of an era

So I'm taking a Flash course and the semester's winding down. Naturally, my latest project incorporated Buster Keaton into it. I made an interactive map of the United States, with map pins stuck in it. When a pin is clicked, it takes you to a picture or video clip with information on how Buster Keaton is associated with the place (like, Cottage Grove, Oregon goes to a clip of The General and information on the movie).

In doing this, I included Wrigley Field of L.A. As I understand it, this is where at least one (but possibly all) of the charity baseball games Buster played in took place. The best documented game featured Leading Men vs. Comedians, pitting the likes of Gary Cooper, Errol Flynn, and Peter Lorre against Buster Keaton, Jack Benny, Fred Allen, etc. Hilarity would ensue, with pranks, gags, and even Boris Karloff, dressed as Frankenstein, scoring a home run (after scaring Keaton--the catcher--from the home plate), even though Frankenstein was not on either team.

What I wouldn't give to be able to sit in on those gag-filled charity baseball games.

Anyway, back to topic: I noticed when researching Wrigley Field of L.A. that it was closed in 1965 and demolished in 1966. It is sad but somehow fitting that the baseball diamond died the same year, and possibly close to the same time, as Keaton.

That's all I wanted to say: a quick memorial for a sublime duo.

Oh, and the comedians won the game I mention, 5-3.