April 11,  2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Leslie Unger - (310) 247-3000

                         lunger@oscars.org

Beverly Hills, CA - An exhibition of unique photographs from the life and work of Buster Keaton will open to the public at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on April 27, in the Grand Lobby Gallery. As with all exhibitions at the Academy, admission to "Buster Keaton Revisited: Rare Photographs of a Comic Genius" is free.

The 72 images have been drawn from the holdings of the Academy's Margaret Herrick Library, where the largest and most comprehensive body of Keaton photographs known to exist is housed. Included are a number of photographs donated to the Academy by Keaton's widow, Eleanor, shortly before her death in 1998. Other images to be featured in the exhibition have been pulled from the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer collection, donated to the library in 1978, and the Jules White collection; White was the head of the Columbia short subjects department and this collection includes photographs from nine of Keaton's ten Columbia shorts. In fact, "Buster Keaton Revisited" spans the actor's entire life, including photographs from his infancy and childhood, his vaudeville days, his film career and the last years of his life.

"Buster Keaton Revisited: Rare Photographs of a Comic Genius" will continue at the Academy through July 8. All of the images in the exhibition are also contained in a new book published this spring by Harry N. Abrams, Inc., "Buster Keaton Remembered."

In conjunction with the exhibition, the Academy will present a special screening of "Go West" on May 18, at 8 p.m. The version to be screened is considered closer to the original than any other version, with the print struck by the Academy Film Archive. The event will also feature live musical accompaniment by the Grand Pacific Orchestra, conducted by Pat Pfiffner, with a score composed by Eric Beheim.

Viewing hours for "Buster Keaton Revisited: Rare Photographs of a Comic Genius" are Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and weekends, noon to 6 p.m. Admission is free.

Tickets for the May 18 screening of "Go West" are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members. They can be purchased at the Academy during regular business hours, by mail, or on the night of the screening, if still available, when the doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets will go on sale May 1. The Academy is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. For more information, call 310-247-3600.