Today's (Wed) Episode of the day is the Shemp solo short "Strange Affair". The picture used shows a neat-o little car called an American Austin, was made in Butler, PA, about 30 minutes from my home.
I recently wrote a small article on the Austin for the Buster Keaton fan club's publication, and here is a little clip from it:
"Long before today’s Mini Cooper and the hilarious Smart car, the Austin was 28 inches shorter and 16 inches narrower than any other American automobile of the time, and guaranteed 40 miles to the gallon.
The American Austin was manufactured off and on from 1930 to 1940 north of Pittsburgh, in Butler, PA. The company underwent a name change in 1936, to American Bantam. American Bantam was also the first company to design and produce the Jeep in 1940. After the unveiling of the Jeep in 1940, the government didn't think the company was big enough to produce the required number of vehicles, and the contract went to Ford and Willys-Overland. American Bantam soon went out of business."
Those of us who enjoy classic films will recognize this cool little car from Keaton's "Parlor, Bedroom and Bath" (1931), in the Laurel and Hardy short "Our Wife" (1931), and the Thelma Todd/Zasu Pitts short "Bargain of the Century" (1933).
