Keystone Kops facts for kids
The Keystone Kops were a group of funny, fictional policemen. They were known for being clumsy and a bit disorganized. These characters appeared in many silent comedy movies. These movies were made in the 1910s. Mack Sennett produced them between 1912 and 1917.
Their very first movie was Hoffmeyer's Legacy in 1912. But they became really famous after the short movie The Bangville Police in 1913.
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A Special Discovery
One of the Keystone Kops movies was A Thief Catcher. It was made in 1914. This movie was lost for a long time. In 2010, it was found at an antique sale in Michigan.
It was a big surprise because Charlie Chaplin has a small role in it. He plays one of the Keystone Kops. Before this movie was found, no one knew that Charlie Chaplin had ever been a Keystone Cop!
Their Music
The Keystone Kops had an unofficial theme song. It was called "Bag o' Rags." William "Mac" McKanless (1879-1937) wrote this music in 1912. He was an African-American orchestra leader, pianist, and songwriter.
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Keystone Kops in Pop Culture
The Keystone Kops have inspired other characters. For example, Dave Filoni is a director for the animated TV show Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He said the police 'droids in the show look like the Keystone Kops.
In 2017 and 2018, the Keystone Kops were even featured characters. They appeared in the famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Selected Movies
- Tillie's Punctured Romance (1914): This was Mack Sennett's first full-length comedy movie.
- Making a Living (1914): This movie starred Charlie Chaplin in his very first main role.
Images for kids
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The Keystone Cops in The Stolen Purse (1913). Pictured (left to right): Robert Z. Leonard, Mack Sennett, Bill Haber, Henry Lehrman, ⸻ McAlley, Chester Franklin, Ford Sterling, Fred Mace, and Arthur Tavares.
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The Thief Catcher (1914) with Charlie Chaplin (left) as a Keystone Cop
