Introduction

Preface: 1895

Thrown. They were calling it the Twentieth Century ; "She is a little animal, surely" ; "He's my son, and I'll break his neck any way I want to" ; "The locomotive of juveniles" ; A little hell-raising Huck Finn ; The boy who couldn't be damaged ; "Make me laugh, Keaton"

Flying. Speed mania in the kingdom of shadows ; Pancakes at Childs ; Comique ; Roscoe ; Brooms ; Mabel at the wheel ; Famous players in famous plays ; Home, made ; Rice, shoes, and real estate ; The shadow stage ; Battle-scarred risibilities ; One for you, one for me ; The "darkie shuffle"

Falling. The collapsing façade ; Grief slipped in ; Elmer ; The road through the mountain ; Not a drinker, a drunk

Landing. Old times ; The coming thing in entertainment

Coda: Eleanor.