Coney Island (1917)

The transvestite informer A Fatty (Roscoe) Arbuckle film, in which he goes to Coney Island, the famous seaside funfair, with his girl. Various problems result, but it becomes urgently necessary to go into the swimming pool there, and later (pic) on the beach with her.


In the changing rooms To do so, Roscoe steals a stout lady's costume and wears it. Here he is back in the swimming pool area, and nearly bumps into the lady whose costume he is wearing: she is complaining vigorously about the theft to the attendant.

This swimming costume sequence is quite long in the film. It includes elements familiar in modern films, such as going in to the wrong shower room, and when in the ladies one, the mixture of horror and lust at seeing them semi-undressed. (In 1917, of course, this was played much more chastely than nowadays.)


Buster Keaton smiling In this early film, Buster Keaton was a supporting actor, and he had not finalised his later persona -- the "stone face", showing no emotion. Here he is smiling happily as he has made good with an attractive girl.

The film was also released as Fatty at Coney Island.

HF November 2002


This Page: Coney Island

Return to Alphabetical Index Page

Return to Home Page

Hazel Freeman's
International Transgender Film Guide
is maintained by

Jenni Olson

and hosted at

Visitors from the US and Canada can help support this site by shopping for LGBT DVDs using this WolfeVideo.com affiliate link. The commission we earn from your purchases will directly support the continued existence of this website. Thank you!