Robert M. Dahl (1939 - 2026) - Keaton Connection

[Paul E. Gierucki]

Received word that we have lost another link to Buster Keaton with the passing of Bob Dahl earlier this year.
His full obituary can be viewed here:

https://obituaries.forestlawn.com/obitu ... obert-dahl

In addition to his many other remarkable accomplishments, Bob maintained that he had appeared with Keaton in two industrial films for US Steel. We initially connected via Facebook (back in 2014) where he responded to my query:

"... it was so long ago...circa 1963 or there about. There were two films done for U.S. Steel through an advertising agency in Salt Lake City called Evans Advertising. They weren't "spots" but instead were film-length. I don't remember their titles nor do I recall their <exact> length. I guess we'd call them industrial films today."

"I have no idea who or what entities might have copies of those films…and they were produced on film. I tried doing a little research today on Evans Advertising and came up blank. At the time (early to mid-60’s) it was probably the largest advertising agency in Salt Lake City. I left the city in 65, never to return. I suspect the agency blended with another agency but I don’t know who that might have been. I vaguely remember hearing they’d expanded to the Washington/Oregon and Los Angeles. Again, I couldn’t find a link to that online today. The founder and owner was David W. Evans and he passed away in the 80’s. Perhaps the company couldn’t sustain itself after he left the helm... I know US Steel was a large client for Evans…they did many other things for them at the time."

I had long hoped to find copies to share with Bob. Unfortunately, despite years of research, the US Steel films remain lost.
We know that one was titled THE FALL GUY. No details on the potential second. Our search continues.

-- PG