Paul Killiam (September 12, 1916 – November 12, 1998) was an entertainer, film historian, and film collector who provided comedic narration at showings of silent films, including as host on his own television show. He was a pioneer in film preservation and the reintroduction of old films to the viewing public during the television era.[1][2] He amassed a large and valuable collection of films.[3] It was sold to various buyers after his death.

Killiam was host of Hometown TV, which debuted on WOR-TV on November 17, 1952. From off-camera he narrated old films and other material.[4] He performed on The Steve Allen Show delivering a comedic monologue about his film company and then delivering contemporary narration over silent film footage from a film about cave dweller era relations. He hosted the Paul Killiam Show which featured a similar format of comedic introduction followed by ridiculous narration of old films including from the Thomas Alva Edison's Edison Studio.[5]

An orchestra purchased some of the films in his collection.[6]

He hosted the show Hour of Silents.[7]

His film company lost a suit over the film rights to The Son of the Sheik.[8]

In 1983, the New York Times reported on his activities.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Tribune, Donald Liebenson Special to the. "LISTEN UP". chicagotribune.com.
  2. ↑ Slide, Anthony (August 7, 2000). Nitrate Won't Wait: A History of Film Preservation in the United States. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-0836-8 – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ "Story". www.bizjournals.com. August 4, 2003. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  4. ↑ "WOR-TV(Ch 9)". Ross Reports on Television including The Television Index. November 16, 1952. p. 2. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  5. ↑ "PAUL KILLIAM SHOW". Vimeo.
  6. ↑ "The old 'Phantom' rises from the dead -- in living color -- with a new score". www.sfgate.com. April 21, 2005.
  7. ↑ Pierce, David (1997). "The Legion of the Condemned - Why American Silent Films Perished". Film History. 9 (1): 5–22. JSTOR 3815289 – via JSTOR.
  8. ↑ "Rohauer v. Killiam Shows, Inc., 379 F. Supp. 723 (S.D.N.Y. 1974)". Justia Law.
  9. ↑ Freedman, Samuel G. (January 23, 1983). "NEW CANAAN TAKES RIBBING WITH LAUGHTER (Published 1983)" – via NYTimes.com.
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