Paul Killiam

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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