Brief
Silent 1919 comedy Van‑ar‑chy found in Japan, slated for New Hampshire premiere
Film student Kohei Okita uncovered the lost comedy starring Billy B. Van in Sendai, Japan, and archivist John Tariot plans a world‑premiere in Newport, New Hampshire.
By Felo News Desk · Published
A 1919 silent comedy filmed in New Hampshire, titled Van‑ar‑chy, was recovered from a dusty antique shop in Sendai, Japan, by film student Kohei Okita. Okita, researching early cinema on the word “anarchy,” bought a batch of old reels and recognised the film after a search led him to New Hampshire archivist John Tariot. Tariot confirmed the title and restored the footage, which will be shown for the first time in a century at the Newport Opera House in the state where it was produced.
Discovery in Japan
Okita purchased the reels from a Japanese antique store. He identified the film as a Billy B. Van production after an online search linked him with Tariot, an archivist for the Van‑arch. The film was made by Van, a vaudeville performer who founded the Equity Motion Picture Company and operated a studio in Georges Mills, New Hampshire.
Restoration and premiere plans
John Tariot restored the film and announced plans to screen it in Newport, New Hampshire, where Van had filmed the comedy. Tariot said the film’s survival is significant both for preserving the work of a little‑known early American film company and for capturing local history on film. The premiere is scheduled for early November.
Context for the film’s loss and recovery
Like many silent films, Van‑ar‑chy was presumed lost for nearly a century. According to Tariot, roughly 75% of American silent films have disappeared. The discovery underscores the value of international film archives and the ongoing efforts to recover lost cinema.
Key facts
- Film titled <em>Van‑ar‑chy</em> was made in 1919 in New Hampshire (theguardian.com)
- Film discovered by Kohei Okita in a Japanese antique shop (theguardian.com)
- Archivist John Tariot restored the film (nypost.com)
- Premiere planned for early November at Newport Opera House (nypost.com)
Background
The film was produced by Billy B. Van, a vaudeville star who founded the Equity Motion Picture Company and operated a studio in Georges Mills, New Hampshire.
Why it matters
The film’s recovery restores a lost piece of early American cinema and highlights the importance of international collaboration in film preservation.
What happens next
The film will be screened in Newport, New Hampshire, in early November.
Sources
- [1] theguardian.com
- [2] nypost.com
