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Restoring “When Comedy Was King” – a Joint Effort
By Kit Parker of Kit Parker Films
One activity that is particularly satisfying to me
is making available a beautiful video version of a
favorite film. Even better is to couple it with an
excellent commentary track. Both are the case
with When Comedy Was King and easier said
than done.
In 1958, I saw The Golden Age of Comedy,
Robert Youngson’s masterful silent comedy
compilation at the Hill Theatre in Monterey, Cal-
ifornia – I laughed until my sides hurt. I’d go so
far as to say Kit Parker Films would never exist,
certainly not in the form it has, had it not been for
that night in 1958 as this turned me into a silent
comedy buff overnight and inspired me to collect
8 mm (later, 16 mm) prints of silent comedies
from the legendary Blackhawk Films.
Two years later When Comedy Was King also by
Youngson, was released. This time I saw it at the
State Theatre in Monterey, and it was just as
funny as its predecessor! Saw it many times later
in 16 mm, television, VHS and DVD, all lacking
the vibrancy of the 35 mm presentation at the
State. up the track from an older video release and
synced it perfectly.
Earlier this year I contacted Sonar Entertainment,
owner of WCWK, and made a deal to acquire Next up, I wanted to provide a commentary track.
DVD rights. Then came the time to examine the Film historian, author, filmmaker and raconteur
film elements: What a mess! A reel of this, a reel Richard M Roberts was up for it, and as my vote
of something else, and the quality ranged from for Dean of Silent Comedy, he was the perfect
poor to marginal. Then, finally, Sonar’s ever- person for the job. Richard was also influenced
helpful Maura Grady sent us nine cans of film, by the works of Robert Youngson as well, and
which weren’t properly labelled; they turned out created a commentary that intermixed his insight
to the original negative! on the comedies themselves along with their
performers, directors and producers. He also in-
Our film-to-digital maestro, Doug Horst, did a terspersed a long overdue biographical tribute to
masterful high definition transfer, and we were Robert Youngson himself. I asked Richard if he
off and running. There were still several issues to would allow us to use three rare comedies from
work out, but they weren’t insurmountable, just his personal collection as a special feature. He
time consuming: The images were a checker- agreed, but insisted they have a musical accom-
board of light scenes and dark scenes, endemic in paniment, the cost of which would put an already
working with original negatives. However, fortu- over budget project further into the red. When it
nately Tiffany Clayton, always up for a technical comes to quality, Richard doesn’t negotiate, so I
challenge, “timed” (the industry term for adjust- bit the bullet and retained Donald Sosin, a leading
ing light and dark scenes) and did other digital silent movie composer. Glad I did.
clean up as well. Our HD transfer captured more
image on the sides that had ever been seen on a You can buy it today for US$14.99 exclusively
video or television release. The only other issue from Amazon:
was lack of a sound track, so Tiffany sweetened http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MFX85QA

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