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Film student Kohei Okita discovered a long-lost silent comedy from 1919 called "Van-ar-chy" starring Billy B. Van in an antique shop in Japan while researching films about anarchy. New Hampshire film archivist John Tariot restored the film, which will have its world premiere on November 1 at the Newport Opera House, where it was originally created, marking a rare screening of one of the approximately 75% of American silent films thought to be lost forever. The event includes live music and another rediscovered Van film from the same year, "Where Are Your Husbands?"
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A long-lost 1919 American silent comedy film called "Van-ar-chy," starring Billy B. Van, was recently discovered by a Japanese student named Kohei Okita in an antique shop in Japan while he was researching films related to "anarchy." Okita contacted New Hampshire film archivist John Tariot, who confirmed the find and restored the film. "Van-ar-chy," along with another 1919 Van film, “Where Are Your Husbands?” will have its world premiere on Nov. 1 at the Newport Opera House in New Hampshire at 2 p.m., featuring live music performances. This rediscovery is significant as it highlights both international film history and local cultural heritage, considering that around 75% of American silent films from this era are lost forever.
Written for “Lost Silent Film Found” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
A mythical slapstick silent comedy that’s been missing for more than a century “miraculously” turned up inside a dusty antique shop in Japan.
asserted
that → miss → Japan
The long-lost 1919 film “Van-ar-chy,” starring old-time comedy star Billy B. Van was found by film student Kohei Okita — who was researching films about “anarchy” at the time — when he bought a batch of old reels from an antique shop in Japan, according to the comedian’s website.
uncertain
he → lose → website
Inside that batch, “the film miraculously surfaced,” and once Okita realized what he’d found, reached out to New Hampshire film archivist John Tariot, who restored the film.
asserted
who → surface → film
Tariot is now planning to screen the film for the first time in 100 years, in the very same place it was created in New Hampshire.
asserted
it → plan → Hampshire
[Van-ar-chy] was presumed lost forever, sadly the fate of roughly 75% of all American silent films,” said Kiki Keating, a spokesperson for Tariot.
asserted
Keating → presume → Tariot
“An extraordinary story of international discovery, lost cinema, and local New Hampshire history is heading to the stage at [New Hampshire’s] Newport Opera House — the lost film is making its official world premiere back where it was created over 100 years ago,” Keating said.
asserted
Keating → head → premiere
Van, born William Webster Van de Grift in 1870, was a star of vaudeville and Broadway before he built the Equity Motion Picture Company on the shores of Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire, which many historians believe was northern New England’s first movie studio.
asserted
historians → bear → Hampshire
The film maker would cast locals in his slapstick comedies and shoot them on the region’s own streets — meaning New Hampshire natives might spot their great-grandparents or other past relatives on screen as extras.
uncertain
natives → cast → extras
The premiere of the film is taking place on Nov. 1 at the Newport Opera House at 2 p.m.
The screening will also feature live music performances and the premiere of another Van film, “Where Are Your Husbands?” — a role-reversal farce he also made in 1919 and was recently rediscovered more than a century later.
asserted
he → take → 1919
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