Film Restoration Stories: From Silent Seas to Saturday Cartoons
In this episode of Perf Damage, we’re joined by Paramount Film Preservation Manager Graham, who shares some of his favorite restoration projects—from a high-seas adventure to animated antics. We dive into the silent epic Old Ironsides (1926), explore the innovative Magnascope system used for its original release, and discuss the film’s re-edit and re-release in the 1950s. Then we shift gears to cartoons, as Graham walks us through his collaborative work restoring classic Fleischer Studios shorts! Known for creating cartoons with characters like Koko the Clown, Betty Boop, Superman, Bimbo, and more! Along the way, we touch on some of the pioneering techniques used by Inkwell Imps and Famous Studios and discuss what makes these early animated films so special. It’s a journey through two very different corners of film history, united by the art of restoration!
