I know there are the preservation societies for films, but I was wondering if there was any type of website (beyond Wikipedia) which lists a lot of the lost movies or TV shows, and those that have been recovered, what some of the recovered films or TV shows have been. I guess I'm most interested to know whether or not they are still finding lost stuff. I know there is only so much to find but I hate to think that they aren't finding anymore. There are still so many old silent and early sound films, the Our Gang shorts, and so many old episodes of lost TV shows, like Doctor Who, Z Cars, the live anthology shows, et al.

https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/8031/bbc-sitcom-recordings-found-clement-la-frenais/

A promo for the lost shelved sitcom "Snip" starring David Brenner and Lesley Ann Warren from 1976. The show was pulled at the last minute by NBC and never aired in the U.S. because of one of the characters on the show was openly gay. The show did air in Australia. 

The infamous George Schlatter show "Turn On" from 1969. The show aired once and was cancelled mid episode when some executive said to get that crap off the air.  There were reports of viewers getting physically sick or disturbed by the jump cuts. Some affiliates refused to air the show and some went to a blank screen with music playing to fill the slot after the first commercial break. There were 2 completed episodes and fragments from a third unfinished episode.

 

Edited September 7, 20241 yr by SoapDope

Beware Hollywood’s digital demolition: it’s as if your favourite films and TV shows never existed | Zach Schonfeld | The Guardian

Film is Fabulous has been sharing a number of discoveries from '50s and '60s TV.

https://filmisfabulous.org.uk/

Edited October 3, 20241 yr by DRW50

A Youtuber was anonymously sent a treasure trove of old footage and is uploading the material over time. They will also be uploading on Internet Archive. This is six episodes of a 1975 David Attenborough BBC animal documentary. 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyc_XMzJb5hkoj8rmx-Ll_A2UM7LU8L4h

Lost John Ford film found in Chile after 100 years | The National

 

Amazing find! Thanks for bringing that article here. And how wonderful a coincidence for me that this happens during the time I'm listening to John Ford's season of The Plot Thickens.

Some rare good news these days. 

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/long-island/long-lost-silent-film-thought-lost-forever-found-long-island/6136458/

18 hours ago, DRW50 said:

Some rare good news these days. 

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/long-island/long-lost-silent-film-thought-lost-forever-found-long-island/6136458/

Always happy when you let us know about new treasures being found. Thank you.

News segments about two lost movies (from the linked NBC Heart of Lincoln above and then First Degree from CBS News):

 

 

Silent Clowns Film Series: Taxi! Taxi! (1927) at the Bruno Walter Auditorium – PIANYC

The Silent Clowns Film Series is New York’s longest-running regularly scheduled silent film showcase. Our programming reaches the serious film buff by including rarely-screened titles and rare prints, yet it also introduces kids and new audiences to the classics of the silent screen. Screenings feature live piano accompaniment by MoMA’s Ben Model, with an introduction and Q&A by film historians Model and Steve Massa.

Remembered today for his fussy persona in sound films, Edward Everett Horton had a substantial career in silent comedy and starred in numerous features and shorts. We are proud to present the re-premiere of a Horton feature that was lost and recently rediscovered. Taxi! Taxi! (1927) was produced by Universal, and is perfectly tailored to Eddie’s well-known screen character. Opening the bill is the also re-discov-ered cartoon The Battle (1922) with Koko the Clown.

I'm not sure how this was discovered. It was screened on January 11th. Wiki just mentions the film being found in late 2024.

With the most recent lost films found, maybe one day London After Midnight (1927) will be found.  While it's been told that it wasn't very good, the change to see a Lon Chaney film is always welcome.. just to see the creative lengths he went in playing his characters during the silent movie era.

The demise of Technicolor
https://variety.com/2025/artisans/news/technicolor-collapse-shockwaves-vfx-1236326607/