Classic beginning: Kinnaird gets Theo Phailbus collection

Donation of 1,800 movies marks collector’s death anniversary.

LAHORE:

The highly coveted collection of movie classics belonging to the late Theodore Phailbus has been donated to Kinnaird College for Women University by its former principal Prof Mira Phailbus.

The collection dates back to 1930 and includes over 1,800 films. Kinnaird College previously lacked a comprehensive film collection and this particular donation includes rare archives of video cassettes and reel tapes covering biographies, documentaries, old Hollywood films and musicals. The videos were handed over to current Principal of Kinnaird College Dr Rukhsana David at a ceremony held in the Ghandara Room to commemorate the death anniversary of the late Theodore Phailbus.

The videos include the complete original Charlie Chaplin series and some rare silent films. Theodore Phailbus had started a film school using his personal collection of 3,000 classics.

The Phailbuses’ three daughters, Eila, Shiali and Onjali, are all Kinnaird alumni. The videos will be used by the Media Studies Department to assist students in film making as well as the Literature, History and Drama departments. Media Department head Prof Shazia Saeed told The Express Tribune, “This collection will allow students a comprehensive background in the history of film and the roots of cinema and the aesthetics of film craft.”

The handing over ceremony was attended by Principal Dr Rukhsana David, Vice Principal Dr Nikhat Khan, deans of all faculties and heads of the Departments of English Literature Dr Nadia Anjum and Media Studies Shazia Saeed. Dr David thanked Mira Phailbus and said that this act of generosity.

Principal Ruksana David also said that old video formats would be changed to DVD formats to allow for easier use of the material. Dr David said that the collection would not only help students from Kinnaird College but would also be open for other students working on their theses or conducting research on classical cinema.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2011.