The Silent Era website shuts down

[Rick Lanham]

He apparently is or was in the Seattle area:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-bennett-36137412" target="_blank" target="_blank

Here's his Twitter:
https://twitter.com/silentera" target="_blank

Rick

[didi-5]

All that unique data gone - how sad. Even if a Kickstarter is a goer, the fact every page has been pulled is not good news unless the site owner has a website back-up.

[Mark Zimmer]

Yeah, we had to rebuild our website, which has an enormous database to generate pages much like silentera did, and it was no joke. I'd be surprised if we see it back again----overjoyed, but surprised.

[silentfilm]

It depends on how the website was generated in the first place. My website is on my PC using relative links. I could move it to another web site domain in the time it takes to FTP all of the files and photos to a new web server.

[Michael Arlt]

I hope it doesn't stay away for long, Silent Era was a great site.
I was there all the time either checking out the "lost films" area, or the dvd reviews.
It's a shame that it's gone now.

[Silencebound]

Very sad to learnt about this unexpectedly situation. They knew and recorded my finding of the long time lost film "Pictureland", and already shown in there. Probably someone of Silentera site seemingly has slow-down for time being, and . . . . Whoa, what a bitter shame.

[silentfilm]

A guy named Joe Thoma on Facebook sent Mr. Bennett's wife and email, and got a response saying that Carl just didn't have the time to keep up the website anymore.

I'm still surprised that he didn't just keep the site up, rather than take it down.

[SilentsPlease]

A guy named Joe Thoma on Facebook sent Mr. Bennett's wife and email, and got a response saying that Carl just didn't have the time to keep up the website anymore.

I'm still surprised that he didn't just keep the site up, rather than take it down.

Which is why I think the reason might have something to do with cost also, not just time. They didn't lie, for time might be the reason too. But they just might not have told you all the truth. Money can be a complicated issue.

[Brent]

It just doesn’t make any sense to spend the better part of two decades building Silent Era up to be the biggest silent film-specific database on the internet, only to then kill it completely. There are now several people, myself included, offering to facilitate hosting the final incarnation of the site as an archived resource, à la The Bioscope. I sincerely hope Carl will read what’s being written here and elsewhere to that effect and contact one of us. Until then, RIP Silent Era...

[LampyMeier2007]

The site works here : http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/Y/Yolanda1924.html" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

[Brent]

The entire site now works again, as long as you enter it anywhere other than the home page – which means all those backlinks are safe. There are new posts on the Facebook page too.

[MaryGH]

The entire site now works again, as long as you enter it anywhere other than the home page – which means all those backlinks are safe. There are new posts on the Facebook page too.

So it is.

Silent Era was one of the first sites I was visiting when I started doing research on Tom Tyler. He has a little bit of information which definitely helped. I'm happy to see it is back and running again.

[MaryGH]

Silent Era has more than 24,500 pages?

Has Carl considered using a CMS for a site that big?

[kaleidoscopeworld]

It's now back up, and the following note is posted on the front page:

OK, I Admit It.

I overreacted and gave up in frustration.

I intended to walk away from all this and live a different life — perhaps, attempt to recapture my days decades ago as an amateur musician. Maybe, I would have the midlife crisis that my wife says came ten years too late. However, in the past weeks, many Silent Era readers expressed their disappointment that the site was no longer available and their appreciation for the years of work that went into it.

I feel that I owe everyone an explanation, but, that can come later. Meanwhile, the Silent Era website is back online, and I am busy writing and compiling data. Sheepishly, I hope everyone will read the more than 24,500 pages of the Silent Era website and take time to enjoy the films that we all love so much.

[mwalls]

This is truly wonderful news. What would happen in an ideal world is if he would take in a "partner". As everyone expressed such a loss when he chose to shut it down, having only one person manage the whole thing is tenuous. Having at least two with the keys would make it more viable.

[boblipton]

This is truly wonderful news. What would happen in an ideal world is if he would take in a "partner". As everyone expressed such a loss when he chose to shut it down, having only one person manage the whole thing is tenuous. Having at least two with the keys would make it more viable.

I imagine that a letter expressing how grateful the writer is for the board and offering to help would not be taken amiss, even if the offer is declined.

Bob

[drednm]

Great news, Carl.....let me know if I can help out as I have free time.....

[Rick Lanham]

Here is his contact page, read the part about how the email address listed may change as necessary to avoid spam:
http://www.silentera.com/info/contact.html" target="_blank

And use his Amazon links to go to Amazon just before shopping. There's no extra cost to you, and it will help him pay the costs of the site.

Rick

[mwalls]

Rick,

Thanks for the link to the e-mail for Carl. I just did send an e-mail offering my labor for any tasks he wants to send my way.

Matthew

[bigshot]

He should export the site as a database and sell it on a DVD-R.

[alostworld192593]

It's back!!!!

http://www.silentera.com" target="_blank

[Scoundrel]

Welcome back ... !!!!

[MaryGH]

He should export the site as a database and sell it on a DVD-R.

Better yet, migrate it to something like Wordpress, Joomla, Drupal......his website is obviously big enough to require a content management system of some kind

[Decrepit FilmFan]

Besides being thrilled that the site is back online, I'm flabbergasted to learn that it is a one-man labor of love. Due to the vast amount of data housed there, and its (once) frequent updates, I always assumed it to be maintained by a decent size staff. My hat comes off to the creator for his herculean efforts!

[Rollo Treadway]

[Jim Roots]

My, what big eyes you have, Grandma!

Jim

[Kevin2]

The Silent Era website is back!

[R. Cat]

Very happy that this website is back. It's easy to take websites for granted, but they don't create themselves and those that cater to special interests require nurturing.

Thank you, Carl.

[westegg]