Many movie genres developed during the silent era, but none was as lasting as comedies. Actors and actresses stood in front of crude, hand-cranked cameras and invented a style that made people laugh and forget their troubles.

This is an encyclopedic work to persons, institutions and terms associated with silent film comedy. For people, there is a capsule biography and a summary of their contribution. For studios and companies, there is a brief history and for terms, a full definition is given.