An interview of Charles Mattox conducted 1964 Apr. 9, by Lewis Ferbraché, for the Archives of American Art.
Biographical / Historical:
Charles Mattox (1910-1996) was a muralist in San Francisco, Calif.
General:
Originally recorded on 1 sound tape reel. Reformatted in 2010 as 1 digital wav files. Duration is 59 min.
Provenance:
Conducted as part of the Archives of American Art's New Deal and the Arts project, which includes over 400 interviews of artists, administrators, historians, and others involved with the federal government's art programs and the activities of the Farm Security Administration in the 1930s and early 1940s.
Restrictions:
Transcript available on the Archives of American Art website.
An interview with James Wentzy, conducted 2017 January 23-March 31, by Cynthia Carr, for the Archives of American Art's Visual Arts and the AIDS Epidemic: An Oral History Project, at Wentzy's home and studio in New York, New York.
Wentzy speaks of his childhood in South Dakota; studying filmmaking at Southern Illinois University; moving to New York and shooting commercial films in the late 1970s; working and homesteading in the photography studio of James Dee; the beginning of the AIDS crisis; being diagnosed with HIV in 1990; his participation in and extensive documentation of ACT UP meetings, actions, and demonstrations; his place in the genealogy of AIDS activism; and his body of film and television work. Wentzy also recalls Darrel Ellis, Alanna Heiss, Arch Brown, James Dee, Robert Farber, Ho Tam, John Schnabel, Patrick Moore, Lou Maletta, Tony Arena, Vincent Satinire, David Buckingham, Jean Carlomusto, and others.
Biographical / Historical:
James Wentzy (1952- ) is a cinematographer, documentary filmmaker, and artist in New York, New York. Cynthia Carr (1950- ) is a writer in New York, New York.
Provenance:
This interview is part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and administrators.
Conversation about producing a documentary film. Specifically, the importance of both sound and image; necessary equipment; technical aspects and elements of production; interviewing techniques; cinematography and sound tips; planning and outlining the film; and funding, marketing and focus groups are discussed.
Discussion. Audio only. Very poor audio quality. Part of the Teenarama Collection. Dated 19981012.
Biographical / Historical:
The documentary 'Dance Party: The Teenarama Story' examined the popularity of 1950s and 1960s teen dance television shows, including 'The Teenarama Dance Party,' 'American Bandstand,' 'The Buddy Dean Show,' and 'The Milt Grant Show.' 'The Teenarama Dance Party' was an all-black teen dance show produced and broadcasted in Washington, D.C. The show aired from March 7, 1963 to November 20, 1970 on WOOK-TV Channel 14, which was the nation's first Black TV station. The show was produced live six days a week; and hosted first by Bob King and later by a rotation of hosts. In addition to being a dance show, 'The Teenarama Dance Party' was a training ground for teens. Production staff mentored the teenagers in the art of broadcast production. The teens trained as camera operators, floor directors, and technical engineers; and served as production assistants.
Local Numbers:
ACMA AV005288_B
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Some items are not accessible due to obsolete format and playback machinery restrictions. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Teenarama: Workshop on Documentary Filmmaking, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).
National Air and Space Museum. Exhibits and Public Services Department. Exhibits Division Search this
Extent:
0.5 cu. ft. (1 document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Date:
1984, 1991-1992, 1997-2001
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of records documenting videos, IMAX films, and slide shows which the Exhibits Division produced or helped to create for exhibitions, special
events, promotion of the Dulles extension, and general distribution. Materials include memoranda, correspondence, scripts, and copies of intellectual property.
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 04-092, National Air and Space Museum. Exhibits and Public Services Department. Exhibits Division, Production Records
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications Search this
Extent:
1 cu. ft. (1 record storage box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Audiotapes
Video recordings
Videotapes
Date:
1988
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of audio and video recordings created during the production of the video, "The Reel Jungle." "The Reel Jungle," 1988, was a companion film to
the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service exhibition, "Tropical Rainforests: A Disappearing Treasure," which showed the myths and misconceptions that artists
and filmmakers have created about tropical rainforests. The film won a 1989 CINE Golden Eagle Award. Materials include film transfers, mix, narration, master, safety master,
protection master, and 8-track.
Restrictions:
Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing/listening copies are not currently available. Viewing/listening copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications Search this
Extent:
1 cu. ft. (1 record storage box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Motion pictures (visual works)
Date:
1981-1982
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of audiovisual materials created during the production of "Reptiles and Amphibians." This 20 minute film was produced in 1982 to prepare third
through sixth graders for their visit to the National Zoological Park. Materials include source materials and titles on 16 mm film.
Restrictions:
Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing copies are not currently available. Viewing copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications Search this
Extent:
1 cu. ft. (1 record storage box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Audiotapes
Motion pictures (visual works)
Date:
1970, 1985
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of audiovisual materials created during the production of "Laser 10," a film that accompanied the National Museum of History and Technology
exhibition of the same name. The exhibition celebrated the tenth anniversary of the invention of the laser. Materials include narration on 1/4" audiotape and prints on 16
mm film. Also included in this accession are audiovisual materials documenting an infrared telescope experiment at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Materials include
a dub and dub master, both on 1" magnetic tape.
Restrictions:
Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing/listening copies are not currently available. Viewing/listening copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications Search this
Extent:
1 cu. ft. (1 record storage box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Audiotapes
Motion pictures (visual works)
Date:
1976
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of audiovisual materials created during the production of "Columbus and His Time." This 10-minute film accompanied an exhibition of the same
name at the National Museum of History and Technology and features Christopher Columbus. Versions exist in both English and Spanish. Materials include narration, music, mixes,
A and B rolls, and a release print in Spanish.
Restrictions:
Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing/listening copies are not currently available. Viewing/listening copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.
Topic:
Motion pictures -- Production and direction Search this
Through the Looking Glass Darkly: Struggle for Rights (Motion picture : 1973)
Afro-Americans and the Evolution of a Living Constitution (Video recording : 1988)
Life and Times of Richard Allen (Video recording : 1990)
Harlem Renaissance (Video recording : 1986)
Creator::
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications Search this
Extent:
1.5 cu. ft. (1 record storage box) (1 document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Videotapes
Motion pictures (visual works)
Place:
Oklahoma -- History
Date:
1973, 1986, 1988, 1990, undated
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of audiovisual materials created during the production of "Through the Looking Glass Darkly: Struggle for Rights;" "Afro-Americans and the Evolution
of a Living Constitution;" "Life and Times of Richard Allen;" and "Harlem Renaissance." "Through the Looking Glass Darkly: Struggle for Rights," produced in 1973, deals with
the history of African Americans in Oklahoma. The Smithsonian Institution may have repurposed all or part of this production from an Oklahoma television station. "Afro-Americans
and the Evolution of a Living Constitution" is a videotape of a live teleconference of the same name held on March 16, 1988. "Life and Times of Richard Allen" accompanied
an exhibition at the Anacostia Museum in 1990. Richard Allen was the first bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. "Harlem Renaissance" is a 15 minute film produced
in 1986. It accompanied an Anacostia Neighborhood Museum exhibition of the same name. Materials include negatives, soundtracks, source tapes, masters, and related materials
on film, videotape, and magnetic tape. Materials also include a videotape of exterior footage of the Anacostia Museum.
Restrictions:
Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing copies are not currently available. Viewing copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.
National Zoo: The Zoo Behind the Zoo (Video recording : 1989)
Gems and Minerals: The Ultimate Rock Video (Video recording : 1989)
Smithsonian video collection
Smithsonian Laserdisc Collection
Dinosaurs: Fantastic Creatures That Ruled the Earth (Video recording : 1989)
Insects: The Little Things That Run the World (Video recording : 1989)
First Ladies: Symbols of a Nation (Video recording : 1989)
Creator::
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications Search this
Extent:
0.58 cu. ft. (1 tall document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Videodiscs
Date:
1989
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of laserdiscs from the Smithsonian Laserdisc Collection. The Smithsonian Laserdisc Collection tells the stories behind the Smithsonian Institution's
greatest art, history, and science collections, and introduces the curators of its unique possessions and hidden treasures. Titles from the Collection in this accession include
"Dinosaurs: Fantastic Creatures That Ruled the Earth;" "Insects: The Little Things That Run the World;" "National Zoo: The Zoo Behind the Zoo;" "Gems and Minerals: The Ultimate
Rock Video;" and "First Ladies: Symbols for a Nation." All titles are approximately 60 minutes long and were released on laserdisc in 1989. Some titles were later reformatted
and released as part of the Smithsonian Video Collection.
"Dinosaurs: Fantastic Creatures That Ruled the Earth" is narrated by James Whitmore and compares the dinosaurs of the movies to the real story as told by scientists. The
program features an excavation in progress and the National Museum of Natural History, Hall of Paleontology. "Insects: The Little Things That Run the World" is narrated by
James Earl Jones and demonstrates the stunning ways insects have evolved and adapted to survive for eons while so many other animals have become extinct, and why scientists
consider insects to be the most successful living organism on earth. The program features the National Museum of Natural History, Insect Zoo as well as the Smithsonian Tropical
Research Institute and the National Zoological Park. "National Zoo: The Zoo Behind the Zoo" takes viewers on a magical tour of the Smithsonian Institution's living animal
collection and focuses on scientific study and conservation. The program features the National Zoological Park. "Gems and Minerals: The Ultimate Rock Video" takes viewers
behind the scenes to the spectacular gem and mineral collection. The program features the National Museum of Natural History, Gem and Mineral Hall. "First Ladies: Symbols
for a Nation" allows viewers to learn what it is really like to be a First Lady. The program features Nancy Reagan, Rosalynn Carter, Lady Bird Johnson, and Julie Nixon Eisenhower
as well as the National Museum of American History, Hall of First Ladies.
Restrictions:
Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing copies are not currently available. Viewing copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.
Men of Greatness, Feats of Daring (Video recording : 1985)
Place of Dreams (Motion picture : 1978)
Reunions: Memories of an American Experience (Documentary film : 1979)
To Fly! (Motion picture : 1976)
Uncovering the Earth (Video recording : 1986)
Uncovering the Earth (Video recording : 1992)
Berlin Airlift (Motion picture : 1984)
Air & Space (Serial)
Creator::
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications Search this
Extent:
1.38 cu. ft. (1 record storage box) (1 film box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Audiotapes
Videotapes
Motion pictures (visual works)
Place:
United States -- History
Date:
1976, 1978-1979, 1986, 1992, undated
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of audiovisual materials created during the production of "Place of Dreams;" "Men of Greatness, Feats of Daring;" "Reunions: Memories of an
American Experience;" "To Fly!;" "Uncovering the Earth;" and "Berlin Airlift." "Place of Dreams" features a close-up look at the National Air and Space Museum's unparalleled
collection, displays from the museum's exhibit halls, early newsfilm of flight's pioneers, and vintage photographs. It serves as both a history of modern flight's sung and
unsung heroes and a celebration of the museum building and its collections. The hour-long television program is hosted by Cliff Robertson and aired on the Public Broadcasting
Service on December 13, 1978, the 75th anniversary of manned flight. "Men of Greatness, Feats of Daring" is a 7-minute film that most likely accompanied an exhibition at the
National Air and Space Museum.
"Reunions: Memories of an American Experience" features General James Harold Doolittle's early air racing experiences and visits with Gustav Tafel, homeopathic pharmaceutical
manufacturer. Both men represent the creative drive and excellence of the American past. The 1979 production also features Burgess Meredith, Gerald R. Ford, Ronald Reagan,
and Donald S. Lopez. "To Fly!" is a joint project between the IMAX Corporation and the National Air and Space Museum. It was first released in 1976 and then rereleased for
its twentieth anniversary in 1996. "Uncovering the Earth" accompanied the National Air and Space Museum exhibit "Looking at Earth." A 5-minute video was first produced in
1986. In 1992, the film was redone and a 10-minute version replaced the original. "Berlin Airlift" was produced in 1984 and likely accompanied an exhibition. Also in this
accession are materials related to the Air & Space Magazine. Materials in this accession include release prints, masters, interviews, and related materials. Also included
is a press release for "Place of Dreams."
Restrictions:
Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing/listening copies are not currently available. Viewing/listening copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.
Sea: A Quest for Our Future (Motion picture : 1984)
Creator::
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications Search this
Extent:
1 cu. ft. (1 record storage box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Videotapes
Place:
Caribbean Area
Virgin Islands
Bahamas
Turks and Caicos Islands
Belize
Date:
1984-1985, 1992
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of audiovisual elements created during the production of "The Sea: A Quest for Our Future" and other films associated with the National Museum
of Natural History (NMNH), Life in the Sea Hall. "The Sea: A Quest for Our Future" is a 60 minute film produced in 1984 and broadcast by PBS. It is a documentary on the complex
ecosystems of tropical coral reefs filmed in the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Belize, and it focuses primarily on research projects conducted
by the NMNH Marine Systems Laboratory. The film won several awards including the 1984 Best Nature Production Award from the International TV Movie Festival; a second-place
award at the 1985 National Educational Film Festival; and a 1986 Gold Medal and Diploma of the International Scientific Festival. Materials include a master, dubbing masters,
a film transfer master, and related materials on 1" magnetic tape and 3/4" U-matic videotape.
Restrictions:
Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing copies are not currently available. Viewing copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications Search this
Extent:
3 cu. ft. (3 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Sound recordings
Videotapes
Motion pictures (visual works)
Place:
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site (Oyster Bay, N.Y.)
Date:
1983 and undated
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of audiovisual materials produced by the Office of Telecommunications. The production in this accession is "Telling Lives: That Damn Cowboy."
It is the pilot program for a series on the art of biography, shot on location at Theodore Roosevelt's home, Sagamore Hill, and hosted by National Portrait Gallery Historian,
Marc Pachter. This production won a Council on International Nontheatrical Events (CINE) Golden Eagle Award in 1985. The segments that went into the creation of this film
include "T. R. Himself," segments from the Library of Congress, as well as original film. Materials include masters, originals, and copies on U-matic and U-matic S videotapes,
16mm films, and 1" and 1/4" magnetic tapes.
Restrictions:
Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing/listening copies are not currently available. Viewing/listening copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.
Around the Clock at the Smithsonian (Motion picture : 1970)
Museum: A Modern Urban Dilemma (Motion picture : 1972)
Communication: It's More Than Sound (Motion picture : 1982)
Leaf Making: Or the Secret Life of Museum Plants (Motion picture : 1980)
Creator::
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications Search this
Extent:
1.5 cu. ft. (1 record storage box) (1 document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Audiotapes
Motion pictures (visual works)
Videotapes
Date:
1970, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1996, undated
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of films and videotapes related to educational programming. Productions include "Museums: Where Learning is Fun;" "Around the Clock at the Smithsonian;"
"Museum: A Modern Urban Dilemma;" "Communication: It's More Than Sound;" and "Leaf Making: Or the Secret Life of Museum Plants." "Museums: Where Learning is Fun" was produced
in conjunction with the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education on an unknown date. "Around the Clock at the Smithsonian" was produced in conjunction with the Office
of Elementary and Secondary Education in 1970. It is 28 minutes in length and presents a typical day of activities at Smithsonian Institution museums. "Museum: A Modern Urban
Dilemma" was produced in conjunction with the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education in 1972. It is 28 minutes in length and explores the role of museums in modern society.
The film features Secretary Sidney Dillon Ripley. "Communication: It's More Than Sound" was produced in 1982 as a training film for guards, information desk personnel, and
docents for assisting hearing impaired visitors. It is 9 minutes, 18 seconds in length. "Leaf Making: Or the Secret Life of Museum Plants" was produced in 1980 and describes
the process of creating artificial plant life for museum exhibitions. Materials include release prints on 16 mm and final copies and dubs on U-matic S. Materials also include
a final mix on 16 mm for "Museums: Where Learning is Fun;" an audio protection copy on 1/4" audiotape for "Communication: It's More Than Sound;" sync audio on 1/4" audiotape
for "Leaf Making;" an original master of an interview regarding accessibility on DAT; and U-matic S videotapes related to other educational outreach efforts.
Restrictions:
Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing/listening copies are not currently available. Viewing/listening copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.
Installation of the Paleo Biology Hall (Documentary film : 1980)
Creator::
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications Search this
Extent:
2 cu. ft. (2 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Motion pictures (visual works)
Audiotapes
Date:
1980
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of audiovisual materials created during the production of "Installation of the Paleo Biology Hall." This film documents the installation of
exhibits, particularly a diorama and models of leaves, into the National Museum of Natural History, Paleobiology Hall. Materials include camera originals and narration.
Restrictions:
Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing/listening copies are not currently available. Viewing/listening copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications Search this
Extent:
2 cu. ft. (2 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Audiotapes
Motion pictures (visual works)
Date:
1976-1977
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of audiovisual materials created during the production of "Bengal Tiger," a film to accompany a National Museum of Natural History exhibition
about tigers. The film is 9 minutes in length and was completed in 1976. Materials include camera originals, A and B rolls, soundtracks, final mixes, and a print.
Restrictions:
Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing/listening copies are not currently available. Viewing/listening copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.
Our Biosphere: The Earth in Our Hands (Motion picture : 1989)
Creator::
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications Search this
Extent:
1 cu. ft. (1 record storage box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Audiotapes
Videotapes
Place:
Everglades (Fla.)
Great Barrier Reef (Qld.)
Date:
1989-1991
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of videotapes and an audiotape created during the production of "Our Biosphere: The Earth in Our Hands." This one-hour film, completed in 1989,
was produced by Karen Loveland and narrated by Robert Redford. The film follows the staff of the National Museum of Natural History's Marine Systems Laboratory and Arizona's
Space Biospheres Ventures as they work with scientists, architects, engineers, and builders in their attempt to create Biosphere 2, an experimental model of the Earth's ecosystems.
People and places featured include, Walter H. Adey, John (John Polk) Allen, Margaret Augustine, Edward P. Bass, the Florida Everglades, the Great Barrier Reef, and the greenhouse
complex at the United States Soldier's and Airmen's Home in Washington, D.C. Also included are scenes aboard the Smithsonian research vessel Marsys Resolute. Materials
include the opening sequence, edited masters, stereo mix protection master, and the final production. Note: A copy of "Our Biosphere" is available in the Reference Library
(Resv18).
Restrictions:
Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing/listening copies are not currently available. Viewing/listening copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.
Coral Reefs: How to Make Use of 400 Million Years of Evolution (Motion picture : c. 1981)
John Bull: The World's Oldest Operable Locomotive (Documentary film : 1981)
Maine Coast (Documentary film : c. 1982)
Leaf Making: Or the Secret Life of Museum Plants (Motion picture : c. 1981)
Changes: The Story of Evolution and Speciation (Motion picture : c. 1979)
Quadrangle (Documentary film : c. 1984)
Flue-Cured Tobacco Culture (Documentary film : c. 1983)
Big Cats and How They Came to Be (Motion picture : 1976)
Census: Accounting for the Nation (Motion picture : 1974)
Thomas A. Edison and His Amazing Invention Factories (Motion picture : 1979)
Ghosts of Forever (Motion picture : c. 1982)
Who Would Have Thought? (Proposed documentary film : 1970)
Giant Panda Story (Motion picture : c. 1974)
Shells and the Animals Inside (Motion picture : 1978)
Columbus and His Time (Motion picture : 1976)
Mirror of Kings: Tales from Kalila wa-Dimnah (Motion picture : 1982)
Tradition in Western Civilization (Documentary film : 1978)
Communication: It's More Than Sound (Motion picture : 1982)
Security (Motion picture : 1981)
Berlin Airlift (Motion picture : 1984)
Clockwork Universe (Motion picture : 1980)
Consequences of Cultural Adaptation (Motion picture : c. 1973)
Enter Life (Motion picture : 1986)
FDR: The Intimate Presidency (Motion picture : 1982)
Field to Factory: The Urban North, 1915-1940 (Motion picture : 1987)
Web of Life (Motion picture : 1973)
Full Speed Ahead (Motion picture : 1978)
Gilgamesh (Motion picture : 1978)
City of the Dead (Documentary film : 1978)
Peril on the Sea (Motion picture : 1978)
Phone Philm (Motion picture : 1976)
Predator and the Prey (Motion picture : 1973)
Sharing a Lifestyle (Motion picture : 1973)
American Picture Palaces (Motion picture : 1983)
Smithsonian World (Television program : 1984-1991)
Reunions: Memories of an American Experience (Documentary film : 1979)
Smithsonian World (Television program)
Man's Use of the Earth (Motion picture : 1973)
Creator::
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications Search this
Extent:
4 cu. ft. (4 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Clippings
Black-and-white negatives
Black-and-white transparencies
Color negatives
Color transparencies
Date:
1967-1987, 1991-1992
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of records created and maintained by Karen Loveland, Director of Special Projects for the Office of Telecommunications, documenting the planning,
development, and execution of film, video, and television productions for general release, for accompaniment to exhibitions and exhibition halls, for training, and for television
spots. Film, video, and television productions for general release include Smithsonian Video Collection; American Picture Palaces; Coral Reefs: How to Make Use of 400 Million
Years of Evolution; John Bull; Maine Coast; Leaf Making: Or the Secret Life of Museum Plants; Smithsonian World; Changes: The Story of Evolution and Speciation; Quadrangle;
Flue-Cured Tobacco Culture; The Big Cats and How They Came to Be; Indiana Engine Retrieval; Census: Accounting for the Nation; Enter Life; Thomas A. Edison and His Amazing
Invention Factories; The Ghosts of Forever; Who Would Have Thought?; The Giant Panda Story; Shells and the Animals Inside; Columbus and His Time; Mirror of Kings: Tales from
Kalila Wa Dimna; and Reunions: Memories of an American Experience.
Films and videos accompanied American Sailor, 1984-1985; Harry S. Truman Centennial: The Berlin Airlift, 1984; Clockwork Universe: German Clocks and Automata, 1550-1650
in 1980; Hall of Dynamic Evolution, beginning in 1979; Hall of Paleontology, beginning in 1982; FDR: The Intimate Presidency, 1982; Field to Factory: Afro-American Migration,
1915-1940, beginning in 1987; Festival of American Folklife; Hall of American Maritime Enterprise, beginning in 1978; the Communication Exhibition, beginning in 1977; Hall
of Western Civilization, beginning in 1978; and It All Depends: How Man Affects and is Affected by his Natural Environment. Training films and videos include Communication
and Security.
Materials include memoranda, correspondence, video proposals, scripts, interview transcripts, production and post-production schedules, computer editing forms, story boards,
roll logs, budget summaries and expense reports, orders and requisitions for supplies and services, travel vouchers, invoices, notes, mailing lists for premieres, publications
with articles about videos, clippings, press releases, fact sheets, copies of contracts, color and black and white negatives and transparencies of credits, and research materials.
See accession 01-230 for a 16 mm distribution print of the "Mirror of Kings:...".
Topic:
Video recordings -- Production and direction Search this
Big Ideas in Small Packages (Television production)
Black Artists in the 20th Century (Television production)
Black Wings (Television production)
Brand New at the Zoo (Television production)
Capturing the Spirit (Television production)
Celebrating American Folklife (Television production)
Climbing Jacob's Ladder (Television production)
France Meets New Jersey (Television production)
From Fiddles to Banjos (Television production)
From Field to Factory (Television production)
From Reliable Sources (Television production)
Happy Birthday, Hirshhorn Museum (Television production)
Happy Birthday, National Zoo (Television production)
Hollywood Legend and Reality (Television production)
Hooray for Amelia! (Television production)
How Does Your Sculpture Grow? (Television production)
Inside Meteorites (Television production)
Islam in Africa (Television production)
Japan's Ceramic Heritage (Television production)
Joseph Cornell: The Universe in a Box (Television production)
Kalabari Kinetics (Television production)
Keeping Orchids Alive (Television production)
Keeping Perfect Time (Television production)
King Herod's Dream (Television production)
Living With the Eskimos (Television production)
Magellans of the Air (Television production)
Magnificent Voyagers (Television production)
Meet the Beetles (Television production)
Microscopes Make it Big (Television production)
More than Whistler's Mother (Television production)
New Deal Murals (Television production)
Old and New Traditions (Television production)
On the Air (Television production)
Our Violent Universe (Television production)
Outer Space Artist (Television production)
Panda Playground (Television production)
Portrait of a Life (Television production)
Raphael Soyer: An Art of Real Life (Television production)
Remembering John La Farge (Television production)
Restoring it to 'Wright' (Television production)
Rocks in a Hard Place (Television production)
Russia: The Land, The People (Television production)
Say it Ain't So, Wesley (Television production)
Second Nature (Television production)
Something to Hang the Paint On (Television production)
Spanning the Distance (Television production)
Spineless Wonders (Television production)
Strike Up the Bandstand (Television production)
Surgery is Painless (Television production)
Tending a Sculpture Garden (Television production)
That's Entertainment (Television production)
20,000 Year Old Man (Television production)
Art of Craft (Television production)
Birdman of America (Television production)
Brush of Innocence (Television production)
California Artist (Television production)
Common Wealth of Massachusetts (Television production)
Decorative Designs of Frank Lloyd Wright (Television production)
Elephant's Tale (Television production)
Golden Age of Aviation (Television production)
Harlem Renaissance (Television production)
Jeweler's Eye (Television production)
Making of a Dinosaur (Television production)
Painter at Large (Television production)
Perpetual Man Ray (Television production)
Plastic Historian (Television production)
Precious Legacy (Television production)
Rebirth of Dinosaurs (Television production)
Creator::
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications Search this
Extent:
36.54 cu. ft. (58 document boxes) (7.54 tall document boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Video recordings
Videotapes
Date:
1982-1989
Descriptive Entry:
Here At The Smithsonian was a series of short features for television created and produced by the staff of the Smithsonian's Office of Telecommunications between
the years 1982 and 1989. The series was designed for public dissemination of information about Smithsonian exhibition and research activities. Each year had a volume number
[1982 (Volume I) through 1989 (Volume VIII)], within the volume were multiple editions (four to five), and multiple segments within each edition (three to six). Although some
segments were repeated, they were often lengthened for a second broadcast. Features totaled 160 (including repeats).
This accession contains some of the original camera footage, all of the cut shows, and preservation masters of all of the cut shows. The initial features were written and
shot by in-house staff using rented professional broadcast equipment, recorded on U-matic tape, rough cut on U-matic tape, then edited to 1-inch tape at a commercial post
production house (first at FAX Productions in Bethesda, Maryland, then at Techniarts in Silver Spring, Maryland). Features were shot on Betacam beginning in 1987, and mastered
to D-2 beginning in 1989. In 1987, post production work moved to Henninger Video in Arlington, Virginia.
Due to the long run of the series, different individuals were associated with the various functions including series producer, segment producer, and narrator. Those playing
the largest roles in the development and refinement of Here At The Smithsonian were Ann Carroll (series producer, Volumes I - IV) and John P. Meehan (series producer
Volumes V - VIII).
Restrictions:
Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing copies are not currently available. Viewing copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.
Topic:
Television -- Production and direction Search this
Reunions: Memories of an American Experience (Documentary film : 1979)
Leaf Thieves (Motion picture : 1963)
Mirrors on the Universe: The MMT story (Motion picture : 1979)
Sense of Discovery, The National Collection of Fine Arts (Motion picture : 1980)
Smithsonian Galaxy (Radio program)
Smithsonian World (Television program : 1984-1991)
Radio Smithsonian (Radio program)
Smithsonian Institution with S. Dillon Ripley, Secretary (Television program)
Here at the Smithsonian (Television program)
Creator::
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications Search this
Extent:
7.5 cu. ft. (7 record storage boxes) (1 document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Clippings
Manuscripts
Date:
circa 1963-1988
Descriptive Entry:
These records primarily document the activities of OTC under Director Nazaret Cherkezian. A small amount of records were created by Paul B. Johnson. There are also
a few records created by OTC's predecessor offices. The records include correspondence, memoranda, proposals, contracts, budgets, reports, newspaper clippings, press releases,
scripts, and related materials concerning OTC radio broadcasts Radio Smithsonian and Smithsonian Galaxy; television and film productions, especially "Smithsonian World" and
the Emmy award-winning "The Smithsonian Institution with S. Dillon Ripley, Secretary;" production planning; facilities and equipment, including the construction of the OTC
studio in the National Museum of History and Technology; and administrative records.
Historical Note:
The Office of Telecommunications (OTC) was established on August 15, 1976, as a separate unit reporting directly to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public
Service. Prior to the creation of OTC, coordination of Smithsonian telecommunication activities was a function of the Smithsonian Museum Service, 1958-1965; the Office of
Public Information, 1965-1967; and the Office of Public Affairs, 1967-1976. OTC develops ideas for the production of programs and broadcast series for public and commercial
television and radio, films, and related visual and audio materials, which bring a better understanding of the Smithsonian to American and foreign audiences. OTC is also the
contact point for all interested outside producers of telecommunications projects relating to all Smithsonian bureaus. OTC broadcast series have included Radio Smithsonian,
a national, weekly radio program providing information about the multi-disciplinary activities of the Institution which was in production from 1969 to 1990; Smithsonian Galaxy,
a series of short radio features highlighting the work of Smithsonian curators, scientists, and researchers broadcast from 1979 to 1987; and Here at the Smithsonian, a series
of short features for television, produced from 1982 to 1989. In addition, OTC produces films of special events of the Institution; provides archival recordings of conferences,
symposia, and other programs; and produces films for Smithsonian exhibitions. Nazaret Cherkezian was appointed Director of OTC in 1976. He retired in 1986 and was replaced
by Assistant Director Paul B. Johnson who served as Acting Director, 1986-1988, and Director, 1988-2002.
