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Underground Film Timeline: 1960 — 1969

Below is a list of significant events and films in underground film history between the years 1960 and 1969. Reference key of sources appears at the bottom of the page.

1960

MAJOR EVENTS

July 14: Jonas Mekas, his brother Adolfas and Barbara Stone are arrested in Connecticut while scouting locations for a film.

Article

July 21: The Village Voice publishes a negative review of Pull My Daisy written by Maya Deren.

July 29 — August 6: Jonas Mekas films Guns of the Trees on Long Island, and in and around NYC [Journal Note: Most likely, these are not the only shooting dates of the film, but are what Mekas recounted in his “Movie Journal” column.]

J.M.

September 28: “A number of film-makers met at the New York office of producer Lewis Allen to found what they called ‘The New American Cinema Group’.” From this group would derive the term “New American Cinema.”

S.R.
S.M.
P.A.S. adds that the meeting was called by Jonas Mekas, included 23 filmmakers and composed a revolutionary manifesto.
Article

September 30: Jonas Mekas presents the first draft of the New American Cinema Group’s Manifesto, which is approved by the group.

Article

Jonas Mekas picks Maya Deren to fill-in for him as film critic for the Village Voice during the summer when he takes off to make Guns of the Trees.

P.A.S.

Peter Emanuel Goldman graduates from Brown University.

S.R.

Ron Rice, Vernon Zimmerman and Bruce Baillie finish first films.

S.R.

The Bleeker Street Theater hosts a screening of the complete works of Maya Deren.

P.A.S.

J.J. Pauvert publishes Kenneth Anger‘s Hollywood Babylon.

P.A.S.

In Film Culture 20, Jonas Mekas lists the significant new film-makers working at the time: Joseph Strick (The Savage Eye); Lionel Rogosin (Come Back Africa); John Cassavetes (Shadows); Robert Frank and Alfred Leslie (Pull My Daisy); Maya Deren (The Very Eye of Night); Charles Boultenhouse (Hand Written); Bert Stern (Jazz on a Summer’s Day); Shirley Clarke (The Connection) and Adolfas Mekas (Guns of the Trees).

D.C.

SIGNIFICANT FILMS

AUSTRIA

Peter Kubelka

Arnulf Rainer (1958-60)

P.A.S.
D.C. lists as 1957

U.S.

Stan Brakhage

The Dead (1958-60)

S.R.
P.A.S. lists as just 1960

DVD

Robert Branaman

Wichita Film

S.R.

Film still of Taylor Mead in The Flower Thief
The Flower Thief

Robert Breer

Homage to Jean Tinguely’s Hommage to New York

S.R.
P.A.S.

Inner and Outer Space

S.R.
P.A.S.

Carmen D’Avino

A Trip

S.R.

Ed Emshwiller

Life Lines

S.R.
D.C.

Variable Studies (1960– ) (unfinished)

S.R.

Larry Jordan

Hymn in Praise of the Sun

S.R.

Minerva Looks Out Into the Zodiac

S.R.

George and Mike Kuchar

A Tub Named Desire

S.R.
J.S.

I Was a Teen Age Rumpot

J.S.
S.R. gives two years: 1958 & 1960

Gregory Markopoulos

Serenity (1955-60)

S.R.

Marie Menken

Faucet (1960– ) (unfinished)

S.R.

Ron Rice

The Flower Thief

D.C.
S.R. and P.A.S. both mention film stars Taylor Mead

Jack Smith

Overstimulated

S.R.
J.S.

Stan Vanderbeek

Achoo Mr. Kerroochev

S.R.

Skullduggery Part I

S.R.

Black and Whites, Days and Nights

S.R.

1961

MAJOR EVENTS

January 7: The New American Cinema Group meets at 414 Park Avenue South and votes to establish a distribution center for their work.

Article

May: Shirley Clarke screens her feature film The Connection out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival to much acclaim.

Article

June 16 to July 16: The Spoleto Festival in Italy screens a selection of films from the New American Cinema for an entire month.

Article

Summer: In Film Quarterly vol. XIV no. 14, Stan Vanderbeek has his article “The Cinema Delimina — Films From the Underground” published. It is the first time the word “underground” is used to describe experimental film.

Article

Bruce Baillie begins free screening series in the Bay Area.

D.C.
P.A.S. describes it as Canyon Cinema being founded by Baillie
S.M. quotes Baillie as saying that the screenings began “around 1960” in the back yard of a house he was renting in San Francisco with his girlfriend Kikuko. He initially screened films weekly and informally names his makeshift outdoor theater “Canyon Cinema.”

The New American Cinema Group becomes incorporated.

S.M.

Jack Smith and Ken Jacobs stage The Human Wreckage Show.

D.C.

Maya Deren dies.

P.A.S.

James Broughton weds. (To whom is not mentioned by source.) Asks Stan Brakhage to film the ceremony.

P.A.S.

SIGNIFICANT FILMS

U.S.

Bruce Baillie

Sundays (1960-61)

S.R.
S.M. lists as just 1961 and with the title On Sundays

Mr. Hayashi

S.R.
P.A.S.
S.M.

The Sculpture of David Lynn

S.R.
S.M. lists as David Lynn’s Sculpture

The Gymnasts

S.R.
S.M.

Friend Fleeing

S.R.
S.M. lists film as 1962 and title Friend Feeling

Jordan Belson

Allures

D.C.
P.A.S. lists as 1961
S.R. lists twice with two separate dates: 1960 and 1961

Film still of Little Stabs at Happiness featuring Jack Smith burning a doll
Little Stabs at Happiness

Stan Brakhage

Dog Star Man: Prelude

P.A.S.

Thigh Line Lyre Triangular

S.R.
D.C.
P.A.S.

Films by Stan Brakhage

S.R.
D.C.
P.A.S. lists as 1962 and as title Films by Stan Brakhage: An Avant-Garde Home Movie

Robert Branaman

The Filmore Bus

S.R.

Robert Breer

Blazes

S.R.
D.C.
P.A.S.

WATCH

Shirley Clarke

The Connection

S.M.
S.R. lists as 1960

Streaming

Bruce Conner

Cosmic Ray

S.R.
D.C.
P.A.S.

Dan Drasin

Sunday

J.M.

WATCH

Curtis Harrington

Night Tide

D.C.

Ken Jacobs

Little Stabs at Happiness (1958-61)

starring Jack Smith
S.R.
P.A.S. lists as 1959-63

DVD

The Death of P’Town

starring Jack Smith
S.R.

Larry Jordan

The Movie Critic

S.R.

The Circus Savage

S.R.

George and Mike Kuchar

Pussy on a Hot Tin Roof

S.R.
J.S.

George Kuchar

A Town Called Tempest

S.R.
J.S.

Mike Kuchar

Born of the Wind

S.R.
J.S.

Jonas Mekas

Guns of the Trees (1960-61)

S.R.

100 Glimpses of Salvador Dali (1961– )

S.R.

Marie Menken

Eye Music in Red Major

S.R.

Arabesque for Kenneth Anger

S.R.
D.C.

DVD

Bagatelle for Willard Maas

S.R.

Sidewalks (1961– ) (unfinished)

S.R.

Bert Stern

Jazz on a Summer’s Day

S.R.

Stan Vanderbeek

Wheeels # 1 (1958-61)

S.R.

Skullduggery Part II (1960-61)

S.R.

Snapshots of the City

S.R.

John Whitney

Catalogue

S.R.
D.C.

Vernon Zimmerman

Lemon Hearts (1960-61)

starring Taylor Mead
S.R.

1962

MAJOR EVENTS

June 1: In advance of publishing their first full catalog, the Film-Makers’ Cooperative sends out a letter listing several films available for rent.

Article

June 25: Stan Vanderbeek hosts a screening of experimental comedies — featuring work by Robert Breer, Carmen D’Avino and Dan Drasin — at the Maidman Theatre, 416 West 42nd Street.

J.M.

June 28 — July 4: The Charles Theatre hosts a Film-maker’s Festival. [What was screened is unknown.]

J.M.

July: Cavalier magazine publishes an article on experimental film written by Rudy Franchi.

J.M.

December: Canyon Cinema publishes the first issue of the News, edited by Alexandra Ossipoff.

S.M.

Jonas Mekas takes over the cooperative distribution center project called for in item number six in the manifesto drafted by the New American Cinema Group in 1960. Since that first meeting, all the filmmakers involved had basically given up on this project.

P.A.S.
S.R. and D.C. just say that the Film-makers’ Cooperative is founded; while J.S. includes that it is founded by Jonas Mekas
S.M. notes that the Film-makers’ Cooperative publishes its own catalogue of films it distributes and encourages theater owners to book programs dedicated to single film artists.

Tony Conrad graduates from Harvard with a B.A. in Mathematics.

S.R.

Film Culture 29 publishes Sidney Peterson’s article, “A Note on Comedy in the Experimental Film.”

P.A.S.

Kenneth Anger begins living in Brooklyn in Willard Maas and Marie Menken‘s apartment.

P.A.S.

Gregory Markopoulos is awarded a grant from the Ingram Merrill Foundation to complete the feature film Twice a Man.

J.M.

SIGNIFICANT FILMS

U.S.

Bruce Baillie

Have You Thought of Talking to the Director?

S.R.
P.A.S.
S.M.

News #3

S.R.

Everyman

S.R.

Here Am I

S.M.

Jordan Belson

Illusions (1962) (not completed)

S.R.

Film still of Thanatopsis featuring a close-up of a man's face looking at a blurry dancer
Thanatopsis

Stan Brakhage

Blue Moses

S.R.
P.A.S.
S.M.

Silent Sound Sense Stars Subotnick & Sender

S.R.

Robert Breer

Horse Over Tea Kettle

S.R.
P.A.S.

Pat’s Birthday

S.R.
P.A.S.

Rudy Burckhardt

How Wide Is Sixth Avenue

S.R.

Shoot the Moon (with Red Grooms)

S.R.

Carmen D’Avino

Stone Sonata

S.R.

Red Grooms

Shoot the Moon

with Rudy Burckhardt
S.R.

Ken Jacobs

Blonde Cobra (1959-62)

started by Bob Fleischner
starring Jack Smith
S.R.
D.C.
J.S. gives date just as 1959
J.M. says “photographed by Bob Fleischner, edited and sound prepared by Ken Jacobs

George Kuchar

A Woman Distressed

S.R.

George Landow

Are Era

S.R.

Stephen Lovi

A Portrait of the Lady in the Yellow Hat

P.A.S.

Marie Menken

Zenscapes (1962– ) (unfinished)

S.R.

Moonplay (1962– ) (unfinished)

S.R.

Ron Rice

Senseless

S.R.

Harry Smith

Number 13

S.R.

Jack Smith

Scotch Tape

P.A.S.
S.R. lists as 1961

Stan Vanderbeek

Croquet Quacks (1962– )

S.R.

The Life and Death of a Car (1962– )

S.R.

Kar Bop (1962– )

S.R.

Vernon Zimmerman

To L.A. … With Lust (1961-62)

starring Taylor Mead
S.R.

1963

MAJOR EVENTS

By at least June 13, the Bleecker Street Cinema had ended its relationship with the Film-Makers’ Co-op and Film Culture to host underground film midnight screenings here.

J.M.

The July 13 issue of The New Yorker publishes an article on underground film-makers; which Jonas Mekas contends characterizes them as “angry.”

J.M.

June 15: Twice a Man by Gregory Markopoulos has its first public screening at the Gramercy Arts Theatre (138 East 27th Street). The were three screenings, all arranged by the Smolin Gallery to benefit the “completion of the sound track to the film.”

J.M.

By July 25, Naomi Levine has “just” finished her first movie.

J.M.

October 4: Gregory Markopoulos’s Twice a Man opens at the Gramercy Arts Theatre.

J.M.

Prior to October 24, Jonas Mekas views a rough cut of Ken Jacobs‘s Star Spangled to Death.

J.M.

November 11: The Gramercy Arts Theatre screens a night of films by Kenneth Anger, including Scorpio Rising, Fireworks, Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome, Eaux D’Artifice and Puce Moment.

J.M.

Prior to November 14, poet Gregory Corso and Jay Socin screen a work-in-progress piece called Happy Death.

J.M.

December 2: Dick Higgins screens Flaming City in New York.

J.M.

December 7: Jack Smith‘s Flaming Creatures screens at a midnight show at the Tivoli Theatre on 8th Ave. at 50th St.

J.M.

December 31: After smuggling Jack Smith‘s Flaming Creatures into the third Experimental Film Exposition at Knokke-le-Zoute, Belgium, Jonas Mekas, Barbara Rubin and P. Adams Sitney attempt to screen the film against the festival’s wishes. They are prevented from doing so by a police officer and the Minister of Justice.

J.M.

George and Mike Kuchar become involved with the underground film scene in NYC.

J.S.

James Broughton serves as a judge at the third International Experimental Film Competition at Knokke-le-Zoute, Belgium.

P.A.S.

Gregory Markopoulos enters Twice a Man into the third Experimental Film Competition at Knokke-le-Zoute in Belgium where he wins a $2,000 prize.

P.A.S.
A contemporaneous newspaper article states that Markopoulos shared the second place $2,000 with Stan Vanderbeek‘s Breathdeath (WATCH)

Slavko Vorkapich gives ten lectures at the Museum of Modern Art entitled “The Visual Nature of the Film Medium.” The lecture series ended with a screening of Bruce Conner‘s A Movie. The series is attended by Gregory Markopoulos, Jonas Mekas, Willard Van Dyke and Andy Warhol.

D.E.J.

Andy Warhol buys a 16mm camera and films Jack Smith filming Normal Love and poet John Giorno sleeping.

D.E.J.

Andy Warhol drives to Los Angeles for an art show with friend Taylor Mead and films Tarzan and Jane, Regained Sort Of.

D.E.J.

SIGNIFICANT FILMS

FRANCE

Alexandre Alexeieff (with Clair Parker, his wife)

Le Nez

D.C.

U.S.

Kenneth Anger

Scorpio Rising

D.C.
S.M.
D.E.J.
S.R. lists as 1962-1964

DVD

Bruce Baillie

A Hurrah for Soldiers (1962-63)

S.R.
P.A.S.

To Parsifal

S.R.
P.A.S.
S.M.
D.C. just lists as Parsifal

Film still of Twice a Man featuring a shirtless men framed by a glowing circle
Twice a Man

Stan Brakhage

Oh Life, Woe Story, The A-Test News!

S.R.

Mothlight

S.R.
D.C.
P.A.S.
S.M.

DVD

Shirley Clarke

The Cool World

S.R.

Rudy Burckhardt

Miracle on the BMT

starring Red Grooms and Mimi Grooms
S.R.

Carmen D’Avino

Pianissimo

S.R.

Ed Emshwiller

Totem (1962-63)

S.R.
D.C. just lists 1963 and also credits “with the Alwin Nicolais Dance Company”

Fusion (1963)

with the Alwin Nicolais Dance Company
sponsored by the Spring Mills Company to promote their linen
D.C.

Scrambles (1960-63)

S.R.

George Dumpson’s Place (1961-63)

S.R.

Ian Hugo

The Gondola Eye

S.R.

Ken Jacobs

Baudelarian Capers (1963– )

unfinished
S.R.

Larry Jordan

The Forty and One Nights, or, Jess’s Didactic Nickelodeon (1960-63)

with Jess Collins
S.R.

George Kuchar

Lust for Ecstasy

S.R.

Anita Needs Me

S.R.

Mike Kuchar

The Pervert

S.R.

George Landow

Richard Kraft at the Playboy Club

S.R.

Fleming Faloon

D.C.
P.A.S.

Gregory Markopoulos

Twice a Man

D.C.
P.A.S.
S.R. lists as 1962-63

Jonas Mekas

Moires: Dali/Oster Newsreel

S.R.

Film Magazine of the Arts

S.R.

Rabbitshit Haikus (1962-63)

P.A.S.
S.R. lists A Fool’s Haikus as 1963–, which may be the same as this

Marie Menken

Mood Mondrian (1961-63)

S.R.

Notebook (1962-63)

S.R.

Paul Morrisey

Taylor Mead Dances

starring Taylor Mead
S.R.

Pat O’Neill

By the Sea

D.C.

Ron Rice

The Queen of Sheba Meets the Atom Man (1963– )

starring Jack Smith and Taylor Mead
S.R.

Barbara Rubin

Christmas on Earth

S.M.

Jack Smith

Flaming Creatures

D.C.
J.S.
P.A.S.
D.E.J.
S.R. lists as 1962-63 and adds that it stars Dolores Flores aka Mario Montez
J.M., in his April 18 column, says Jack Smith “just” finished the film; also claiming the film cost $300 to make

Normal Love (1963– )

P.A.S.
S.R. also adds that it stars Mario Montez, Naomi Levine, Gerard Malanga

Stan Vanderbeek

Summit

S.M.

Andy Warhol

Tarzan and Jane Regained … Sort of (1963)

starring Taylor Mead, Naomi Levine
S.R.
D.C.
D.E.J. spells title with different punctuation: Tarzan and Jane, Regained Sort Of

Eat

S.R.
D.C.
P.A.S.

Sleep

S.R.
J.S.
P.A.S.
D.C. lists as 1963-64

Vernon Zimmerman

Scarface and Aphrodite

S.R.

1964

MAJOR EVENTS

January (exact date unknown): The New American Cinema Exposition is established in Munich, Germany, led by P. Adams Sitney. The Exposition travels to Amsterdam, Stockholm, Vienna, London and Paris.

J.M.

Weekend of January 24-26: Andy Warhol‘s Sleep screens at the Gramercy Arts Theatre. (Exact screening day/time not given.)

J.M.

January 25: Jonas Mekas goes to visit Ron Rice, who had been committed to the hospital while filming an actress appearing in Jack Smith‘s Normal Love. Rice is released during Mekas’s visit.

J.M.

February 8-9: Ron Rice screens Chumlum at the Gramercy Arts Theatre.

J.M.

March 3: Jonas Mekas and others are arrested for screening Flaming Creatures. (He writes of the “detective from the District Attorney’s office who arrested us”.)

J.M.
S.R. notes that Ken Jacobs is arrested as the theater manager screening Flaming Creatures.

Week of March 5: The New Bowery Theatre hosts a Kuchar brothers’ movie festival.

J.M.

March 7: Michael A. Getz, the theater manager of the Cinema Theater in Los Angeles is arrested for showing an “obscene” film, Scorpio Rising by Kenneth Anger. May 13: Getz is convicted by a jury. December: Getz’s conviction is overturned by a superior court.

Articles

Prior to March 19: Jonas Mekas is arrested for screening Jean Genet’s Un Chant d’Amour.

S.M.

April 25: Dick Higgins’s Invocation of Canyons and Boulders is screened in one of the “secret showcases of underground cinema.”

J.M.

Prior to May 14: Stan Brakhage buys a complete package of 8 mm. production equipment at an auction in Boulder, Colorado.

J.M.

June 12: The New York Criminal Court declares Flaming Creatures as “obscene.” The trial of the case included testimony from Lew Allen, Willard van Dyke, Herman G. Weinberg, Susan Sontag, Shirley Clarke, Joseph Kaster, Allen Ginsberg, Dr. E. Hornick and Dr. John Thompson.

J.M.

July 25: Andy Warhol films Empire. Present at the filming are Jonas Mekas, Gerard Malanga, John Palmer, Marie Desert and a Henry X.

J.M.

Prior to November 12: Andy Warhol‘s Kiss was banned from screening at the University of Manitoba (Winnipeg) by the Manitoba Board of Film Censors.

J.M.

Prior to December 10: A case against a screening of Jean Genet’s Un Chant d’Amour in San Francisco by the San Francisco Mime Troupe is dismissed by the District Attorney.

J.M.

December 11: A symposium entitled 8 mm.: Avant-Garde of the Future!? is given at the Eventorium in New York City. The panel included Lenny Lipton, Alfred Leslie, Serge Gavronsky, Mike and George Kuchar and others. At the event, George Kuchar delivers a manifesto. (Read the manifesto here.)

J.M.

December 21: Naomi Levine screens two films, Jaremelu and Yes, at the Film-Makers’ Cinematheque.

J.M.

Prior to December 31: Ron Rice dies from pneumonia while living in Mexico.

J.M.

The Venice Film Festival awards Jonas MekasThe Brig the Best Documentary award.

S.R.

12 filmmakers receive $118,500 in grants from the Ford Foundation. Recipients include Kenneth Anger, Jordan Belson, Bruce Conner and Ed Emshwiller.

Article
P.A.S. just notes that “independent filmmakers” won the grants, one of whom was Kenneth Anger.

Jordan Belson is offered a $10,000 grant from the Ford Foundation, even though he had given up filmmaking earlier in the decade. Initially, he refused the money, but ultimately accepted it and makes the film Re-Entry.

P.A.S.

Stan Brakhage publishes his seminal book Metaphors on Vision.

P.A.S.
D.C. says publication year is 1963

Police seize Jean Genet’s Un Chant d’amour during a screening in San Francisco hosted in an abandoned church used as the headquarters of the S.F. Mime Troupe. Police took the actual film and the movie projector as “evidence” at a second showing of the film of the night. Eventually, no charges were pressed by the D.A.

S.M.

Storm De Hirsch‘s Goodbye in the Mirror screens out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival and is invited to screen at the Locarno Film Festival on July 27.

S.M.

SIGNIFICANT FILMS

U.S.

Bruce Baillie

Mass for the Dakota Sioux

D.C.
P.A.S.
S.R. calls film just Mass and lists as 1963-64

Jordan Belson

Re-Entry

S.R.;
D.C.
P.A.S.

Stan Brakhage

Vein

P.A.S.

Song I

P.A.S.

Songs II & III

P.A.S.

Song IV

P.A.S.

Song V

P.A.S.

Songs VI & VII

P.A.S.

Song VIII

P.A.S.
D.C. just lists as Songs and as made “1964 onwards”

Robert Branaman

Big Sur Movie (1964– )

unfinished
S.R.

Robert Breer

Fist Fight

S.R.
P.A.S.

David Brooks

Nightspring Daystar

D.C.

Ernest Callenbach

Varoom (1963-64)

S.M.

Bruce Conner

Vivian

S.R.

Storm De Hirsch

Goodbye in the Mirror

S.R.

Robert Downey

Babo 73

starring Taylor Mead
S.R.

Peter Emanuel Goldman

Night Crawlers

S.R.

Duncan Hines

S.R.

Red Grooms

Lurk

with Rudy Burckhardt
S.R.

Man or Mouse

S.R.

Ken Jacobs

The Winter Footage

S.R.

We Stole Away

S.R.

Larry Jordan

Jewelface (1962-64)

S.R.

Duo Concertantes (1962-64)

S.R.
P.A.S.
contains Patricia Gives Birth to a Dream by the Doorway and The Centennial Exposition

Dream Merchant

S.R.

Pink Swine

S.R.

Ein Traum de Liebended (A Dream of Lovers)

S.R.

Stanton Kaye

Georg (1962-64)

S.R.

Greed

S.R.

George Kuchar

The Lovers of Eternity

starring Jack Smith
S.R.

George Landow

Fleming Faloon (1963-64)

S.R.

Fleming Faloon Screening (1963-64)

S.R.

Naomi Levine

Yes

S.R.

Carl Linder

The Devil Is Dead

D.C.
S.R. says film stars Jack Smith

Gerard Malanga

Academy Leader

S.R.

Taylor Mead

My Home Movies

D.C.

Jonas Mekas

The Brig

S.R.
some sound editing by Adolfas Mekas

STREAMING

Award Presentation to Andy Warhol

S.R.

Marie Menken

Go Go Go (1962-64)

D.C.
S.R. lists as 1963

DVD

Wrestling

S.R.
D.C.

Pat O’Neill

Bump City

D.C.

Ron Rice

Chumlum

D.C.
P.A.S.
S.R. says film stars Jack Smith, Mario Montez, Gerard Malanga

DVD

Raymond Saroff

Happenings I (1962-64)

S.R.

Happenings II (1962-64)

S.R.

Ben Van Meter

The Poontang Trilogy

S.R.
S.M. lists as 1966 and gives title as Poon-Tang Trilogy

Stan Vanderbeek

Breathdeath (1963-64)

S.R.
D.C. lists as just 1963

WATCH

Andy Warhol

Haircut

S.R.
D.C.
P.A.S. lists as 1963

Blow Job

S.R.
D.C.
J.S. lists as 1963

Empire

D.C.
P.A.S.
S.R. adds “with John Palmer”

Kiss

starring Naomi Levine, Gerard Malanga
S.R.
J.S. lists as 1963

Naomi and Rufus Kiss

starring Naomi Levine
S.R.

Roller Skate

S.R.

Dance Movie

S.R.

Salome and Delilah

S.R.

Pause

S.R.

Apple

S.R.

Messy Lives

S.R.

The End of Dawn

S.R.

Lips

S.R.

Couch

J.S.
S.R. also says starring Naomi Levine, Gerard Malanga

The Thirteen Most Beautiful Women

S.R.

The Thirteen Most Beautiful Men

starring Gerard Malanga
also called The Thirteen Most Beautiful Boys
S.R.

Batman Dracula

starring Jack Smith
J.S.
S.R. says also starring Naomi Levine and just calls Batman

Shoulder

S.R.

The Lester Persky Story — A Soap Opera

starring Naomi Levine, Gerard Malanga
S.R.

Henry Geldzahler

S.R.

Mario Banana

starring Mario Montez
J.S.

1965

MAJOR EVENTS

February 15: Peter Goldman previews his first feature film, Echoes of Silence, at the Film-Makers’ Cinematheque.

J.M.

February 18: The Cinematheque in New York City holds a screening of Bruce Baillie‘s films.

S.M.

March 6: Andy Warhol‘s Empire premieres at the Film-Makers’ Cinematheque.

J.M., who credits the film to both Warhol and John Palmer.

November-December: The Film-Makers’ Cinematheque hosts the New Cinema Festival, a festival of expanded cinema performances by Angus McLise, Nam June Paik, Jerry Joffen, Jack Smith, Ed Emshwiller, Ken Jacobs and more. Smith’s performance is called Rehearsal for the Destruction of Atlantis.

J.M.

November 26: The Gate theater in Sausalito, CA screens the World Premiere of Bruce Baillie‘s Quixote.

Article

Harry Smith gives a “hilariously aggressive” lecture at Yale where he claims Giordano Bruno was the inventor of cinema.

P.A.S.

Peter Kubelka comes to the United States.

P.A.S.

Gregory Markopoulos is finally able to reclaim the negative for The Dead Ones from the lab where he had left it since 1949.

D.E.J.

SIGNIFICANT FILMS

FRANCE

Etienne O’Leary

Day Tripper

D.C.

ITALY

Gianfranco Barucello and Alberto Griffi

La Verifica Incerta

D.C.

U.S.

Kenneth Anger

Anger Aquarian Arcanum

prelude for Anger Magick Lantern Cycle
S.R.

KKK (Kustom Kar Kommandos)

D.C.
S.R. lists as 1964–
P.A.S. says film is just an episode from a longer, unfinished work

DVD

Bruce Baillie

Quixote (1964-65)

S.R.
S.M. lists as just 1965
D.C. lists as 1965-66
P.A.S. lists film as 1965, revised 1967

WATCH

Film still of Dog Star Man featuring Stan Brakhage climbing a mountain
Dog Star Man

Jordan Belson

Phenomena

S.R.
D.C.
P.A.S.

Stan Brakhage

Dog Star Man (1961-65)

D.C. lists as 1961-65
P.A.S. lists as 1961-65, just 1965 and ’61-66
S.R. lists as 1959-64

DVD

Two: Creeley/McClure

S.R.

DVD

Pasht

S.R.
D.C.
P.A.S.

Three Films (Blue White / Blood’s Tone / Vein)

S.R.
D.C. lists as just Three Films

Fire of Waters

S.R.
D.C.
P.A.S.

Black Vision

S.R.

The Art of Vision (1961-65)

D.C.

Song IX & X

P.A.S.

Song XI

P.A.S.

Song XII

P.A.S.

Song XIII

P.A.S.

Song XIV

P.A.S.

XV Song Traits

P.A.S.

Song XVI

P.A.S.

Song XVII & XVIII

P.A.S.

Song XIX & XX

P.A.S.

Robert Branaman

Night Lights & Day Hi’s (1964-65)

S.R.

Gorda Adorg (1964-65)

S.R.

Goldmouth

S.R.

Rudy Burckhardt

Lurk (1964-65)

S.R.

Bruce Conner

Report

D.C.
P.A.S.
S.R. lists as 1964-65

Carmen D’Avino

A Finnish Fable (1964-65)

S.R.

James Davis

Death and Transfiguration (1961-65)

S.R.

Impulses

S.R.

Ed Emshwiller

Body Works

S.R.
D.C. lists as 1965–

Storm de Hirsch

Divinations

S.R.

Peyote Queen

S.R.

DVD

Peter Emanuel Goldman

Echoes of Silence (1962-65)

S.R.

Pestilent City

S.R.
D.C.

Reflections on a Mexican Vision (1965– )

S.R.
unfinished

Ken Jacobs

Lisa and Joey in Connecticut: “You’ve Come Back!” “You’re Still Here!”

S.R.

The Sky Socialist (1965– )

S.R.

Naomi Is a Vision of Loveliness

starring Naomi Levine
S.R.

Thirties Man: Chapter One of the Big Blackout of ’65

S.R.

Larry Jordan

Hamfat Asar

S.R.
P.A.S.

DVD

Romantic Adventure of Edward

1955, recut 1957, 1965
S.R.

George Kuchar

Corruption of the Damned

S.R.

Hold Me While I’m Naked

S.R.
J.S. lists as 1964 and adds “starring Donna Kerness”
D.E.J. lists as 1966

Mike Kuchar

Green Desire

S.R.

George Landow

The Leopard Skin (1964-65)

S.R.

Not a Case of Lateral Displacement

S.R.

Adjacent Yes, But Simultaneous

S.R.

This Film Will Be Interrupted After 11 Minutes By a Commercial

S.R.

Naomi Levine

Jeremelu

starring Jack Smith, Gerard Malanga
S.R.

Carl Linder

Skin

starring Jack Smith
S.R.

Gregory Markopoulos

The Death of Hemingway

S.R.

Marie Menken

Drips and Strips (1961-65)

S.R.

Andy Warhol

starring Gerard Malanga
S.R.

WATCH

Lights (1965– )

unfinished
S.R.

Andrew Meyer

The Poor Little Match Girl

starring Gerard Malanga
S.R.

Guvnor Nelson and Dorothy Wiley

Schmeerguntz

S.R.

Robert Nelson

Oh Dem Watermelons

S.R.
S.M.

Thick Pucker (1964-65)

S.R.

Confessions of a Black Mother Succuba

D.C.
P.A.S.
S.R. lists as 1964-65

Oiley Pelosa the Pumph Man (1964-65)

S.R.

Harry Smith

Number 14 (1964-65)

S.R.
P.A.S. lists as just 1965

Jimmy Tirrof

Brigit’s Dream

D.C.

Stan Vanderbeek

Wheeels # 4 (1958-65)

S.R.

Dance of the Looney Spoons (1958-65)

S.R.
D.C. lists as just 1965

Revenge of the Looney Spoons (1958-65)

S.R.

Science Friction (1958-65)

S.R.

A Damn Rib Bed (1964-65)

S.R.

Night Eating

S.R.

Fluids

S.R.

Phenomena

S.R.

Facescapes

S.R.

The Human Face Is a Monument

S.R.

Variation 5

S.R.

Sight

S.R.
D.C. includes credit “With Bob Morris and Carolee Schneemann”

Room Service

S.R.
D.C. includes credit “With Yvonne Rainer

Pastorale: Et al

S.R.

Move-Movies

S.R.

Feedback # 1

S.R.

Birth of the American Flag (1965– )

S.R.

Panels for the Walls of the World # 1

S.R.

Bill Vehr

Avocada

S.R.
D.C.

Andy Warhol

Kitchen

S.R.;
D.C.

Harlot

D.C.
P.A.S.
S.R. adds “starring Mario Montez, Gerard Malanga”

Screen Test Number One

S.R.
D.C. just lists as Screen Test

Screen Test Number Two

starring Mario Montez
S.R.
D.C. just lists as Screen Test

Life of Juanita Castro

S.R.
D.C.

Vinyl

D.C.
S.R. also lists “starring Gerard Malanga”

Horse

S.R.
D.C.

Drunk

S.R.

Suicide

S.R.

Bitch

S.R.

Beauty Number Two

S.R.
P.A.S. gives title as Beauty #2

Prison

S.R.

Poor Little Rich Girl

S.R.
P.A.S. gives title as Poor Little Rich Girl: Party Sequence

My Hustler

S.R.
J.S.
D.C. lists as 1966

Space

S.R.

Camp

starring Jack Smith
J.S.
S.R. says also starring Mario Montez and Gerard Malanga

1966

MAJOR EVENTS

August 16: In San Francisco, several filmmakers, including Bruce Conner, Ben Van Meter, Robert Nelson and Emory Menefee, meet at the Haight movie theater — commonly called “The Straight” — to discuss starting a film distribution cooperative. This is to become the Canyon Cinema Cooperative.

S.M. acknowledges that there’s a discrepancy regarding this specific date. Canyon originally printed in its Cinemanews magazine that the meeting took place on Aug. 14, but an interview with Bruce Conner places the date on Aug. 16.
D.C. just says that Canyon Cinema Co-op is born.

September 15: Andy Warhol premieres The Chelsea Girls for a one-week run in New York City. The film is 8 hours long, but projected simultaneously on two screens for 4 hours.

J.M.

September 23: In Austin, Texas, the Gulf Coast Film-Makers’ Co-Op screens Bruce Baillie‘s Tung and Robert Nelson‘s Confessions of a Black Mother Succuba.

Article

October: Robert Downey Sr. previews his film Chafed Elbows for critics and “film people.”

J.M.

The Film-Makers’ Cooperative establishes the End of the Century Newsreel series, which distributes newsreel films to colleges and theaters.

J.M.

Mel Lyman opens the Boston Film-Makers’ Cinematheque.

Article

Ken Jacobs becomes the first director of the Millennium Film Workshop, a position he holds until 1968.

P.A.S.

The Sydney Filmmakers Cooperative is founded in Australia.

S.M.

SIGNIFICANT FILMS

ENGLAND

Len Lye

Particles in Space (1961-66)

D.C.
S.R. credits as just 1966

Malcolm Le Grice

Castle 1 (The Light-Bulb Film)

D.C.

U.S.

Kenneth Anger

Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome

1954, recut 1966
S.R.
D.C.
P.A.S. calls this the “Sacred Mushroom” version

DVD

Bruce Baillie

Tung

S.R.
D.C.
P.A.S.

Castro Street

S.R.
D.C.
P.A.S.

DVD

Still Life

S.R.
D.C.
P.A.S.

All My Life

S.R.
D.C.
P.A.S.

Newsreel

S.R.
D.C.

Termination

S.R.
S.M.

Yellow Horse (1965-66)

S.R.

Film still of Unsere Afrikareise featuring a dead zebra
Unsere Afrikareise

Scott Bartlett

Metanomen

D.C.

Stan Brakhage

Scenes From Under Childhood (1966– )

S.R.
D.C. lists as “1968 onwards”

timeline_watch_button

Songs XXI & XXII

Robert Branaman

Ginsberg

S.R.

George Brecht

Entrance-Exit

D.C.

Robert Breer

66

S.R.
P.A.S.

David Brooks

Letter to DH in Paris

D.C.

Bruce Conner

Looking for Mushrooms (1960-66)

D.C.
S.R. also credits as partially photographed by Robert Branaman

Tony Conrad

The Flicker (1965) (1966)

S.R.
D.C. lists as just 1966

The Eye of Count Flickerstein

S.R.

Carmen D’Avino

Tarantella

S.R.

Nathaniel Dorsky

Summerwind

S.R.

Stephen Dwoskin

Alone

D.C., who calls filmmaker “Steve”

Ed Emshwiller

Relativity (1963-66)

S.R.
D.C. lists as just 1966

Peter Emanuel Goldman

The Sensualist

S.R.

Red Grooms

Washington’s Wig Wham

S.R.

Fat Feet

S.R.

Victor Guren

Archangel

S.R.

William Hindle

29 Merci Merci

D.C.

John Jones

Claes Oldenburg Hangs a Picture

S.R.

Larry Jordan

The Old House, Passing

P.A.S.

Stanton Kaye

Brandy

S.R.

Peter Kubelka

Unsere Afrikareise (1961-66)

D.C.
P.A.S.

George Kuchar

Leisure

S.R.

George Landow

Bardo Follies

P.A.S.
D.C. lists as 1967

Film in Which There Appear Sprocket Holes, Edge Lettering, Dirt Particles, Etc. (1965-66)

S.R.
D.C.
P.A.S. lists as just 1966

Gerard Malanga

Son of Academy Leader

S.R.

A Private Moment

S.R.

Cambridge Diary

S.R.

Gregory Markopoulos

The Illiac Passion (1964-66)

starring Andy Warhol, Clara Hoover, Jack Smith, Gerard Malanga
S.R.
D.C. credits title as Prometheus Bound — The Illiac Passion
P.A.S. lists as 1968

Galaxie

D.C.
P.A.S.
S.R. describes film as portraits of Jasper Johns, W. H. Auden, Robert Scull and more

Himself as Herself

S.R.
D.C.

Ming Green

S.R.
D.C.
P.A.S.

Eros O Basileus (1966– )

S.R.

Taylor Mead

European Diaries

D.C.

Jonas Mekas

The Millbrook Report

S.R.
D.C. lists as Report From Millbrook

The Circus Notebook

S.R.

DVD

Hare Krishna

S.R.
D.C.

Yoko Ono

Number 4

D.C.

Paul Sharits

Wrist Trick

D.C.

Dots

D.C.

Sears Catalogue

D.C.

Ray Gun Virus

S.R.
D.C.
P.A.S.

Piece Mandala/End War

P.A.S.
D.C. lists as 1967 and gives title as Peace Mandala/End War

Harry Smith

Number 15 (1965-66)

S.R.

Jack Smith

In the Grip of the Lobster (1966– )

Currently working on
starring Mario Montez
S.R.

Warren Sonbert

Hall of Mirrors

starring Gerard Malanga
S.R.

Stan Vanderbeek

See Saw Seems (1965-66)

S.R.

If You Say So (1965-66)

S.R.

Snow Show (1965-66)

S.R.

Collide-oscope

S.R.

When in the Course of (1966– )

S.R.

Spherical Space

D.C. also lists credit “With Elaine Summers”

Computer Art (number one)

D.C.

Ben Van Meter

Color Film

S.R.

Up Tight, L.A. Is Burning … Shit

S.R.

Bill Vehr

Brothel

D.C.
S.R. says film stars Jack Smith, Mario Montez

Andy Warhol

Whips

S.R.

Faces

S.R.

More Milk Yvette

starring Mario Montez
S.R.

Hedy (The Fourteen Year Old Girl)

starring Mario Montez
S.R.
D.C. lists as Hedy (The Shopper)
P.A.S. lists title as just Hedy
J.S. and D.E.J. also just lists title as Hedy, but lists year as 1965

The Bed

S.R.

The Chelsea Girls

J.S.
P.A.S.
S.R. also says starring Gerard Malanga
D.C. lists as 1965-66
J.M. stays stars Mary Woronov, Gerard Malanga, International Velvet, Marie Menken, Dorothy Dean, Pope Ondine, Edie Sedgewick, Eric Emerson, Donald Lyons, Edwin Hood, Patrick, Arthur Loeb, Ingrid Superstar, Randy Borscheidt, Angels Davis, The Velvet Underground & Nico

I a Man

D.C.

James Whitney

Lapis (1963-1966)

P.A.S.

1967

MAJOR EVENTS

February 26: Canyon Cinema officially incorporates.

S.M. actually gives two dates for this: Chapter 1 says Feb. 26, while Chapter 2 says Feb. 20.

Jacques Ledoux, director of the Cinémathèque Royale de Belgique, visits the U.S. to find films for the next International Experimental Film Competition. He also gives color film stock to several filmmakers, including James Broughton, in hopes they’ll make something for the Competition.

P.A.S.

Kenneth Anger has his footage for Lucifer Rising stolen.

P.A.S.

Bruce Baillie suffers a near fatal bout of hepatitis.

P.A.S.

SIGNIFICANT FILMS

AUSTRALIA

Albie Thoms

Bolero

D.C.

BELGIUM

Philippe Graff

Narcose

D.C.

Roland Lethem

La Ballade des Amants Maudits

D.C.

ENGLAND

Mike Dunford

Bogen

D.C.

Schnitte für ABABA

D.C.

FRANCE

Etienne O’Leary

Homeo

D.C.

GERMANY

Gerd Conradt

Frederic Rzewski isst bei Carlone — Via della Luce 55 — Rom Italien — 26 August

D.C.

William and Birgit Hein

S+W

D.C.

Lutz Mommartz

Eisenbahn

D.C.

U.S.

Kenneth Anger

Lucifer Rising (1966-67)

D.C. lists as the “stolen version”
S.R. lists as just 1966–
D.E.J. lists as 1966-80

DVD

Bruce Baillie

Valentin de las Sierras

P.A.S.

Film still of Wavelength by Michael Snow
Wavelength

Scott Bartlett

Off/On

D.C.
Film title actually Offon and completed 1968

WATCH

Jordan Belson

Samadhi (1966-67)

S.R.
D.C. lists as just 1967

Stan Brakhage

Song XXIII: 23rd Psalm Branch

1966-67
P.A.S.
S.R. lists as just 1966

DVD

Songs XXIV & XXV

Song XXVI

James Broughton

The Bed

P.A.S.

DVD

Bruce Conner

Breakaway (1966-67)

portrait of Antonia Christina Basilotta
S.R.

Stephen Dwoskin

Chinese Checkers

D.C., who calls filmmaker “Steve”

Burton C. Gershfield

Now That the Buffalo’s Gone

D.C.

Hilary Harris

Nine Variations on a Dance Theme

D.C.

DVD

William Hindle

FFFTCM (Fan Fare for the Common Man)

D.C.

Kurt Kren

15/67 TV

D.C.

George Kuchar

Mosholu Holiday

S.R.

Eclipse of the Sun Virgin

S.R.

Mike Kuchar

Madonna

S.R.

Gregory Markopoulos

Through a Lens Brightly: Mark Turbyfill

P.A.S.
D.C. lists as 1966

Bliss

P.A.S.

Robert Nelson

The Great Blondino

P.A.S.
S.M. lists as made with William T. Wiley
S.R. lists as 1966-67

Hot Leatherette (1966-67)

S.R.

Jimmy Witherspoon & Penny Bright (1966-67)

S.R.

The Off-Handed Jape (1966-67)

S.R.

DVD

Super Spread (1966-67)

S.R.

Half Open and Lumpy (1966-67)

S.R.

Awful Backlash (1966-67)

S.R.
P.A.S. lists as just 1967; calls film The Awful Backlash

Pat O’Neill

7362 (1965-67)

D.C.

Michael Snow

Wavelength

P.A.S.
D.E.J.
D.C. calls filmmaker “Mike”

Andy Warhol

Bike Boy

D.C.

Lonesome Cowboys

D.C.

Joyce Wieland

1933

D.C.

Sailboat

D.C.

1968

SIGNIFICANT FILMS

BELGIUM

Louis Langled

Junkies Island

D.C.

ENGLAND

Mike Dunford

C Movie

D.C.

Jeff Keen

Marvo Movies (1967-68)

D.C.

Malcolm Le Grice

Castle 2

D.C.

Blind White Duration

D.C.

FRANCE

Pierre Clementi

Visa de Censure (1967-68)

D.C.

ITALY

Antonio DeBernardi

Dei

D.C.

Guido Lombardi

Sviluppo Number 2

D.C.

U.S.

Scott Bartlett

A Trip to the Moon

D.C.

Stan Brakhage

My Mountain Song XXVII

P.A.S.

Song XXVIII

P.A.S.

Film still of T,O,U,C,H,I,N,G by Paul Sharits featuring a man getting his tongue cut
T,O,U,C,H,I,N,G

David Brooks

Eel Creek

D.C.

Stephen Dwoskin

Me Myself and I

D.C., who calls filmmaker “Steve”

Ron Finne

How Old Is the Water

D.C.

Hollis Frampton

Maxwell’s Demon

P.A.S.

Surface Tension

P.A.S.

Ulrich Hertzog

Film 2 Tiel 1

D.C.

William Hindle

Chinese Firedrill

D.C.

Billabong

D.C.

Ken Jacobs

Soft Rain

P.A.S.
D.C. lists as 1969

George Landow

The Film That Rises to the Surface of Clarified Butter

D.C.
P.A.S.

DVD

David Lourie

Project One

D.C.

Gregory Markopoulos

Gammelion

P.A.S.
D.C. lists as 1967

Paul Morrissey

Flesh

D.C.
D.E.J.
S.R. credits to Andy Warhol and lists Paul Morrissey as co-producer, plus says starring Joe D’Allesandro

Larry Jordan

Gymnopedies

P.A.S.

Yoko Ono

Smile

D.C.

Carolee Schneemann

Fuses (1964-68)

P.A.S.

Paul Sharits

N:O:T:H:I:N:G

P.A.S.

T,O,U,C,H,I,N,G

P.A.S.

Jack Smith

No President aka The Kidnapping and Auctioning of Wendell Wilkie By the Love Bandit (1967-68)

J.S.
P.A.S. lists as 1969 and only uses title No President

Michael Stewart

Free-Form

D.C.

Albie Thoms

Marinetti

D.C.

Andy Warhol

****

D.C.

Imitation of Christ

D.C.

Nude Restaurant

D.C.

John Whitney

Permutations

D.C.

1969

MAJOR EVENTS

January: Intermedia Film Cooperative forms in Vancouver, British Columbia.

S.M.

In an ad in Esquire magazine, the company Bauer touts its super 8 camera as “The Underground Movie Camera.”

D.E.J.

SIGNIFICANT FILMS

GERMANY

William and Birgit Hein

625

D.C.

U.S.

Kenneth Anger

Invocation of My Demon Brother

D.C.
P.A.S.
D.E.J.

DVD

Scott Bartlett

Moon 69

D.C.

Film still from Our Lady of the Sphere by Larry Jordan
Our Lady of the Sphere

Jordan Belson

Momentum (1968-69)

D.C.
P.A.S. lists as just 1969

Special effects for Doppelgänger (Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1968-69))

D.C.

Stan Brakhage

Song XXIX

P.A.S.

American Thirties Song

P.A.S.

Robert Breer

69

P.A.S.

James Broughton

The Nuptiae

P.A.S.

Fred Drummond

Shower Proof

D.C.

Stephen Dwoskin

Take Me

D.C., who calls filmmaker “Steve”

Ed Emshwiller

Image, Flesh and Voice

D.C.

Hollis Frampton

Prince Rupert’s Drops

P.A.S.

Palindrome

P.A.S.

Ernie Gehr

Reverberation

P.A.S.

William Hindle

Watersmith

D.C.

Ken Jacobs

Tom, Tom, the Piper’s Son

P.A.S.
D.C. lists film as 1968-69 and doesn’t use punctuation in title

Larry Jordan

Our Lady of the Sphere

P.A.S.

DVD

Hildur and the Magician

S.M.

George Landow

Institutional Quality

P.A.S.

Saul Levine

Note to Patti (1968/9)

D.C.

Gregory Markopoulos

Political Portraits

D.C.
P.A.S.

Pat O’Neill

Screen

D.C.

Yoko Ono

Apotheosis

D.C.

Michael Snow

<——–>

P.A.S.
D.C. calls filmmaker “Mike”

One Second in Montreal

Peter Ungerleider

Under My Thumb

D.C.

Andy Warhol

Fuck (Blue Movie) (Louis and Viva)

D.C.

John Waters

Mondo Trasho

D.C.

Joyce Wieland

La Raison avant la Passion

D.C.

REFERENCE KEY:

D.C: David Curtis. Experimental Cinema. New York: Dell Pub., 1978.
D.E.J.: David E. James. The Most Typical Avant-garde: History and Geography of Minor Cinemas in Los Angeles. Berkeley: University of California, 2005.
J.M.: Jonas Mekas. Movie Journal: The Rise of a New American Cinema, 1959-1971. Collier Books, 1972.
J.S.: Jack Sargeant. Deathtripping: the Extreme Underground. Brooklyn: Soft Skull, 2008. (Originally published: London: Creation, 1995.)
P.A.S.: P. Adams Sitney. Visionary Film: the American Avant-garde, 1943-2000. New York: Oxford UP, 2002.
S.M.: Scott MacDonald. Canyon Cinema: the Life and times of an Independent Film Distributor. Berkeley: University of California, 2008.
S.R.: Sheldon Renan. An Introduction to the American Underground Film. New York: Dutton, 1967.