Some upcoming events
Lost Landscapes of Detroit, Year Two
Internet Archive, San Francisco, Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 7:30 pm (preceded by wine-for-sale reception at 6:30 pm)
Lost Landscapes of Detroit 2 (2011) is an all-new feature-length compilation of home movies, industrial films, outtakes and newsreels showing Detroit as it was. Most of the material has never been shown publicly, and this year's show will include a great deal of new footage, including:
-- women workers at World War II ChryslerComposed mostly of home movies and family films, this screening is especially relevant to Internet Archive's Personal Digital Archives 2012 (PDA2012) conference, which will begin the morning after the screening. We especially encourage PDA2012 participants to join us at the show. Information on PDA2012 is here.
While the show presents many places and activities that are no longer with us, it's not an exercise in nostalgia -- rather, it's an attempt to kindle conversation about Detroit's complex present and possible futures, as informed by its glorious past. Again, this is an interactive show -- YOU are encouraged to shout out your identifications, ask questions, and share your thoughts with fellow audience members. Members of the Detroit diaspora are especially welcome to share your experiences and expertise. RSVP NECESSARY to RSVP@archive.org (please see below) The first Lost Landscapes of Detroit compilation is downloadable and viewable here. Suggested admission for each screening: $5 bucks -- or 5 books, which will be donated to Internet Archive's book scanning project VERY IMPORTANT: RSVP necessary. The room seats 500, but these shows can be popular. Your RSVP to RSVP@archive.org will reserve you a seat. DIRECTIONS: Internet Archive is located at 300 Funston Avenue, corner of Clement Street, in San Francisco. It's one block east of Park Presidio (California route 1) at Clement, and reachable by many Muni lines, including the 1, 2, 28, 38. Detailed directions are here.
Lost Landscapes of San Francisco, VI
CounterPULSE, 1310 Mission (at 9th Street), San Francisco, Wednesday, February 29, 2012, 7:30 pm
The sixth in the series of my annual San Francisco history screenings, Lost Landscapes presents rare and generally unseen archival footage of a vanished San Francisco (1910s-1970s) in a feature-length program of historical intervention and carnivalesque celebration. This year I'm presenting a show composed of almost all-new material, much of it in HD. It sold out the Castro Theatre in December and Internet Archive in January, and this will probably be its last screening for 2012.
As many of you know, this is interactive cinema: YOU are the soundtrack. Please come prepared to shout out your identifications, ask questions about what's on the screen, and share your thoughts with fellow audience members.
Most of the footage in this program has not been shown before. It includes footage of San Francisco's cemeteries just before their removal, unique drive-thru footage of the Old Produce Market (now Golden Gateway) in the late 1940s, cruising the newly-built Embarcadero Freeway, grungy back streets in North Beach, the sandswept Sunset District in the 1930s, and newly-rediscovered Cinemascope footage of Playland, the Sky Tram and San Francisco scenes, all in Kodachrome.
No RSVP is required. We don't think this will be as crowded as past CounterPULSE shows have been, but as always we advise early arrival.
There is no formal admission charge, but Shaping San Francisco (the presenter) will pass the hat, and we encourage you to contribute so that they can continue presenting great public programs. Earlier versions of Lost Landscapes of San Francisco may be viewed here.
Past events
Lost Landscapes of San Francisco, VI
Internet Archive, San Francisco, Tuesday, January 24, 2012, 7:30 pm (preceded by wine-for-sale reception at 6:00 pm)
The sixth in the series of my annual San Francisco history screenings, Lost Landscapes presents rare and generally unseen archival footage of a vanished San Francisco (1910s-1970s) in a feature-length program of historical intervention and carnivalesque celebration. This year I'm presenting a show composed of almost all-new material, much of it in HD. It sold out the Castro Theatre in December, and this will be its second screening. As many of you know, this is interactive cinema: YOU are the soundtrack. Please come prepared to shout out your identifications, ask questions about what's on the screen, and share your thoughts with fellow audience members.
Most of the footage in this program has not been shown before. It includes footage of San Francisco's cemeteries just before their removal, unique drive-thru footage of the Old Produce Market (now Golden Gateway) in the late 1940s, cruising the newly-built Embarcadero Freeway, grungy back streets in North Beach, the sandswept Sunset District in the 1930s, and newly-rediscovered Cinemascope footage of Playland, the Sky Tram and San Francisco scenes, all in Kodachrome.
RSVP NECESSARY to RSVP@archive.org (please see below)
Earlier versions of Lost Landscapes of San Francisco may be viewed here.
Lost Landscapes of San Francisco, VI
Castro Theatre, San Francisco, Thursday, December 8, 2011
The sixth in the series of my annual San Francisco history screenings, Lost Landscapes presents rare and generally unseen archival footage of a vanished San Francisco (1910s-1970s) in a feature-length program of historical intervention and carnivalesque celebration sponsored by the Long Now Foundation. This year I'm presenting a show composed of almost all-new material, much of it in HD. Unlike most film screenings, Lost Landscapes relies on audience participation for the soundtrack. Interaction with the films is encouraged, as questions are shouted out, observations are shared and mysterious locations are identified.
This year Lost Landscapes moves to the 1,400 seat Castro Theatre.
Earlier versions of Lost Landscapes of San Francisco may be viewed here.
Lost Landscapes of San Francisco will also be screened at Internet Archive in San Francisco in early 2012, date TBD.
Lost Landscapes of Detroit, Year Two
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD), Friday and Saturday, November 4 and 5, 2011
An eclectic montage of rediscovered and rarely-seen archival film clips exhibiting life, cityscapes, labor and leisure from a "vanishing Detroit," as captured by amateurs, newsreel cameramen and industrial filmmakers. Lost Landscapes of Detroit aims to offer Detroiters imagery of the city's past, free from any sense of nostalgia, in an attempt to provide subject for contemplation as the people of the city build toward a new future. This screening will include a great deal of new material. Unlike most film screenings, Lost Landscapes relies on audience participation for the soundtrack. Interaction with the films is encouraged, as questions are shouted out, observations are shared and mysterious locations are identified.
Lost Landscapes of Detroit will be screened at Internet Archive in San Francisco in early 2012, date TBD.
The first Lost Landscapes of Detroit compilation is downloadable and viewable here.
February 6, 2012