Experimental and underground cinema directors at the founding of Berks Filmmakers in 1975 (Photographic archive)

The archive consists of 15 8"x10" mounted photos, five 8"x10" prints, eleven labeled envelopes containing about 220 negatives, 15 plastic sleeves with hundreds of negatives, nine contact sheets for some of the negatives, and a holograph letter from Spiral magazine editor Terry Cannon returning the photos to the photographer. The archive is housed in a mailing box addressed from her to her friend Albert Kilchesty, the previous owner. Very Good condition overall.

The negatives show some alternate images of the large prints, but also some new faces. For example, these may be the only photographs in existence of Guido Ragini. That’s mostly because Guido Ragini didn’t actually exist, but was a persona fabricated by Jerry Tartaglia, the queer cinema pioneer. Reputedly he created the persona expressly for the Berks Filmmakers. Guido was an Italian filmmaker who had to use a translator to communicate with fellow attendees. Jerry/Guido would whisper in the ear of his friend (possibly named Dan) who would then translate into English for the crowd. Guido was supposed to next appear in Chicago, but Jerry soon ran out of motivation and let the word spread that Guido died in a bar fight somewhere on the road to Chicago. Still, Jerry was already a celebrity in such circles and probably wasn’t fooling anyone, so this is essentially Fluxus performance art in the middle of an experimental filmmakers’ conference. Some additional photos from related events are included.

Mounted photos are of Bill Brand, Beverly Grant Conrad, [2 photos], Tony Conrad, Robert Gaylor, Barry Gerson [2 photos], Amy Greenfield, Howard Guttenplan, unsung gay experimental film pioneer Roger Jacoby, Jonas Mekas, J.J. Murphy, Ondine, Mark Rappaport, and Japanese experimental filmmaker Iimura Takahiko.

Negatives include: Bill Brand, Tom Chomont, Beverly Grant Conrad, Tony Conrad, Storm de Hirsch, Ed Ehmswiller (a noteworthy artist for sci-fi paperbacks in addition to his filmmaking), Greg Gantz, Ernie Gehr, Barry Gerson, Amy Greenfield, Howard Guttenplan (including two sheets of portraits of him), Peter Hutton, Roger Jacoby, Jonas Mekas, J.J. Murphy, Ondine, "Guido Ragini" [Jerry Tartaglia], Mark Rappaport, Pat Sloan, and Iimura Takahiko.

A collection of black-and-white original portraits of experimental filmmakers in the mid 1970s-- some now well-known, some obscure-- that documents a heady time in American cinema: while Hollywood (having missed the '60s) was having a renaissance and film culture was at its peak.