Art in Cinema: Documents Toward a History of the Film Society (Wide Angle Books)

From 1946 until 1954, the San Francisco-based film society Art in Cinema presented programs of independent film to audiences at the San Francisco Museum of Art and the University of California, Berkeley. Led by filmmaker Frank Stauffacher, Art in Cinema's programs pioneered the promotion of avant-garde cinema in America. Scott MacDonald's "Art in Cinema" presents complete programs presented by the legendary society; dozens of previously unavailable letters between Stauffacher, his collaborators, and filmmakers including Maya Deren, Hans Richter, Vincent Minelli, and Man Ray; a reprint of the society's original catalog, which features essays by Henry Miller and others; and a wide range of other remarkable historical documents. A companion to "Cinema 16" (Temple), a documentary history of the first west coast film society, "Art in Cinema" provides cineastes, students, teachers, and scholars with extensive and fascinating documentation of one of the most important film societies in American history. Together or separately, the books provide an indispensable reference source for the beginning of this country's love affair with independent film. From 1946 Until 1954, The San Francisco-based Film Society Art In Cinema Presented Programs Of Independent Film To Audiences At The San Francisco Museum Of Art And The University Of California, Berkeley. Led By Filmmaker Frank Stauffacher, Art In Cinema Pioneered The Promotion Of Avant-arde Cinema In America. Scott Macdonald's Art In Cinema Presents The Complete Programs Presented By The Legendary Society; Dozens Of Previously Unavailable Letters Between Stauffacher, His Collaborators, And Filmmakers Including Maya Deren, Hans Richter, Vincent Minnelli, And Man Ray; A Reprint Of The Society's Original Catalog, Which Features Essays By Henry Miller, Oskar Fischinger, Luis Bunuel, And Others; And A Wide Range Of Other Historical Documents. A Companion To Cinema 16 (temple), This Documentary History Provides Cineastes, Students, Teachers, And Scholars With Extensive Documentation Of One Of The Most Important Film Societies In American History. Together Or Separately, The Books Provide An Indispensable Reference Source For The Emergence Of This Country's Love Affair With Independent Film.--jacket. Cover -- Contents -- List Of Illustrations -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- The Documents -- Conversation With Jack Stauffacher, 8/14/99 -- Letter To Arthur Rosenheimer Jr. From Richard Foster, 7/31/46 -- Letter To Lewis Jacobs From Frank Stauffacher, 8/1/46 -- Letter To Maya Deren From Frank Stauffacher, 8/2/46 -- Letter To Richard Foster From Maya Deren, 8/2/46 -- Letter To James And John Whitney From Frank Stauffacher, 8/3/46 -- Letter To Frank Stauffacher From Maya Deren, 8/10/46 -- Letter To Arthur Rosenheimer Jr. From Frank Stauffacher, 8/20/46 -- Letter To Maya Deren From Frank Stauffacher, 8/20/46 -- Letter To Luis Buñuel From Frank Stauffacher, 8/22/46 -- Letter To Frank Stauffacher From Douglass Crockwell, 8/24/46 -- Letter To Jay Leyda From Frank Stauffacher, 8/25/46 -- Letter To Frank Stauffacher From Douglass Crockwell, 8/31/46 -- Letter To Peggy Guggenheim From Grace L. Mccann Morley, 8/31/46 -- Letter To Man Ray From Frank Stauffacher, 9/5/46 --^ Letter To Frank Stauffacher From Hans Richter, 9/6/46 [hw] -- Letter To Hans Richter From Frank Stauffacher, 9/9/46 -- Program Announcement For Art In Cinema's First Series, 9/46 -- Letter To James And John Whitney From Frank Stauffacher, 9/22/46 -- Letter To Frank Stauffacher From James Broughton, 9/24/46 [hw] -- Letter To Mrs. Noble Hamilton From Edward J. Soph, 9/26/46 -- Letter To Frank Stauffacher From James Broughton, 9/26/46 -- Letter To Edward J. Soph From Mrs. Noble Hamilton, 9/28/46 -- Alfred Frankenstein, Art And Music, From The San Francisco Chronicle, 10/6/46 -- Letter To Richard Foster From Sara Kathryn Arledge, 10/9/46 [hw] -- Program Notes For The 10/11/46 Presentation -- Letter To Frank Stauffacher From Grace L. Mccann Morley, 10/22/46 -- Letter To Richard Foster From Margaret Wright And Una Atkinson, 10/24/46 [hw] -- Program Notes For The 10/25/46 Presentation -- Letter To Mrs. Noble Hamilton From Paul Ballard, 10/30/46 --^ Program Notes For The 11/1/46 Presentation -- Letter To Herman G. Weinberg From Frank Stauffacher, 11/8/46 -- Letter To Frank Stauffacher From Hans Richter, 11/9/46 [hw] -- Letter To Frank Stauffacher From Lewis Jacobs, 11/12/46 -- Letter To Paul Ballard From Frank Stauffacher, 11/46 -- Letter To Frank Stauffacher From Robert Florey, 2/47 -- Letter To James W. Moore From Frank Stauffacher, 2/6/47 -- Letter To Frank Stauffacher From James W. Moore, 2/7/47 -- Letter To Frank Stauffacher From James W. Moore, 2/28/47 -- Letter To Frank Stauffacher From Eli Willis, 3/7/47 -- Program Announcement For Art In Cinema's Second Series, 3/47 -- Program Announcement For The First University Of California At Berkeley Series, 3/47 -- Letter To Frank Stauffacher From Emlen Etting, 3/26/47 -- Letter To James W. Moore From Frank Stauffacher, 3/27/47 -- Letter To Frank Stauffacher From James W. Moore, 3/31/47 -- Letter To Frank Stauffacher From Curtis Harrington, 4/3/47 --^ Program Notes For The 4/4/47 Pres. Final Selection, Editing, And Introduction By Scott Macdonald ; Original Idea And Selection Of Materials By Robert A. Haller. Includes Numerous Letters To And From Frank Stauffacher, Director Of The Film Series, Art In Cinema. Includes A Facsimile Of Art In Cinema, Published 1947 By The Art In Cinema Society. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Uses primary documents from the annals of Art in Cinema, one of this country's most influential film societies, to reveal a crucial dimension of the history of American independent cinema.