Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis records, 1975-1981

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A Finding Aid to the Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis Records, 1976-1981, in the Archives of American Art, by Jayna Hanson

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Table of Contents:

• Historical Note
• Overview of the Collection
• How to Use the Collection
• Detailed Description and Container Inventory
• Appendices

Historical Information

The Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis was founded by a group of independent filmmakers, critics, and theorists in March 1976. The mission of the non-profit organization was to provide a southern California venue for mostly experimental and avant-garde film.

The Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis operated as a member group, and in addition to showing film, offered the opportunity for new and established filmmakers to interact and exchange ideas, and to promote cinematography as a fine art. The Oasis held film screenings about twice monthly in the gallery of the Los Angeles Institute for Contemporary Art. Although most of the films were experimental or avant-garde, the members also showed some feature films and documentaries considered to be particularly important. The Oasis served as the only regular screening venue in Los Angeles at which new and unknown filmmakers could show their works. The Oasis was dissolved in 1981.

Members and founders of the Oasis included Paul Arthur, Roberta Friedman, Leslie Gehry, Lynn Gerry, Amy Halpern, Tom Lesser, Sandy Matthews, Beverly O'Neill, Pat O'Neill, Magdalena Rangel, Tim Shepard, Grahame Weinbren, Susan Rosenblum, Brent Wilcox, Diana Wilson, David Wilson and Arlene Zeichner.

The Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis showed films by Kenneth Anger, Bruce Baillie, John Baldessari, Stan Brakhage, Rudy Burckhardt, Bruce Conner, John Cornell, Maya Deren, Jules Engel, Morgan Fisher, Oskar Fischinger, Hollis Frampton, Robert Huot, Larry Jordan, Fernand Leger, William Moritz, Susan Pitt, Hans Richter, Michael Snow, Chick Strand, John Whitney, and Emerson Woelffer, among others.

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Overview of the Collection

Scope and Contents

The scattered records of the Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis date from 1976 to 1981 and measure 1.1 linear feet. The records consist of scattered business and administrative records, one folder of correspondence, various notes, printed materials, and a large number of files on filmmakers and cinematographers.

Scattered business and administrative records include the constitution and by-laws of the organization, founding information, contracts, member information, film rental documents, and film screening schedules. Resumes are found for Oasis members Morgan Fisher, Roberta Friedman, Leslie Gehry, Lyn Gerry, Amy Halpern, Beverly and Pat O'Neill, and William Moritz.

There is one folder of scattered correspondence dating from circa 1977-1981, financial notes, meeting notes, and program notes. Printed materials include announcements and posters, printed articles written by members, clippings, press releases, and film programs.

The largest series consists of compiled files on filmmakers and cinematographers, most of whom showed at the Oasis. Files contain a variety of materials, such as clippings, reviews, programs, biographies, and notes.

Arrangement and Series Description

The records are arranged into five series:

• Series 1: Scattered Business Records, 1976-1981 (Box 1; 13 folders)
• Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1977-1981(Box 1; 1 folder)
• Series 3: Notes, circa 1979-1980 (Box 1; 4 folders)
• Series 4: Printed Material, circa 1976-1981 (Box 1, OV 2; 0.25 linear feet)
• Series 5: Filmmakers' Files, 1976-1981 (Box 1; 0.5 linear feet)

Subjects and Names

Provenance

Amy Halpern, one of the founders of the Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis donated the records in 1994.

How the Collection was Processed

The records were processed by Jayna Hanson in 2008.

How to Use the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Use of original papers requires an appointment.

Ownership & Literary Rights

The Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis records are owned by the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Literary rights as possessed by the donor have been dedicated to public use for research, study, and scholarship. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.

How to Cite this Collection

Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis records, 1976-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

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Detailed Description and Container Inventory

Series 1: Scattered Business Records, 1976-1981 (Box 1; 13 folders)

Scattered business records include contracts, grant proposals, film rental agreements, the constitution and by-laws, a check ledger, written histories of the organization, schedules of film screenings, tax information, a job description, forms, and publicity contacts. Also found are resumes of Oasis members Morgan Fisher, Roberta Friedman, Leslie Gehry, Lyn Gerry, Amy Halpern, Beverly and Pat O'Neill, and William Moritz.

See Index for List of Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis Screenings from Series 1.

Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1977-1981 (Box 1; 1 folder)

There is one folder of scattered correspondence.

Series 3: Notes, circa 1979-1980 (Box 1; 4 folders)

This series consists of scattered notes relating to meetings, finances, and programs.

Series 4: Printed Material, circa 1976-1981 (Box 1, OV 2; 0.25 linear feet)

This series consists of announcements, posters, printed articles by and about Oasis, clippings, newsletters from the Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art (LAICA), film programs, business cards, Oasis letterhead, and press releases.

Series 5: Filmmaker and Artists Files, 1976-1981 (Box 1; 0.5 linear feet)

Found here are files about filmmakers, cinematographers, and other film artists that showed at the Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis. There are also a few files relating to specific film programs held at the Oasis. Files may include a variety of scattered clippings, reviews, programs, biographies and notes. See the Index for Series 1 for a list of all film screenings held by Oasis.

Index: List of Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis Screenings from Series 1

Below is a list of all known film screenings held at the Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis as documented within the records.

Date

Film Screening

1976 March 7

Norman Zammitt

1976 April 8

New Westerns

1976 April 22

Films by Women Independent Filmmakers

1976 May 2

Landscapes: An Exploration of Open Spaces

1976 May 16

Chick Strand

1976 May 30

Funny Business

1976 June 6

Werner Schroeter

1976 June 6

Udo Serke

1976 June 13

Eastern Influences

1976 July 25

House Blend

1976 August 22

Thom Anderson

1976 August 22

David Lamelas

1976 August 22

Robert Nelson

1976 August 29

An Evening of Deranged Funnies

1976 October 3

Pat O'Neill

1976 October 17

Rudy Burckhardt

1976 October 31

William Raban

1976 November 21

New British Avant-Garde, Part 1

1976 November 28

New British Avant-Garde, Part 2

1976 December 12

L.A. Today

1977 January 9

Trollstenen

1977 January 23

Night Cleaners

1977 February 6

L.A. Today

1977 February 27

Jack Goldstein

1977 April 10

Robert Breer

1977 April 24

Hollis Frampton

1977 May 8

James McBride

1977 May 8

Kenneth Anger

1977 May 8

George Kuchar

1977 May 15

Robert Bresson

1977 May 29

Films with Few Images

1977 June 12

Michael Snow

1977 June 26

The Naked and the Nude

1977 July 10

Eye Music, San Francisco

1977 July 24

Films by Jean-Marie Straub and Thom Anderson

1977 September 18

Michael Snow

1977 September 18

Robert Nelson

1977 October 2

The Films of Gary Beydler

1977 October 16

Maya Deren

1977 October 16

Andrew Noren

1977 October 16

Dore O

1977 November 5

Paul Sharits

1977 November 6

Hollis Frampton

1977 November 6

David Wilson

1977 November 6

Victor Grauer

1977 November 6

Bruce Conner

1977 November 20

Films by Women

1977 December 4

Juvenile Liason

1977 December 18

Rosa von Praunheim

1978 January 15

Artifacts from the Machine Age

1978 January 29

Kenji Mizoguchi

1978 February 12

The Present Remembered

1978 February 26

Films by Jean-Marie Straub

1978 March 12

Oasis Potluck

1978 March 19

Warren Sonbert

1978 April 2

Dan Graham

1978 April 16

James Broughton

1978 April 30

Jon Jost

1978 May 21

John Whitney

1978 May 28

Hans Richter

1978 June 11

Hollis Frampton

1978 July 2

White, Scorsese, Gutman

1978 July 16

Gottheim, Benning

1978 July 23

Robert Nelson

1978 July 30

Lenny Lipton

1978 August 13

Some Interesting New Films

1978 August 27

Super 8 Films

1978 September 17

Kenji Mizoguchi

1978 September 24

Bruce Conner

1978 September 24

Bruce Baillie

1978 September 24

Danny Lyons

1978 October 1

Victor Faccinto

1978 October 15

Jon Rubin

1978 October 29

Lewis Hock

1978 November 19

Films of Ernie Gehr and Vincent Grenier

1978 November 26

Richard Meyers

1978 December 3

Yvonne Rainer

1978 December 10

Joseph Cornell

1979 January 14

Martha Haslanger

1979 January 28

William Moritz

1979 February 18

Roy Barge

1979 February 24-25

Ondine with Chelsea Girls

1979 March 11

James Benning

1979 April 1

Suzan Pitt

1979 April 8

Ericka Beckman

1979 April 22

Animation

1979 May 27

Ernie Gehr

1979 June 3

Babette Mangolte

1979 June 10

Robert Bresson

1979 June 17

Maya Deren

1979 June 24

Andrew Noren

1979 September 23

Stan Brakhage

1979 September 30

Emerson Woelffer

1979 October 7

Roberta Friedman

1979 October 7

Grahame Weinbren

1979 October 14

Larry Gottheim

1979 October 28

James Whitney

1979 November 4

Guvnor Nelson

1979 November 4

Dorothy Wiley

1979 November 11

George Griffin

1979 November 18

Bill Brand

1979 November 25

Chick Strand

1979 December 2

Malcolm Le Grice

1979 December 9

Suzan Pitt

1979 December 9

Tim Shepard

1979 December 9

Anita Thatcher

1979 December 16

New Animated Shorts

1980 January 1

Oskar Fischinger

1980 January 28

Roberta Friedman

1980 January 28

Grahame Weinbren

1980 February 10

Danny Lyons

1980 February 10

Chick Strand

1980 February 10

Bruce Conner

1980 February 17

Dennis Pies

1980 February 24

Amos Poe

1980 March 2

Pat's Selection

1980 March 9

Vincent Grenier

1980 March 16

Henry Hills

1980 March 23

New Bay Area Films

1980 March 30

Manuel De Landa

1980 April 6

Robert Huot

1980 April 13

Oblowitz, McCall, Gordon

1980 April 20

Lionel Soukaz

1980 April 20

Guy Hocquenhem

1980 April 27

J.J. Murphy

1980 May 11

Owen Land

1980 May 18

Rick Blanchard

1980 May 25

Yvonne Blanchard

1980 June 1

Larry Jordan

1980 June 15

Robert Frank

1980 June 22

Oasis Group Show

1980 June 29

The Italian Olfactory Cinema of Gianikian and Ricci Lucchi

1980 September 21

Salt for Svanetia

1980 September 28

John Baldessari

1980 October 5

Ann Arbor Film Festival

1980 October 12

Bruce Baillie

1980 October 19

Birnbaum, Haslanger, Keller

1980 October 26

Ethnographic Films

1980 November 2

Rob Danielson

1980 November 9

Smithson, Serra, Oldenburg, Mangolte and Childs

1980 November 16

Jonas Mekas

1980 November 23

Saint Carmin's Choice

1980 December 7

Jean Pierre Gorin

1980 December 14

Pat O'Neill

1981 March 15

Susan Kleckner

1981 June 21

Michael Snow

1981 June 28

Polish Avant-Garde

1981 July 5

Alex Cox

1981 July 5

Amy Halpern

1981 July 12

Chicago Filmmakers; Edited by Harvey Nosowitz

1981 July 19

The Oasis Police Show

1981 July 26

Stan Brakhage

1981 August 2

Political Newsreels

1981 August 23

Pat O'Neill