FLARE

Event: “Lost Animation” Guest curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present an evening of rarely screened classics of animation, plus a few obscurities. A couple of these have made it to DVD on hard to find collections; most are quite scarce- despite scads of accolades and a few Oscars! Films include: “The Violinist”, voiced by Carl Reiner; “How To Catch A Cold”, a Disn*y/Kleenex collaboration; “Toys”, war toys come to life; “Bags”, a spooky Polish stop-motion rarity; “The Place In The Sun”, a classic Czech short; “The Fly”, brilliant “fly’s-eye view”; “Cat’s Cradle”, creepy Blue Meanies style from a Yellow Submarine animator; “Ersatz”, Oscar-winning mid-century classic; “Mr. Rossi Buys A Car”, a goody from Italy; and more TBA!
Date: Saturday, August 1, 2009 at 8:30PM
Venue: Oddball Films, 275 Capp Street, San Francisco 94110
Admission: $10.00 RSVP Only to: 415-558-8117 or info@oddballfilm.com

“Lost Animation”
Screens at Oddball Films

On Saturday, August 1, Guest Curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present an evening of rarely screened animated shorts- both classics and obscurities. Several of these shorts won or were nominated for Academy Awards and all showcase inventive, wild imagination- from the simplest line drawings to painstakingly animated stop-motion figures.
Show time is 8:30PM and admission is $10.00. Seating is limited so RSVP is preferred to: info@oddballfilm.com or 415-558-8117.

Films Include:

“The Violinist” (Color, 1959)

The brilliant Carl Reiner voices this Academy Award nominated short by Ernie Pintoff (Oddball favorite “The Interview”, “The Critic”), about a violinist who learns to play “with feeling”, through the tried and true “suffering artist” method. Pintoff started out as a jazz trumpeter, then a stint at Terry Toons (where he directed the wonderful “Flebus”) before launching his own production company, Pintoff Productions.

“How To Catch A Cold” (Technicolor, 1951)
A highly entertaining PSA in lovely Technicolor, produced as a collaboration between Kleenex (not yet a household name, let alone a genericized product) and Disn*y. Distributed freely to schools, it was seen by millions in its day, but now qualifies as a lost treasure.

“Toys” (Color, 1966)
Grant Munro, frequent Norman McLaren collaborator, directed this clever anti-war and anti-war toy short using the stop-motion technique. It all starts innocently enough with kids coveting the toys in a store window with a groovy soundtrack. But then the war toys come to life and the ensuing violence is quite less than playful.

“Bags” (Color, 1967)
Mysterious and creepy stop-motion film from Poland, directed by Tadeusz Wilcosz. A burlap sack proceeds to consume everything in sight, until all the objects- scissors, sewing machines, etc. revolt, organize and subdue “him”. This may be a parable for something…

“The Place In The Sun” (Color, 1960)
Two figures battle for their spot in the sunshine- a place that should have room for everybody (unless you live in Frisco in the Summer).

“The Fly” (Color, 1980)
The sole representative from the 1980’s is this wonderful Academy Award-winning short from Hungary. If you ever wanted to know what it would be like to be the “fly on the wall”, you’ll know after seeing this.

“Cat’s Cradle” (Color, 1974)
Directed by Dutch animator Paul Driessen, one of the principle artists who worked on “Yellow Submarine” (and immigrated to Canada in 1971 to join the NFB), this curious piece is reminiscent of the Blue Meanies style, but with a darker tone. Witches, cloaked riders and other gothic characters in a tale about the hungry natural world.

“Ersatz” (Substitute) (Color, 1961)
Another Academy Award winner, this beautifully animated mid-century styled piece is something else! The first non-US animated short to win the Oscar, this Croation film by Dusan Vukotic took the States by storm and influenced many artists. Cute little guy goes to the beach and inflates everything he needs (and doesn’t need), from a raft, to a girl, a shark and so on…

“Mr. Rossi Buys A Car” (Color, 1966)
Italy was not well known as a hotbed of animation in the 60’s, with the exception of Bruno Bozetto’s great series of shorts starring the “everyman” Mr. Rossi. Here he buys a car and tears around Rome when he isn’t fighting the endless bureaucracy, mechanics and other maniac drivers.

PLUS- More TBA at show time!

Event: “Mama Don’t Take My Kodachrome Away!”  Guest curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present an evening of rare vintage Kodachrome films.  On June 22nd, 2009 Kodak announced that it was ceasing production of its famed Kodachrome film. Introduced in 1935, it was the world’s first successful commercial color film and was well loved for it’s rich tones, faithful color reproduction and long lasting quality. Oddball has many Kodachrome titles in its archive- prepare to be blown away by the color in these vintage shorts! Films Include: “The Challenge of Tomorrow”; “San Francisco: Queen of the West”; “Sunsteps”; “Glass”; “Dudin’”; “Time For Clocks”; and “The Day The Colors Went Away”.  Plus- vintage Kodak TV commercials!
Date: Friday, July 24, 2009 at 8:30PM
Venue: Oddball Films, 275 Capp Street, San Francisco 94110
Admission: $10.00 RSVP Only to: 415-558-8117 or info@oddballfilm.com

“Mama Don’t Take My Kodachrome Away!”
Screens at Oddball Films

On Friday, July 24, Guest Curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present an evening of rare vintage Kodachrome films.  On June 22nd, 2009 Kodak announced that it was ceasing production of its famed Kodachrome film, marking the end of an era.  Introduced in 1935, it was the world’s first successful commercial color film and was well loved for it’s rich tones, faithful color reproduction and long lasting quality. Paul Simon, who sadly will not be able to appear, permanently etched Kodachrome into the pop culture consciousness:

Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day, Oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don’t take my Kodachrome away

Show time is 8:30PM and admission is $10.00.  Seating is limited so RSVP is preferred to: info@oddballfilm.com or 415-558-8117.

Films Include:

“The Challenge of Tomorrow” (Color, 1964)

This RCA promotional film contains some of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful Kodachrome color and stunning visuals in the Oddball Film Archive. Covers the RCA corporation’s multi-faceted electronic manufacturing and entertainment fields; from electron tube manufacturing, vinyl record manufacturing and recording, TV cameras, computers, space technology and more. The retro future never looked better!

“San Francisco: Queen of the West” (Color, 1947)
Lost San Francisco in stunning color- this post-war travelogue covers all the sights our fair city is famous for; some is remarkably the same, others lost to history. Notable shots include Chinatown’s own telephone exchange and the colossal neon nightlife Babylon.

“Sunsteps” (Color, late 1940’s)
Rare promotional film made by the BF Goodrich shoe company, touting their new line of women’s casual shoes. Lots of models on location sport the bright, gaily colored new design. Vintage fashionistas and shoe fetishists won’t want to miss this- looks like it was filmed yesterday!

“Glass” (Color, 1958)
Brilliant Academy Award winning short juxtaposes traditional glass blowing with “modern” glass manufacturing. Made by Bert Haanstra (Netherlands), the wordless Glass is a near perfect film, perfectly balancing images and rhythm with the wonderful cool jazz soundtrack by the Pim Jacobs Quintet.

“Dudin’” (Color, 1955)
Not gay porn as the title would suggest, but a nonetheless very campy promo film for a Colorado Dude Ranch- where one could “vacation” on a working ranch and get a taste of the wild (and mild) west.

“Time For Clocks” (Color, 1958, excerpt)
High production-value educational film on the principles of telling time. Bizarre super-square rhyming narration but beautiful 1950s details and dress- and, of course, stunning Kodachrome color.

“The Day The Colors Went Away” (Color, 1971)
Charming Polish stop-motion animation about a messy painter girl.  The colors in her paint box are fed up with her messy painting style and hit the road- taking all the world’s colors with them.  Stuck in a black and white world, the little girl sets out to find the colors (who have gathered in a rainbow) and re-paint the world.

PLUS- Vintage Kodak TV commercials!

“ODDBALL’S GREATEST HITS”. Guest curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present an evening of the most popular short films recently screened here at the archive. At every screening, there are always one or two films that stand out from the rest and demand a replay; tonight’s program will feature the cream of the crop and surprise hits from the last six months.

Films include: “THE CAT’S MEOW” from Crazy Cats!; “THE INTERVIEW” from Jazz Dichotomy; “BLIND GARY DAVIS” from Soul Music Spectacular; “THE CAR OF YOUR DREAMS” from Hot Wheels!; “HELP, MY SNOWMAN’S BURNING DOWN” from Bongo Beatin’ Beatniks; “NARCOTICS: PIT OF DESPAIR” from Scared Straight; “FRANK FILM” from Weirdsville 2; “TWO” from Weirdsville 3; and “TELEVISION LAND” from And Now a Word From Our Sponsor. PLUS- a few surprises tba at show time!

Date: Friday, July 17, 2009 at 8:30PM

Venue: Oddball Films, 275 Capp Street, San Francisco 94110

Admission: $10.00 RSVP Only to: 415-558-8117 or info@oddballfilm.com

Oddball’s Greatest Hits

On Friday, July 17, Guest Curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present an evening of the most popular short films recently screened here at the archive. A sampling of the best, most entertaining, and occasional surprise “hits” from the broad range of programs, from Crazy Cats to Beatniks, White Trash to Weirdsville. Missed a program?  Now’s your chance to see the best of show! Showtime is 8:30PM and admission is $10.00.  Seating is limited so RSVP is preferred to: info@oddballfilm.com or 415-558-8117.

Films Include:

“The Cat’s Meow” (Color, 1976)
Engaging, well shot educational film about alley cats and house cats was the surprise hit of the Crazy Cats show.  The deadpan, dry humor of the narration is a big part of the appeal of this British-made short, but the slow motion mouse acrobatics had the whole room in stitches.

The Cat’s Meow

“The Interview” (Color, 1960) dir. Ernest Pintoff
Animated short by the brilliant Ernie Pintoff has square interviewer befuddled by fictional hipster jazz musician Shorty Petterstein (voiced by Henry Jacobs) as the Stan Getz combo blows and riffs “off camera”.  “Like, don’t hang me- I didn’t wanna fall up here in the first place!”

The Interview

“Blind Gary Davis” (B & W, 1964)
Directed by Harold Becker (who went on to direct “The Onion Field” and “Taps” among other films), this short doc features the legendary bluesman playing and singing in his apartment, and we get to be the (lucky) fly on the wall.

Blind Gary Davis

“The Car of Your Dreams” (Color and B&W, 1984)

Genius educational film about the car industry and their sales techniques utilizing solely mind-blowing historical footage that borders on the surreal. It’s no wonder Americans bought into the car mythology lock, stock and barrel.

If the van’s a rockin’…

“Help, My Snowman’s Burning Down” (Color, 1964)

Academy award-nominated short by Carson Davidson starring Bob Larkin (later in the cult film Putney Swope).  Beatnik lives on a boat dock off Manhattan with only bathroom furnishings.  Stop motion and surreal effects, original music by the Gerry Mulligan Quartet.

Beatnik Bob Larkin keeping warm…

“Narcotics: Pit of Despair” (Color, 1967)

The all-time classic of the genre, a real howler!  Super-square kid is lured into the world of illicit drugs and other pleasures by the scheming drug dealer and his wanton woman. Sample voiceover: “Take a trip from Squaresville, get with the countdown, shake this square world and blast off to Kicksville!”  Sounds good to me!!

Next stop: Kicksville
“Frank Film” (Color, 1973)
Brilliant art film by Frank Mouris featuring rapid animation collage of magazine clip art with “competing” narration.  Winner of the 1974 Academy Award for short film.
The Eyes Have It

“Two” (Color, 1971)

Spoof of overwrought Italian films written by and starring Reneé Taylor (nominated for an Oscar for Lovers and Other Strangers).  Two lovers on the beach try to out-passion each other, then out-debase themselves until the woman walks away in disgust.

Ech!
“Television Land” (color/b+w, 1971)

Brilliant, impressionistic, narration-free history of Television utilizing original clips, similar to the Oddball Films favorite “The Car of Your Dreams”. Directed by Charles Braverman, the snappy montage is divided into three sections: entertainment, news and commercials.

One Nation, Under Television

PLUS! a few surprises tba at showtime…

Event: “Weirdsville: Oddities from the Archives”. Guest curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present an evening of rare, weird and some highly entertaining 16mm shorts, trailers and commercials culled from the 50,000+ archive at Oddball Films. This month’s highlights include: “Flatland”, an animated version of the famous story with Dudley Moore; “This Is Coffee!”, a celluloid love letter to our second favorite brew; “Best Foot Forward”, a boot fetishists dream; “Chickenomics”, economics explained by the San Diego Chicken; “Bird Circus”, vintage bird tricks; “Kick Me”, bizarre, funny/creepy animation; “Industry On Parade”, a 1955 space age diner; plus trailers and commercials straight out of Weirdsville!
Date: Saturday, July 11, 2009 at 8:30PM
Venue: Oddball Films, 275 Capp Street, San Francisco 94110
Admission: $10.00 RSVP Only to: 415-558-8117 or info@oddballfilm.com

“Weirdsville”
Oddities From The Archives
Screens at Oddball Films

On Saturday, July 11, Guest Curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present an evening of the strange, the bizarre, and the sometimes baffling short films, commercials and trailers from deep within the Oddball archive. These “found” films surface in the process of research for other programs: too good to languish on the shelves, they demand to be screened! A monthly companion program to the Strange Sinema series. Showtime is 8:30PM and admission is $10.00. Seating is limited so RSVP is preferred to: info@oddballfilm.com or 415-558-8117.

Highlights Include:

“Flatland” (Color, 1965)

Life in a two-dimensional world. Narrated by Dudley Moore (as A Square) and members of the “Beyond The Fringe” theatrical group, this early adaptation of the beloved Edwin Abbott novel was produced at Harvard’s Visual Arts Center. The story continues to delight mathematicians, philosophers and computer theorists, and was recently adapted into a musical and the 2007 feature film of the same title. Neither, however, had the wisdom of this film’s brevity, nor the genius of Dudley Moore!

“This Is Coffee!” (Color, 1961)
A more potent ode to the pleasures and proper preparation of coffee has never been filmed. A perfect blend of sprightly music (with a sprinkling of crime-jazz), stunning visuals and vintage kitchenalia that will have you jonesing for a nice, hot cup of java. A perfect, scientifically made cup of coffee. As the sonorous narrator relates: “Perfect… coffee: sending its glow into our lives around the clock”.

“Best Foot Forward” (Color, 1960’s)
Not the 1943 musical starring Lucille Ball, nor the record by REO Speedwagon, but the early 1960’s short film about Hy-Test Safety Shoes! This engaging short highlights the “Golden Shoe Club” and was filmed in stunning Kodachrome color. Lots of close-ups of shoes and boots in all their safety-toed splendor.

“Chickenomics” (Color, 1979)
“A fowl approach to economics”, this short instructional film on basic economics features the San Diego Chicken. Learn creepy economic theory like “Consumer Sovereignty” from the creepy narrator, while the Chicken does his chicken thing.

“Bird Circus” (Color, 1950’s)
Wacky bird tricks in beautiful early 50’s color. What these birds won’t do for a beakful of seed!

“Kick Me” (Color, 1975)
Weird animation of stick figure legs kicking a ball that morphs into hundreds of spiders with a surprise ending. Nominated for an Academy Award in 1976.

“Industry On Parade” (B+W, 1955)
From the famous short subject documentary series, this episode shows how the Sears Roebuck catalog was produced in the day, visits the Hershey Chocolate factory in Pennsylvania, and a new drive-in diner that uses two-way radios for car and table service, and a “pressurized cabin” dining room.

PLUS- Trailers and commercials straight out of Weirdsville!