History: Modern Theater, 1978-1979
A Guide to the Collection of Oral History Interviews at Indiana University
Bloomington
Finding aid prepared by the staff of the Center for
the Study of History and Memory with a grant from the National Endowment for the
Humanities Division of Preservation and Access, 2000-2002
Overview of the Collection
Repository
Indiana University Center for Documentary Research and Practice
Indiana University
Franklin Hall 0030B
601 E. Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405
Phone: 812/855-2856
Fax: 812/855-0002
E-mail: ohrc@indiana.edu
https://cdrp.mediaschool.indiana.edu
Creator
Indiana University Center for the
Study of History and Memory
TitleHistory: Modern Theater, 1978-1979
Project No.
ohrc056
Interviews
5 interviews. Audiotapes, transcripts, and collateral
materials.
Physical Location
Interviews are housed in Franklin Hall, Room 0030B. Copies of interview transcripts are also held by the IU Libraries University
Archives.
Contact archives@indiana.edu for more information. For other locations housing the interviews
from this project, please contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice office.
Language
Materials are in English
Abstract
This project presents the perceptions of modern theater by five different people
involved in the performance arts. Some of the topics touched upon include the
differences between the three media of stage, television, and film, beginning
experiences in the field of theater, and career paths and goals of the individual.
The theory and philosophy of acting, directing and producing is also discussed.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains five interviews conducted over the course of one year. The interviews range from approximately 15
to 100 minutes. All interviews consist of typed transcripts and audio reels.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Oral history interviews conducted by the Indiana University Center for the
Study of History and Memory from 1968 to the present, with particular focus on the
history of twentieth-century America and the Midwest.
Usage Restrictions
The archive of the Center for Documentary Research and Practice at Indiana University is open
to the use of researchers. Copies of transcript pages are available only when such copies
are permitted by the deed of gift. Scholars must honor any
restrictions the interviewee placed on the use of the interview. Since some of our earlier
(pre-computer) transcripts do not exist in final form, any editing marks in a transcript
(deletions, additions, corrections) are to be quoted as marked. Audio files may not be copied for
patrons unless the deed of gift permits it, and a transcript is unavailable for that
interview. The same rules of use that apply to a transcript apply to the audio interview.
Interviews may not be reproduced in full for any public use, but excerpted quotes may be
used as long as researchers fully cite the data in their research, including accession
number, interview date, interviewee's and interviewer's name, and page(s).
Preferred Citation
[interviewee first name last name] interview, by [interviewer first name last
name], [interview date(s)], [call number], [project name], Center for Documentary Research and Practice, Indiana University,
Bloomington, [page number(s) or tape
number and side if no transcript; if digital audio and no transcript, cite time when quote occurs].
Interview List
Interviewee
Benedetti, Robert November 19, 1978
Call Number
78-050
Physical Description
24 pages; 1 reel, 1 7/8 ips, 60 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Arthur, Robert H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Robert Benedetti, dean of the theater department at the California Institute of
the Arts, discusses his career, his teaching methods, and philosophy of theater
in general. He touches upon some early experiences that led him to a career in
theater. He also discusses the relationship between the actor and director in
support of the directorless theater movement, some of which he employs when
teaching his acting classes. He also touches upon the difference between acting
live on stage and in front of a camera.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- California Institute of the Arts
- South Coast Repertory Theater
-
-
Occupation Names
- theater department dean
- theater professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Stanislavsky, Konstantin
-
-
Place Names
- Chicago, Illinois
- Orange County, California
-
-
Subjects
- acting
- acting pedagogy
- applied arts
- directing theory
- directorless theater
- dramatic action
Interviewee
Brody, Jane December 11, 1979
Call Number
80-002
Physical Description
52 pages; 1 reel, 1 7/8 ips, 100 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Jane Brody, born August 13, 1945, talks about her experiences as an actress.
She started acting at a young age and spent her twenties traveling throughout
the country acting in dinner theaters and festivals. She discusses her current
struggles in Los Angeles, California attempting to find the right agent, trying
to get auditions, and simply trying to be cast in a production. She closes the
interview with advice to young actors.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Porter Youth Theater
- University of Minnesota
- University of Wisconsin
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Rodigan, Mary Virginia
- Shurtleff, Michael
-
-
Place Names
- Los Angeles, California
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- New York, New York
-
-
Subjects
-
Absent Friends
- actors' agents
- casting directors
-
Nine Faces of 1943
- repertory theater
-
Showboat
Interviewee
Randall, Tony December 28, 1978
Call Number
79-001
Physical Description
6 pages; 1 reel, 1 7/8 ips, 15 minutes; no index
Physical Location
Interviews are housed in Radio-TV Building, Room
314. Copies of interview transcripts are also held by the IU Libraries University Archives.
Contact archives@indiana.edu for more information. For other locations housing the interviews
from this project, please contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice office.
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas A.
Access Status
Restricted: not for commercial release in any form
Scope and Content Note
Tony Randall, born 1920, discusses his technique behind acting. He points out
that he acts no differently for stage, television, or film. He also describes
the first moment he wanted to be an actor, as a child watching his classmates
acting badly in
Penrod.
-
Keywords
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Olivier, Laurence
- Taylor, Laurette
Interviewee
Schaefer, George November 19, 1978
Call Number
78-049
Physical Description
26 pages; 1 reel, 1 7/8 ips, 60 minutes; no index
Physical Location
Interviews are housed in Radio-TV Building, Room
314. Copies of interview transcripts are also held by the IU Libraries University Archives.
Contact archives@indiana.edu for more information. For other locations housing the interviews
from this project, please contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice office.
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Howard Schaefer, born December 16, 1920 and died September 10 1997, discusses
his career as a director and producer. He touches upon the different techniques
he uses when directing stage, television, and film performances. He discusses
his philosophy as a director and how the director can relate to the actor. He
also touches upon his vision of commercial media in the future and the role
home entertainment will play.
-
Keywords
-
-
Occupation Names
- movie director
- producer
-
-
Subjects
-
Blind Ambition
- Watergate
Interviewee
Schary, Dore January 27, 1978
Call Number
78-009
Physical Description
24 pages; 1 reel, 1 7/8 ips, 60 minutes; no index
Physical Location
Interviews are housed in Radio-TV Building, Room
314. Copies of interview transcripts are also held by the IU Libraries University Archives.
Contact archives@indiana.edu for more information. For other locations housing the interviews
from this project, please contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice office.
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Dore Schary, born in 1920 and died in 1980, discusses his career as a
screenwriter and producer. He discusses the differences between writing and
producing for stage, television, and film production. He concludes with advice
for aspiring writers and actors.
-
Keywords
-
-
Occupation Names
- producer
- screenwriter
-
-
Personal Names
- Douglas, Melvyn
- Hill, Ethel
-
-
Place Names
- New York, New York
-
