Finding Aid for Jean Cutler Theatrical Films, Audio Recordings and Papers, 1959-1995 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Jessica Ludwig, Elizabeth Pope, Kate Techtow, Heather Tennison, and Nicholas Weber

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Collection Overview

Title: Jean Cutler Theatrical Films, Audio Recordings and Papers, 1959-1995

ID: 26/20/140

Primary Creator: Cutler, Jean (1927-2010)

Other Creators: Bayles, Philip (1946-), Gaburo, Kenneth (1926-1993), Hiller, Lejaren (1924-1994)

Extent: 5.2 cubic feet

Arrangement: The collection is arranged in two series, Series 1: Audiovisual recordrins which is arranged alphabetical by performance/motif title; and Series 2: Performance Notes and Publications.

Date Acquired: 11/22/1996

Subjects: Dance, Films, Music, School of, Photography, Sculpture, Shakespeare, William, Sound on Film, Theatre Department, Theatrical Productions, University of Oregon, University Theatre

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of original 16mm and 8mm films, reel-to-reel audio tape recordings, color slides, photographs, and personal papers pertaining to Jean Cutler's career as a graduate student in the Department of Speech, College of LAS, at the University of Illinois (1958-1962), as well as from his time as Professor of Theater at the University of Oregon (1962-1980) and, later, as a visiting artist in North Carolina (ca. 1990s). In addition there is an original manuscript for Cutler's book, "Sculpture of the Pacific Northwest: A Photographic Essay" (University of Oregon Press, ca. 1976). Of particular interest among these materials are two collaborative works, "Blue is the Antecedent of It" (1959) and "Cuthbert Bound" (1960) by Cutler and Lejaren Hiller, an early pioneer of electronic music at the University of Illinois.

These materials were part of a larger collection of Cutler's personal papers that was donated to the University of Illinois Music Library in 1996 and transferred to the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music in 2010. Materials retained by the Sousa Archives relate exclusively to Cutler's collaborations with Harry Partch and Kenneth Gaburo.

Biographical Note

Jean V. Cutler (1927 -2010) choreographer, director, and Professor of Theater was born in Hampton, Virginia, in 1927. Performing at an early age, Cutler developed an enduring interest in film and experimental theater, including poetic theater, surrealism and futurism. He received his B.A. in English from Lynchburg College in 1955 and earned a M.A. (1959) and Ph.D. (1962) in Speech at the University of Illinois, submitting a dissertation titled "Realism in Augustin Daly's Productions of Contemporary Plays." As a student, Cutler staged premieres of avant-garde works by former School of Music faculty Kenneth Gaburo, an electronic music pioneer, and Lejaren Hiller, a founder of computer music at the University of Illinois, including Hiller's "Blue is the Antecedent of It" and "Cuthbert Bound." During this period, he also choreographed two works--"Revelation in the Courthouse Park" and "Water! Water!"--by innovative composer Harry Partch.

After completing his doctorate, Cutler became an instructor at the University of Oregon, where he taught and served as the University Theater Director. Cutler returned to Urbana in 1968 to develop "Web," a work about the playwright Web Smalley that was the second in a series of films about the creative process in the performing arts. In the spring of 1970, Cutler produced and directed Kenneth Gaburo's "LINGUA III: In the Can (a dialectic mix in 3 rounds)" at the University of Oregon Theater Workshop. Cutler also interviewed Harry Partch during the early 1970s with the intention of making a film, "The End of Life is Perception," that was never finished. After retiring from the University of Oregon in 1980, Cutler continued to direct and participate in the theater community. Between 1983 and 1986, he organized a professional theater company in Washington, D.C., and directed several plays. During the 1990s, he participated in North Carolina's visiting artist program at Mitchell College and Forsyth Technical Community College.

Subject/Index Terms

Dance
Films
Music, School of
Photography
Sculpture
Shakespeare, William
Sound on Film
Theatre Department
Theatrical Productions
University of Oregon
University Theatre

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Acquisition Source: Jean Cutler;

Acquisition Method: Gift

Processing Information: The original films and reel-to-reel audiotapes were heavily spliced and when appropriate the processing archivists repaired failed splices following accepted archives preservation standards. In addition several bags of film outtakes were sampled and spliced together before they were mounted to archival quality film cores.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Audio-Visual Recordings, 1960-1972],
[Series 2: Performance Notes and Publications],
[All]

Series 1: Audio-Visual Recordings, 1960-1972

Audio-Visual Recording 1: 8 Investigation - Images of Men, (undated)

Film reel

Reel 19: 8 Investigation - Images of Men, (undated): 16mm film. Taken from original container: "Hansel + Gretel L. Lee Baldridge Benny Masters Investigation Models in a line." Film number 1-1.

Audio-Visual Recording 2: An Actor, 1968

Film and audio reels

Box 53: Audio Recordings, 1960-1971

Audio recording from Cutler's film and theatrical productions.

Item 1: An Actor, 1968?: Scotch audio. PJ-1.
Item 2: An Actor, 1968: Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Peter Jamison "An Actor" Interview - PJ 2
Item 3: An Actor, 1968: Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. March 16, 1968 - Interview #6 p Peter Jamison - PJ 3
Item 4: An Actor, 1968: Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Peter Jamison #1 - March 16, 1968 - Excerpts removed 10/8/68 / PJ4.

Reel 1: An Actor, 1968?

16mm film. Original for Jamison. Film number 2-1

Reel 20: An Actor, 1968

16mm film. P. Jamison master. Film number 2-2.

Reel 21: An Actor, 1968

16mm film. P. Jamison - original. Film number 2-3.

Reel 22: An Actor, 1968

16mm film. P. Jamison - outtakes. Film number 2-4.

Audio-Visual Recording 3: Bacchae, 1963

Audio reels

Box 53: Audio Recordings, 1960-1971

Audio recording from Cutler's film and theatrical productions.

Item 5: Bacchae, 1963: AudioTape - 7" Audio - 7.5 IPS . Performance copy of the Bacchae, Feb 1963, put together using Parch and Hiller excerpts.
Item 6: Bacchae, 1963: Scotch 111 - 7" audio. Critique of The Bacchae 1963 - 3 3/4 0 U of O

Audio-Visual Recording 4: Blue is the Antecedent of It, 1959?

Production materials and photographs

Box 56: Production Notes and Sculpture of the Pacific Northwest Manuscript, 1959-1976

Production notes for "Blue is the Antecedent of It", University Theatre productions, and manuscript for Sculpture of the Pacific Northwest.

Folder 1: Blue is the Antecedent of It, 1959?: Papers related to the production of Blue is the Antecedent of It.
Folder 2: Blue is the Antecedent of It, 1959?: Photographs in costume.

Audio-Visual Recording 5: Ceremony Called Revelation, 1972?

Film reels and slides

Box 54: Audio and Film Recordings

Audio and film recordings from Cutler's theatrical productions.

Item 14: Ceremony Called Revelation, 1972?: 8mm film. Oatmeal (Revelation), Jaden. Film number 5-14.
Item 15: Ceremony Called Revelation, 1972?: 8mm film. U. Theater. Film number 5-15.

Box 55: Slides, 1972

Slides from Ceremony Called Revelation.

Folder 1: Ceremony Called Revelation, 1972?: Slides of paintings and sculptures. March 1972
Folder 2: Ceremony Called Revelation, 1972?: Slides of sunsets.
Folder 3: Ceremony Called Revelation, 1972?: Slides of trapezes and clowns.

Reel 2: Ceremony Called Revelation, 1972?

16mm film. B roll. Film number 5-2.

Reel 3: Ceremony Called Revelation, 1972?

16mm film. Film number 5-3.

Reel 4: Ceremony Called Revelation, 1972?

16mm film. Film number 5-1.

Reel 23: Ceremony Called Revelation, 1972?

16mm film. Outtakes. Film number 5-4.

Reel 24: Ceremony Called Revelation, 1972

16mm film. Film number 5-5.

Audio-Visual Recording 6: Cuthbert Bound, 1960?

Audio reels and production materials

Box 53: Audio Recordings, 1960-1971

Audio recording from Cutler's film and theatrical productions.

Item 7: Cuthbert Bound, 1960?: Scotch - 7" audio - lots of splices. LJH-I (no original box)
Item 8: Cuthbert Bound, 1960: Burgess 111 - 7" audio - 7.5 IPS. Cuthbert Bound - 2nd tape. Sound only, no vocals. LJH-2
Item 9: Cuthbert Bound, 1960?: Burgess 111 - 7" audio - 7.5 IPS. Cuthbert Bound - Complete performance. LJH-3.

Box 56: Production Notes and Sculpture of the Pacific Northwest Manuscript, 1959-1976

Production notes for "Blue is the Antecedent of It", University Theatre productions, and manuscript for Sculpture of the Pacific Northwest.

Folder 3: Cuthbert Bound Materials, 1960: Materials related to the production of Cuthbert Bound

Audio-Visual Recording 7: D. Davis, (undated)

Film reel.

Reel 25: D. Davis, (undated): 16mm film. Labeled on reel. Film number 7-1.

Audio-Visual Recording 8: Hiller Audio, (undated)

Audio recordings.

Box 53: Audio Recordings, (undated)

Item 10: Electronic Music, (undated): Scotch 111 - 7" audio - 3.75 IPS. Taken from original box label: "Overture at slow speed - Sun Morning Concert - Bells/Swish/Swoops - Electronic."
Item 11: Electronic Music, (undated): Ampex 444 - 7" Audio - 1 mil Polyester. Master #1 . Taken from original box label: "A - 1st half traditional- 2nd half "Partch like" but too simple."
Item 12: Electronic Music, (undated): Ampex 444 - 7" Audio - 1 mil Polyester - 7 1/2 IPS. Taken from original box label: "Master #2 - Intermission - B - Electronic Hiller type - 1st 3/4 of tape."
Item 13: Electronic Music, (undated): Ampex 641 - 7" Audio - 1 mil Polyester . Taken from original box label: "Post-Show. First 1/3 is Hiller-type electronic - last 2/3 is blank".
Item 14: Electronic Music, (undated): Melody - 7" audio - polyester. Taken from original box label: "D - First 1/2 of tape: Electronic manipulation - 2nd half of tape blank".

Audio-Visual Recording 9: Hiller: Seven Electronic Studies, 1962

Audio recording.

Box 53: Audio Recordings, 1960-1971

Audio and film recordings from Cutler's theatrical production.

Item 15: Hiller - Electronic Music Studies, 1962: Scotch 311 - 7" audio - 7 1/2 IPS. LJH-X - L.A. Hiller Seven Electronic Studies 1962

Audio-Visual Recording 10: In the Can (LINGUA III), 1970

Film reels.

Reel 26: In the Can, 1970: 16mm film. Film number 10-1.
Reel 27: In the Can, 1970: 16mm film. Text from original box: Models in TV studio. Last bit has "Triss". Film number 10-2.

Audio-Visual Recording 11: Investigation, 1970

Films from the University Theatre.

Box 53: Audio Recordings, 1960-1971

Audio recording from Cutler's theatrical productions.

Item 16: Investigation, 1971?: Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Dialogue from The Investigation - INV

Reel 28: Investigation, 1970

16mm film. Film number 11-1.

Reel 29: Investigation, 1970

16mm film. University theatre. Film number 11-2.

Reel 44: Investigation, 1970

16mm film. Audience Shots. Text on original box reads "Use with the 1. concept of audience or 2. concept of male-female."

Audio-Visual Recording 12: King Lear, 1971

Films and audio recordings for a production of King Lear staged at the University Theatre.

Box 53: Audio Recordings, 1960-1971

Audio recordings from Cutler's theatrical productions.

Item 17: King Lear, 1971: Scotch 111 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. 71/2 King Lear w/ Cordelia an early rehersal
Item 18: King Lear, 1971: Scotch RB7 7 Audio 7 _ ips. Lear Intermission / Lear-A
Item 19: King Lear, 1971: Scotch RB7 7 Audio 7 _ ips. Overture, 13 3-minute works. c. 36 mins. / LEAR-B
Item 20: King Lear, 1971?: Scotch RB-7 - 7" Audio. Tape 2A - LEAR-C
Item 21: King Lear, 1971?: Scotch RB-7 - 7" Audio . Tape 1b - LEAR-D
Item 22: King Lear, 1971: Ampex 641 - 7" Audio - 1 mil Polyester . LEAR-E - Lear Act IV - Tape 1c
Item 23: King Lear, 1971: Ampex 641 - 7" Audio - 1 mil Polyester . Tape 2B - III, 6 Entreact - Lear F
Item 24: King Lear, 1971?: Ampex 641 - 7" Audio - 1 mil Polyester . Tape 2c - Lear Act I - LEAR-G
Item 25: King Lear, 1971: Scotch 111 - 7" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. LEAR-H - Original sound effects
Item 26: King Lear, 1971: Sunset - 7" Audio - recorded at 71/2 I.P.S. Lear I - actors reading cues and speaches for music
Item 27: King Lear, 1971: AudioTape - 7" audio. LEAR-J - Very Early in rehearsal - actors reading

Reel 5: King Lear, 1971

16mm film. Original. Film number 12-1.

Reel 30: King Lear, 1971

16mm film. Lear-stop/Bosch images. Film number 12-2.

Reel 45: King Lear, 1971

16mm film. Original - with memo dated June 29, 1976. Film number 12-3.

Audio-Visual Recording 13: Media Man, (undated)

Film and outs reels

Reel 6: Media Man, (undated): 16mm film. Original. Film number 13-2
Reel 7: Media Man, (undated): 16mm film. Two heavily spliced small reels merged onto one core. Film number 13-3.
Reel 8: Media Man, (undated): 16mm film. Film number 13-4
Reel 9: Media Man, (undated): 16mm film. Original. Film number 13-1.
Reel 31: Media Man, 1995: 16mm film. Original. Film number 13-7. (date taken from original container)
Reel 32: Media Man, (undated): 16mm film. Film number 13-8
Reel 33: Media Man, (undated): 16mm film. Film number 13-9.
Reel 46: Media Man, (undated): 16mm film. Film number 13-5
Reel 52: Media Man, (undated): 16mm film. Original. Film number 13-6.

Audio-Visual Recording 14: Midsummer Night's Dream, 1970

Audio reels

Box 53: Audio Recordings, 1960-1971

Audio recording from Cutler's theatrical productions.

Item 28: Midsummer Night's Dream, 1970: Scotch 111 - 7" Audio - 1.5 mil Acetate. U of O - A little of the overture/ Court entrance/ Rustic's Entrance
Item 29: Midsummer Night's Dream, 1970: SoundTape - 7" Audio - 1.5 mil Polyester . U of O - Background Tape - no leaders - music

Audio-Visual Recording 15: Multiple Sources, (undated)

Film reels

Reel 10: Multiple sources, (undated): 16mm film. Collage 2. Film number 15-1.
Reel 34: Multiple sources, (undated): 16mm film. Up-left, collage 1, Interlude 2, 3rd. Madrigal, Interlude 4, 9th Madrigal, Interlude 6, 12th Madrigal (FOG)
Reel 35: Multiple sources, (undated): 16mm film. Samples from a bag of outs - including footage of "Freida" (blond woman) and brunette woman in leotard - splices run together. Film number 15-2.

Audio-Visual Recording 16: People Outdoors, (undated)

Film reels.

Reel 11: People outdoors, (undated): 16mm film. Tape spliced summer. Film number 17-1.

Audio-Visual Recording 17: Richard III, 1971

Audio reel

Box 53: Audio Recordings, 1960-1971

Audio recordings from Cutler's film and theatrical productions.

Item 30: Richard III, 1971: Scotch 7" Audio - 3.5 IPS "Incidental music, composed by Philip Bayles realized with the Moog synthesizer"

Audio-Visual Recording 18: Sprinkler Footage, (undated)

Film reel

Reel 12: Sprinkler footage, (undated): 16mm film - "sprinklers" - merge of two finger reels of heavily spliced footage. Film number 20-1.

Audio-Visual Recording 19: Taming of the Shrew, (undated)

Audio reel

Box 53: Audio Recordings, 1960-1971

Audio recordings from Cutler's film and theatrical productions.

Item 31: Taming of the Shrew, (undated): AudioTape - 7" Audio - 7.5 IPS - (rehearsal and performance schedule enclosed in box) - University of Oregon production

Audio-Visual Recording 20: Tartuffe, 1975

Audio reel

Box 53: Audio Recordings, 1960-1971

Audio recordings from Cutler's film and theatrical productions.

Item 32: Tartuffe, 1975: Scotch 7" audio - "Tartuffe 0-28D May5, 1975 1 7/8." No original box.

Audio-Visual Recording 21: The Unicorn, the Gorgon, and the Manticore, 1968

Film and audio reels

Box 54: Audio and Film Recordings, 1967-1968

Audio and film recordings from Cutler's theatrical productions.

Item 5: The Unicorn, the Gorgon, and the Manticore, 1968: Scotch 190 - 7" Audio - 1.0 mil acetate. "U of O / The Unicorn ... my production in 1968"

Reel 36: The Unicorn, the Gorgon, and the Manticore, 1968

16mm film. Film number 23-1.

Audio-Visual Recording 22: Trains, (undated)

Film reels

Reel 37: Trains, (undated): 16mm film. Film number 24-2.
Reel 47: Trains, (undated): 16mm film. "European Train Documentary." Film number 24-1.

Audio-Visual Recording 23: Trois (Kings?) Flame, (undated)

Reel 38: Trois (kings?) flame interspersed, (undated): 16mm film. Film number 25-1.
Reel 39: Trois (kings?) flame interspersed, (undated): 16mm film. Film number 25-2.

Audio-Visual Recording 24: Twelfth Night, 1967

Box 54: Audio and Film Recordings, 1967-1968

Audio and film recordings from Cutler's theatrical production.

Item 1: Twelfth Night, 1967: SoundCraft - 7" audio - 1 mil Acetate. Master tape Duplicate
Item 2: Twelfth Night, 1967: SoundCraft - 7" audio - 1 mil. Acetate. Master tape - T. Trombley
Item 3: Twelfth Night, 1967: Ampex 7" Audio 1 mil. Mylar 7 _ ips. Taken from original box label: "Feb 21 rehearsal: Nina singing at beginning of Twelfth Night production (w/ harpsichord, viola de yamba and tambourine). Sonnets set to music by R. Trombley."

Reel 40: Twelfth Night, 1967

16mm film. Film number 26-1.

Audio-Visual Recording 25: Unidentified, (undated)

Box 54: Audio and Film Recordings, 1967-1968

Audio and film recordings from Cutler's theatrical production.

Item 4: Unidentified Audio Tape, (undated): Scotch 111 - 7" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Unknown U of I production. Taken from original box label: "Not Partch music ot Trombey's piano-also 2nd My dreams are getting better all the time".

Reel 41: 16mm. Unidentified., (undated)

16mm film. Film number 27-1.

Audio-Visual Recording 26: Web, 1968

Films, audio, and documents related to Web, a production completed at University of Illinois

Box 13: Web, 1968

16mm film. Outtakes. Film number 28-1.

Box 14: Web, 1968

16mm film. Film number 28-2.

Box 15: Web, 1968

16mm film. Outtakes. Film number 28-3.

Box 16: Web, 1968

16mm film. Outtakes. Film number 28-4.

Box 17: Web, 1968

16mm film. Outtakes. Film number 28-5.

Box 18: Web, 1968

16mm film. Audio track. Film number 28-6.

Box 42: Web, 1968

16mm film. Audio outtakes / man with oboe. Film number 28-11.

Box 43: Web, 1968

16mm film. Outtakes. Film number 28-12.

Box 48: Web, 1968

16mm film. Outtakes. Film number 28-7

Box 49: Web, 1968

16mm film. 3 copies of Web - one noted as "bad copy" Hiller soundtrack. Film number 28-8.

Box 50: Web, 1968

16mm film. Outtakes. Film number 28-9.

Box 51: Web, 1968

16mm. Music Track. Film number 28-10.

Box 54: Audio and Film Recordings, 1967-1968

Audio and film recordings from Cutler's theatrical production.

Item 6: Web, 1968: Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Smalley #3 - Web 1 - Sensibility (?) in making. Film number 28-6.
Item 7: Web, 1968: Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Smalley Invterview #II Tape #1 - Web 2.
Item 8: Web, 1968: Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Smalley #1 of #III - Web 3 - Family ___
Item 9: Web, 1968: Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Smalley #2 of #III - Web 4
Item 10: Web, 1968: Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Smalley #IV #1 - Web 5 - Smalley Interview
Item 11: Web, 1968: Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Smalley #IV #2 - Web 6
Item 12: Web, 1968: Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Smalley #IV #3 - Web 7.
Item 13: Web, 1968: Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Smalley Interview #II Tape #2 - Web 8

Box 56: Production Notes and Sculpture of the Pacific Northwest Manuscript, 1959-1976

Production notes

Folder 5: Web, 1968: Materials related to the production of Web

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Audio-Visual Recordings, 1960-1972],
[Series 2: Performance Notes and Publications],
[All]