26/20/140 Guide to the Jean Cutler Theatrical Films, Audio Recordings and Papers Cutler, Jean Films Finding Aid Authors: Jessica Ludwig, Elizabeth Pope, Kate Techtow, Heather Tennison, and Nicholas Weber.

© Copyright 2024 The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music. All rights reserved.

236 Harding Band Building 1103 South 6th Street Champaign, IL, 61820-6223 URL: https://archives.library.illinois.edu/sousa/ Email: schwrtzs@illinois.edu Phone: 217-244-93093 Fax: 217-244-8695
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Guide to the Jean Cutler Theatrical Films, Audio Recordings and Papers 1959/1995 The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music Overview of the Collection Jean Cutler Theatrical Films, Audio Recordings and Papers 1959-1995 26/20/140 Cutler, Jean, 1927-2010 Bayles, Philip, 1946- Gaburo, Kenneth, 1926-1993 Hiller, Lejaren, 1924-1994 5.20 The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
236 Harding Band Building 1103 South 6th Street Champaign, IL, 61820-6223 URL: https://archives.library.illinois.edu/sousa/ Email: schwrtzs@illinois.edu Phone: 217-244-93093 Fax: 217-244-8695
Biographical Information:

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.

Access Terms

This Collection is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Topical Term: Dance Films Music, School of Photography Sculpture Shakespeare, William Sound on Film Theatre Department Theatrical Productions University Theatre University of Oregon
Administrative Information Acquisition Information:

Gift

Custodial History:

Initially acquired by the University of Illinois Music Library and transferred to the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music in 2007.

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.

Arrangement of Materials:

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.

Scope and Contents

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.

Detailed List of Contents id61594 Audio-Visual Recordings 1960-1972 id53593 1 8 Investigation - Images of Men (undated) Scope and Contents

Film reel

id53594 1 19 8 Investigation - Images of Men (undated) Scope and Contents

16mm film. Taken from original container: "Hansel + Gretel L. Lee Baldridge Benny Masters Investigation Models in a line." Film number 1-1.

id53567 2 An Actor 1968 Scope and Contents

Film and audio reels

id53637 2 53 An Actor 1968? Scope and Contents

Scotch audio. PJ-1.

id53638 2 53 An Actor 1968 Scope and Contents

Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Peter Jamison "An Actor" Interview - PJ 2

id53639 2 53 An Actor 1968 Scope and Contents

Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. March 16, 1968 - Interview #6 p Peter Jamison - PJ 3

id53640 2 53 An Actor 1968 Scope and Contents

Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Peter Jamison #1 - March 16, 1968 - Excerpts removed 10/8/68 / PJ4.

id53568 2 1 An Actor 1968? Scope and Contents

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

id53595 2 20 An Actor 1968 Scope and Contents

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

id53596 2 21 An Actor 1968 Scope and Contents

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

id53597 2 22 An Actor 1968 Scope and Contents

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

id53641 3 Bacchae 1963 Scope and Contents

Audio reels

id53643 3 53 Bacchae 1963 Scope and Contents

AudioTape - 7" Audio - 7.5 IPS . Performance copy of the Bacchae, Feb 1963, put together using Parch and Hiller excerpts.

id53644 3 53 Bacchae 1963 Scope and Contents

Scotch 111 - 7" audio. Critique of The Bacchae 1963 - 3 3/4 0 U of O

id53645 4 Blue is the Antecedent of It 1959? Scope and Contents

Production materials and photographs

id53647 4 56 1 Blue is the Antecedent of It 1959? Scope and Contents

Papers related to the production of Blue is the Antecedent of It.

id53648 4 56 2 Blue is the Antecedent of It 1959? Scope and Contents

Photographs in costume.

id53569 5 Ceremony Called Revelation 1972? Scope and Contents

Film reels and slides

id53654 5 54 Ceremony Called Revelation 1972? Scope and Contents

8mm film. Oatmeal (Revelation), Jaden. Film number 5-14.

id53655 5 54 Ceremony Called Revelation 1972? Scope and Contents

8mm film. U. Theater. Film number 5-15.

id53650 5 55 1 Ceremony Called Revelation 1972? Scope and Contents

Slides of paintings and sculptures. March 1972

id53651 5 55 2 Ceremony Called Revelation 1972? Scope and Contents

Slides of sunsets.

id53652 5 55 3 Ceremony Called Revelation 1972? Scope and Contents

Slides of trapezes and clowns.

id53570 5 2 Ceremony Called Revelation 1972? Scope and Contents

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

id53571 5 3 Ceremony Called Revelation 1972? Scope and Contents

16mm film. Film number 5-3.

id53572 5 4 Ceremony Called Revelation 1972? Scope and Contents

16mm film. Film number 5-1.

id53598 5 23 Ceremony Called Revelation 1972? Scope and Contents

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

id53599 5 24 Ceremony Called Revelation 1972 Scope and Contents

16mm film. Film number 5-5.

id53659 6 Cuthbert Bound 1960? Scope and Contents

Audio reels and production materials

id53661 6 53 Cuthbert Bound 1960? Scope and Contents

Scotch - 7" audio - lots of splices. LJH-I (no original box)

id53662 6 53 Cuthbert Bound 1960 Scope and Contents

Burgess 111 - 7" audio - 7.5 IPS. Cuthbert Bound - 2nd tape. Sound only, no vocals. LJH-2

id53663 6 53 Cuthbert Bound 1960? Scope and Contents

Burgess 111 - 7" audio - 7.5 IPS. Cuthbert Bound - Complete performance. LJH-3.

id53665 6 56 3 Cuthbert Bound Materials 1960 Scope and Contents

Materials related to the production of Cuthbert Bound

id53600 7 D. Davis (undated) Scope and Contents

Film reel.

id53601 7 25 D. Davis (undated) Scope and Contents

16mm film. Labeled on reel. Film number 7-1.

id53666 8 Hiller Audio (undated) Scope and Contents

Audio recordings.

id53668 8 53 Electronic Music (undated) Scope and Contents

Scotch 111 - 7" audio - 3.75 IPS. Taken from original box label: "Overture at slow speed - Sun Morning Concert - Bells/Swish/Swoops - Electronic."

id53669 8 53 Electronic Music (undated) Scope and Contents

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."

id53670 8 53 Electronic Music (undated) Scope and Contents

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."

id53671 8 53 Electronic Music (undated) Scope and Contents

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".

id53672 8 53 Electronic Music (undated) Scope and Contents

Melody - 7" audio - polyester. Taken from original box label: "D - First 1/2 of tape: Electronic manipulation - 2nd half of tape blank".

id53673 9 Hiller: Seven Electronic Studies 1962 Scope and Contents

Audio recording.

id53675 9 53 Hiller - Electronic Music Studies 1962 Scope and Contents

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

id53602 10 In the Can (LINGUA III) 1970 Scope and Contents

Film reels.

id53603 10 26 In the Can 1970 Scope and Contents

16mm film. Film number 10-1.

id53604 10 27 In the Can 1970 Scope and Contents

16mm film. Text from original box: Models in TV studio. Last bit has "Triss". Film number 10-2.

id53605 11 Investigation 1970 Scope and Contents

Films from the University Theatre.

id53677 11 53 Investigation 1971? Scope and Contents

Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Dialogue from The Investigation - INV

id53606 11 28 Investigation 1970 Scope and Contents

16mm film. Film number 11-1.

id53607 11 29 Investigation 1970 Scope and Contents

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

id53627 11 44 Investigation 1970 Scope and Contents

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

id53573 12 King Lear 1971 Scope and Contents

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

id53679 12 53 King Lear 1971 Scope and Contents

Scotch 111 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. 71/2 King Lear w/ Cordelia an early rehersal

id53680 12 53 King Lear 1971 Scope and Contents

Scotch RB7 7 Audio 7 _ ips. Lear Intermission / Lear-A

id53681 12 53 King Lear 1971 Scope and Contents

Scotch RB7 7 Audio 7 _ ips. Overture, 13 3-minute works. c. 36 mins. / LEAR-B

id53682 12 53 King Lear 1971? Scope and Contents

Scotch RB-7 - 7" Audio. Tape 2A - LEAR-C

id53683 12 53 King Lear 1971? Scope and Contents

Scotch RB-7 - 7" Audio . Tape 1b - LEAR-D

id53684 12 53 King Lear 1971 Scope and Contents

Ampex 641 - 7" Audio - 1 mil Polyester . LEAR-E - Lear Act IV - Tape 1c

id53685 12 53 King Lear 1971 Scope and Contents

Ampex 641 - 7" Audio - 1 mil Polyester . Tape 2B - III, 6 Entreact - Lear F

id53686 12 53 King Lear 1971? Scope and Contents

Ampex 641 - 7" Audio - 1 mil Polyester . Tape 2c - Lear Act I - LEAR-G

id53687 12 53 King Lear 1971 Scope and Contents

Scotch 111 - 7" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. LEAR-H - Original sound effects

id53688 12 53 King Lear 1971 Scope and Contents

Sunset - 7" Audio - recorded at 71/2 I.P.S. Lear I - actors reading cues and speaches for music

id53689 12 53 King Lear 1971 Scope and Contents

AudioTape - 7" audio. LEAR-J - Very Early in rehearsal - actors reading

id53574 12 5 King Lear 1971 Scope and Contents

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

id53608 12 30 King Lear 1971 Scope and Contents

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

id53628 12 45 King Lear 1971 Scope and Contents

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

id53575 13 Media Man (undated) Scope and Contents

Film and outs reels

id53576 13 6 Media Man (undated) Scope and Contents

16mm film. Original. Film number 13-2

id53577 13 7 Media Man (undated) Scope and Contents

16mm film. Two heavily spliced small reels merged onto one core. Film number 13-3.

id53578 13 8 Media Man (undated) Scope and Contents

16mm film. Film number 13-4

id53579 13 9 Media Man (undated) Scope and Contents

16mm film. Original. Film number 13-1.

id53609 13 31 Media Man 1995 Scope and Contents

16mm film. Original. Film number 13-7. (date taken from original container)

id53610 13 32 Media Man (undated) Scope and Contents

16mm film. Film number 13-8

id53611 13 33 Media Man (undated) Scope and Contents

16mm film. Film number 13-9.

id53629 13 46 Media Man (undated) Scope and Contents

16mm film. Film number 13-5

id53635 13 52 Media Man (undated) Scope and Contents

16mm film. Original. Film number 13-6.

id53690 14 Midsummer Night's Dream 1970 Scope and Contents

Audio reels

id53692 14 53 Midsummer Night's Dream 1970 Scope and Contents

Scotch 111 - 7" Audio - 1.5 mil Acetate. U of O - A little of the overture/ Court entrance/ Rustic's Entrance

id53693 14 53 Midsummer Night's Dream 1970 Scope and Contents

SoundTape - 7" Audio - 1.5 mil Polyester . U of O - Background Tape - no leaders - music

id53580 15 Multiple Sources (undated) Scope and Contents

Film reels

id53581 15 10 Multiple sources (undated) Scope and Contents

16mm film. Collage 2. Film number 15-1.

id53612 15 34 Multiple sources (undated) Scope and Contents

16mm film. Up-left, collage 1, Interlude 2, 3rd. Madrigal, Interlude 4, 9th Madrigal, Interlude 6, 12th Madrigal (FOG)

id53613 15 35 Multiple sources (undated) Scope and Contents

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.

id53582 16 People Outdoors (undated) Scope and Contents

Film reels.

id53583 16 11 People outdoors (undated) Scope and Contents

16mm film. Tape spliced summer. Film number 17-1.

id53694 17 Richard III 1971 Scope and Contents

Audio reel

id53696 17 53 Richard III 1971 Scope and Contents

Scotch 7" Audio - 3.5 IPS "Incidental music, composed by Philip Bayles realized with the Moog synthesizer"

id53584 18 Sprinkler Footage (undated) Scope and Contents

Film reel

id53585 18 12 Sprinkler footage (undated) Scope and Contents

16mm film - "sprinklers" - merge of two finger reels of heavily spliced footage. Film number 20-1.

id53701 19 Taming of the Shrew (undated) Scope and Contents

Audio reel

id53703 19 53 Taming of the Shrew (undated) Scope and Contents

AudioTape - 7" Audio - 7.5 IPS - (rehearsal and performance schedule enclosed in box) - University of Oregon production

id53704 20 Tartuffe 1975 Scope and Contents

Audio reel

id53706 20 53 Tartuffe 1975 Scope and Contents

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

id53614 21 The Unicorn, the Gorgon, and the Manticore 1968 Scope and Contents

Film and audio reels

id53708 21 54 The Unicorn, the Gorgon, and the Manticore 1968 Scope and Contents

Scotch 190 - 7" Audio - 1.0 mil acetate. "U of O / The Unicorn ... my production in 1968"

id53615 21 36 The Unicorn, the Gorgon, and the Manticore 1968 Scope and Contents

16mm film. Film number 23-1.

id53616 22 Trains (undated) Scope and Contents

Film reels

id53617 22 37 Trains (undated) Scope and Contents

16mm film. Film number 24-2.

id53630 22 47 Trains (undated) Scope and Contents

16mm film. "European Train Documentary." Film number 24-1.

id53618 23 Trois (Kings?) Flame (undated) id53619 23 38 Trois (kings?) flame interspersed (undated) Scope and Contents

16mm film. Film number 25-1.

id53620 23 39 Trois (kings?) flame interspersed (undated) Scope and Contents

16mm film. Film number 25-2.

id53621 24 Twelfth Night 1967 id53710 24 54 Twelfth Night 1967 Scope and Contents

SoundCraft - 7" audio - 1 mil Acetate. Master tape Duplicate

id53711 24 54 Twelfth Night 1967 Scope and Contents

SoundCraft - 7" audio - 1 mil. Acetate. Master tape - T. Trombley

id53712 24 54 Twelfth Night 1967 Scope and Contents

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."

id53622 24 40 Twelfth Night 1967 Scope and Contents

16mm film. Film number 26-1.

id53623 25 Unidentified (undated) id53714 25 54 Unidentified Audio Tape (undated) Scope and Contents

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".

id53624 25 41 16mm. Unidentified. (undated) Scope and Contents

16mm film. Film number 27-1.

id53586 26 Web 1968 Scope and Contents

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

id53721 26 54 Web 1968 Scope and Contents

Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Smalley #3 - Web 1 - Sensibility (?) in making. Film number 28-6.

id53722 26 54 Web 1968 Scope and Contents

Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Smalley Invterview #II Tape #1 - Web 2.

id53723 26 54 Web 1968 Scope and Contents

Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Smalley #1 of #III - Web 3 - Family ___

id53724 26 54 Web 1968 Scope and Contents

Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Smalley #2 of #III - Web 4

id53725 26 54 Web 1968 Scope and Contents

Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Smalley #IV #1 - Web 5 - Smalley Interview

id53726 26 54 Web 1968 Scope and Contents

Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Smalley #IV #2 - Web 6

id53727 26 54 Web 1968 Scope and Contents

Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Smalley #IV #3 - Web 7.

id53728 26 54 Web 1968 Scope and Contents

Scotch 141 - 5" Audio - 1.5 mil acetate. Smalley Interview #II Tape #2 - Web 8

id53719 26 56 5 Web 1968 Scope and Contents

Materials related to the production of Web

id61595 Performance Notes and Publications id53717 56 4 University Theatre Rehearsal and Audition Notes (undated) id53699 56 6 Sculpture of the Pacific Northwest c. 1976 Scope and Contents

Preface and Acknowledgements, Introduction, Photographic Essay

id53700 56 7 Sculpture of the Pacific Northwest c. 1976 Scope and Contents

Photographic Index, Bibliographical Index

id53658 56 8 Choreography Notes (undated) Scope and Contents

2-5x7 index cards