Canalli (John) photographs and video recordings
Scope and Contents
The collection includes correspondence, miscellaneous papers, clippings, microcassettes, photographs, and video recordings from independent filmmaker John Canalli, circa 1978-2010. The bulk of the photographs documents Canalli and his friends as they dressed up for and attended drag queen events, mostly in San Francisco. The video recordings include DVDs and videocassettes of Canalli's film productions, including Wigstock documentaries and outtakes, the documentary Heroism : A Community Responds, programs from the Gay Cable Network, and excerpts from unfinished works. Also included are an interview with Canalli and a documentary retrospective of his work.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1978-2010
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1985 - 1992
Creator
- Canalli, John (Creator, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Biography
Born on October 29, 1956, independent filmmaker John Canalli (also known by his family name Canaly) wrote and produced LGBT-themed dramas and documentaries. Active in LGBT film festival programming, Canalli served as Assistant Film Festival Director for the 9th International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in 1985, where his dramatic short One Sings was screened. Canalli went on to develop the Gay Video Festival in San Francisco in 1986, and later co-developed west coast programming for the Gay Cable Network, which featured interview programs produced out of San Francisco and New York. Canalli also documented the AIDS crisis, writing and producing Heroism : A Community Responds, which highlighted the gay community coming together through Meals on Wheels and other forms of compassionate outreach. Among his most celebrated works, Canalli produced a number of video documentaries about Wigstock, a popular annual drag performance party in New York City's Tompkins Square Park. He died from complications from AIDS on March 25, 1992.
Extent
0.7 Linear Feet (1 archive carton.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Photographs, video recordings, and personal papers, circa 1978-2010, from gay independent filmmaker John Canalli. The bulk of the photographs documents Canalli and his friends attending drag queen events in San Francisco. The video recordings include DVDs and videocassettes of Canalli's film productions, including Wigstock documentaries and outtakes, the documentary Heroism : A Community Responds, programs from the Gay Cable Network, and excerpts from unfinished works.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in the following series:
Series 1. Papers and photographs
Series 2. Video recordings
Acquisition
Gift of Christine Canaly, July 30, 2009.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Michael Palmer; revised by Loni Shibuyama, May 2014.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the John Canalli Photographs and Video Recordings, circa 1978-2010
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Loni Shibuyama
- Date
- (c) 2014
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
- Sponsor
- Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources.
Repository Details
Part of the ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, University of Southern California Repository
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles California 90007 United States
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu