Once In A Blue Moon Productions records
Scope and Content of Collection
The bulk of this collection contains correspondence, financial records and printed ephemera documenting the activities of Once In A Blue Moon Productions, a production company and women's collective located in Los Angeles, California, from 1977 to 1980. The correspondence items consist of handwritten and typed letters from and to Once In A Blue Moon. The content of these letters relates to benefit concerts and artists supported by Blue Moon, as well as the day-to-day activities of the organization. The financial records outline the organization's spending from 1977 to 1980; they include budgets, receipts, bank statements, and check stubs. Printed ephemera consist of fliers, posters and two mockups of the Willie Tyson, Kay Gardener and Alive, and An Evening with Good-time Music concerts held between 1977 and 1980. Information about musicians who collaborated with Blue Moon--Woody Simmons, Joanna Cazden, Willie Tyson, Julie James, and Alix Dobkin--is included in the form of typed biographies, clippings, and correspondence. A negative of a photograph of Willie Tyson--used for the Willie Tyson, Kay Gardener and Alive concert--is included as well.
Dates
- Creation: 1976-1980
Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Publication Rights
Researchers wishing to publish materials must obtain permission in writing from ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives as the physical owner. Researchers must also obtain clearance from the holder(s) of any copyrights in the materials. Note that ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives can grant copyright clearance only for those materials for which we hold the copyright. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance for all other materials directly from the copyright holder(s).
Biography
Once In A Blue Moon Productions was founded in 1977 by a group of women--Patt Riese, Susan Rowe, Carol Leamy, Barbara Allen and Lesley Mallgraves--who had worked together on the Women On Wheels L.A. series of 1977.
Blue Moon was L.A.'s only feminist collective production company of its time. Barbara Allen describes it as an alternative production company with the goal of spreading women's culture by presenting and supporting feminist performers. The organization put on concerts with feminist musicians such as Woody Simmons, Alix Dobkin, and Julie James. By doing this, Blue Moon's founders hoped to develop an alternative to the dominant capitalistic system they regarded as defining and separating people according to class, sex, race and age in order to insure the power of the elite.
The women behind Blue Moon felt that the capitalistic system separated and isolated the feminist community; and they actively worked to counter such affects by unifying women through benefit concerts, activism and outreach. They were committed to the eradication of sexism and the widespread effects that it had on all women's lives.
Blue Moon's founders desired to use women's culture as a means of combating the patriarchal system. By doing so, women would be able to advance politically, socially and economically. Within the organization, each woman had equal power and responsibility and all jobs paid the same regardless of job title.
As often as possible, the women of Blue Moon attempted to use services from other women's businesses and hoped to make an exclusive practice of this. Collaborators include Olivia Records, Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW), Wise Women Enterprises, and Redwood Records.
At Once In A Blue Moon events no woman was turned away due to lack of funds. Childcare was always available and leaflet tables were provided so that the organization could continue its outreach. Blue Moon's founders also hoped to take as many of their productions as possible inside prisons so that all women would have equal access to the spirit and support of the feminist movement.
Once In A Blue Moon Productions appears to have ceased operations around 1980.
Sources:
Allen, Barbara. Once In A Blue Moon Production. Production's Press. Santa Monica, CA (December 9, 1977).
Box 1, folder 1, Once In A Blue Moon Productions Records, Coll2009-011, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California.
Extent
0.4 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The bulk of this collection contains correspondence, financial records and printed ephemera documenting the activities of Once In A Blue Moon Productions, a production company and women's collective located in Los Angeles, California. The materials document Blue Moon's activities and operations from 1977 to 1980. Information about musicians who collaborated with Blue Moon--Woody Simmons, Joanna Cazden, Willie Tyson, Julie James, and Alix Dobkin--is included in the form of typed biographies, clippings, and correspondence.
Physical location
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California.
Acquisition Information
Date and method of acquisition unknown. Materials found in the Lesbian Legacy Collection Subject Files.
General Physical Description note
(1 archival carton).
- Title
- Finding aid of the Once In A Blue Moon Productions Records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Mor Fleisher-Leach
- Date
- © 2009
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in: English
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