Media Burn picks

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  It’s a Living: a documentary inspired by Studs Terkel’s Working

  April 13, 2011 at 11:17 am / Blog

  It’s a Living Produced through Videopolis by Skip Blumberg, Paul Challacombe, Joel Gold, Judy Hoffman, Anda Korsts, Jim Mayer, Jack McFadden, Tom Shea, Tom Weinberg, and Jim Wiseman 1975 It’s A Living was the first locally produced independent videotape broadcast on Chicago television, airing May 9, 1975 on WTTW. More than a dozen video pioneers worked together with Studs Terkel to make an insightful television program about everyday people that was unlike anything that had been broadcast before. It’s A … Continue reading →

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  Great Men, Division Street

  April 6, 2011 at 10:51 am / Blog

  Jerry Blumenthal presents his video, “Great Men, Division Street.” In honor of Kenneth Green’s book, “I’m From Division Street,” old friends from 1950s Humboldt Park reunite at Manny’s in 2010. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqd7vR_5uzg] Watch this video at Media Burn for more information about the “great men.”

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  Great Men, Division Street

  2011-3-25 / Chicago Collection

  A reunion of filmmaker Jerry Blumenthal, Kenneth Green, author of “I’m From Division Street,” and others who grew up in the old neighborhood in Humboldt Park at Manny’s, September, 2010. Continue reading →

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  Paul Nadler and David Halberstam on the economy

  March 22, 2011 at 3:25 pm / Blog

  Media Burn presents two prescient economic predictions from THE 90′s that are as true today as they were nearly 20 years ago. First, economist and American Banker columnist Paul Nadler on the savings and loan crisis, a forerunner of our current mortgage crisis. Second, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, historian, and journalist David Halberstam on Republican culpability for the U.S. budgetary deficit. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2OFm3qD4yA] Watch THE 90′s episode MONEY, MONEY, MONEY at Media Burn.

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  Straight Arrow edit

  1973-9-1 / Chicago Collection, Guerrilla TV, Roots of Video

  A night at the Straight Arrow Tap in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, a neighborhood tavern where residents from many walks of life mingle. Continue reading →

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  Hooray for Hollywood!

  March 11, 2011 at 10:08 am / Blog

  Making It In Hollywood Directed by Frank Cavestani 1976 This unique documentary is a time capsule of Hollywood in the 1970s and the American obsession with fame. It follows a few of the thousands of people who come to Los Angeles every year to “make it” as actors and actresses — at their day jobs, going to auditions, and waiting for acting work at legendary Schwab’s Drugstore. It tells the story of Cissy Colpitts, a new young face, hoping to … Continue reading →

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  New and improved mediaburn.org

  March 8, 2011 at 12:29 pm / Blog

  We had a great week working with enthusiastic and talented grad students Kevin Hoxie and Isaac VanDuyn from the University of Michigan’s School of Information. The site is sleeker, more modern, and more fun to use. Don’t miss the revamped home page and dvd store. It’s just the first of many good things to come. Keep checking back as we grow!   Media Burn t-shirts have shipped! We have a limited number left… donate and get yours now!

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  The Good Times Are Killing Me

  1975-1-1 / American Way, Sex, Drugs, & Rock 'N Roll

  Documentary about the rapidly fading Cajun culture in rural Louisiana. About half of the tape focuses on Nathan Abshire, “Mr. Accordion,” who performs traditional music with his band and talks about the old life. The other major focus of the tape is the celebration of Cajun Mardi Gras. Continue reading →