[Five Day Bicycle Race raw #22]

This video contains raw footage shot for "Five Day Bicycle Race," a project comprised of live in-studio commentary and taped edited coverage of the 1976 Democratic National Convention in New York City. Produced by independent videomakers calling themselves The Image Union (including many members of TVTV and Videofreex), it aired on Manhattan Cable for three hours per night for five days during the convention. In this video, we watch as videomaker Maxi Cohen navigates security requirements at the Americana Hotel in Midtown Manhattan during a press conference for Jimmy Carter.

00:00Copy video clip URL This tape begins with a blue screen.

00:31Copy video clip URL Fade into a shot of Maxi Cohen outside of the Americana Hotel, where a gay rights protest was under way. We follow Cohen as she slowly makes her way in. Once inside the hotel, she desperately tries to gain access to the room where the Jimmy Carter press conference will be held.

03:23Copy video clip URL Cut to a shot of a number of press members in the press center of the hotel. Cohen tries to get information on how to find Barry Jagoda, Carter’s Media Adviser, with whom she had an appointment.

03:53Copy video clip URL Carter makes his way into the Press Conference next to Senator Adlai Stevenson III. Stevenson was a lead candidate for Carter’s running mate. Reporters ask Carter if he has narrowed his choices down for the role of Vice President. Carter responds by saying that he hasn’t. We watch as numerous press members take pictures, gather footage, and work on their stories about the event.

06:10Copy video clip URL Cut to footage of the Carter family minus Jimmy Carter. Cohen speaks with one of Carter’s sons about their time spent in New York as they share an elevator down to the lobby of the Americana Hotel. Once in the lobby, the Carter family has trouble getting through the throng of press situated in the lobby.

08:03Copy video clip URL There is a break in the footage.

08:59Copy video clip URL Juan Cruz, presumably an Illinois delegate, says a few kind words about Mayor Richard J. Daley of Chicago. Cohen and shooting partner Esti Marpet discuss the events that took place during the day and say a few words about Carter’s potential presidency.

10:07Copy video clip URL Cut to color bars and tone.

10:28Copy video clip URL Cut to footage from inside the empty convention hall at Madison Square Garden, decorated and ready to go. In this venue, Joel Gold performs a monologue describing the social isolation of a president. This lasts for the remainder of the tape.

14:28Copy video clip URL Tape ends.