Extent: 2,000 videotapes, video files, and films
Dates: 1949–2016
Description: Media Burn’s Chicago Collection is the cornerstone of our archive, spanning more than a half century of history and culture. The Chicago Collection contains unique cultural and historical records of this city’s people, places, and events from a distinctly non-commercial point of view, not represented or collected elsewhere. Hundreds of subjects, including ordinary people, musicians, mayors, baseball legends, radio personalities, community leaders, and neighborhood festivals are captured for posterity.The archive contains a particularly comprehensive documentation of local politics, featuring the lives and times of Alderman Vito Marzullo; Congressman Rahm Emanuel; Congressman Dan Rostenkowski; Senator Carol Moseley-Braun; Governors Jim Edgar and George Ryan; mayors Jane Byrne, Harold Washington, and Richard J. and Richard M. Daley; and many more. The footage in this collection, produced by passionate independent observers, provides a rare and valuable counterpoint to the official histories of many of Chicago’s most noteworthy 20th century characters.
Subcollections:
 |
Studs TerkelExtent: 135 videocasettes (VHS); 17 videocasettes (U-Matic); 5 digital files; 4 videocassettes (1/2″); 7 films (16mm); 1 videocassettes (Betacam); 36 videocassettes (Betacam SP); 2 videocassettes (Betacam SX); 6 videocassettes (Digi-Beta); 1 videocassettes (Digital S / D9); 7 videocassettes (DVCAM); 17 DVD; 3 DVD-R; 2 videocassettes (Hi-8); 3 MiniDV Paper materials (.5 linear feet): Dates: 1949–2008 Description: The largest collection in the world of videos featuring the oral historian, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, and radio DJ; about half were donated by Terkel himself. There are also many original tapes from programs featuring Terkel, produced by FITV and associates throughout a thirty-year relationship. In addition to providing an in-depth portrait of Terkel, the tapes follow Terkel’s innumerable humanities-oriented interests (music, art, theater, etc) across a half-century. People: Studs Terkel, Norman Corwin, Stetson Kennedy, Hazel Wolf, Jessica de la Cruz, Victor Reuther, Edie Rubinowitz, Warner Saunders (Host of Common Ground), Michael Wilmington, Beverly Younger, Win Stracke, John Galvarro, Sunda Love, Les Podwell, Buster Keaton, Dorie Thurman, David Thompson, Tom Snyder, Dave Marsh, Ken Burns, John Callaway, Marianne Faithfull, Rita Braver, Larry Carlson, Howard Robs Subjects: Studs Terkel, Studs’ Place, Chicago, Chicago politics, Bughouse Square Debates, Chicago history, Work, U.S. Labor |
 |
Chicago SlicesExtent: 21 1″ reel-to-reel; 103 videocassettes (U-Matic); 11 videocassettes (Betacam SP); 20 videocassettes (D2); 245 videocassettes (Hi-8); 19 videocassettes (VHS) Paper materials (1 linear feet): Dates: 1992-1994 Description: Documentary TV series about people and places around Chicago produced by FITV and aired on WPWR-Chicago. The collection features all 17 30-minute episodes plus all the camera originals shot for the series. A wide variety of local events and culture are captured. These include everything from footage and discussion of Chicago traditions like Italian beef, hot dogs, deep dish pizza, and Italian ice; footage of immigrant community traditions, from Serbian weddings to urban Mexican rodeos; parades, neighborhood festivals and ethnic fairs; to street performers and acrobats on the South Side; to footage of Chicago’s vibrant arts and cultural scene, such as the Poetry Slams created by Marc Smith, or legendary blues performers at the Checkerboard Lounge. People: Studs Terkel, Ben Hollis, Brigid Murphy, Donny Osmond, Ed Holstein, Gordon Walek, Joe Cummings, Leroy Brown, Eddie Clearwater, Marc Smith, Mike Murphy, John Obie, Sally Station, Judy Markey, Aaron Freeman, Patrick Walsh Subjects: Chicago Slices, Tom Weinberg, Chicago, Chicago Culture, FITV, WPWR-Chicago, documentary, Joel Cohen |
 |
Voices of CabriniExtent: 8 videocassettes (Hi 8mm); 10 videocassettes (U-Matic); 54 videocassettes (Betacam SP); 1 videocassette (Mini DV) Dates: 1980–1999 Description: An in-depth collection of documentary footage shot at the Cabrini-Green public housing projects during the 1980s and ’90s. The bulk of the collection is camera original footage produced for filmmaker Ronit Bezalel’s documentary Voices of Cabrini, shot over the course of five years. One of the most scholarly significant collections in America, it provides access to the first person experience of race and class, as well as historical documentation of public policy and politics. People: Mark Pratt, Cora Moore, Bobby Rush, Ray Tores, David Tkac, Guana Stamps, George Robbins, John Stevens, Adrianne Bryant, Trevente Pratt, Sandra Watson, Flynn McRoberts, Marion Stamps, Moe Robbins, Peter Geller, Margaret Ray, Sirwanta Terry, Twanna Murdock, Tammy Smith, Jesse White, Walter Burnett, Joseph Shuldiner, Lynette Havis, Henry Washington, Charita Havis, Ricky Hendon, Pandora Meadows, John McCarron, Andy Shaw, Richard M. Daley, Michael Johnson, David Axelrod, Jane Byrne, Lu Palmer Subjects: Public housing; housing policy; Chicago history |
 |
This Week in Joe’s BasementExtent: 69 digital files Dates: 1989–1993 Description: All 60 episodes, as well as alternate versions, of the cult classic Chicago cable access show. This Week in Joe’s Basement aired on public access cable (CAN-TV) in Chicago from 1989 to 1993. The series combined offbeat humor, social critique, and incisive documentary segments in a way television audiences had never seen before. It won two local cable TV awards and was featured in the Chicago Tribune, NBC’s Today, Jenny Jones, MTV’s Day in Rock, BBC’s World of Wonder, and PBS’s Image Union and The 90s. Joe’s Basement became so notorious that when Saturday Night Live’s “Wayne’s World” skit was made into a movie, the Chicago Tribune assigned Joe to interview star Mike Myers. People: Joe Winston, Paul Pomerlau, Anton Kast, Gully Weiss, Mark Audrain, Paul Birchall, Aaron Rothenberg, Adam Goldman, Juan Luco, Kate Olsen, John Harriman, Jengis Alpar, Page Phillips, Michelle Heuer, Emily Reber, Rachel Silverman, Ben Posner, Justina Frank, Kris Hipps, Noel Steere, Gail Cox, Lydia Royer Topics: comedy, Chicago, Hyde Park, satire, sketch, man-on-the-street, interview, cable access |
 |
Nelson AlgrenExtent: 7 videocassettes (Hi8); 2 videocassettes (VHS) Dates: 1991-1999 Description: This collection commemorates Nelson Algren (1909-1981), a prolific writer who depicted mid-20th-century urban America with a cool eye and a compassionate heart, as seen in such masterpieces as The Man with the Golden Arm, Neon Wilderness, Never Come Morning and his great prose poem, Chicago: City on the Make. The videos in this collection cover biographical information about Algren, as well as events hosted in Chicago to commemorate Algren’s birthday and the creation of the Nelson Algren Foundation. People: Studs Terkel, Leon DesPres, Stu McCarrell, Art Shay, Dan Simon, Mark Blottner, Bill Savage, Bob Rudnick, Darrel Warren, Jim Tomasello, Nelson Algren, Ron Miles, Stu Mccarrell, Warren Leming Subjects: Bob Rudnick, Bop Shop, Darrel Warren, Gilgamesh Band, Jim Tomasello, Nelson Algren, Nelson Algren Committee, Ron Miles, Stu Mccarrell, Warren Leming, Chicago history |
 |
Joe CummingsExtent: 3 videocassettes (VHS); 3 videocassettes (VHS) (audio only); 13 videocassettes (U-Matic); 5 videocassettes (Hi8); 1 videocassette (MiniDV) Dates: 1968-1999 Description: This collection features Joe Cummings (1930-1999), a legendary Chicago newsman and a genuine character on the air and in real life. He was a street-smart wisecracking reporter for WBBM radio who fearlessly chased the stories for more than 20 years. After retiring from radio, Joe dedicated himself to being a part of TV shows for and about everyday people, such as Chicago Slices, Wild Chicago, and THE 90’s–“the way TV should be.” This collection includes segments from each of these television shows and includes the original raw tapes from Overnight Man, a documentary about Joe Cummings by Tom Weinberg. This collection also includes audio of Cummings’ news reports on WBBM. People: Joe Cummings, Tom Weinberg, John Callaway, Ken Solarz, Michael Sneed, Mary Laney (former WBBM-TV news reporter), Scott Craig (former WBBM-TV producer), Bob Wallace (former WBBM-TV news reporter), John Drummond (former WBBM-TV news reporter), Angela Schreiner (friend), Celeste Zielke (niece), Joe Heffernan (friend), Shiela Murphy (cousin), Harvey Moshman (producer for Wild Chicago) Subjects: Chicago history, politics, protest, war, Vietnam War, Peace March, religion, immigration, Skokie, The Overnight Man, Chicago Slices, The 90s, Wild Chicago, Image Union, Chicago Neighborhoods |
 |
Richard J. DaleyExtent: 4 videocassettes (U-Matic); 2 videocassettes (VHS); 2 audio tapes (1/4″ reel-to-reel). Paper materials: (.5 linear feet) Dates: 1966-1986 Description: The Richard J. Daley Collection contains videocasettes, audio recordings, and papers relating to the political machine and powerful influence of Richard J Daley (1902-1976), the 48th mayor of Chicago, IL from 1955-1976. Topics include Chicago history and politics, urban development, Mayor Daley, and machine politics. Many of the materials were gathered or produced for the 1986 TV special “Daley.” People: Richard J Daley, Harold Washington, Jane Byrne, Michael Bilandic, Bill Singer, Irv Kupcinet, Leon Despres, John Hoellen, Daley Family Subjects: Chicago history, Chicago politics, politics, urban development, Mayor Daley, machine politics, political speeches |
 |
Michael JohnsonExtent: 2 videocassettes (U-Matic); 3 videocassettes (VHS); 1 videocassette (MiniDV); 1 videocassettes (Betacam SP) Dates: 1996-1999 Description: This collection contains the raw footage and edited material for Tom Weinberg’s documentary, “The Other M.J.,” which aired on the WTTW-Chicago program “Image Union.” This collection documents Michael Johnson, who works on the floor of the United Center, the home of the Chicago Bulls. Johnson met the film crew during the 1996 Democratic National Convention, while the crew was producing a program called “None of the Above,” about people who choose not to vote. Johnson struggles to make ends meet on a minimum wage job amidst the pomp and circumstance of the 1996 Democratic National Convention. Through his candid reflections, one sees the struggle of many workers across the country as they are faced with limited employment options, no benefits, and no room for advancement. People: Tom Weinberg, Michael Johnson Subjects: Image Union, Tom Weinberg, Michael Johnson, United Center, voting politics, documentary, social problem |
 |
Chicago Conspiracy TrialExtent: 24 videocassettes (VHS); 1 videocassette (Mini-DV); 2 audiocassettes; 2 DVD; 2 videocassettes (Hi-8mm); 1 videocassette (U-matic) Paper materials (.5 linear feet): Drawer 15, collection 18, series 1 (Press) Dates: 1969-2001 Description: This collection includes a short documentary, designed to be a trailer for a full-length documentary, about two controversial figures in the Chicago Conspiracy trial, both named Hoffman: activist Abbie Hoffman and U.S. District Court Judge Julius Hoffman. One of the underlying concepts is that these two diametrically opposed characters were intertwined as people and as courtroom adversaries. The story is told mostly through interviews with various persons involved in the trial, plus some archival footage of the Democratic convention of 1968 (both of the actual convention and the associated riots on the Chicago streets), the Vietnam War, and various press conferences. The collection also includes a recording of an audio theater performance narrating the trial experience, starring David Schwimmer, George Murdock, and Mike Nussbaum . People: Abbie Hoffman, Julius Hoffman, Thomas Foran, John Froines, Leonard Weinglass, Verna Sadock, Ken Gaines, Jeff Cole, David Schwimmer, George Murdock, Mike Nussbaum Subjects:Chicago, Chicago conspiracy trial, Chicago seven, Abbie Hoffman, Democratic Convention, Riot |
 |
Robert “Yummy” SandiferExtent: 2 videocassettes (U-Matic); 1 videocassette (VHS); 10 videocassettes (Hi-8); 2 videocassettes (DVCAM) Dates: 1994-1995 Description: This collection contains videocassettes about events surrounding the murder of Robert “Yummy” Sandifer in Chicago’s Roseland neighborhood, filmed by Andrew Jones for an episode of Weekend TV. Sandifer, a member of the street gang the Black Disciples, came to national attention after killing 14-year-old Shavon Dean while only 11 years old. He was shot by two other members of the Black Disciples, Cragg and Derrick Hardaway, because they feared he would become an informant and was bringing too much attention to the gang. Jones talks to family and friends about the tragedy and how it reflects on our society. This collection also includes raw footage coverage of the murder trial. People: Robert “Yummy” Sandifer, Andrew Jones Topics: Murder victims, Chicago (Ill.)–History, Gang members, Robert “Yummy” Sandifer |