Image Union, episode 0001

Hour long compilation episode of Image Union featuring "TV Magic Ballots" by Nate Herman and Warren Leming, "Assassins" with Joe Mantegna and Jack Wallace, "Chicago Blues" by Jim Passin and Nancy Grosse, work from Jane Veeder, excerpts from "Now We Live On Clifton" by Kartemquin Films, stopmotion animation, an interview by "My Sister's Cutting Room" during a dog's birthday party, and "The Bums" by Scott Jacobs and Valjean McLenighan 1976. The second half of the episode features "Electronic Masks" by Barbara Sykes, an excerpt from "Paper Roses" by Maxi Cohen and Joel Gold, and "Television Delivers People" by Richard Serra and Carlota Fay Schoolman.

0:00Copy video clip URL Slate and count-in.

0:22Copy video clip URL Image Union opening.

1:06Copy video clip URL “TV Magic Ballots” by Nate Herman and Warren Leming. Political spoof of Chicago-style elections. All magic ballot votes will be counted as Democratic votes. “So simple even an alderman can use them.” All votes come out Democratic!

2:28Copy video clip URL In a 1961 press conference, Richard J. Daley announces his candidacy for mayor. “I am proud to say I am a Democrat. I believe in the philosophy and program of the Democratic Party. If elected mayor of the city of Chicago I shall be the mayor for all the people.”

3:08Copy video clip URL “Assassins” starring Joe Mantegna and Jack Wallace, a student film which won 1978 awards. A short fictional film featuring still photographs of characters’ memories. Jack Wallace drives and listens to the radio while Joe Mantegna prepares an assassination. The two men rehearse plans for the killing. Still photos reveal Wallace to be a mob boss in hiding, and Mantegna to be a wanted assassin. Leading up to the crime, they reveal that they are both tortured by memories and loss. Cinematography by Craig Somers. Written, Produced, and Directed by Charles Robert Carner.

19:17Copy video clip URL German commercial for Chiquita bananas. While a train passes into a tunnel, a priest eats an old woman’s delicious banana.

19:49Copy video clip URL “Chicago Blues” by Jim Passin and Nancy Grosse. Color video. At Else Where blues bar and restaurant at Clark Street and Belmont Ave, Bonnie Lee and Big Time Sarah sing a Chicago-style blues song with drums and piano accompaniment. Sunnyland Slim takes the stage and entices the crowd to dance before belting out a couple verses. The audience appears to be a young, mostly white, hippyish crowd. Camera by Jim Passin and Mirko Popadic, lighting by Jim Morrissette.

24:54Copy video clip URL Jane Veeder video art segment. “I don’t want you to think this is the first time I’ve ever been on television.”

25:36Copy video clip URL Excerpts from “Now We Live On Clifton” by Kartemquin Films. Footage of a self-defense class for girls, plus interviews with some of the girls about the importance of the skills they are learning.

30:52Copy video clip URL Stop-motion animation. “Electricity costs more today, you know… than it did 25 days ago!” “What can you do about it? Nothing! We’ve got you by the bills!” Satirical segment on the power of electric companies. “Why is America powerful? Because we keep America powerful. By keeping America running.” By Nate Herman and Warren Leming. Animation by Larry Bafia.

33:22Copy video clip URL A videomaker interviews people at a “Dog Party”–a party for a dog’s birthday. Neighborhood dogs visit, the dog is given wine and beer, etc. Kathy Schubert, Editor. Steve Mann, Interviewer. By My Sister’s Cutting Room.

34:50Copy video clip URL Image Union mid-show re-introduction.

35:21Copy video clip URL “The Bums” by Scott Jacobs and Valjean McLenighan 1976. A community of unhoused people under a bridge near San Francisco talk about their daily lives.

42:35Copy video clip URL Footage of a 1968 press conference held by Mayor Richard J. Daley about the protests in Lincoln Park during the Democratic National Convention. He makes one of his famous blunders: “The policeman isn’t there to create disorder. The policeman is there to preserve disorder.” He defends the actions of the policemen who had attacked protesters.

43:57Copy video clip URL “Electronic Masks” by Barbara Sykes, from “Eve III, 1978.” Color video art segment featuring processed images and tribal-sounding percussion. The images are reminiscent of Native American totem poles.

49:06Copy video clip URL Excerpt from “Paper Roses” (1976) by Maxi Cohen and Joel Gold through Videopolis. An older man and his wife play the man’s new version of “Such A Day” rewritten for senior citizens. “Such a day/As beautiful as this one/Such a day/Should never ever end/The years go by/And we are getting older/With fondest memories deep in our hearts/The lovely times/That we’ve enjoyed together/Shall always be/The very best of all.” Otto and Margaret Falkenburg, performers.

52:32Copy video clip URL “Television Delivers People” by Richard Serra & Carlota Fay Schoolman. Text scrolls onscreen while benign-sounding Muzak plays in the background. In simple sentences, the text informs us about the true role of television: “Television delivers people to an advertiser.” “Mass media delivers masses of people, at least twenty million per minute.” “The television watcher is a product, which is consumed by advertisers.”

58:41Copy video clip URL Commercial for riri.

59:02Copy video clip URL Image Union closing credits.

59:45Copy video clip URL End of tape.