San Diego State University Archives Mulitmedia Collection, Appendix
University Archives
Appendix A: Detailed Description of Many Items
I. Video1) 1930 Inauguration of new campus (no sound)
2) 1940's, Tinted footage--football games--early campus shots (no sound)
3) The Aztec Story (promo film, 1960s, produced by Associated Students)
4) "On to Santa Barbara", 1937 dedication of Montezuma Statue, track meet,football game sidelines (no sound)
5) The Sight and Sound of San Diego
6) Untitled 1970s era, no sound, approx. 7 minutes worth
II. Audio
I. Video
VHS 1 - SDSU Commencement, ca. 1965 (film to video transfer, silent, color). Running time : approximately eight minutes.
This video chronicles a graduation ceremony in the Open Air Theater during the mid-1960s. Starting with a medium shot of the graduates in their caps and gowns walking in a processional line and concluding with another medium shot of students and family standing by the punch bowl, the commencement ceremony is documented. Highlights include President Love at the podium delivering a speech and a military officer administering an oath to uniformed ROTC personnel.
VHS 2 - JFK at 1963 SDSU Commencement (Aztec Bowl); Construction Work at Parking Lot (North of Aztec Bowl). Film-to-video transfer, color, silent. 14 minutes of JFK, 4 minutes of parking lot construction.
On a historical level, this video is important as it illustrates JFK's speech of May, 1963 at San Diego State. The U.S. President is seen on stage with California Governor Pat Brown and SDSU President Malcolm Love. The camerawork, especially panning left and right, isn't always steady. Also, a light leak in the film magazine creates an orange rim towards the end of the JFK segment. Nonetheless, JFK's enthusiasm and presence as a dynamic speaker is seen both during the speech and as he mingles with various people in the crowd after leaving the podium.
The construction of a new parking is seen as dump trucks, construction vehicles and other earth moving tractors drive across the barren landscape. Unlike the color film stock of the JFK footage, this is black & white film which has somehow acquired a bluish tint.
At the tail end of this tape are several shots of several SDSU students in Mexico while standing in from of a Mexican Baptist Church. This appears to be some sort of social setting for the students while south of the border and is not thematically connected to previous material of this videotape.
VHS 3 - Boys playing ball (film-to-video transfer, silent, ca. 1958).
This video has a running time of approximately six minutes and is a sequence of medium shots as young boys (not SDSU students) are seen in slow motion either catching and throwing a baseball or kicking a ball. The film stock of this activity is either underexposed (too dark) or overexposed (too light) and, thus, of a poor technical quality. Historically, one interesting component to this short film is the background within each shot as the Chemistry-Biology Lab building on the east side of campus is seen behind these 10-12 year old boys as they pursue their activities. (The Industrial Arts and Physics building presently occupy the location of this afore-mentioned field.)
VHS 4 - SDSU Associated Men's Students 1942-1943 "Prepare to Meet the Axis Powers," (color, film-to-video transfer, silent).
This 16 minute movie is a series of vignettes portraying groups of SDSU male students performing various activities relating to the war effort. Hand-to-hand combat maneuvers, calisthenics, running exercises along a dirt trail and a game of touch football are examples of what is demonstrated. Title cards ("Arms and Legs for Offense," "While on Another Fielf Precision Prevails," and "Running Towards Victory," etc.) introduce the 12 individual sequences which comprise this film and, with the absence of sound, convey the indoctrination nature of this work.
This is a relatively well-conceived production on an aesthetic level. For example, a sense of movement by people across the frame and the composition of visual elements (foreground/background, blocking of students) within a frame are set up nicely by the filmmaker within a number of the individual sequences
*(Reviews by Peter Maxwell, Production Center for Documentary and Drama, SDSU. July 1996)
VHS 5 - Seven reels of original 16mm film transferred to VHS, 1997
1) 1930 Inauguration of new campus (no sound)
| Start time on counter |
Description of shot |
| 01:10 | LS-daytime football game; assorted game shots and scrimmages looking across field from ground level. |
| 02:17 | Title card "Aztec on Parade"; men speaking (one by one) from podium, sponsored by Blue Key. |
| 03:20 | MLS-profs, then students, walk through doorway of bell tower in caps and gowns. |
| 03:40 | MLS-cementing of 1930 time capsule (or cornerstone) at base of Bell Tower. |
| 04:00 | LS-various panning shots of people as they walk, stand and are seated before inauguration begins. (Camera movement isn't always steady.) |
| 05:10 | MS-men, then women, singing outdoor in patio area by mission archives-nice composition visually. Reverse shot of conductor with baton. Glee Club. |
| 05:40 | MLS-"actor" with limp walks into view of camera: he talks to different women then is approached by man in military uniform. (These sequences chronicling an outdoor play on film.) At end of play the woman is in the arms of the military man. Film may have been made at old campus.) |
| 06:20 | [end of film] |
2) 1940's, Tinted footage--football games--early campus shots (no sound)
| Start time on counter |
Description of shot |
| 06:40 | Initial sequence of "Aztecs on Parade" isn't strong--titles are backwards, too high of contrast. |
| 07:00 | MS-male and female students standing in courtyard on sunny day receiving corsages, smiling. |
| 07:40 | LS-high angle, looking down across grassy courtyard below; camera plans to various campus buildings from this high-angle point. |
| 08:20 | LS-still high angle; looking down to parking lot and nearby barren canyon. |
| 08:40 | LS-various campus buildings. |
| 09:00 | MS-male cheerleader with "bear" at football field sidelines as they do various yells and cheers. Pep rally at football game as people, hand-pulled carriages, and pickup trucks parade by; students hold up "Welcome Redlands" sign cards. |
| 10:00 | MS-women in football jerseys with little dachshunds on leashes. President Hepner and unidentified man. |
| 10:20 | MLS-military band marches down dirt road, Shriner's band marches by then proceeds across football field. |
| 11:00 | MS-football players put on helmets, shake hands. |
| 11:20 | LS-football kick-off, various plays from scrimmage (camera is at ground level). |
| 11:50 | MS-pink hued film as band marches by on football field (color is poor due to age of film). |
| 12:00 | LS-various grandstand shots of students and cheerleading section |
| 12:30 | MS-cheerleaders in red blouses pose for camera and smile (color is desaturated due to age of film). |
| 12:50 | MS-ground level camera as football players work from scrimmage, tackle, run, etc. |
| 13:20 | MS-pan across seated players and coach on sidelines (color is still reddish). |
| 13:40 | [end of film] |
3) The Aztec Story (promo film, 1960s, produced by Associated Students)
| Start time on counter |
Description of shot |
| 13:50 | Standard campus industrial, good time period shots of 1960s; a color film with sound and music track as narrator presents SDSU's story. |
| 15:00 | MLS-various campus buildings, people and crowds. |
| 15:40 | Discussion of military reserve presence on campus; MS-instructor in military uniform and student with model jet airplane in hand. |
| 16:00 | Art student does printmaking work. |
| 16:40 | Overview of teachers being trained; also, engineers. |
| 17:00 | MS, MCU-oscilloscopes, vectorscopes and students using various electronic equipment. |
| 17:40 | Life science and biology classes. |
| 18:00 | Research lab |
| 18:20 | MLS-introduction of three professors as they walk by while narrator describes their work (Oscar Kaplan), Arnie Wicke, Clifford Smith). George Sorenson. |
| 18:50 | MS-female high school valedictorian is with professor Sidney Gulick in office for advice. |
| 19:20 | Presence of astronomy and chemistry departments at SDSC. |
| 19:40 | MS-male students transfer tape (TV station/telecom students). |
| 20:00 | Discussion of campus speech department and journalism work on paper/Daily Aztec. |
| 20:30 | Overseas study program. |
| 20:40 | MS-colorful shots of homecoming week, football game, crowd shots, band on playing field. |
| 22:00 | MS-cheerleaders waving flags to inspire crowds (good color and focus); band on field. |
| 22:30 | MS-banjo players, student government at work. |
| 22:50 | MS-presence of drama on campus/Aztec Theatre Guild |
| 23:20 | LS-graduation day; graduates walk in and are seated; master shot of seated crowd. |
| 24:00 | MLS-JFK at 1963 commencement (the high-contrast nature of this shot made it difficult to find a good color level at times). |
| 25:00 | MS-good shot of JFK walking through crowd. |
| 25:25 | [end of film] |
4) "On to Santa Barbara", 1937 dedication of Montezuma Statue, track meet,football game
sidelines (no sound)
| 24:40 | LS-students leaving by train for Santa Barbara from San Diego. |
| 26:10 | MLS-student band members walk onto bus. |
| 26:50 | LS-student cheerleaders on sidelines. |
| 27:00 | LS-football game; various running plays are filmed from sideline of field. |
| 28:00 | LS-football game continues |
| 28:30 | "All Conference Track Meet" at S.D. State: MS-pole vaulting, shot put events; runners crossing finish line of race. |
| 29:30 | Discus throw and high hurdles track event. |
| 30:00 | MS-woman hands out medals to winners atop raised platform. |
| 30:45 | "Founder's Day and Dedication Ceremony" MS-Donal Hord on dais, man giving speech |
| 31:45 | MLS-uncovering of Monty statue on campus grounds. Donal Hord unveils. |
| 32:00 | LS-overhead camera looking down with students dressed as Indians and monks approach the Monty Statue; another procession of students walk by in front of the general crowd. (Some of this film has flashing due to light leaks in camera.) |
| 32:20 | MCU-Monty statue. |
[The following sequences are a series of vignettes from football games during
the
course of that year's season; all of this is still in black and white.] :
| 33:45 | "San Diego State vs. OXY (Occidental College" title card. MLS-kickoff of football game, assorted running plays, cheerleaders at sidelines (this all in Aztec Bowl). |
| 35:30 | People leaving grandstands. |
| 35:40 | "San Diego State vs. LaVerne" title card. (State-27, LaVerne (in Aztec Bowl) |
[Additional football games and plays are chronicled. These images and sequences are similar to the initial game--plays from scrimmage, etc; nothing new or original from one game to the next. All is black and white, some is slow motion. Other football opponents include the U.S. Marines, Whittier, San Jose, and Redlands College.]
| 39:00 | [end of film] |
5) The Sight and Sound of San Diego: a Study of Perpetual Growth (color student film for the
department--growth and development, extensive coverage of radio and TV courses, 1960s,
sound is not high quality or clean.)
| 39:10 | MLS-bell tower at center of campus. |
| 39:40 | MS-nice pan shot of mission courtyard area on bright, sunny day; Montezuma Statue. |
| 40:00 | MLS, MS-good assortment of master shots and images to chronicle SDSU campus buildings : Mission architecture, then post-GI times. |
| 41:00 | Discussion of SDSU growth as school during this era. |
| 42:00 | LS-canyon being leveled and filled with dirt in preparation for move building. |
| 42:20 | "Is there a canyon to the east of the campus? Fill it? (this is dialogue from this section of film). |
| 42:40 | LS, MLS-good variety of pans and tilts of campus settings. |
[Much of the following is about broadcast training]:
| 43:10 | LS-introduction of "speech arts" department and radio/TV department |
| 43:40 | MS-The education broadcast (KEBS) station at San Diego State. "Communication at work" good background to Telecom & Film, and KPBS. |
| 44:00 | MS-Yound male student in horn rim glasses is followed by camera from room to room. |
| 44:30 | MS-Student reading dials on broadcast equipment and monitoring audio levels. (The presentation of a program on KEBS from behind the scenes is shot and edited very well during this sequence. Nothing fancy or flashy, but it conveys the sense of a studio production). |
| 45:25 | MS-man at 1" tape deck; speaker at podium, overhead mic. And studio lights are visible during this studio shoot. |
| 46:00 | MLS-camera, floor director and talent are all visible in shot. |
| 46:30 | Overhead lighting grid: students viewing various monitors and screens while the studio production continues. |
| 47:50 | MS, MCU-Various cutaways of patchboard panels, knobs, dials and the studio after the production wrap of a day's shoot. |
| 48:30 | Directed by Robert D. Gardner. |
| 48:50 | [end of film] |
6) Untitled 1970s era, no sound, approx. 7 minutes worth
Group of modern dancers (may be Black Repertory Total Theatrical Experience, lead by Danny Scarborough, 1977).
People sitting in courtyard (Love Lib. is built--possibly 1973).
Student in a lab.
Students walking in front of cafeteria.
Hepner Hall (poor color saturation).
Student welding--Art Dept.
Students at pottery whell--Art Dept.
Students swimming (slow motion).
Young man walking on railroad tracks (drama/english production??).
Groups of dancers (as above).
[end of film].
VHS 6 - 1988Commencement, Peter Ueberroth, speaker.
VHS 7 - 1996 College of Education Commemcement.
VHS 8 - "Celebrating Their Lives" A tribute to Dr. Chen Liang, Dr. D. Preston
Lowrey, III, Dr. Constantinos Lyrintzis. Sept. 3, 1996,
Open Air Theatre, SDSU.
VHS 9 - "A Century of Learning," produced by Jack Ofield, 1997, as SDSU
Centennial public relations piece.
VHS 10 - "Inauguration of the University's Second Century and the Installation of
Stephen L. Weber," 1997
VHS 11 - Malcolm A. Love Library public relations piece, ca. 1995.
VHS 12 - SDSU : Stones We Build On, 1998.
VHS 13 - SDSU : How to Make a Centennial Sculpture, 1998.
VHS 14 - 1997 KPBS Year in Review.
VHS 15 – Founder’s Day, 1997.
VHS 16 – Pre- 50s Class of 1948 Reunion, 1998.
VHS 17 – Dr. Sanford Berman – News Conference for SDSU/UCSD, 1998.
VHS 18 - Mexus Program, “Business without borders.” International learning alliances.
1994.
VHS 19 – “Global Village” by John Eger. A roundtable discussion on the nature of
communication and the internet. n.d. ca. 1990.
VHS 20 – Faculty staff meeting. Re: budget problems ‘91-92. Associated students.
VHS 21 – KPBS Radio Reading Service. n.d. ca. 1998
VHS 22 – Women’s Basketball, “Run, Rebound, Defense together.” 1991-92
Four Square Productions.
VHS 23 – Women’s Basketball, “The stuff that dreams are made of.” 1993-94
VHS 24 – “When is it rape? A dramatization.” Full narration and student interviews.
n.d. ca. 1995.
VHS 25 – KPBS production, “Growth of San Diego State University.”
VHS 26 – Campus lecture by Joan Holden regarding film, “Seriously Funny.”
II. Audio
Compact Disc 1 – SDSU Alma Mater – presented by Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Sigma Alpha
Iota, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Tau Beta Sigma, 1999
Vinyl Record 2 – (2) 45 rpm Songs of San Diego State – Hail Montezuma, Fight Song,
Purple Mountains, Valiant Aztecs, 1961
Vinyl Record 3 – 78 rpm San Diego State College “Fight Song,” “Alma Mater,” and
“Always,” vocal with piano by Mary Peck, n.d.
