I’m often asked if I have a favorite item in the WCFTR’s collection. I could never single out just one item because I have an ever growing list of favorite items! One of my favorites, …
NHPRC Grant Project
The WCFTR Director Vance Kepley is very pleased to announce the successful completion of a major, year-long effort to systematically reprocess one of the Center’s most important archival collections. With the generous support of the …
Spencer Tracy in Wisconsin
Spencer Tracy in Wisconsin by Kathleen Kosiec While refiling at WCFTR one afternoon, I noticed an interesting set of photographs in the Spencer Tracy name file. Unlike many of the other publicity and film images …
“Deep Cuts” at WCFTR
Welcome to “Deep Cuts,” an exploration of the one-of-a-kind artifacts and ephemera at the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research. This series will reveal the WCFTR’s extensive collections of unique posters, awards, honors, knicks …
Errol Morris and WCFTR
The brilliant filmmaker and UW Madison alumnus Errol Morris was awarded the Honorary Doctorate by his alma mater at the May 17 commencement. This is the highest honor the University can bestow on one of …
“King: A Filmed Record…Montgomery to Memphis” from The Richard Kaplan Papers
The Richard Kaplan Papers, 1905-2010, document the career of Richard Kaplan, a spirited filmmaker/ producer of documentary and feature films. This extensive collection is home to print and pre-print materials for Mr. Kaplan’s documentary projects, …
Douglas Fairbanks: No Stuntman Required
Decades past the silent film era’s heyday, the legacy of one of the genre’s most beloved stars is still alive in Hollywood. Jean Dujardin’s lead character in The Artist was loosely based on Douglas Fairbanks, …
Dressing for Oscar: The Edith Head Papers, 1934-1956
On Oscar Night of 2013 audiences were treated to a glimmering array of gowns and jewelry and watched transfixed as actresses Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, and Charlize Theron glided across the red carpet with style …
U.S. Premiere of the Newly Restored Portrait of Jason
On March 15, the newly restored film Portrait of Jason received its U.S. premiere at the UW Cinematheque. The film, originally released by the late Shirley Clarke in 1967, is daring, provocative, ground-breaking and truly gripping and …
Jean Rosenthal – First Lady of Lighting
“I like to think of myself as some of the Scotch tape that holds things together – I’m very handy to have around. But all that actors really need is a bare stage. Lighting is …