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Electric Guitar Video Documentation,
November 9, 1996 to November 16, 1996 |
Extent and Forms of Material: 7.5 cubic feet, including audio
and video recordings (15 boxes)
Creator: Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of
Invention and Innovation
Abstract: This week-long event explored the intersection of
technology and music in the 20th century; it included oral and video histories,
exhibitions, concerts, and a symposium discussing the cultural significance
of the electric guitar as instrument, technology, and symbol.
Repository: Archives Center, National Museum of American History,
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; archivescenter@si.edu
; 202-633-3270; www.americanhistory.si.edu/archives
Collection Number: AC0610
Processing Note: Processed by Alison L. Oswald, March 1998,
revised April 1999, 2006
© 2007 by the Smithsonian Institution. All rights reserved.
Information for users of
the collection
Conditions Governing Access: The collection
is open for research use. In Series 1, Oral Histories, the Les
Paul oral history interviews are restricted; see repository for
details.
Physical Access: Researchers must use reference
copies of audio-visual materials. When no reference copy exists,
the Archives Center staff will produce reference copies on an
“as needed” basis, as resources allow. Originals located
at off-site storage area.
Technical Access: Do not use original materials
when available on reference video or audio tapes and CD-ROM.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use: Copyright
held by the Smithsonian Institution. Collection items available
for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees
concerning copyright restrictions. Reproduction permission from
Archives Center: fees for commercial use.
Preferred Citation: [Title and date of item],
Electric Guitar Video Documentation, Archives Center, National
Museum of American History, box number X, folder number XX, digital
file number XXXXXXXX
In-depth information about the collection
- Administrative/biographical history
Scope and content
System of arrangement
Languages
Acquisition information
Custodial history
Access points
Container listing
Just the words "electric guitar" can conjure up images
in our minds. Jimi Hendrix playing "The Star-Spangled Banner."
The neighbor's kid whose band practices in the garage. Leather
jackets, motorcycles, and slicked-back hair. A Fender Stratocaster.
Or a Gibson Flying V or Les Paul. Music that is, depending on
your generation, either too loud or not quite loud enough. Rock
and roll. Jazz. Blues. Country. The sound of an electric guitar
is familiar to most of us. How did that happen? Why has the work
of the people who invented, designed, and popularized this instrument
become so much a part of everyday life?
These questions and others were raised during Electrified,
Amplified, and Deified: The Electric Guitar, Its Makers, and Its
Players, the second in the Lemelson Center's annual series
on New Perspectives on Invention and Innovation. From November
9-16, 1996, the Center, in cooperation with the National Museum
of American History Division of Cultural History, sponsored concerts,
movies, interviews, makers' displays, an exhibit, and a symposium,
all spotlighting those inventors and players who plugged in and
forever changed the sound of American music.
Read
more about the symposium.
The collection contains original, master, and reference videos
in several formats: BetaCam SP, 3⁄4” U-matic, 1⁄2”
VHS, digital audio tape (DAT), and compact disks (CD). The collection
documents Electrified, Amplified, and Deified: The Electric
Guitar, Its Makers, and Its Players, as part of the Lemelson
Center’s series of New Perspectives. Through a series of
public events, the Lemelson Center explored the intersection of
technology and music in the 20th century. The week-long event
included oral and video histories, exhibitions, concerts, and
a symposium discussing the cultural significance of the electric
guitar as instrument, technology, and symbol and an electronic
fieldtrip for school age children.
The collection is arranged into four series: Series
1, Oral Histories, 1996; Series 2, Symposium
and Other Programs, 1996; Series 3, Innovative
Lives and Electronic Fieldtrip Presentation, 1996; and
Series 4, Miscellaneous, 1996, undated. Each
series is further divided into subseries arranged by format—BetaCam
SP, digital audio tape (DAT), 3⁄4” U-Matic, and 1⁄2”
VHS. The symposium footage has multiple camera angles resulting
in Camera A and Camera B.
The oral histories contain interviews with some of the best
known electric guitar manufacturers, luthiers, and accessory makers
discussing major twentieth-century technological and cultural
trends. The interviews were conduct by Reuben Jackson, Marge Oustrushko,
Robert Santelli and Matt Watson. The interviewees include: Junior
Brown; John Ingram; Duke Kramer; Ted McCarty; Pat Metheny; Les
Paul; G.E. Smith; Paul Reed Smith; Joe Louis Walker; and Tom Wheeler.
Les Paul was interviewed as part of the Lemelson Center’s
series Portraits of Invention. Legendary guitarist and
innovator Les Paul discusses his work with Marc Pachter, Counselor
to the Secretary of the Smithsonian. Additionally, Les Paul discusses
his work with Matt Watson.
The Acoustic Guitar Concert held at NMAH’s Hall of Musical
Instruments on November 14, 1996, included a performance by Howard
Aldin, guitarist. Martha Morris, Deputy Director, NMAH; Art Molella,
Director, Lemelson Center; and James Weaver, Curator, NMAH provided
opening remarks.
The symposium, New Sounds, and other programs explored
events surrounding the invention of the electric guitar, past
and present technological innovations, and contributions made
by early pioneers of guitar making. Two evening concerts included
performances by some of the country’s finest electric guitarists—Howard
Aldin, Jim Hall, Junior Brown, Joe Louis Walker, and The Ventures.
New Sounds explores the intersection of technology
and music in the 20th century, focusing on the invention and diffusion
of the electric guitar. The symposium brings together inventors,
historians, and musicians for a day of conversation and inquiry.
The morning sessions addressed Inventing and Popularizing
the Electric Guitar with National Museum of American (NMAH)
Curator, Charles McGovern, and Innovators and Entrepreneurs
Panel Discussion with participants Ted McCarty, Duke Kramer,
John Hall, Richard R. Smith, and moderator Tom Wheeler.
The afternoon sessions addressed The Electric Guitar in
Context with an introduction by NMAH archivist, Reuben Jackson,
and historians, Susan Horning, James Kraft, and Rebecca McSwain
discussing relationships among invention, economics, labor, race,
and technological enthusiasm. After the session the panelists
fielded audience questions.
The Innovative Lives Presentation and Electronic Fieldtrip were
presented in cooperation with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and
Museum in Cleveland, OH. Robert Santelli, Director of Education
at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, along with Paul
Reed Smith and G.E. Smith, described the invention of the electric
guitar, demonstrated the different types of music played on a
variety of guitars, and answered student questions about musical
innovation and the electric guitar. Student’s participation
included: Kenmore Middle School (Arlington, VA); Robert Frost
Middle School (Rockville, MD); Paul Junior High School (Washington,
D.C.); Elkhart Community Schools (Indiana); and Cleveland, OH
area middle schools.
The Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention
and Innovation was founded in 1995 at the Smithsonian Institution's
National Museum of American History through a generous gift from
the Lemelson Foundation. The Center’s mission is: to document,
interpret, and disseminate information about invention and innovation;
to encourage inventive creativity in young people; and to foster
an appreciation for the central role invention and innovation
play in the history of the United States. The Innovative Lives
series brings together Museum visitors and especially, school
age children, and American inventors to discuss inventions and
the creative process and to experiment and play with hands-on
activities related to each inventor’s product. This collection
was recorded by the Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the
Study of Invention and Innovation.
- Series 1, Oral Histories, 1996
- Subseries 1, BetaCam SP, 1969 (originals)
- Subseries 2, BetaCam SP, 1996 (masters)
- Subseries 3, Digital Audio Tape (DAT), 1996 (originals)
- Subseries 4, 1⁄2” VHS, 1996 (reference copies)
- Subseries 5, CD-ROMs, 1996 (reference copies)
- Series 2, Symposium and Other Programs,
1996
- Subseries 1, BetaCam SP, 1996 (originals)
- Subseries 2, BetaCam SP, 1996 (masters)
- Subseries 3, 3⁄4” U-matic SP, 1996 (masters)
- Subseries 4, 1⁄2” VHS, 1996 (reference copies)
- Series 3, Innovative Lives and Electronic
Fieldtrip Presentation, 1996
- Subseries 1, BetaCam SP, 1996 (original)
- Subseries 2, BetaCam SP, 1996 (masters)
- Subseries 3, 1⁄2” VHS, 1996 (reference copies)
- Series 4, Miscellaneous, 1996, undated
- Subseries 1, BetaCam SP, undated (originals)
- Subseries 2, BetaCam SP, undated (masters)
- Subseries 3, Digital Audio Tape (DAT), 1996 (originals)
- Subseries 4, 1⁄2” VHS, undated
- Subseries 5, CD-ROM (reference copy), 1996
This collection was created by the Lemelson Center and NMAH
staff from the Division of Music, Sports and Entertainment in
November of 1996.
Transferred to the Archives Center from the Lemelson Center in
1996.
Subjects/Topical:
Electric Guitar—1920-2000
Guitar—20th century
Music—20th century
Musical instruments—20th century
Musical instruments industry—20th century
Musicians
Subjects/Names:
Aldin, Howard (performer)
Brown, Junior (interviewee, performer)
Gruhn, George (moderator)
Hall, John (interviewee)
Horning, Susan, historian (presenter)
Jackson, Reuben (interviewer)
Kraft, James, historian (presenter)
Kramer, Duke (interviewee)
McCarty, Ted (interviewee)
McSwain, Rebecca (presenter)
Metheny, Pat (performer)
Millard, Andre (moderator)
Marge Oustrushko (interviewer)
Paul, Les (interviewee)
Sanetelli, Robert (interviewer)
Smith, Paul Reed (interviewee, performer)
Smith, G.E., (interviewee, moderator)
Smith, Monica (interviewee)
Smith, Richard R. (interviewee)
Wheeler, Tom (moderator)
Watson, Matthew (interviewer)
Form/Genre:
Videotapes—1990-2000
| Box |
Format |
|
| |
|
SERIES
1, ORAL HISTORIES, 1996 |
| |
|
Subseries
1, BetaCam SP, 1996 (originals) |
| 1 |
OV 610.10-12 |
Brown, Junior, 1996
November 15 |
| 6 |
OV 610.49 |
Ingram, John, undated |
| 1 |
OV 610.8-9 |
Kramer, Duke, 1996
November 15 |
| |
OV 610.5-7 |
McCarty, Ted, 1996
November 15 |
| 1 |
OV 610.1-4 |
Paul, Les, 1996 November
13 (Restricted) |
| 6 |
OV 610.47-48 |
Reed Smith, Paul,
undated |
| |
|
Subseries
2, BetaCam SP, 1996 (masters) |
| 8 |
MV 610.5-6 |
Brown, Junior, 1996
November 15 |
| |
MV 610.5 |
Kramer, Duke, 1996
November 15 |
| |
MV 610.3-4 |
McCarty, Ted, 1996
November 15 |
| |
MV 610.1-2 |
Paul, Les, 1996 November
13 (Restricted) |
| |
|
Subseries
3, Digital Audio Tape (DAT), 1996 (originals) |
| 7 |
DAT 610. 1 |
Brown, Junior, 1996
November 15
Total Running Time: 1:32:16 |
| |
DAT 610.2 |
McCarty, Ted, 1996
November 15
Total Running Time: 1:12:14 |
| |
DAT 610.3 |
Metheny, Pat, 1996
November 15
Total Running Time: 18:25 |
| |
DAT 610.4 |
Parker, Ken and Fishman,
Larry, 1996 November 15
Total Running Time: 1:35:10 |
| |
DAT 610.5 |
Walker, Joe Louis,
1996 November 14
Total Running Time: 43:56 |
| |
DAT 610.6 |
Wheeler, Tom, 1996
November 14
Total Running Time: 40:22 |
| |
|
Subseries
4, 1/2” VHS, 1996 |
| 12 |
RV 610.5 |
Brown, Junior, 1996
November 15
Time code burn in
Total Running Time: 1:00:20 |
| |
RV 610.6 |
Brown, Junior, 1996
November 15
Time code burn in
Total Running Time: 52:04 |
| |
RV 610.9 |
Ingram, John, undated
Time code burn in
Total Running Time: 10:18 |
| |
RV 610.4 |
Kramer, Duke, 1996
November 15
Time code burn in
Total Running Time: 36:47 |
| |
RV 610.5 |
Kramer, Duke, 1996
November 15
Total Running Time: |
| |
RV 610.6 |
Kramer, Duke, 1996
November 15
Time code burn in
Total Running time: 52:04 |
| |
RV 610.3 |
McCarty, Ted, 1996
November 15
Time code burn in
Total Running Time: 1:02:19 |
| |
RV 610.4 |
McCarty, Ted, 1996
November 15
Time code burn in
Total Running Time: 36:47 |
| |
RV 610.1 |
Paul, Les, 1996 November
13 (Restricted)
Time code burn in
Total Running Time: 56:34 |
| |
RV 610.2 |
Paul, Les, 1996 November
13 (Restricted)
Time code burn in
Total Running Time: 1:00:43 |
| |
|
Subseries
5, CD-ROMs, 1996 (reference copies) |
| 15
| 1 |
RCD 610. 1
Brown, Junior, 1996 November 15
Total Running Time: 1:09:48 |
| |
|
RCD 610.2
Brown, Junior, 1996 November 15
Total Running Time: 22:55 |
| |
2 |
RCD 610.3
McCarty, Ted, 1996 November 15
Total Running Time: 1:12:14 |
| |
3 |
RCD 610.4
Metheny, Pat, 1996 November 15
Total Running Time: 17:35 |
| |
4 |
RCD 610.5
Parker, Ken and Fishman, Larry, 1996 November 15
Total Running Time: 1:19:58 |
| |
|
RCD 610.6
Parker, Ken and Fishman, Larry, 1996 November 15
Total Running Time: 16:29 |
| |
5 |
RCD 610.7
Walker, Joe Louis, 1996 November 14
Total Running Time: 43:17 |
| |
6 |
RCD 610.8
Wheeler, Tom, 1996 November 14
Total Running Time: 40:42 |
| |
|
SERIES
2, SYMPOSIUM AND PROGRAMS, 1996 |
| |
|
Subseries
1, BetaCam SP, 1996 (originals) |
| 2 |
OV 610.13-18A |
Hall of Musical Instruments/Acoustic
Guitar Concert,
1996 November 14
Howard Aldin, Guitar performance |
3
4 |
OV 610.19-23
OV 610.32-36 |
Symposium—New
Sounds
Morning Session, 1996 November 16 |
3
4 |
OV 610.24-27
OV 610.37-38 |
Symposium—Electric
Guitar in Context
Afternoon Session, 1996 November 16 |
3
4 |
OV 610.28-30
OV 610. 39-41 |
Symposium—Innovators
and Players
Innovators demonstrate state-of-the-art guitar technology.
Afternoon Session, 1996 November 16 |
| 3 |
OV 610.31 |
Jazz Giants and Bay
Blues Concert, 1996 November 16
Audience feedback about concert |
| 1 |
RV 610.7 |
Hall of Musical Instruments/Acoustic
Guitar Concert with Howard Aldin,
1996 November 14
Time code burn in
Total Running Time: 50:26 |
13
13 |
RV 610.10-12
RV 610.17-19 |
Symposium—New
Sounds
Morning Session, 1996 November 16 |
13
14 |
RV 610.13
RV 610.20 |
Symposium—Electric
Guitar in Context
Afternoon Session, 1996 November 16 |
13
14 |
RV 610.15
RV 610.21 |
Symposium—Innovators
and Players
Innovators demonstrate state-of-the-art guitar technology.
Afternoon Session, 1996 November 16 |
| 13 |
RV 610.16 |
Jazz Giants and Bay
Blues Concert, 1996 November 16
(with audience feedback about concert) |
| |
|
SERIES
3, INNOVATIVE LIVES PRESENTATION AND ELECTRONIC FIELDTRIP,
1996 |
| |
|
Subseries
1, BetaCam SP, 1996 (originals) |
5
|
OV 610.42-46
|
Innovative Lives Presentation
and Electronic Field Trip, 1996 November 15 |
| |
|
Subseries
2, BetaCam SP, 1996 (masters) |
| 9 |
MV 610.22-26
|
Innovative Lives Presentation
and Electronic Field Trip, 1996 November 15 |
| 10 |
MV 610. 27-29 |
Innovative Lives Presentation
and Electronic Field Trip, 1996 November 15 |
| |
|
Subseries 3, 1⁄2”
VHS, 1996 |
| 14 |
RV 610.22-31 |
Innovative Lives
Presentation and Electronic Field Trip, 1996 November 15 |
| 6 |
OV 610.49 |
SERIES
4, MISCELLANEOUS, 1996, UNDATED |
| |
|
Subseries 1, BetaCam
SP, undated (originals) |
| |
|
Paul Reed Smith Guitar (PRS) Guitar
Factory Tour, undated |
| |
|
Subseries 2, BetaCam
SP, undated (masters) |
| 11 |
MV 610.48 |
Close-ups of the exhibit, From
Frying Pan to Flying V: The Rise of the Electric Guitar
and voice-over of Monica Smith, co-curator.
Total Running Time: 20:00 |
| |
|
Subseries 3, Digital
Audio Tape (DAT), 1996 |
| 7 |
DAT 610.7 |
G.E. Smith discussing of From
Frying Pan to Flying V: The Rise of the Electric Guitar,
1996 November 14
Total Running Time: 36:00 |
| |
|
Subseries 4, 1/2”
VHS, undated |
| 13 |
RV 610.8 |
Paul Reed Smith (PRS)
Guitar Factory Tour
Time code burn in
Total Running Time: 30:19 |
| |
|
Subseries
5, CD-ROM (reference copy), 1996 |
| 15 |
7 |
RCD 610.9
G.E. Smith discussing of From Frying Pan to Flying V:
The Rise of the Electric Guitar, 1996 November 14
Total Running Time: 36:51 |
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