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Canalli (John) photographs and video recordings
Coll2009-007
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Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Title: Canalli (John) photographs and video recordings
creator:
Canalli, John
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2009-007
Physical Description:
0.7 Linear Feet
1 archive carton.
Date (inclusive): circa 1978-2010
Date (bulk): bulk
Abstract: Photographs, video recordings, and personal papers, circa 1978-2010, from gay independent filmmaker John Canalli. The bulk
of the photographs documents Canalli and his friends attending drag queen events in San Francisco. The video recordings include
DVDs and videocassettes of Canalli's film productions, including Wigstock documentaries and outtakes, the documentary
Heroism : A Community Responds, programs from the Gay Cable Network, and excerpts from unfinished works.
Born on October 29, 1956, independent filmmaker John Canalli (also known by his family name Canaly) wrote and produced LGBT-themed
dramas and documentaries. Active in LGBT film festival programming, Canalli served as Assistant Film Festival Director for
the 9th International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in 1985, where his dramatic short
One Sings was screened. Canalli went on to develop the Gay Video Festival in San Francisco in 1986, and later co-developed west coast
programming for the Gay Cable Network, which featured interview programs produced out of San Francisco and New York. Canalli
also documented the AIDS crisis, writing and producing
Heroism : A Community Responds, which highlighted the gay community coming together through Meals on Wheels and other forms of compassionate outreach.
Among his most celebrated works, Canalli produced a number of video documentaries about Wigstock, a popular annual drag performance
party in New York City's Tompkins Square Park. He died from complications from AIDS on March 25, 1992.
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Gift of Christine Canaly, July 30, 2009.
[Box/folder #, or item name] John Canalli Photographs and Video Recordings, Coll2009-007, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives,
USC Libraries, University of Southern California.
Collection processed by Michael Palmer; revised by Loni Shibuyama, May 2014.
The collection includes correspondence, miscellaneous papers, clippings, microcassettes, photographs, and video recordings
from independent filmmaker John Canalli, circa 1978-2010. The bulk of the photographs documents Canalli and his friends as
they dressed up for and attended drag queen events, mostly in San Francisco. The video recordings include DVDs and videocassettes
of Canalli's film productions, including Wigstock documentaries and outtakes, the documentary
Heroism : A Community Responds, programs from the Gay Cable Network, and excerpts from unfinished works. Also included are an interview with Canalli and
a documentary retrospective of his work.
This collection is arranged in the following series:
Series 1. Papers and photographs
Series 2. Video recordings
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Gay and lesbian film festivals
Gays in motion pictures
Photographs
Homosexuality on television
Cross dressing
Drag shows
Video tapes
Motion pictures and gay men
Homosexuality in motion pictures
Gay men on television
Canalli, John