Finding aid of Rick Mechtly cinema clippings collection
Coll2012.162
Finding aid prepared by Michael C. Oliveira
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California, 90007
(213) 741-0094
askone@ONEarchives.org
© 2012
Title: Rick Mechtly Cinema Clippings Collection
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2012.162
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
3.8 linear feet.
[3 records boxes]
Date (inclusive): 1966-2011
Abstract: Clippings of articles, columns, and reviews regarding LGBT actors, motion pictures, and film festivals. The files were culled
from a variety of mainstream and LBGT magazines and newspapers, 1966-2011. Mechtley began collecting LGBT film clippings in
the 1970s. Vito Russo introduced Metchly to other columnists and film festival directors.
Administrative History
While living in Hollywood, California in the early 1970s, Rick Mechtly discover Vito Russo's column in the New York gay newspaper,
GAY. Enthralled by Russo's pithy remarks, Mechtly started to assemble a collection of LGBT film related articles, columns,
and reviews. Soon after GAY folded, Russo began touring the country with his lecture and film clip presentation, Celluloid
Closet. With no other contact information, Mechtly decided to write to Jack Nichols, editor of GAY, in hopes of him forwarding
a letter to Russo. It worked, Russo contacted him in 1978 and they briefly chatted about Mechtly’s preservation of Russo’s
columns. Russo insisted that Mechtly had the beginnings of a collection and suggested he make himself the “community’s clipper”
of such materials. For more obscure clippings, Russo put him in touch with Peter Lowry, founder of the New York City Gay Film
Festival, and Brenda Webb, founder of the Chicago Gay Film Festival. In 1981, Russo suggested that Mechtly share some of his
oldest clippings with Larry Horne. Horne and others at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) were planning the
first Los Angeles International Gay & Lesbian Film & Video Festival, which later became known as Outfest. After exchanging
letters about once a year, in 1987 Mechtly and Horne were finally able to meet at the festival. In early 1988, Mechtly contacted
Russo, inquiring about his inspiration for gay film writing. As he suspected, Russo was greatly influenced by Jack Babuscio,
a writer for London’s Gay Times. Mechtly offered to collect the (recently deceased) Babuscio’s columns, in their entirety,
for Russo. Of the nearly ninety columns, Mechtly already possessed three dozen. From there, he sought help from ONE National
Gay & Lesbian Archives, where another three dozen columns were uncovered. And at the recommendation of Horne, he contacted
Stephen Bourne from the British Film Institute in London. Bourne assisted Mechtly in recovering the remaining columns. Upon
receiving this gift, Russo called Mechtly to express his gratitude for the Babuscio collection.
Edited from Rick Mechley's text by Stacy Syroka
Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Acquisition Information
Deed of gift dated, December 15, 2012.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in the following series:
Series 1. Columns and correspondence
Series 2. Clippings
Scope and Content
The bulk of the collection consists of articles, columns, and reviews regarding LGBT actors, motion pictures, and film festivals.
Mechtly culled clippings from a variety of mainstream and LBGT magazines and newspapers, 1966-2011. The clippings includes
Jack Babuscio's column,
Screen Gays, Stephen Bourne's articles and columns, and many others. To a lesser extent the collection contains correspondence from Bourne
and others to Mechtly.
Preferred Citation
Box #, folder #,Rick Mechtley Cinema Clippings Collection, 2012-162, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives,Libraries, University
of Southern California
Processing Information
Collection processed by staff, December 2012.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Babuscio, Jack, 1937-1990
clippings files
Gays in motion pictures
Lesbians in motion pictures
Columns and correspondence
1975-1999
Scope and content
The series includes clippings, correspondence, and filmographies. The clippings include columns written by Jack Babuscio,
Stephen Bourne, and to a lesser extent Vito Russo. Correspondence files include Stephen Bourne letters to Mechtly along with
a very limited number of other motion picture and/or film festival related correspondence. The series also includes several
filmographies created by Frank Swilling and Rick Mechtly.
Arrangement
The folders were arranged alphabetically by the last name of their creators.
Box 3, Folder 20-22
Jack Babuscio column
Screen Gays
1975-1982, 1990
Physical Description:
[3 folders]
Box 3, Folder 23
Jack Babuscio and Vito Russo columns
1976-1980
Box 3, Folder 24
Stephen Bourne columns
1987-1994
Box 3, Folder 25
Stephen Bourne correspondence
1992-1999
Box 3, Folder 28
Mechtly correspondence
1982-1996
Physical Description:
[3 folders]
Box 3, Folder 29-30
Mechtly filmographies
1980, 1990
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Box 3, Folder 26-27
Frank Swilling filmographies
1989, 1995
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Clippings
1966-2011
Arrangement
The series has been arranged chronologically. Some folders span multiple years which reflects Mechtly's original arrangement.
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the collection consists of articles, columns, and reviews regarding LGBT actors, motion pictures, and film festivals.
Mechtly culled clippings from a variety of mainstream and LBGT magazines and newspapers, 1966-2011. The bulk of the Vito Russo's
writings are located in this series.
Arrangement
The folders are arranged chronologically. Folders spanning multiple years reflect Mechtly's original arrangement.
Box 1, Folder 15-17
1990
Physical Description:
[3 folders]
Box 2, Folder 2-3
1993
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Box 2, Folder 6-8
1994
Physical Description:
[3 folders]
Box 2, Folder 10-12
1995
Physical Description:
[3 folders]
Box 2, Folder 14-16
1996
Physical Description:
[3 folders]
Box 3, Folder 4-5
2002
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Box 3, Folder 8-9
2004
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Box 3, Folder 10-11
2005
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Box 3, Folder 12-13
2006
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Box 3, Folder 19
2011
Language of Material:
English