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Archive: June 2021 (7 Posts)

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HAPPY PRIDE! How “Y.M.C.A.” Became a Gay Anthem!

Posted by: Cary O’Dell

Today, on the final day of Pride, the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry, with the help of author Josiah Howard, looks back at one of its most recent and best-known additions–the Village People’s “YMCA.”  Though, today, you’ll hear the track at everything from a school dance to a 50th anniversary party, it has also …

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On the Film Registry: “Castro Street” (1966)

Posted by: Cary O’Dell

In 1992, Bruce Baillie’s film “Castro Street” (subtitled:  “The Coming of Consciousness”) was added to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry.  As it turns 55 years old, film professor Scott MacDonald looks back at the impressionistic, non-narrative documentary that is, now over half a century on, still as evocative as ever. For Bruce Baillie, …

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On the Recording Registry: “The OKeh Laughing Record” (1922)

Posted by: Cary O’Dell

“The OKeh Laughing Record” original label Imported into the United States in 1922, “The OKeh Laughing Record” is one of the most unusual, (in its way) influential, and surprisingly enduring novelty records ever recorded. Actually, there is nothing overly complicated about the recording itself. On it, a solo cornetist begins a rather slow, sad, even …

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From the Film Registry: “It Happened One Night” (1934)

Posted by: Cary O’Dell

In our ongoing series of looking at–and analyzing–films from the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry, here scholar Ian Scott looks at one of the classiest of classics, “It Happened One Night.” Film scholar Charles Maland reminds us that, “Frank Capra was an auteur long before the auteur theory” ever existed. And it was true …

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Ned Beatty Remembered: A Look at “Network”

Posted by: Cary O’Dell

This past Sunday, the great character actor Ned Beatty passed away at the age of 83.  Over the years, several of Mr. Beatty’s films have been named to the Library’s National Film Registry including “Deliverance” (1972), “Nashville” (1975), “Network” (1976)  and “Superman” (1978).  His role in 1976’s Oscar-winning Best Picture, Paddy Chayefsky’s scathing indictment of …