Headshot of John Carr, photograph by Michael Lownie. Stills from various Queer Blue Light tapes, ca. 1975–1981; Daniel A. Smith and Queer Blue Light Videotapes (1999-52), GLBT Historical Society.
DESCRIPTION
Last year the GLBT Historical Society digitized a unique archival collection, the Daniel A. Smith and Queer Blue Light Videotapes, which consists of nearly 100 half-inch videotapes recorded by the Queer Blue Light (QBL) Collective. QBL was a grassroots guerilla project that documented the politics and culture of the local LGBTQ community in the 1970s. While the majority of the tapes document QBL activities, they also contain footage by QBL members of friends relaxing together and living everyday life. In this installment of our “Mighty Reels” program series, we’ll screen some of our favorite tapes and speak with John Carr, a longtime friend of Daniel Smith, who is featured in the footage as the host of a 1980 “Leap Day” dinner party. He will discuss how viewing the footage was like “finding the Rosetta Stone” of his life in 1970s queer San Francisco.
Highlighting home movies, drag performances, amateur documentaries, and interviews with queer history-makers, “Mighty Reels” is a quarterly program series that provides an intimate look at the LGBTQ past straight from the camera lens. Each program in the series features a screening of footage from the archives, followed by a discussion with historians, community members and activists on the significance of these images.
SPEAKER
John Carr (he/him) grew up in Colorado and has lived in San Francisco for the past 47 years, where he had a landscaping company until his retirement in 2004. Michael Lownie, his life partner of 19 years, is a fine artist.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
This event will take place online. After you register, you will receive a confirmation email with a link and instructions on how to join.
ADMISSION
$5 | Free for members
Register online here: https://bit.ly/3tU5kL9
ASL INTERPRETATION
ASL interpretation provided upon request. Please write at least three days in advance of event to leigh@glbthistory.org.
JOIN THE GLBT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Become a member of the GLBT Historical Society for free museum and program admission, discounts in the museum shop and other perks: www.glbthistory.org/memberships.