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FAMST 101C: Non-Theatrical Collections

New Wave Cinemas 1958-1989

Non-Theatrical Moving Image Collections

As the name implies, non-theatrical moving images were typically not originally created for distribution in movie theatres. Materials range from those created for private or limited public consumption to network and community access television programs and industry or government-sponsored media. On this page you'll find a brief introduction to these types of materials,  a small selection of archives and other institutions that preserve non-theatrical moving images, a selection of digital collections, and select resources for further investigation. If you don't find what you're looking for, contact your Film & Media Studies Librarian, Laura Treat (ljtreat@ucsb.edu).

Home Movies & Amateur Films

The Center for Home Movies is a good place to begin learning more about the movements to preserve home movies.  Amateur Cinema and The Amateur Movie Database are good starting points for learning more about the international history of amateur movie making, amateur filmmakers, genres, and movie clubs.

Explore Indiana University Bloomington's Alan Lewis Collection of small gauge movie cameras, projectors, editing and viewing equipment, accessories, and instructional manuals to begin learning more about the technological aspects of creating, editing, and exhibiting home movies and amateur film.

UCSB Library Catalog Search Tip:
Subject: "amateur films"

Don't forget to look at the Non-Theatrical Collection of Trade Magazines from the Media History Digital Library and other Industry Literature.

Military & Government Sponsored Films

United States Signal Corps Film Unit Records (Bernath Mss 139) - includes caption sheets, critical evaluations, and other paperwork relating to films shot during 1945 and 1946 by soldiers serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps film units

 

 

  • National Archives of the United States (NARA) Motion Picture, Sound, and Video Collections: NARA's collection includes more than 520,400 motion picture film reels, 312,066 sound recordings, and 170,925 video recordings in addition to materials held at individual Presidential Libraries. The majority of their holdings were created by government organizations but also includes donations such as the Universal Newsreels. Search their catalog to find descriptions and digitized copies of films held at the archives or view their topical collections.

 

Select International Archives