University of California, Santa Barbara
Davidson Library
Department of Special Collections
California Ethnic and Multicultural Archives

GUIDE TO THE AZTLÁN COLLECTION,

1970-1988

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Collection Number: CEMA 063.

 

Size Collection:  1 linear foot (9 video tapes).

 

Acquisition Information: Lionel Heredia, 1989.

 

Access restrictions: No further reproduction of the work is permitted without prior written permission.

 

Use Restriction: Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB.  All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections.  Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained. 

 

Processing Information:  Collection processed by Salvador Güereña and Michelle Wilder, May 24, 2004.

 

Location:  Performing Arts

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SCOPE NOTE

 

This is a historical collection of eight videotapes that were acquired in ¾ inch U-Matic format and document important Chicano historical events such as Chicano cultural arts performances in theater and music as well as Chicano protest marches.  The tapes include performances of the Teatro Campesino and early performances of various theater groups participating in festivals of TENAZ, an international Chicano theater consortium.  Subjects include the Chicano Moratorium, which was the largest and most important Chicano protest march against the war in Vietnam; the August 1973 March on Sacramento called La Marcha de la Reconquista; the ending of the Cesar Chavez 1988 fast; the very early work of the Chicano music group Los Lobos, later made famous by Luis Valdez' motion picture La Bamba; the Chicano poet/artist José Montoya of the Royal Chicano Air Force.

CONTAINER LIST

 

Database #                   Title

 

V0994/UM                    1. EL TEATRO CAMPESINO - - "THE DUALITY OF LIFE" 1974

Format: 16mm B/W and Color

Length: 45min to 1hr.

Note: This film will be sync[h]ron[o]us sound throughout.

 

Rare footage on the world famous EL TEATRO CAMPESINO. The film deals

with the theatrical application of the Chicano reality reflecting the social,

cultural, and political feelings of the times, as seen by Luis Valdez and the

Teatro Campesino.  Also featured within this film are selected scenes from the

famous play SOLDADO RAZA about the Viet Nam Chicano experience and

how it affected the home (features Luis Valdez, Enrique Castillo and Olivia

Chumasero).

 

V0995/UM                    2. T.E.N.A.Z. (TEATRO NACIONAL DE AZTLAN) 1974

The National Chicano Theatre Organization.

Format: 16mm B/W

Length: 45min to 1hr.

 

The 1974 TENAZ held its fourth annual Teatro Festival at San Jose State

University where Chicano, Mexicano, and Latino theatre groups gathered to

share their talents and their performances as well as conducting workshops for

all aspects of theatre.

 

V0996/UM                    3. T.E.N.A.Z. THE QUINTO SOL FESTIVAL DE LOS TEATROS CHICANOS

PRIMER ENCUENTRO LATINOAMERICANO. 1975

[Illegible]

Format: Super-8 Color.

Length: 15min to 20min.

 

Mexico City: The first Chicano theatre festival hosted by the Mexican teatros

and the first large encounter with theatre groups from countries such as Brazil,

Columbia, and Venezuela. The film highlights the opening ceremonies which

took place in the center for the ancient pyramids of Teotihuacan, where the

teatro members gave bits of their teatro performances. Luis Valdez and the

Teatro Campesino are seen representing EL FIN DEL MUNDO as the audience

looks on while seated on the steps of the Pyramid of the Moon.

Note: This film has never been released to the public to date.

 

V0997/UM                    4. MARCHA DE RECONQUISTA (MARCH OF THE RECONQUIST [sic.])

Format: 16mm B/W

Length: 1hr. to 1 1/2 hrs.

 

The California Chicano protest march from Cochella on the Mexican border to

Sacramento against the war in Viet Nam, discrimination poor education, and the

policies of Governor Ronald Reagan.  Brown Berets marched as the armed

bodyguards of the marchers throughout the long march, as many people who

could not march would give food and shelter along the way urging the marchers

to represent their feelings about their conditions.  Brown Berets enter the Capital

[sic.]and raise the Mexican Flag in front of the Capital [sic.] steps defying the

authorities and speaking to the crowds in support of the march. Brown Berets

going through morning drills at D.Q.U. (Chicano Indian University) where the

marchers were staying.

 

V0998/UM                    5. AUGUST 31, 1971 CHICANO MORATORIUM

Format; 16mm and Super-8 B/W and Color.

Length: Aprox 45min.

 

The Chicano protest in East Los Angeles against the war, racism, bad

education, and the lack of opportunity for good employment. Ten to fifteen

thousand people came from throughout the United States to protest.

 

 

V0999/UM                    6. AUGUST 29, 1970 CHICANO MORATORIUM

Format: 16mm and Super-8 B/W and Color

Length: 30 to 45min.

Note: Some sync[h]ronized sound.

 

This was the largest of the Chicano protest marches that took place in East Los

Angeles where over 20,000 gathered from all parts of the United States. This

film shows where the now famous Ruben Salazar (News Director of Spanish

Television channel 34) was killed by the police. Also featured is rare film on the

beginning confrontations between the police and the protestors at the then

known Laguna Park, which ultimately ended in violence, death, the

burning of the Whittier boulevard, and the declaration of marshall law in East

Los Angeles.

 

V1000/UM                    7. LOS LOBOS AND CHICANO MUSICIANS 1973

Format: 2inch Video Tape. Color.

Length: 45min.

 

Exclusive video tape of the now internationally famous band Los Lobos,

then known as Los Lobos del Este Los Angeles.

Juan Felipe Herrera (indigenous folklore philosopher, writer, poet, musician)

sings indigenous spiritual songs using ancient r[h]ythms.  El Chunky-Ramon

Sanchez (director, musician, singer, writer) sings.  Chuey de Chicago (poet,

actor, singer) travels throughout the country singing folksongs of the

Chicano/Mexican experience.  Gloria Holquin (singer, writer) sings and plays

guitar as she traveled with El Teatro Campesino.

 

V1001/UM                    8. UNITED FARM WORKERS, CESAR CHAVEZ ENDS 36 DAY FAST

Delano California

August 21, 1988

 

V1002/UM                    9. La Marcha de la Reconquista, sound only

4 ½ hours.

 

SOUND TRACKS 5 to 7 hrs.

There are quite a bit of sound tracks on 1/4inch reels and cassettes that contain

poet readings from such people as Jose Montoya (Royal Chicano Air Force) as

well as speeches by leaders of the Chicano protest marches.