Archives West Finding Aid
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Tim Smith films, 1962-1982
Overview of the Collection
- Filmmaker
- Smith, Tim (Timothy John), 1955-
- Title
- Tim Smith films
- Dates
- 1962-1982 (inclusive)19621982
- Quantity
- 3 cubic feet, (16 film reels (16mm))
- Collection Number
- MIC 9
- Summary
- The collection includes satirical and comedic short films, in-progress films, and experimental films by Portland, Oregon, filmmaker Tim Smith. Many were filmed in Portland.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Tim Smith (1955-) was one of five children born to Lendon Howard Smith (1921-2001), a nationally recognized pediatrician, author, and television personality known as “The Children’s Doctor,” and to Julie Starheim, who had worked as a nurse. Smith and his siblings grew up in Portland, Oregon.
Smith became interested in filmmaking in 1967 and began making films seriously in 1968. Most of Smith's short films were filmed using a hand spring wound Bolex H16 paired with an assortment of lenses. Smith's films typically satirize a type of film, commercial, or joke. The majority of his works were filmed in Portland, Oregon, and they frequently feature several of his family members, including his father. Matt Groening was an occasional collaborator with Smith and acted in one of the films.
In 1981, Smith's film "Infernal Voyage," which he considers to be his best film, placed sixth at the 1981 Ann Arbor Film Festival and in the top 10 at the Sinking Creek Independent Film Festival.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection contains satirical and comedic short films and early film experiments by Portland, Oregon, filmmaker Tim Smith. The collection includes 9 complete films (three on one reel) and one reel of assorted home movies, experiments and outtakes. The collection includes the following titles: "The Orange"; "Fustration Irratation [sic]"; "Come and Get it"; "The Salmon Street Saga"; "This is Portland"; "Drugs: Killers or Dillers"; "The Case of the Kitchen Killer"; "Infernal Voyage"; "Hyperactivity: The Facts." All films are 16mm. The collection also includes various picture and audio production elements for some films, including A and B rolls, magnetic soundtracks, answer prints, negatives, and assorted lab and printing paperwork.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
Selections from the Tim Smith films are viewable online in OHS Digital Collections.
Preferred Citation
Tim Smith films, MIC 9, Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Restrictions on Use
Copyright is held by Tim Smith. In Copyright: https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Films are arranged chronologically.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Tim Smith, April 2016 (Lib. Acc. 28828).
Preservation Note
Original films are not available for direct access due to preservation concerns. Contact staff for assistance.
Processing Note
The majority of the film material in the collection was wound onto cores and recanned during processing. Collection guide was revised in 2022-2023 to expand description and conform to current standard. Collection was designated Coll 803 prior to 2022. Title information comes from the original cans and, in some cases, the film credits.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Description | Dates |
|---|---|
| Assorted early films
1 film reels (16mm) : color, sound, silent
Thirteen incomplete experiments, not finished films. The following information about the films is provided on the film leader: anti War Rally 8th Grade, unknown dot films, two films noted as Laff-O-Rama and Laff-orama, Frame by Frame, Runaway, Unknown Early Film, The Magician's Screen, McKenzie R., Zoo, and Bums.
|
1962-1968 |
|
The Orange, Fustration Irratation [sic], Come and Get It
1 film reels (16mm) (11 minutes) : projection print; color, sound, silent
Compilation of three comedic short films. In "The Orange," a young boy attempts to eat an orange, which escapes and leads him on a chase through town. "Fustration Irratation" (as spelled in the footage) is a series of vignettes in which the characters experience problems doing average daily activities. "Come and Get It" parodies different eating habits.
|
1968 |
|
The Salmon Street Saga
1 film reels (16mm) (6 minutes) : projection print; black and white, sound
Film follows a group of young men as they drive cars and motorcycles around Portland, form a gang, and recruit a new member. Soundtrack features "The Scavenger" by Dick Dale and his Del-Tones and "Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots" by The Cheers. The cast includes Matt Groening.
|
1970 |
|
This is Portland
1 film reels (16mm) (7 minutes) : projection print; black and white, sound
1 film reels (16mm) (7 minutes) : negative
1 film reels (16mm) (7 minutes) : projection print
Film is a travelogue parody. According to Smith, the film was inspired by a couple who did a series of travelogues. In the film, a musical score plays as a dancing couple, Don and Edwina, showcase Portland landmarks and places of interest. Locations include the Vista Street Bridge, the Jackson Tower, Washington Park, the the International Rose Test Garden, and the Oregon Zoo train. The facades of the Orpheum and Paramount theaters are also visible in the footage.
|
1971 |
|
Drugs: Killers or Dillers?
1 film reels (16mm) (10 minutes) : A and B rolls picture; color, sound
1 film reels (16mm) (10 minutes) : A and B rolls soundtrack
1 film reels (16mm) (10 minutes) : composite soundtrack
By Tim Smith and Matt Groening. Film parodies anti-drug films of the 1950s and 1960s (also known as "scare films") from the 1950s and 1960s. Voice-over narration describes the ill effects drugs have on individuals, and society. Matt Groening also appears in the film.
|
1972 |
|
The Case of the Kitchen Killer
1 film reels (16mm) : A and B rolls; color, sound
Film is a parody of crime dramas and examines the psychological reasons for committing crime. According to Smith, the film was inspired by actor and comedian Pat McCormick's (1927-2005) story about being frightened by the approach of a man wielding a pair of kitchen tongs in the men's restroom at the Grand Central Station in New York City. The cast includes Smith's father, Dr. Lendon H. Smith.
|
1976 |
|
Infernal Voyage
1 film reels (16mm) (12 minutes) : projection print; color, sound
1 film reels (16mm) (12 minutes) : magnetic track
1 film reels (16mm) (12 minutes) : picture negative
1 film reels (16mm) (12 minutes) : soundtrack negative
Film was shot in France and is a study about inattention to the surrounding environment and unreasonable expectations. Set in 1980, "Infernal Voyage" chronicles the activities of a married couple during their vacation in France, where they partake in sightseeing and experiencing French culture. According to Smith, the film is a tribute to Jacques Tati (1907-1982). The cast includes Smith's father, Dr. Lendon H. Smith.
|
1980 |
|
Hyperactivity: The Facts
1 film reels (16mm) (14 minutes) : release print; color, sound
1 film reels (16mm) (14 minutes) : inter-negative; color, sound
Film examines the impact diet has on the behavior of children and showcases the ideas and theories of Smith's father, Dr. Lendon H. Smith, who also stars in the film. The film concludes at 13 minutes, 40 seconds, and is followed by extraneous footage.
|
1982 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Comedy films--Oregon
- Independent filmmakers--Oregon--Portland
Personal Names
- Smith, Tim (Timothy John), 1955-
Form or Genre Terms
- independent films
- short subjects
Abigail Durkee; revised by Matthew Cowan
2016; revised 2023
