Finding Acting Shakespeare by Ian McKellan
October 4, 2006 2:03 AM Subscribe
Where to acquire a video of Acting Shakespeare by Ian McKellan
In 1984 I saw Ian McKellan perform the most incredible one-man exposition on Shakespeare's works. The highlight was his performance of the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet (both roles). It was also recorded for broadcast on PBS around this same time. I've heard rumors of videotapes floating around but have been unable to locate one. Does anyone have an idea as to how I might acquire a copy of this?
In 1984 I saw Ian McKellan perform the most incredible one-man exposition on Shakespeare's works. The highlight was his performance of the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet (both roles). It was also recorded for broadcast on PBS around this same time. I've heard rumors of videotapes floating around but have been unable to locate one. Does anyone have an idea as to how I might acquire a copy of this?
You might check discussion lists where college-level acting profs hang out. We watched hours and hours of this in undergrad and it was amazing to see Ian, Patrick Stewart, David Suchet and the whole gang together at one time.
posted by ao4047 at 8:21 AM on October 4, 2006
posted by ao4047 at 8:21 AM on October 4, 2006
I found this page and apparently as of 1997, the tape was available for free from a company called TelEd in Los Angeles. Now if you can just track down TelEd....
posted by hindmost at 10:28 AM on October 4, 2006
posted by hindmost at 10:28 AM on October 4, 2006
Response by poster: Whoops! It is indeed McKellen, and I think I was searching correctly most of the night and somehow mixed it up at the late hour. I found most of the same leads you all have found, which largely reference a process of "interlibrary loan". I'm not really sure how to go about this, since I am not affiliated with an educational institution, and my attempts to find out more haven't led anywhere so far. My end goal is really to have this in my collection for repeated viewing, and I suspect that at best the "interlibrary" process would let me view it in a colleges A/V center? I am located within an hour of UCSB and a couple hours from UCLA and perhaps I should visit their library for some coaching on this.
I've been unable to locate the TelEd company, but the 1998 post referenced by Busy Old Fool is the one link I hadn't seen before. I've found the phone number for Hallinan Consulting, but haven't had an answer yet.
posted by Manjusri at 2:14 PM on October 4, 2006
I've been unable to locate the TelEd company, but the 1998 post referenced by Busy Old Fool is the one link I hadn't seen before. I've found the phone number for Hallinan Consulting, but haven't had an answer yet.
posted by Manjusri at 2:14 PM on October 4, 2006
Best answer: You could start out asking at your public library, Manjusri. They'll be able to determine what libraries own it. I was able to get a book from like Utah or something delivered to my local public library. Not sure how much it would differ for a video but they could definitely tell you more.
posted by dagnyscott at 3:24 PM on October 4, 2006
posted by dagnyscott at 3:24 PM on October 4, 2006
I found most of the same leads you all have found
In which case, it would have been helpful to have put them in the question along with reasons why they weren't sufficient.
e.g. I've found references to libraries that have it, but I need my own copy for repeated viewing
or
I am not an academic, but live near UCSB - can I get library copies from them?
Apologies for moaning, you're not the first to miss out useful information in the question!
posted by Busy Old Fool at 8:55 PM on October 4, 2006
In which case, it would have been helpful to have put them in the question along with reasons why they weren't sufficient.
e.g. I've found references to libraries that have it, but I need my own copy for repeated viewing
or
I am not an academic, but live near UCSB - can I get library copies from them?
Apologies for moaning, you're not the first to miss out useful information in the question!
posted by Busy Old Fool at 8:55 PM on October 4, 2006
Response by poster: Yeah, I was a little punchy by the time I posted that question. Still no answer at Hallinan Consulting, but I did get an email back from Morris Learning Resource Center, saying that I can request an InterLibrary loan from the local public library. Off to get a library card tomorrow.
posted by Manjusri at 1:06 AM on October 5, 2006
posted by Manjusri at 1:06 AM on October 5, 2006
Response by poster: Update: Visited the public library for the first time in about 20 years and it was a treat. I could kick myself for every time I've said libraries are obsolete. They were able to tell me where each of the four known copies are located, and request a interlibrary loan from the one in California.
Not only that, I walked out with four books I'd been planning to read, and unable to find online. Their buying list apparently overlaps considerably with books and authors covered on NPR. A good part of the place was taken up with internet computers, and the place was packed with a young, hip, but clean-cut crowd revolving around the workstations. I noticed the sci-fi section had pretty much every Star Trek episode ever aired on videotape. Walking out, I was approached by some folks putting on a screening in yet another part of the Library. A film on the Palestinian situation that sounded very interesting, if I hadn't prior commitments. I left very impressed with their evolution with the times, and a strong inclination to return (not just to avoid late fees).
Not sure how long it will take for the tape to get here, but it would be a funny coincidence if a digitized version shows up as a torrent in the next month or so.
posted by Manjusri at 2:44 AM on October 6, 2006
Not only that, I walked out with four books I'd been planning to read, and unable to find online. Their buying list apparently overlaps considerably with books and authors covered on NPR. A good part of the place was taken up with internet computers, and the place was packed with a young, hip, but clean-cut crowd revolving around the workstations. I noticed the sci-fi section had pretty much every Star Trek episode ever aired on videotape. Walking out, I was approached by some folks putting on a screening in yet another part of the Library. A film on the Palestinian situation that sounded very interesting, if I hadn't prior commitments. I left very impressed with their evolution with the times, and a strong inclination to return (not just to avoid late fees).
Not sure how long it will take for the tape to get here, but it would be a funny coincidence if a digitized version shows up as a torrent in the next month or so.
posted by Manjusri at 2:44 AM on October 6, 2006
So how's about that coincidental .torrent, Manjusri? Any developments?
posted by cgc373 at 8:50 PM on November 12, 2006
posted by cgc373 at 8:50 PM on November 12, 2006
Response by poster: Sadly no. The interlibrary loan hasn't come through, and I remembered why I became disenchanted with libraries twenty years ago: late fees for the absentminded make bookstores look cheap.
I'm not sure why the interlibrary thing didn't work, I'm sure the tape can't have been in use this whole time.
posted by Manjusri at 2:23 AM on December 21, 2006
I'm not sure why the interlibrary thing didn't work, I'm sure the tape can't have been in use this whole time.
posted by Manjusri at 2:23 AM on December 21, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
(Incidentally, your search might have been hampered by searching for Ian McKellan, rather than Ian McKellen.
posted by Busy Old Fool at 2:28 AM on October 4, 2006