Guide to the P. J. O'Connell Film Collection, 1963-1967 AIS.1998.31

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
P.J. O'Connell Film Collection
Creator
O'Connell, P. J.
Collection Number
AIS.1998.31
Extent
12 items (16mm film)
Date
1963-1967
Abstract
The P.J. O'Connell Film Collection contains 12 reels of 16mm motion picture footage shot, directed, and/or produced by P.J. O'Connell while he worked as a cameraman for WIIC-TV and WQED-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Language
English .
Author
Miriam Meislik.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Biography

P. J. (Patrick John) O'Connell was born in 1935 in Woodbury County, Iowa. He received a Bachelors in Journalism from Iowa State Univeristy in 1956 and a Masters/PhD from Penn State Univeristy in 1988. Prior to arriving in Pittsburgh, he worked for WOI-TV in Ames, Iowa, and WCCO-TV, Minneaopolis, Minn. He was employed at WIIC-TV and WQED-TV from 1963-1968 in Pittsburgh, Pa., then went to WPSX in State College, Pa. During his career, he produced over 100 documentary television programs. O'Connell died on March 27, 2006.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Heather Miller in 1999.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Copyright

The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.

Previous Citation

P.J. O'Connell Film Collection, 1963-1967, AIS.1998.31, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Preferred Citation

P.J. O'Connell Film Collection, 1963-1967, AIS.1998.31, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Acquisition Information

Gift of P.J. O'Connell on May 20, 1997.

Related Material

The Pennsylvania State University holds a collection of P.J. O'Connell's papers, 1955-1998.

Scope and Content Notes

The collection contains 12 16mm motion picture films produced, shot, directed, and/or edited by P.J. O'Connell between 1963-1967 during his time with WIIC-TV and WQED-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Topics in this footage include the Duquesne Light Civil Rights Demonstrations in 1963, the Shepton Mine Disaster, Lyndon Johnson's visit to Pittsburgh in 1964, an interview with blind jazz saxophonist Eric Kloss, an interview with Pete DiEmperio (football coach at Schenley High School), and VISTA volunteers working in Pittsburgh's South Side in 1967. Several films were submitted for Golden Quill and CLIO awards. Films on the Duquesne Light Company Demonstrations and a compilation of various stories, both from 1963, won Golden Quill awards and a promotional reel featuring studio wrestling received a CLIO in 1966.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • WQED (Television station : Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • WIIC (Television station : Pittsburgh, Pa.)

    Personal Names

    • O'Connell, P. J.

    Geographic Names

    • Pittsburgh (Pa.)

    Genres

    • 16mm
    • Motion pictures

    Other Subjects

    • Television programs -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Television producers and directors -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Documentary television programs -- Production and direction -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Newsreels
    • Social action
    • Labor
    • Business and Industry
    • Music
    • Clio Awards
    • Golden Quill Award (Press Club of Western Pennsylvania)
    • Television broadcasting -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh

Container List

Shepton Mine (Hazelton Mine) Disaster, August 1963
Containers
shelf AV, item 1

Extent

1 film

Language

English.

Scope and Content Notes

Film produced by O'Connell documenting the Shepton Mine (Hazelton Mine) Disaster which ocurred in the fall of 1963. O'Connell spend nearly a week filming the rescue attempt of three men who were trapped in the mine for fourteen days. Two men were sucessfully rescued. The story of the miners was seen nationally in print and broadcast outlets. To achieve the final film represented here, daily shipments of film from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh were required.

The Stripper, 1963
Containers
shelf AV, item 2

Extent

1 film

Scope and Content Notes

Film covering an amateur exotic dancer contest held at Jaffe's Casino Burlesk Theater in fall of 1963. The theater existed as one of Pittsburgh's premier Burlesque theaters from 1936 until 1966 and was located on Forbes Avenue.

Golden Quill, 1963
Containers
shelf AV, item 3

Extent

1 film

Scope and Content Notes

This film was WIIC's Golden Quill Award entry for Newsfilm Station of the Year in 1963. O'Connell filmed and edited stories on a North Side gunman, a tornado, and a Southside bookie. Also included were exerpted coverage of the Shepton Mine Disaster and the Duquesne Light Company demonstrations. Dick Johns served as News Director and Narrator.

Newsroom Composite, 1963
Containers
shelf AV, item 4

Extent

1 film

Scope and Content Notes

Reel containing a variety of clips from 1963 Golden Quill Award entries as well as other material produced for WIIC-TV.

WIIC Promo Film, " A Swinging Sensation"
Containers
shelf AV, item 5

Extent

1 film

Scope and Content Notes

This film was produced as a light hearted introduction of WIIC-TV to a new advertising agency after WIIC was purchased 1964 by Cox Broadcasting. It features a number of WIIC personalities from the mid-1960s. A 60-second version was awarded a CLIO by the National TV Advertisers Organization. This segment appears on a reel with Duquesne Light Demonstrations. It was produced by Vic Skaggs with direction and camera work by P. J. O'Connell.

That's The Way It Is, ca. 1966
Containers
shelf AV, item 6

Extent

1 film

Scope and Content Notes

A portrait of the blind Jazz saxaphonist Eric Kloss in 1966. Kloss, a native of Greenville, Pennsylvania, began playing saxaphone professionally when he appeared on stage at age 12 at the Crawford Grill in a performance with legendary Jazz saxaphonist, Sonny Stitt. Kloss has had 21 albums to his credit.

The Not-So-Ugly Americans, 1965
Containers
shelf AV, item 7

Extent

1 film

Scope and Content Notes

Filmed in Qayaquil, Ecuador, in 1965, this film was produced by Virginia Bartlett with editing and camera work by P. J. O'Connell. It covers a United Nations trip to South America to document the Peace Corps volunteers in Ecuador. The film was evntually used by the Peace Corps for training purposes.

LBJ in Pittsburgh, April 24, 1964
Containers
shelf AV, item 8

Extent

1 film

Scope and Content Notes

This reel contains WIIC-TV b-roll newsfilm from President Lyndon B. Johnson's visit to Pittsburgh on April 24, 1964. It was Johnson's first campaign trip since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Pete: Portrait of a Coach, 1965
Containers
shelf AV, item 9

Extent

1 film

Scope and Content Notes

Portrait of Schenley High School football coach, Pete DiEmperio, produced by George Burlbaugh and shot and edited by P. J. O'Connell. According to notes on the film, it marks the first use of wireless microphones in documentary production.

The Kids Are So Beautiful, Part II, 1967
Containers
shelf AV, item 10

Extent

1 film

Scope and Content Notes

The second part of a one hour documentary on VISTA volunteers working in Pittsburgh. It follows a couple, George and Pat, who work on the Southside to produce a play about their experiences. The film was produced for WQED by Virgina Bartlett with camera work and direction by P. J. O'Connell.

That Man and That Orchestra, 1964
Containers
shelf AV, item 11

Extent

1 film

Scope and Content Notes

Film portrait produced and shot by P. J. O'Connell of William Steinbert and the Pittsburgh Symphony in mid-1964.

Duquesne Light Demonstrations, 1963
Containers
shelf AV, item 12

Extent

1 film

Language

English.

Scope and Content Notes

The United Negro Protest committee organized demonstrations against Duquesne Light company in the summer of 1963. These were the first mass civil rights demonstrations in the city. This summary version of the demonstration week was prepared for the 1963 Sigman Delta Chi Golden Quill Awards competition. The film won the documentary award. O'Connell served as principal camerman and producer.