Films in Review, Vol. 5, No. 6 (June–July 1954)

Mary Ellen Bute

Henry Hart

1954

Ephemera

National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, New York

The Library Female Pioneer Oscilloscope Collection

Description

The experimental filmmaker Mary Ellen Bute describes her oscilloscope film Abstronic in “Abstronics,” printed in this June–July 1954 issue of Films in Review, the magazine of the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures in New York. Ralph Potter of Bell Telephone Laboratories designed a circuit that let her “draw” with a beam of light on the oscilloscope screen, and the figures were filmed and then colored by hand. Bute explains that “abstronics,” a word suggested to her by Albert Tomkins, joins “abstractions” and “electronics.”

Abstronic Sketch #2 by Mary Ellen Bute, 1951-1952 (ca)

Abstronic Sketch #2 Mary Ellen Bute1951-1952 (ca) Oscilloscope

Untitled Double Oscilloscope Photograph (photograph #1) by Mary Ellen Bute, 1951-1952 (ca)

Untitled Double Oscilloscope Photograph (photograph #1) Mary Ellen Bute1951-1952 (ca) Oscilloscope

Untitled Double Oscilloscope Photograph (negative #3) by Mary Ellen Bute, 1951-1952 (ca)

Untitled Double Oscilloscope Photograph (negative #3) Mary Ellen Bute1951-1952 (ca) Oscilloscope

Abstronic Mary Ellen Bute1952 Film

Four-Panel Oscilloscope Photo by Mary Ellen Bute, 1958-1959 (ca)

Four-Panel Oscilloscope Photo Mary Ellen Bute1958-1959 (ca) Oscilloscope

Abstronic Set by Mary Ellen Bute, 1951-1952 (ca)

Abstronic Set Mary Ellen Bute1951-1952 (ca) Oscilloscope

Untitled Oscilloscope Photograph (negative #1) by Mary Ellen Bute, 1951-1952 (ca)

Untitled Oscilloscope Photograph (negative #1) Mary Ellen Bute1951-1952 (ca) Oscilloscope

Abstronic title card (“by Mary Ellen Bute”) by Mary Ellen Bute, 1952

Abstronic title card (“by Mary Ellen Bute”) Mary Ellen Bute1952 Print