Blog
Histories, guides and background from the Antenna Theater archive
Antenna Theater Journal
Four decades of audio-driven, walk-through and site-specific theater, told through the productions, the places and the ideas behind them. New pieces are added here as they are published.
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The Fluxus Art Movement: From Wiesbaden to the Flux-Labyrinth
The Fluxus art movement from 1960 to 1978: Maciunas and the name, Wiesbaden’s piano, the boxes, Yoko Ono’s instructions, Fluxus West and the Flux-Labyrinth.
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Experiments in Art and Technology: E.A.T., 9 Evenings and the Pepsi Pavilion
Experiments in Art and Technology (E.A.T.): Billy Klüver, 9 Evenings at the Armory, the fog-wrapped Pepsi Pavilion at Expo ’70, and where sources disagree.
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Cabaret Voltaire and Dada: Zurich’s Five-Month Nightclub
Cabaret Voltaire and Dada in Zurich, 1916: Ball and Hennings, the word Dada, the simultaneous poem, Hugo Ball’s sound poems and what became of the room.
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Bertolt Brecht and Epic Theatre: The Alienation Effect, the Learning Plays and the Berliner Ensemble
Bertolt Brecht’s epic theatre explained: his 1930 table, the alienation effect and Mei Lanfang, the learning plays, HUAC and the Berliner Ensemble.
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The History of Murder Mystery Games: From Parlour Murder to the Murder Weekend
The history of murder mystery games: the parlour game Murder, the Pratts’ Cluedo (1949), Mohonk’s 1977 Mystery Weekend, Joy Swift and dinner theatre.
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The History of Choose Your Own Adventure: From a Bedtime Story to 250 Million Books
The history of Choose Your Own Adventure: Edward Packard’s bedtime stories, Sugarcane Island, The Cave of Time in 1979, the second-person you and Chooseco.
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The History of Drive-In Theaters: From a Camden Lot to the 2020 Comeback
The history of drive-in theaters: Hollingshead’s 1933 patent and Camden lot, Shankweiler’s, the 1958 peak of 4,063, the decline and the 2020 revival.
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Morton Heilig’s Sensorama: The 1962 Machine That Fed All the Senses
Morton Heilig’s Sensorama, dated from his patents: the Telesphere Mask, the 1962 booth with wind, scent and a vibrating seat, and the Experience Theater.
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Ken Kesey’s Merry Pranksters Bus: Furthur from La Honda to Golden Gate Park
Ken Kesey’s Merry Pranksters bus, Furthur: the 1964 trip with Neal Cassady, the Acid Tests, the 1990 replica prank, the swamp and the 2026 return.
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The Beat Generation in San Francisco: The Six Gallery, City Lights and North Beach
The Beat Generation in San Francisco: Rexroth’s circle, the Six Gallery reading of 1955, City Lights, the Howl trial, North Beach and the first beatniks.
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The Diggers of San Francisco: Free Food, Free Stores and Street Theater
The Diggers in San Francisco, 1966 to 1968: free stew in the Panhandle, the Free Frame of Reference, the Digger Free Store, life acting and Death of Hippie.
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Jerzy Grotowski and Poor Theatre: The Theater That Took Everything Away
Jerzy Grotowski’s poor theatre explained: the Laboratory Theatre in Opole and Wroclaw, Towards a Poor Theatre (1968), paratheatre, Irvine and Pontedera.