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 History of Meow Wolf, from a Santa Fe Collective to Five Worlds
The history of Meow Wolf: a 2008 Santa Fe collective, George R. R. Martin’s bowling alley, the House of Eternal Return and the sites that followed.
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The History of Immersive Exhibitions, from Barker’s Panorama to the Van Gogh Shows
The history of immersive exhibitions: Barker’s 1787 panorama, Panorama Mesdag, US cycloramas, Les Baux, the Atelier des Lumieres and the Van Gogh boom.
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The History of Escape Rooms, from Flash Games to Kyoto and Beyond
The history of escape rooms: Flash games, Kyoto’s first Real Escape Game in 2007, the Budapest claim, the US boom and plateau, and the theatre branch.
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Earwax Productions and Jim McKee: A San Francisco Sound House
Earwax Productions and Jim McKee: a San Francisco sound studio from 1983, with theatre scores, Audiographs, Bay Area Radio Drama, Mac sounds and Alcatraz.
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Sausalito Art Colony History: Festival, Studios and Kilns
Sausalito art colony history after the war: the 1952 art festival, Harry Partch’s Gate 5, Heath Ceramics, the ICB studios and Antenna’s Cardboard Front.
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Nightfire Theatre: Laura Farabough’s Company After Snake Theater
Nightfire Theatre, Laura Farabough’s Sausalito company after Snake: Surface Tension in a pool, Obedience School, Locker Room and the 1984 Olympic Arts Festival.
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Mill Valley Arts History: From Railroad Town to Festival Town
Mill Valley arts history in order: the Outdoor Art Club, the Mountain Play, the Fall Arts Festival, Sweetwater, the 1978 film festival and Antenna’s shows.
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The History of World Environment Day, and the Year San Francisco Hosted It
The history of World Environment Day, from Stockholm 1972 and Expo ’74 to San Francisco’s 2005 host year and the 21 Urban Environmental Accords.
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History of the UCLA Wight Art Gallery: From Campus Gallery to the Hammer
The history of the UCLA Wight Art Gallery: Frederick Wight’s 20 years, The Dark Madonna, CARA in 1990, Antenna’s 1995 walk-through and the move to the Hammer.
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The History of Radio Drama, from Studio Plays to Podcasts
The history of radio drama: who was first in 1921-22, Danger in the dark, The War of the Worlds myth, Berkeley’s KPFA, the revivals and fiction podcasts.
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The Enola Gay Exhibit Controversy: How the Smithsonian’s 1995 Show Was Cancelled
The Enola Gay exhibit controversy, dated: the Crossroads script, the veterans’ campaign, the Senate, The Last Act, the 1995 cancellation and Harwit’s exit.
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Contemporary Arts Forum, Santa Barbara: From a Roaming Forum to MCASB
Contemporary Arts Forum, Santa Barbara, from 1976: the Balboa Building, the Home Shows, Paseo Nuevo, the MCASB rename, the 2022 closure and the 2023 return.