Ken Jacobs obit

Ken Jacobs Dies: Avant-Garde Filmmaker Was 92

 He was not on the list.

Ken Jacobs, the avant-garde filmmaker known for using found footage and experimental techniques during a career spanning more than 65 years, died Sunday. He was 92. His son, award-winning His Three Daughters filmmaker Azazel Jacobs, told the New York Times that his pioneering father died of kidney failure at a Manhattan hospital.

The elder Jacobs’ cult-film successes include Star Spangled to Death (2004), a mélange of moving images compiled over nearly a half-century; the Structural Experimentation bellwether Tom, Tom, the Piper’s Son (1969); and Blonde Cobra, the influential portrait of fellow underground cinema legend Jack Smith, a frequent collaborator who was crucial in Jacobs’ career.

According to the NYT, Jacobs, born in Brooklyn, discovered experimental film through exhibits at the Museum of Modern Art and bought his first camera after a stint in the Coast Guard. He later briefly studied with painter Hans Hofmann, an abstract expressionist.

Jacobs’ first film, per IMDb, was the 1955 short Orchard Street.

His wife and fellow artist Florence Jacobs was also among his closest collaborators, and in 1966 the two with others founded the influential Millennium Film Workshop, a co-op providing new filmmakers access “to the tools, ideas and networks of filmmaking beyond the confines of institutions and corporate studios,” according the the organization’s site. Flo, as Florence was known, died in June.

Among his other endeavors, Jacobs also taught on and off for years at SUNY Binghamton in upstate New York beginning in 1969 (then it was called Harpur College), when he first led an experimental film seminar within a course taught by fellow filmmaker Larry Gottheim. It was so popular the school hired him.

He and Gottheim would eventually create the SUNY system’s first Department of Cinema that specialized in avant-garde cinema appreciation and production; Jacobs eventually became a Distinguished Professor Emeritus.

HIs final credited film, 2022’s XCXHXEXRXRXIXEXSX, a full-length collaboration with Flo, continued his later-in-life experiment with 3D-style projection and editing techniques known as Eternalism.

Jacobs is survived by his son Azazel; and daughter Nisi Ariana, an artist and musician.

Director

XCXHXEXRXRXIXEXSX (2022)

XCXHXEXRXRXIXEXSX

5.6

Director

2022

 

Double Wow

Short

Director

2021

 

Movie That Invites Pausing

7.1

Short

Director

2020

 

The Whole Shebang

Short

Director

2020

 

Above the Rain

6.7

Short

Director

2019

 

The Sky Socialist: Environs and Outtakes

5.1

Director

2019

 

Ulysses in the Subway (2017)

Ulysses in the Subway

6.8

Director

2017

 

I'm Telling You

Short

Director

2016

 

Canopy

6.3

Short

Director

2014

 

The Guests (2014)

The Guests

6.1

Director

2014

 

A Primer in Sky Socialism

Director

2013

 

Blankets for Indians

Director

2012

 

Another Occupation

8.0

Short

Director

2011

 

Green Wave

Short

Director

2011

 

60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero (2011)

60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero

5.1

segment

2011

 

Seeking the Monkey King (2011)

Seeking the Monkey King

5.9

Short

Director

2011

 

The Pushcarts leave Eternity Street

7.3

Short

Director

2011

 

A Loft

4.5

Short

Director

2010

 

Jonas Mekas in Kodachrome Days (2009)

Jonas Mekas in Kodachrome Days

5.9

Short

Director

2009

 

Walkway

Short

Director

2009

 

His Favourite Wife Improved

Short

Director

2009

 

Hot Dogs at the Met

Short

Director

2008

 

Razzle-Dazzle: The Lost World

Director

2008

 

Return to the Scene of the Crime

Director

2008

 

The Scenic Route

Short

Director

2008

 

Gift of Fire: Nineteen (Obscure) Frames that Changed the World

Short

Director

2008

 

New York Ghetto Fishmarket 1903

7.2

Director

2007

 

The Whirled

5.8

Short

Director

2007

 

Capitalism: Slavery (2007)

Capitalism: Slavery

5.4

Short

Director

2007

 

Razzle Dazzle

6.3

Director

2007

 

Capitalism: Child Labor

6.8

Short

Director

2006

 

Ontic Antics Starring Laurel and Hardy; Bye, Molly! (2006)

Ontic Antics Starring Laurel and Hardy; Bye, Molly!

4.5

Director

2006

 

The Surging Sea of Humanity

Short

Director

2006

 

Two Wrenching Departures

Director

2006

 

Celestial Subway Lines/Salvaging Noise (2005)

Celestial Subway Lines/Salvaging Noise

6.1

Director

2005

 

Krypton Is Doomed

8.2

Short

Director

2005

 

Incendiary Cinema

5.2

Short

Director

2005

 

Mountaineer Spinning

7.4

Short

Director

2004

 

Star Spangled to Death (2004)

Star Spangled to Death

7.2

Director

2004

 

A Tom, Tom Chaser

5.5

Short

Director

2002

 

Circling Zero: We See Absence

Video

Director

2002

 

Flo Rounds a Corner

6.7

Short

Director

1999

 

Ontic Antics Starring Laurel and Hardy

Director

1998

 

Disorient Express

6.8

Short

Director

1996

 

The Georgetown Loop (1996)

The Georgetown Loop

6.4

Short

Director

1996

 

Keaton's Cops

4.6

Short

Director

1991

 

Opening the Nineteenth Century: 1896

8.9

Short

Director

1991

 

Jerry Takes a Back Seat, Then Passes Out of the Picture

Short

Director

1987

 

Perfect Film

6.9

Short

Director

1986

 

Conversations with History (1982)

Conversations with History

6.8

TV Series

Director

1982

 

Spaghetti Aza (1976)

Spaghetti Aza

Short

Director

1976

 

Urban Peasants

a film by

1975

 

Nissan Ariana Window

Short

Director

1969

 

Soft Rain

Short

Director

1969

 

Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son (1969)

Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son

5.8

Director

1969

 

The Sky Socialist (1968)

The Sky Socialist

6.6

Director

1968

 

For Life, Against the War (1967)

For Life, Against the War

Director

1967

 

Window

5.8

Short

Director

1964

 

Blonde Cobra (1963)

Blonde Cobra

2.9

Short

Director

1963

 

The Death of P'town

6.1

Short

Director

1963

 

Baud'larian Capers

Short

Director

1962

 

The End (1953)

Little Stabs at Happiness

4.9

Short

Director

1960

 

The Alps and the Jews

Director

1957

 

Orchard Street (1955)

Orchard Street

6.4

Short

Director

1955

 

Editor

The Guests (2014)

The Guests

6.1

Editor

2014

 

The Pushcarts leave Eternity Street

7.3

Short

Editor

2011

 

A Loft

4.5

Short

Editor

2010

 

Razzle-Dazzle: The Lost World

Editor

2008

 

Return to the Scene of the Crime

Editor

2008

 

New York Ghetto Fishmarket 1903

7.2

Editor

2007

 

Ontic Antics Starring Laurel and Hardy; Bye, Molly! (2006)

Ontic Antics Starring Laurel and Hardy; Bye, Molly!

4.5

Editor

2006

 

Celestial Subway Lines/Salvaging Noise (2005)

Celestial Subway Lines/Salvaging Noise

6.1

Editor

2005

 

Krypton Is Doomed

8.2

Short

Editor

2005

 

Incendiary Cinema

5.2

Short

Editor

2005

 

Star Spangled to Death (2004)

Star Spangled to Death

7.2

Editor

2004

 

Ontic Antics Starring Laurel and Hardy

Editor

1998

 

Opening the Nineteenth Century: 1896

8.9

Short

Editor

1991

 

Jerry Takes a Back Seat, Then Passes Out of the Picture

Short

Editor

1987

 

Perfect Film

6.9

Short

Editor

1986

 

Urban Peasants

Editor

1975

 

Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son (1969)

Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son

5.8

Editor

1969

 

Producer

The Guests (2014)

The Guests

6.1

producer

2014

 

The Pushcarts leave Eternity Street

7.3

Short

producer

2011

 

Walkway

Short

producer

2009

 

Razzle-Dazzle: The Lost World

producer

2008

 

Return to the Scene of the Crime

producer

2008

 

New York Ghetto Fishmarket 1903

7.2

producer

2007

 

Ontic Antics Starring Laurel and Hardy; Bye, Molly! (2006)

Ontic Antics Starring Laurel and Hardy; Bye, Molly!

4.5

producer

2006

 

Two Wrenching Departures

producer

2006

 

Incendiary Cinema

5.2

Short

producer

2005

 

Perfect Film

6.9

Short

executive producer

1986

 

Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son (1969)

Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son

5.8

producer

1969

 

Writer

The Pushcarts leave Eternity Street

7.3

Short

Writer

2011

 

Razzle-Dazzle: The Lost World

Writer

2008

 

Return to the Scene of the Crime

Writer

2008

 

New York Ghetto Fishmarket 1903

7.2

Writer

2007

 

Star Spangled to Death (2004)

Star Spangled to Death

7.2

Writer

2004

 

Perfect Film

6.9

Short

Writer

1986

 

Actor

Edgar Allan Bro (2014)

Edgar Allan Bro

Short

Ernest Hemingway

2014

 

Momma's Man (2008)

Momma's Man

6.0

Dad

2008

 

Diaries Notes and Sketches (1968)

Diaries Notes and Sketches

7.3

1968

 

Blonde Cobra (1963)

Blonde Cobra

2.9

Short

1963

 

Scotch Tape (1963)

Scotch Tape

4.7

Short

1963

 

Cinematographer

Ontic Antics Starring Laurel and Hardy; Bye, Molly! (2006)

Ontic Antics Starring Laurel and Hardy; Bye, Molly!

4.5

Cinematographer

2006

 

Incendiary Cinema

5.2

Short

Cinematographer

2005

 

Star Spangled to Death (2004)

Star Spangled to Death

7.2

Cinematographer

2004

 

Jerry Takes a Back Seat, Then Passes Out of the Picture

Short

Cinematographer

1987

 

Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son (1969)

Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son

5.8

Cinematographer

1969

 

Camera and Electrical Department

Free Radicals: A History of Experimental Film (2011)

Free Radicals: A History of Experimental Film

6.9

additional cinematography

2011

 

Court-circuit (2001)

Court-circuit

6.6

TV Series

additional footage

2002

1 episode

 

Sound Department

New York Ghetto Fishmarket 1903

7.2

sound

2007

 

Thanks

Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hedges in French Exit (2020)

French Exit

5.9

the director wishes to thank

2020

 

Notes on Marie Menken (2006)

Notes on Marie Menken

7.2

acknowledgment: with the generous help of

2006

 

Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price (2005)

Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price

6.8

special thanks

2005

 

American Masters (1985)

American Masters

8.2

TV Series

the director and producers wish to thank: The following filmmakers for their extraordinary contribution

2005

1 episode

 

Life and Debt (2001)

Life and Debt

7.4

special thanks

2001

 

Self

Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse (2024)

Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse

7.9

Self

2024

 

You Say You Want a Revolution (2019)

You Say You Want a Revolution

Self

2019

 

Room H.264: Astoria, NY, January 2018

Self

2018

 

What Is Cinema? (2013)

What Is Cinema?

6.2

Self

2013

 

Out-Takes from the Life of a Happy Man (2012)

Out-Takes from the Life of a Happy Man

7.9

Self

2012

 

Free Radicals: A History of Experimental Film (2011)

Free Radicals: A History of Experimental Film

6.9

Self - Filmmaker

2011

 

Sleepless Nights Stories (2011)

Sleepless Nights Stories

6.7

Self

2011

 

Razzle-Dazzle: The Lost World

Self

2008

 

Poster Design by Alexander Kellas, Pandiscio Co.

Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis

7.4

Self

2006

 

Star Spangled to Death (2004)

Star Spangled to Death

7.2

Self - Oscar FriendlySelf - RingmasterSelf - Janitor

2004

 

Court-circuit (2001)

Court-circuit

6.6

TV Series

Self

2003

1 episode

 

Divine Trash (1998)

Divine Trash

7.7

Self

1998

 

Jonas Mekas in Jonas in the Desert (1994)

Jonas in the Desert

6.8

Self

1994

 

New York Framed (1986)

New York Framed

TV Movie

Self

1986

 

Birth of a Nation (1983)

Birth of a Nation

7.2

Self

1983

 

Lost, Lost, Lost (1976)

Lost, Lost, Lost

7.3

Self

1976

 

Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania (1972)

Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania

7.6

Self

1972

 

Bill's Hat (1967)

Bill's Hat

Self

1967

 

Archive Footage

The Whirled

5.8

Short

(archive footage)

2007

 

As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty (2000)

As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty

8.2

Self (archive footage)

2000