Title: Robert Geisel Films
Inclusive Dates: 1950-1980

Creator:

• Geisel, Robert K., d. 2004

Call Number: M88-184, AE 114-AE 125, CC 158, CC 189-CC 201, DF 578, DF 790-DF 791, VBC 277

Quantity: 29 film reels (16 mm), 1 videorecording (U-matic), and 80 film cans of printing elements (in 14 boxes)

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Films produced and filmed by Robert Geisel of Geisel Studios (1951-circa 1970s) primarily for Wausau area business clients such as Drott Manufacturing Company, Employer's Mutual Insurance (Wausau Insurance), Marathon Electric, and Zimpro. Other films include scenes of the Wisconsin Valley Fair, circa 1956; raw footage of the Wolf River area and tornado damage cleanup of the Town of Rib Mountain; snowmobiling; and a film about the forest industry in northern Wisconsin, Of Time and Timber.

Note:

There is a restriction on access to and use of this material; see the Administrative/Restriction Information portion of this finding aid for details.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-m88184

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Geisel Studios was launched in 1951, headquartered in the Plumer “Castle,” where WSAU-TV was then located. In 1960, Mr. Geisel moved into his own building on North Third Street.

Mr. Geisel later became vice president of Kinzie, Geisel & Green Advertising, and then president of Maracom Advertising. He was also director of sales, films, documentaries, video production and commercials for Forward Services.

The films in this collection are organized and described as follows: 16 mm prints (viewing prints), raw film footage (archival positives), and printing elements. For the most part the printing elements cannot be viewed as most of these are negatives. In a few cases, the printing element is a camera original positive which can be viewed but not necessarily with the accompanying soundtrack. Many of the 16 mm prints have the corresponding printing elements but not all; when printing elements are available it is noted after the title of the print. Similarly not all of the printing elements have 16 mm prints.

The content of the films varies depending on the client, but overall the films are promotional films, especially related to manufacturing and show products in use. Other films are more documentary in style such as Of Time and Timber, All Hands Secure, Snow Trails to Action, and Mish-Mash (not done by Geisel). The raw footage for what was to be a film about the Wolf River area shows different tourist and natural resources activities including Native American performers dancing and drumming possibly at Camp Fire, a Connor Lumber and Land logging camp museum.

Access Restrictions

Film printing elements are restricted.

Use Restrictions

No duplication or public screening without consent of copyright holder.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Robert K. Geisel. Accession Number: M88-184, M97-160

	Series: 16 mm Prints (Viewing Prints) Note: Listed by client and then title of feature. Some of these works have printing elements; when these exist it is noted.
	Badger Breeders
CC 189	Art of Herd Improvement
CC 190	Reproduction
	Dairy Operating Cooperative
CC 191	All Hands Secure, revised
CC 192	All Hands Secure, new version Note: See also printing elements.
	Drott Manufacturing
CC 193	Cruz Cranes Note: Answer print, see also printing elements.
CC 194	Moving with Imagination, version 2
AE 114	The Little Leaguer
CC 195	The Thoroughbred International, circa 1964 Note: See also printing elements.
	Gaslite Inc.
	Waitress Training, 1964
AE 115	Positive original edited (A roll)
AE 116	Magnetic track
	Employer's Insurance
CC 200	Ready or Not, 1971-1972 Note: See also printing elements.
DF 578	Before the Emergency
	Helke's Interiors c/o ACT Advertising, “Helke chair” (30 second TV spot), 1975
AE 117	Positive original edited (A roll)
AE 118	Magnetic track
DF 790	“Mish-Mash” at the Wisconsin Valley Fair in Wausau, circa 1956 Note: Filmed and edited by Joseph Keresztessy. Silent; color; blurry at times; scenes of the fair, car races, people, and animals; shot with anamorphic lens.
	Of Time and Timber Note: Documentary style film about the forest industry in northern Wisconsin, film was probably produced for the Marathon County Historical Society.
VBC 277	Viewing copy Physical Description: U-matic videocassette
CC 201	Master copy Physical Description: 16 mm print
	Responsible Outdoorsman Note: “Responsible Outdoorsman” series was designed to promote safety in outdoor sports. Intended for TV presentation; host, Tony Kabeck.
AE 119	“Boating and Swimming Safety,” 1972
AE 120	“Fishing Safety,” 1972 Note: See also printing elements.
AE 121	“Snowmobile Safety,” 1971 Note: See also printing elements.
CC 196	Rev-Jet, 1964 Note: See also printing elements.
AE 122	Rolite Trailer Company, “Rolite travel camping trailer,” 1963 Note: Positive original edited (A roll), footage of car pulling camper, setting it up, and putting it down.
DF 791	Snow Trails to Action: Snowmobile Fever, 1970 Note: Miller Brewing Company snowmobiling promotion, see film work sheet.
CC 197	Tombstone Pizza TV commercials, 1975, 1977 Note: 6 reels in 1 can, TV spots from 1975 include: “Baseball”; “Billiards”; “Bowling”; “Card Game”; and “Charcoal Grill” (also known as “Picnic”). And one spot from 1977 is titled “Skiing.”
CC 198	Tombstone Pizza TV commercials, 1975-1977 Note: 5 reels in 1 can, TV spots include: the 2nd answer print of “Bicentennial,” 1976; “Christmas”; “Drive-In Theater #2”; the revised version of the “Housewife” (also known as “Homemaker”), 1977; and “Snowmobile,” 1975.
	Zimpro Inc.
AE 124	Kalamazoo Story, 1972 Note: See also printing elements.
CC 199	The Sanitary Mule, 1974 Note: See also printing elements.
	Series: Raw Film Footage (archival positives)	⇧
AE 125	Greg “Grape Juice” Johnson interview Physical Description: 16 mm, color, sound  Note: Badger football player number 32, Greg Johnson, also known as “Grape Juice,” being interviewed in 1969.
AE 123	Tornado Damage: Town of Rib Mountain, 1977 August Physical Description: 16 mm, color, silent  Note: Footage of damage clean up.
CC 158	Wolf River film (not completed), circa 1960s Physical Description: 16 mm, color, silent  Note: Content includes footage of Native American dancers possibly performing at Camp Fire Museum and views of the audience; river activities including fishing and camping; scenes of places along the river.
M88-184	Series: Printing Elements Note: Most of the following titles do not have viewing copies. Printing elements cannot be viewed. There are a few titles listed here that have picture film that can be viewed (i.e. A roll without sound, and master positives); when this is the case it is noted.	⇧
Box   1	A & B Contracting, We make systems flow Note: Note: A, B, and C rolls and B wind optical track in 2 cans.
	A. Ward Ford Memorial Institute Note: The “silent killer” refers to hypertension.
Box   2	“Report on life #1: The silent killer,” 1974 Note: A and B rolls, and B wind optical track in 2 cans.
Box   2	“Report on life #2: Detecting the silent killer,” 1975 Note: A and B rolls and B wind optical track in 2 cans.
Box   2	“Report on life #3: Treating the silent killer,” 1976 Note: A, B and C rolls and B wind optical track in 2 cans.
Box   1	CAE Fiberglass, We make big things happen, 1981 Note: CRI and A wind optical track in 1 can.
	Crestline
Box   1	Crestline windows, circa 1964 Note: Internegative and master mag mix in 1 can.
	What happens when you say yes, 1961
Box   1	A, B rolls in 1 can
Box   3	B wind optical track in 1 can
	Dairy Operating Cooperative
Box   3	60 second TV commercial, circa 1965 Note A roll and B wind optical track in 1 can. Can view picture without sound.
Box   3	All Hands Secure Note Internegative (3rd version, 9/01/65) and A wind optical track in 1 can. See also viewing print.
Box   3	Defenders of community health Note: Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can.
	Drott Manufacturing
Box   3	Con Expo: Cruz Air, 1975 Note: Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can.
Box   3	Cruz Cranes Note Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can. See also viewing print.
Box   4	Drott 770-TC Travel Carrier, 1977 Note: Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can.
Box   4	Las Vegas show - Drott 120 Crawler Note A roll and B wind optical track in 1 can. Can view picture without sound.
Box   4	Logging, 1976-1977 Note: Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can.
Box   4	The Thoroughbred International Note A and B roll conformed originals and B wind optical track in 2 cans. See also viewing print.
Box   4	Easy camper T-Bird, circa 1965 Note A roll and master mag mix in 1 can. The A roll can be viewed without the sound.
	Employer's Mutual Insurance (Wausau Insurance Company)
Box   4	An outside look Note: Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can.
Box   5	Be current wise, 1969 Note: Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can.
Box   5	Better people (President's report), 1971 Note: Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can.
Box   5	Food for thought Note: A and B rolls and B wind optical track in 2 cans.
Box   5	The best things in life Note: A and B rolls and B wind optical track in 2 cans.
Box   6	The David Hall story, 1963 Note Original negative and master positive in 1 can. The master positive can be viewed. President John F. Kennedy honors the “Handicapped man of the year,” David Hall of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Box   6	The high-low bid, 1977 Note: A, B, C rolls and B wind optical in 2 cans.
Box   6	The other side of the dark, 1973-1974 Note: Internegative and A wind optical in 1 can.
Box   6	The President's Report, 1972 Note: A, B rolls and B wind optical in 2 cans.
Box   7	Ready or not Note Internegative and A wind optical track in 2 cans. See also viewing print.
	Felker Brothers
Box   7	Gottschalk cranberry operation, 1976 Note: Internegative in 1 can.
Box   7	Production of stainless steel pipe, tube, fittings, and accessories for the process industries, 1968 Note: Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can.
Box   7	Roots of steel: The Felker story, 1975 Note: Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can.
Box   7	Hankscraft film, 1972 Note: A, B rolls and B wind optical track in 2 cans.
Box   7	Hospital without walls (Wausau Visiting Nurses Association?) Note: A, B rolls and B wind optical track in 2 cans.
Box   7	LaFonte firewood processor, 1978 Note: Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can.
Box   7	Marathon Battery Corporation, Astro-Liter promotional film, 196? Note A roll and B wind optical track in 1 can. A roll (picture) can be viewed without the sound.
Box   7	Marathon County Red Cross, A part of the main, 1975 Note: Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can.
	Marathon Millwork
Box   7	Casement windows Note: Internegative and master mag mix in 1 can.
Box   9	Tiltamatic, 1966 Note: Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can.
Box   9	Melvin Company, 1976-1977 Note: A, B rolls and B wind optical track in 2 cans.
	Mosinee Paper Mills
Box   9	Mosinee packaging, 1970 Note: Internegative and master mag mix in 1 can.
Box   9	New direction at Mosinee, 1964-1965 Note: Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can.
	Murco (D.J. Murray Manufacturing)
Box   9	Roll lowering table Note A roll and B wind optical track in 1 can. A roll (picture) can be viewed without the sound.
Box   10	Roll turntable system Note: A, B roll and B wind optical track in 1 can.
Box   10	NEWIST (North East Wisconsin Instructional Television), Data processing, 1970 Note: Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can.
	Prentice Hydraulics
Box   10	Block loader Note: Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can.
Box   10	Pulp loader Note: Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can.
	Responsible Outdoorsman
Box   10	“Fishing Safety” Note A, B rolls and B wind optical track in 1 can. See also viewing print.
Box   11	“Snowmobile Safety” Note A, B rolls and B wind optical track in 1 can. See also viewing print.
Box   11	Rev-Jet Note Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can. See also viewing print.
Box   11	Silver Spurs Resort Ranch, Never a stranger, 1966 Note: A, B rolls and B wind optical track in 2 cans.
Box   11	Thilco Functional Papers Plant Note: A, B rolls and B wind optical track in 1 can.
	Tomahawk Boat Company, Dream boats
Box   11	A, B rolls in 1 can
Box   12	B wind optical track in 1 can
Box   12	United Fund of South Wood County, It does happen here, 1962 Note: A, B rolls and B wind optical track in 2 cans.
Box   12	Wausau Homes, Man in a blizzard, 1966 Note: A, B rolls and B wind optical track in 1 can.
	Wausau Iron Works
Box   12	Wausau Sno-Throw, 1963 Note A roll and B wind optical track in 1 can. A roll (picture) can be viewed without the sound.
Box   12	Wausau Thrun Road Equipment Note A roll and B wind optical track in 1 can. A roll (picture) can be viewed without the sound.
	Zimpro Inc.
Box   13	Earth's human shores, 1971-1972 Note: Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can.
Box   13	Kalamazoo Story Note Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can. See also viewing print.
Box   13	Los Angeles Project, 1971 Note A roll and B wind optical track in 1 can. A roll (picture) can be viewed without the sound.
Box   13	Servicing the Zimpro pump Note: Part I-II, A, B rolls and B wind optical track in 3 cans.
Box   14	The Sanitary Mule, 1974 Note: Internegative and A wind optical track in 1 can.
Box   14	Waste water reclamation: Toward zero discharge, 1977 Note: CRI and A wind optical track in 1 can.