VIDEO RECORDINGS
1964-XX-XX Florida State University Promotional Film - Tallahassee, FL
Source: 1st Generation
Length: 15:00
Quality: A (Professional Recording)
Recently discovered in the archives of Florida State University is this promotional film made for the school. A young Jim Morrison, before he transferred to UCLA where he would meet future bandmate Ray Manzarek, can be seen in two scenes playing a prospective student. This is the complete 15-minute film from FSU's archives.
1967 "Break On Through" Promotional Film
Source: "The Best Of The Doors" VHS
Length: 2:22
Quality: A (16mm Professional Recording)
Promotional film directed by Mark Abramson for the band's first single and filmed in late November 1966. This copy is dubbed with audio from the DCC remaster of the song.
1967-01-01 "Shebang" KTLA-TV Channel 5 - Los Angeles, CA
Source: Low Generation
Length: 3:18
Quality: B+ (Television Recording)
The earliest Doors television appearance known to exist. The band performs to a playback of their first single, "Break On Through." Jim seems nervous and reserved. This comes from a very clean low gen source. I touched up the video to tone down the color saturation. Removed some annoying clicks/pops in the audio track. There’s a weird spot in this clip where you hear someone else’s voice during one portion of the song. Cameraman? No idea, but I kept it in since this is the way I received it and I’ve heard this same glitch on other copies. Includes Casey Kasem’s introduction and a plea to fans at the end to help save the show (it was cancelled shortly after).
1967-06-XX Fillmore Auditorium - San Francisco, CA
Source: Low Generation
Length: 2:38
Quality: B+ (Professional Recording)
Black and white segment with original sound ("Break On Through") possibly filmed by Bill Graham. Though the date is uncertain, it's likely this was filmed sometime in the summer of '67. The footage is unfortunately shot far from the stage. The video is more about the lighting effects going on during the show than it is about the band. This clip comes from an unknown German documentary aired on WDK and features a narrator talking over a good portion of it.
1967-06-10 Mt. Tamalpais Outdoor Theatre - "The Fantasy Faire & Magic Festival" - Los Angeles, CA
Source: 4th Generation
Length: 2:57
Quality: B- (8mm Home Recording)
A nice low gen source for this silent color footage shot by an audience member. I added an edited version of “Soul Kitchen” from the Continental Ballroom ’67 show as audio.
1967-06-10 Mt. Tamalpais Outdoor Theatre - "The Fantasy Faire & Magic Festival" - Los Angeles, CA
Source: Low Generation
Length: 0:44
Quality: B+ (Professional Recording)
This is a brief black and white segment from an unknown documentary that includes silent footage of the band at the Fantasy Faire & Magic Festival filmed using professional equipment. It's unknown if more footage survives.
1967-07-22 "American Bandstand" ABC-TV Channel 7 - Hollywood, CA
Source: Unknown Generation
Length: 11:09
Quality: C/A (Television Recording)
The band performs to playbacks of "The Crystal Ship" and "Light My Fire" and is briefly interviewed by Dick Clark about their upcoming second album, "Strange Days." This is the usual poor source for this complete footage taken from a timecoded source. I improved the contrast levels a bit so you can see a little more than you could before. Also includes a rebroadcast version of “Light My Fire” in great quality with an intro from Clark. If anyone has this complete segment in better quality, please let me know.
1967-08-25 "Malibu U" ABC-TV Channel 7 - Los Angeles, CA
Source: 1st Generation
Length: 2:55
Quality: A (Television Recording)
The Doors pantomime to their second single, "Light My Fire." This appearance is highlighted by the fact that Jim never showed up for filming. Instead, Robby Krieger's brother Ron stood in for the lead singer. Jim later agrees to film some close-ups which are then edited into the performance.
1967-08-25 "Malibu U" ABC-TV Channel 7 - Los Angeles, CA [With Opening]
Source: Unknown Generation
Length: 5:07
Quality: B- (Television Recording)
Lower quality than the version listed above, but this copy includes the opening credits to the show and the band introduction by Rick Nelson.
1967-09-14 "The Rock Scene: Like It Is" CBC TV Studios - Toronto, Canada
Source: "The Doors: Soundstage Performances" DVD
Length: 12:20
Quality: A (Television Recording)
The Doors make an appearance on this CBC television show and perform "The End" (minus the Oedipal section). This program is later rebroadcast in 1970 in the US under the name "Now Explosion."
1967-09-17 "The Ed Sullivan Show" CBS-TV - New York, NY
Source: 1st Generation
Length: 6:01
Quality: A (Television Recording)
The Doors' most infamous television appearance. The band performs "People Are Strange" and "Light My Fire." Producers had asked Jim not to sing the line "Girl, we couldn't get much higher." In rehearsals, Jim agreed. But during filming, he sang the original line anyway. The band was then banned from "The Ed Sullivan Show." This footage is in great quality. Includes the complete, as-aired footage with Sullivan’s intro and outro.
1967-09-22 "Murray The K In New York" WPIX-TV - New York, NY
Source: Low Generation
Length: 22:03
Quality: A- (Television Recording)
People Are Strange / Skit / Light My Fire / Outtakes
This is the complete broadcast footage as well as multiple outtakes of the band goofing around while recording their performance of "People Are Strange." The quality on the “Light My Fire” skit is a little generated compared to the rest of the footage, but it's still miles above all other copies I've seen.
1967-12-27 "The Jonathan Winters Show" - Los Angeles, CA
Source: Low Generation
Length: 6:10
Quality: A- (Television Recording)
The Doors perform "Moonlight Drive" and "Light My Fire" with live vocals and pre-recorded music. This is the band's last American television appearance for almost a year. This is taken from a VCD source because it's the best version of the color footage I could locate. Other VHS versions I've seen are too dark or generated. The audio comes from a cleaner, remastered source. If anyone has better quality clip not taken from a VCD source, please contact me.
1967-12-27 "The Jonathan Winters Show" - Los Angeles, CA [Entire Episode]
Source: Low Generation
Length: 58:02
Quality: A- (Television Recording)
This is the entire episode of "The Jonathan Winters Show" that featured The Doors. Also guest stars Barbara Eden and Red Skelton. Very good quality, but sourced from a black and white kinescope rather than a color print.
1968-03-15 Colgate University - Hamilton, NY
Source: 1st Generation
Length: 0:25
Quality: A- (8mm Home Recording)
A brief clip of this two-minute silent footage converted from YouTube. Since the footage is so dark, it doesn’t look too bad considering the source. Although there is no sound, near the end of the clip, you can see that Jim is singing "Back Door Man."
1968 "The Unknown Soldier" Promotional Film
Source: Unknown Generation + "The Doors Collection" DVD
Length: 3:57
Quality: B/A+ (16mm Professional Recording)
A promotional film made by Mark Abramson and Edward Dephoure and based on an idea by Jim Morrison. The film first premiered during the early show at the Fillmore East on March 22, 1968 and was likely filmed a month earlier. This copy includes the rarely seen, silent intro to the film that I spliced in from a fair quality source to recreate the entire original film.
1968 "Not To Touch The Earth" Promotional Film
Source: Unknown Generation
Length: 3:54
Quality: B (16mm Professional Recording)
A never-released promotional film made by Bobby Neuwirth and taken from footage captured on March 16, 1968 in Rochester, NY and on March 17, 1968 in Boston, MA. The final film was finished in May 1968. Though it still looks generated, there were some improvements made to this video. A green stripe ran along the side of the screen which I removed and I adjusted the contrast levels to make the picture look more accurate to the original film.
1968-07-05 Hollywood Bowl - Los Angeles, CA
Source: "The Doors Collection" DVD
Length: 60:57
Quality: A+ (Soundboard Recording)
Introduction / When The Music's Over / Alabama Song / Back Door Man / Five To One / Back Door Man (Reprise) / Moonlight Drive / Horse Latitudes / A Little Game / The Hill Dwellers / Spanish Caravan / Wake Up / Light My Fire / The Unknown Soldier / The End
Great quality professionally-recorded concert. Unfortunately, some of the songs feature vocal overdubs from 1970-era recordings used to fix errors on the master recording and to "punch up" the performance in places (most notably during "When The Music's Over"). This recording is also missing "Hello, I Love You" which was performed but, according to The Doors, not captured on camera.
1968-07-10 Sam Houston Coliseum - Houston, TX
Source: 2nd Generation
Length: 7:03
Quality: A- (8mm Home Recording)
Excellent quality silent color film but, like most home movie footage, is pretty dark. This copy has been dubbed using my remastered copy of the Houston '68 audience recording. You can see some amusing moments in this video like Jim getting a cigarette from an audience member then Ray asking for one right after and brief snippets of Jim climbing under the stage.
1968-09-07 The Roundhouse - London, England (Late Show)
Source: Low Generation
Length: 7:54
Quality: A- (16mm Professional Recording)
Amazing, close-up silent color footage shot at the Roundhouse in London. It's unknown if more footage exists, but hopefully it does. This footage has been synched with an audience recording from the same night (Jim is singing "When The Music's Over"). The original synch was very good, but had some gaps in the audio. I filled these gaps in without changing the running time and also remastered the overall sound to clean it up and make it louder.
1968-09-14 Kongresshalle - Frankfurt, Germany (Early & Late Shows)
Source: Unknown Generation
Length: 3:45
Quality: B- (Professional Recording)
This professionally-shot black and white footage features incomplete versions of "Light My Fire" and "Five To One" from the early and late shows in Frankfurt (respectively). This footage was originally broadcast in Germany and then rebroadcast in the UK on "Britain's Top 7."
1968-09-18 Television-Byen - Gladsaxe, Copenhagen, Denmark
Source: "The Doors: Soundstage Performances" DVD
Length: 27:49
Quality: A+ (Television Recording)
Introduction / Alabama Song / Back Door Man / Texas Radio And The Big Beat / Love Me Two Times / When The Music's Over / The Unknown Soldier
This television appearance shows the band performing a laid back set at 10am after playing two shows the night before in Copenhagen. Surprisingly, they still manage to knock out some strong versions of these songs. I also have a copy of this from a master source with a timecode and introduction from the host, Edmondt Jensen.
1968-10-04 "The Doors Are Open" Granada TV - London, England
Source: "The Doors Are Open" DVD
Length: 52:50
Quality: A (Professional Recording)
A documentary made by Granada TV and utitlizing concert footage filmed during the late show at the Roundhouse on September 6, 1968 and aired the following month. The program intercuts interview segments and newsreel footage with the performances. It's too bad the audio quality isn't a little better. All DVD releases I've found run about 4% too slow. This version has been speed-corrected.
1968-12-15 "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" - New York City, NY
Source: "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour: Best Of Season 3" DVD
Length: 6:22
Quality: A- (Television Recording)
The Doors perform "Wild Child" and "Touch Me." As on other television appearances, the vocals are live, but the music is pre-recorded. Quality is excellent. I also have an interview with John Densmore about this appearance from the '90s and a copy of the complete episode.
1969-01-24 Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
Source: Low Generation
Length: 15:32
Quality: A- (16mm Professional Recording)
Silent, black and white, professionally-filmed footage of the band at Madison Square Garden. It's unknown why this footage was filmed or if more exists. This footage has been dubbed with audio from the same night and partially synched (Jim's band introductions).
1969-01-24 Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
Source: 1st Generation
Length: 1:37
Quality: A- (8mm Home Recording)
Silent, color footage shot by a fan at the Madison Square Garden show. While this was filmed much farther away than the above footage, it's a nice look at the show in color. This short footage, which is complete, was posted on YouTube by the person who filmed it. My source for this footage is the original mpeg file created from the film.
1969 "Feast Of Friends"
Source: Low Generation
Length: 50:50
Quality: B (16mm Professional Recording)
The Doors' own documentary put together from footage filmed during their 1968 American tour. The film was completed in March 1969. Many circulating copies of this are taken from generated video tape sources. This version comes from a film transfer (likely 16mm). I also have a very good copy of the videotape source.
1969-06-25 "Critique" PBS Studios, WNET-Channel 13 - New York, NY
Source: "The Doors: Soundstage Performances" DVD
Length: 41:15
Quality: A- (Television Recording)
Introduction / Tell All The People / Alabama Song / Back Door Man / Wishful Sinful / Build Me A Woman / Interview / The Soft Parade
Filmed on April 28-29, 1969, this program showcases The Doors performing several songs and being interviewed by host Richard Goldstein of the Village Voice. Also on the panel is William "Rosko" Mercer, Patricia Kennealy, and Alfred G. Aronowitz. The panel segment was filmed on May 13. Although this comes from an official release, there are some video errors on this copy. Hopefully an upgraded version will be located and released. I also have a lower quality copy that contains the entire panel discussion which the DVD release removed. I'm currently searching for an upgrade to this complete source. Please contact me if you can help.
1969-06-27 Seattle Pop Festival - Seattle, WA
Source: Low Generation
Length: 6:10
Quality: B (8mm Home Recording)
Silent, 8mm color footage purportedly shot at the Seattle Pop Festival. Though it may in fact be from the Cow Palace two nights previous. I dubbed the beginning of this footage with a film reel sound effect because it's footage of another band, but when Jim takes the stage, I added “Five To One” from the Aquarius '69 late show. I thought Jim’s comment, “Let’s keep the lights out for this one!” was especially apt for this dark footage.
1969-12-XX Henry Diltz Home Movie - Venice Beach, CA
Source: Low Generation
Length: 6:00
Quality: B+ (8mm Home Recording)
Silent home movie footage shot by photographer Henry Diltz during photo sessions for the "Morrison Hotel" album. Filmed shortly before New Year's Eve in 1969. I dubbed this with the studio versions of “Peace Frog,” “Blue Sunday,” and “Waiting For The Sun” and it matched up like Pink Floyd and the Wizard Of Oz. It only took some seamless editing to the “Peace Frog” intro to make it happen. Very fun to watch.
1970-02-15 Chicago Auditorium Theatre - Chicago, IL
Source: Low Generation
Length: 1:28
Quality: B (8mm Home Recording)
Silent 8mm color film believed to have been shot in Chicago '70. I have my doubts about this date. Jim doesn't appear to be wearing the same shirt that he wore in Chicago, but the footage is out of focus and it's difficult to tell. I dubbed the beginning with a film reel sound effect, and then when The Doors take the stage, I added an edited version of “Back Door Man” from the Chicago '70 audience recording. I had to speed-correct and adjust the EQ on the audio to make it sound right and then went to town editing the song down to fit the short clip. It sounds like a rushed version of the song but came out surprisingly well.
1970 "HWY: An American Pastoral"
Source: 3rd Generation
Length: 50:20
Quality: A- (35mm Professional Recording)
Jim Morrison's personal film project made with friends Frank Lisciandro, Paul Ferrara, and Babe Hill. Originally intended to be a full-length film, this shorter version was edited together from footage filmed over five days in Palm Springs and Los Angeles during late March and early April 1969. It was meant to be screened at film festivals where money might be raised to finish filming. "HWY" had its world premiere at the "Jim Morrison Film Festival" in Vancouver, Canada on March 27, 1970. This copy comes from a rare 3rd generation source taken from a 16mm workprint of the film. There is a timecode at the bottom of the screen as there is on all circulating copies, but this is the best quality I've ever found. No washed out colors or distorted audio.
1970 "HWY: An American Pastoral" Outtakes
Source: 1st Generation
Length: 2:40
Quality: A+ (35mm Professional Recording)
Excellent quality. Appears to be a direct transfer from a 35mm print and does not contain a timecode. Approximately three minutes of silent, uncirculated HWY material. Includes some extra shots of Jim driving around and wandering the desert, including a close-up of Jim driving with his eyes closed! With the exception of one or two scenes, this footage does not appear in the finished film. I also have a few minutes of behind-the-scenes material shot by Paul Ferrara using an 8mm camera.
1970-04-10 Boston Arena - Boston, MA
Source: Low Generation
Length: 3:13
Quality: B (8mm Home Recording)
Jim is in rare form tonight as he writhes around on the stage floor and stumbles around. Anyone who's heard the "Live In Boston 1970" BMA release can't believe their ears. This rare footage manages to capture a small portion of the night on film so you won't believe your eyes. This silent 8mm color footage has been dubbed with "When The Music's Over" from the Boston '70 Late Show.
1970-06-XX Agnès Varda Home Movie - Paris, France
Source: 1st Generation
Length: 0:24
Quality: A (8mm Home Recording)
Silent color footage of Jim Morrison visiting the set of Jacques Demy's film, "Peau d'âne" during a trip to Paris in late June 1970. This was filmed by Demy's wife, fellow filmmaker and friend of Jim's, Agnès Varda.
1970-08-21 Bakersfield Civic Auditorium - Bakersfield, CA
Source: 1st Generation
Length: 5:58
Quality: A (Professional Recording)
This appears to be newsreel footage used for a story about the MIami trial. Jim is interviewed about the case which was set to start the following month. Great quality. There is native audio for a portion of the footage ("When The Music's Over") as well as the interview. I've dubbed the silent portions with "Universal Mind" and "When The Music's Over" from a 1st gen copy of the Bakersfield stage recording.
1970-08-29 The Isle Of Wight Festival - East Afton Farm, England
Source: "Message To Love" DVD + "Break On Through" 1997 Promotional Film
Length: 16:01
Quality: A (Professional Recording)
Excellent quality, professionally-shot footage with soundboard audio. The first two songs ("When The Music's Over" and "The End"), which are both incomplete, come from Murray Lerner's documentary, "Message To Love." The third song, "Break On Through," comes from a promotional film released to coincide with the 1997 box set.
1970-09-XX Miami Trial Footage #1 - Miami, FL
Source: Unknown Generation
Length: 14:02
Quality: B+ (Professional Recording)
Newsreel footage of Jim during the Miami trial. Mostly shots of him entering and exiting the courtroom or talking to people outside the courtroom. There are also statements from "fans" who felt threatened by Jim's performance in Miami and the judge who issued the warrant for his arrest. Includes a brief interview with Jim.
1970-09-XX Miami Trial Footage #2 - Miami, FL
Source: Unknown Generation
Length: 12:43
Quality: A- (Professional Recording)
Similar to the footage listed above, but in slightly better quality and letterboxed. The running times are different because the footage isn't exactly the same. This copy includes more shots of The Doors attending the trial and Jim's friends like Babe Hill. Features the same interview with Jim as the footage above.
1971-01-XX "GTK (Get To Know)" ABC-TV - Sydney, Australia
Source: "The Doors: Perception" Box Set
Length: 3:16
Quality: A+ (Television Recording)
This is The Doors' last television appearance with Jim Morrison. This was filmed in Los Angeles by ABC-TV for an Australian music show called GTK (Get To Know). It features rare footage of the band performing "Crawling King Snake" at their office/makeshift recording studio during rehearsals for the "L.A. Woman" album. Likely filmed in December 1970 and then broadcast in early 1971.
1972-05-03 "Beat-Club" Radio Bremen TV - Bremen, Germany
Source: 1st Generation
Length: 42:05
Quality: A+ (Television Recording)
Introduction / Tightrope Ride / In The Eye Of The Sun / I'm Horny, I'm Stoned / Love Me Two Times / Verdilac / Ships With Sails (False Start) / Ships With Sails
The Doors, after the death of Jim Morrison, returned to touring in the fall of 1971 with Ray and Robby sharing vocal duties. This "Beat-Club" appearance from 1972 is a rare look at the band before they called it quits only a few months later in September 1972. Unlike the circulating "N3" source, which is very dark, this comes from an alternate 1st generation video source that's very clean.
1972-05-09 The Old Grey Whistle Test" BBC2 TV Centre - London, England
Source: 1st Generation
Length: 38:18
Quality: A+ (Television Recording)
Introduction / I'm Horny, I'm Stoned (Take 1) / I'm Horny, I'm Stoned (Take 2) / I'm Horny, I'm Stoned (Take 3) / I'm Horny, I'm Stoned (Take 4) / Ships With Sails (Take 1) / Ships With Sails (Take 2) / In The Eye Of The Sun (Take 1) / In The Eye Of The Sun (Take 2)
Recently discovered raw footage of the band performing on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1972. This is uncut footage of the group working out a few different songs for the broadcast. There's a lot of downtime between songs and they goof around a bit. These performances feature live vocals but pre-recorded music.
