'70s Version of Reality TV Returns
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Before the Osbournes, the Hogans and the Lohans, there were the Louds from Santa Barbara, Calif. The Louds became the first reality-TV family in 1973, when the 12-part series "An American Family" aired on public television. It followed Bill and Pat Loud as they divorced and their eldest son, Lance, came out.
The last public viewing of the show was in 1991 (not counting the bootleg copies on YouTube), so the Silverdocs film festival screening of the entire series next week is a rare treat.
"I would never do that to a family again," says Philadelphia filmmaker Susan Raymond, who with her husband, Alan, created the series. "I would never choose one family to represent the entire United States. It's too hard on the family. It's too much examination and dissection of what they did right and what they did wrong."
Yet the Raymonds caught up with the family in 1983 and again in 2003, the latter at Lance's request. Both of those specials will also show at Silverdocs.
In the second episode of the series, Pat Loud visits then-19-year-old Lance shortly after he moves to New York. Squirm-worthy moments include Lance taking his mother to a "transvestite variety show" and watching her meet his flamboyant new friends at the Hotel Chelsea.
When "An American Family" first aired, media outlets tsk-tsked the parents for splitting up and for letting the cameras barge in on their lives in the first place. In the follow-up show, "An American Family Revisited: The Louds Ten Years Later," the family is naive no more. More difficult to watch is "Lance Loud! A Death in an American Family"; Lance died of AIDS-related hepatitis C in 2001.
Silverdocs is showing four episodes a day on three consecutive mornings, at 9 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday at the AFI Silver Theatre. (If you have to choose, Alan Raymond recommends episodes 2 and 9.)
Friday at 9 a.m., the festival will show the two follow-up specials. And next Saturday, the Raymonds will be on hand for a discussion at 12:30 p.m.
All "An American Family" events are free; tickets will be available at the theater on the day of the screening. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. Information at http:/
This Week & Next The District
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FESTIVALS: 33rd Annual Capital Pride Tonight in Dupont and Logan circles will be one of the defining events of Pride Week: the parade. Get to the review stand by 5:30 for live entertainment before the parade at 6:30. The main event, which features floats and, well, thousands of people in the streets, starts at 23rd and P streets NW and ends at 14th and N streets. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tomorrow, Cap Pride ends with a street festival on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, between Fourth and Seventh streets. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. For more details, visit http:/
EXHIBIT: Patterned Paintings With a Cell-Like Feel Kevin Kepple's solo show at Addison/Ripley Fine Art features square-shaped art in such colors as aqua, red and peach. He uses glue, ink and varnish to create the works, with images akin to the view through a microscope in biology class. Free. Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Through June 21. 1670 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-338-5180.
