Norm Bruns Collection
Inclusive Dates
circa 1981 – 1982
Abstract
Films and audio tapes created by Chicago-based artist and filmmaker Norm Bruns, who was active in the early 1980s.
Description
The Norm Bruns Collection consists of 8mm and Super-8 prints, elements, outtakes and home movies shot by Chicago independent filmmaker Norm Bruns.
Bruns began making films in 1980 or 1981, supposedly with a camera acquired at a garage sale. In November and December 1981, his films Cheez Whiz and Duck were broadcast on WTTW as part of Image Union. In January 1982, in the lead-up to a screening of his work at Chicago Filmmakers as part of their local filmmaker showcase Chicago 8, the Chicago Reader published a full-page review of Bruns's work written by Barbara Scharres. She wrote that "the most serious and developed of the 11 films are strikingly in the tradition of Jean Cocteau and of American avant-garde filmmakers like Maya Deren and Curtis Harrington in their concern with personal ritual and the replication of dreamlike states."
Bruns made films on both 8mm and Super 8, often with separate audio cassette soundtracks of commercial recordings. These soundtracks weren't necessarily the same length as the films; contemporary reports suggest Bruns often adjusted the film speed during the screenings and that the audio sometimes played longer than the image.
Many of Bruns's friends participated in his productions, including Deborah Sue Cole (who appears in Piano Dance, Le Mannequin, Blue Aura and Theatre of the Horse and The Moon), Dennis Evans (who appears in Swim), and Mary Beth Bush (who appears in Screen Test). According to a 2022 article published by WBEZ, Bush recalled that "beyond creating films, Bruns also took still photographs and dabbled in poetry and sculpture. He was outgoing, a prankster who could make his friends laugh and a fountain of ideas."
According to the WBEZ article, Bruns met partner Woody Johnson in 1983. Johnson recalled that by this time Bruns was "largely done making films" and WBEZ quotes Johnson as saying that "[Bruns] said all that he wanted to say with film, so he didn’t really do anymore after that."
In November 1989, six months before his death, the Chicago Lesbian and Gay Film Festival presented a program of Bruns's films. Bruns died of complications from AIDS in 1990.
Bruns began making films in 1980 or 1981, supposedly with a camera acquired at a garage sale. In November and December 1981, his films Cheez Whiz and Duck were broadcast on WTTW as part of Image Union. In January 1982, in the lead-up to a screening of his work at Chicago Filmmakers as part of their local filmmaker showcase Chicago 8, the Chicago Reader published a full-page review of Bruns's work written by Barbara Scharres. She wrote that "the most serious and developed of the 11 films are strikingly in the tradition of Jean Cocteau and of American avant-garde filmmakers like Maya Deren and Curtis Harrington in their concern with personal ritual and the replication of dreamlike states."
Bruns made films on both 8mm and Super 8, often with separate audio cassette soundtracks of commercial recordings. These soundtracks weren't necessarily the same length as the films; contemporary reports suggest Bruns often adjusted the film speed during the screenings and that the audio sometimes played longer than the image.
Many of Bruns's friends participated in his productions, including Deborah Sue Cole (who appears in Piano Dance, Le Mannequin, Blue Aura and Theatre of the Horse and The Moon), Dennis Evans (who appears in Swim), and Mary Beth Bush (who appears in Screen Test). According to a 2022 article published by WBEZ, Bush recalled that "beyond creating films, Bruns also took still photographs and dabbled in poetry and sculpture. He was outgoing, a prankster who could make his friends laugh and a fountain of ideas."
According to the WBEZ article, Bruns met partner Woody Johnson in 1983. Johnson recalled that by this time Bruns was "largely done making films" and WBEZ quotes Johnson as saying that "[Bruns] said all that he wanted to say with film, so he didn’t really do anymore after that."
In November 1989, six months before his death, the Chicago Lesbian and Gay Film Festival presented a program of Bruns's films. Bruns died of complications from AIDS in 1990.
Collection Items
![Piano Dance [Original]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/6/7/94158_ca_object_representations_media_6721_large.jpg)
![Theatre of the Horse and the Moon [Original]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/6/7/1048_ca_object_representations_media_6724_large.jpg)
![Swim [Original]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/6/7/65981_ca_object_representations_media_6725_large.jpg)
![Blue Aura [Original]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/6/7/47979_ca_object_representations_media_6722_large.jpg)
![The Unusual Book [Original]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/6/7/54525_ca_object_representations_media_6723_large.jpg)
![Le Mannequin [Original]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/6/7/56332_ca_object_representations_media_6728_large.jpg)
![[circa 1980 Home Movie - Party]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/6/7/53742_ca_object_representations_media_6782_large.jpg)
To request more information about the items in this collection, please contact the archive at
info@chicagofilmarchives.org.
Items with Viewable Media
- 81' China
- Bed Desert
- Bible
- Bingo
- Bingo - orig?
- Blue Aura [Audio] (Audio)
- Blue Aura [Original]
- Blue Aura [Print]
- Cheez Whiz (Audio)
- Cheez Whiz
- [circa 1980 Home Movie - Party]
- City
- City
- [City]
- City
- City in front of Merchandise Mart
- City in front of Merchandise Mart
- City Views
- Duck! [Orig]
- Duck! [Print]
- Figure With 14 Trains
- Figure With 14 Trains
- Figure with 14 Trains [Audio] (Audio)
- Le Mannequin (Audio)
- Le Mannequin [Original]
- Mary Beth
- Mexican dance
- Piano Dance [Audio] (Audio)
- Piano Dance / Le Mannequin
- Piano Dance [Original]
- The Poet and the Pond
- The Poet and the Pond [A Roll]
- The Poet and the Pond [B Roll]
- The Poet and the Pond [Print]
- Potato Circus
- Potato Circus [Audio] (Audio)
- Roll A w/ Poet Etruscan Relief
- Screen Test
- Screen Test original
- Swim
- Swim [Audio] (Audio)
- Swim [Original]
- Theatre Horse Moon (Audio)
- Theatre of the Horse and The Moon
- Theatre of the Horse and the Moon [Original]
- [Untitled] (Audio)
- [Untitled] (Audio)
- The Unusual Book [Audio] (Audio)
- The Unusual Book [Original]
- The Unusual Book [Print]
Collection Identifier
C.2025-04
Extent of Collection
32 reels Super 8 film totaling approximately 2,285 feet; 5 reels of 8mm film totaling approximately 400 feet; 11 audio cassettes
Language Of Materials
English
Custodial History
After Norm Bruns's death in 1990, the films were in the possession of Norm's brother Noel. In 2019, Noel gave the films to Josh Mabe, a librarian at the Chicago Public Library, who later got in touch with CFA about donating the films. In 2025, Norm Bruns's siblings formally donated the films to Chicago Film Archives.
Use Restrictions
Chicago Film Archives holds the copyright for the films in this collection.
Creators
Bruns, Norm
(was created by)
Norm Bruns was born in 1949 and grew up in Palatine, Illinois. The eldest of eight siblings, his father, Noel, worked in a factory and his mother, Nona Behrbass, was a stay-at-home mom. After attending St. Viator High School and Northern Illinois University, Bruns moved to Chicago, where he became part of the city's artistic community, eventually becoming part owner of a company that procured, reproduced and resold framed artwork.
In 1980 or 1981, when he was in his early 30s, Bruns began making films, supposedly with a camera acquired at a garage sale. In November and December 1981, his films Cheez Whiz and Duck were broadcast on WTTW as part of Image Union. Bruns made films on both 8mm and Super 8, often with separate audio cassette soundtracks of commercial recordings.
Many of Bruns's friends participated in his productions, including Deborah Sue Cole, Dennis Evans, and Mary Beth Bush. According to a 2022 article published by WBEZ, Bush recalled that "beyond creating films, Bruns also took still photographs and dabbled in poetry and sculpture. He was outgoing, a prankster who could make his friends laugh and a fountain of ideas."
According to the WBEZ article, Bruns met partner Woody Johnson in 1983. Johnson recalled that by this time Bruns was "largely done making films" and WBEZ quotes Johnson as saying that "[Bruns] said all that he wanted to say with film, so he didn’t really do anymore after that."
In November 1989, six months before his death, the Chicago Lesbian and Gay Film Festival presented a program of Bruns's films.
Norm Bruns died of complications from AIDS in 1990.
In 1980 or 1981, when he was in his early 30s, Bruns began making films, supposedly with a camera acquired at a garage sale. In November and December 1981, his films Cheez Whiz and Duck were broadcast on WTTW as part of Image Union. Bruns made films on both 8mm and Super 8, often with separate audio cassette soundtracks of commercial recordings.
Many of Bruns's friends participated in his productions, including Deborah Sue Cole, Dennis Evans, and Mary Beth Bush. According to a 2022 article published by WBEZ, Bush recalled that "beyond creating films, Bruns also took still photographs and dabbled in poetry and sculpture. He was outgoing, a prankster who could make his friends laugh and a fountain of ideas."
According to the WBEZ article, Bruns met partner Woody Johnson in 1983. Johnson recalled that by this time Bruns was "largely done making films" and WBEZ quotes Johnson as saying that "[Bruns] said all that he wanted to say with film, so he didn’t really do anymore after that."
In November 1989, six months before his death, the Chicago Lesbian and Gay Film Festival presented a program of Bruns's films.
Norm Bruns died of complications from AIDS in 1990.