The Early Video Project

Tape Lists

Literally thousands of 1/2" videotapes were made by independent producers during the portapak era between 1966 and, say, 1975 when cassette machines began to dominate. It is perhaps important to remember that not all of those producers were involved in alternative video or video art. Numbers of portapaks were in use by corporations, school athletic departments, and government agencies, including the military. Video was also being perceived as an important tool in psychotherapy. And it is probably correct to assume that many of the same portapak dynamics that so enthralled us had a similar effect on those other users as well. It would certainly be interesting to know just how many portapaks were manufactured by Sony and others in those years and how many reels of 1/2" videotape were made and sold. These facts may be buried somewhere in the archives of Sony, Matsushita and Shibaden. Or maybe not. Corporate record-keeping may not be all you might imagine.

That said, it is the tapes produced by those producers dedicated to change in art and life that are the subject of this page.

In time we hope to list tapes by as many different producers and groups as we can locate and catalog. Completion is not an option, although we hope that a substantial list can be compiled. Ant Farm, PVT, Raindance, Global Village and other groups we have contacted since the project began are working on getting tape lists prepared, and other groups and individuals are encouraged to submit tape lists to us for publication on this site. Titles and present location of tapes are most important.

Some tapes listed may no longer be playable, may be lost to us permanently. Still, we believe it is important to list them as a trace of all of our past activities. The Videofreex list, for example, includes some tapes that are no longer with us for one reason or another, but the list itself provides an interesting overview of the subjects that they recorded.

 

The Videofreex Tape List (1969-1974)

Location: Video Data Bank, Chicago. Mainly 1/2" half-hour and 20 minute reels in CV and AV format. Some early 1/2" Panasonic tapes. The Videofreex 1" edits, mostly in the IVC format, are located at Anthology Film Archives in New York. They are not included in the list.

We open with the Videofreex tape list. We have this list because it was compiled for an exhibition at Anthology Film Archives in the mid-seventies.

The Videofreex took labeling seriously, although orphans did show up from time to time. The labels were usually descriptive, but they could be fanciful, comic, or personal, depending on the whim of the the person or persons who made the tape. There were no guidelines.

The list does not include every tape made by Videofreex in the given time period. Many tapes were done for special or personal projects, and did not appear in the general list.

The Videofreex taped nearly everything that was significant to them. They were well-known and trusted in the countercultural and video communities of the Northeast, so they had a privileged and often intimate view of countercultural life in the late sixties and early seventies.

In time they evolved a distinctive style of videography. Their approach began with the portapak camera itself. The first thing to go was the handle, which was detached and discarded. In use, the camera was grasped firmly in both hands, one toward the front and one toward the back. The forward fingers turned the portapak on and off and manipulated the focus ring on the lens. Tripods were rarely used, although the purchase of a light Miller head tripod did cause some excitement for a brief period.

The lens that came with the camera was an inexpensive zoom lens that was awkward to smoothly focus and zoom. The camera used a "C" mount for lens attachment, the standard 16mm lens mount, and Videofreex tried out a variety of cinema lenses. A favorite was a 12mm (or even greater) wide-angle lens. The Videofreex had several high quality wide angle lenses, 'loot' from their CBS adventure, and they were frequently used. These lenses smoothed out the bumps, but they also required the camera person to shoot from close-up, resulting in an intimate smoothly flowing image that came to be identified as "the Videofreex style." Some of the best exemples can be seen in the work of Skip Blumberg, Nancy Cain, and David Cort, although most Videofreex adopted a personal variation of the same style of shooting.

Tapes on this list date from about 1969 to about 1974. It would be a mistake to assume that they are in any more than rough chronological order.

1. PDT #1
2. PDT #2
3. PDT #4
4. PDT #5
5. PDT #5
6. Supermarkets for Progress
7. Woodstock Experiment #2
8. White Lake #1
9. Beatles "Get Back"
10. Tarwater #1 - #2 - #3
11. Early Tapes - Some People
12. Incredible String Band
13. Crayfish and Sally Bell
14. Minnie Mouse
15. Ricky Leacock
16. Jim's Wedding
17. Supermarkets for Progress -Food Line
18. Supermarkets for Progress - Group Interaction
19. Supermarkets for Progress- Group Games
20. Buzzy with Short Hair
21. Buzzy at N.E.T. (off air)
22. Buzzy & Flute
23. Chadis
24. First Aid #1 - Woodstock
25. First Aid #2 - Woodstock
26. Latrines - Woodstock
27. Aqualast - Woodstock
28. Belly Button
29. Feedback #1 - Reilly
30. Chrome #1
31. Rivington Street Dope Speech
32. Enchanting Erotica #2 - Smokey the Bear - Kusama
33. Farout Frolics and Erogenous Excitement #3
34. Richard & David 34a. Montague Point
35. Chicago Streets -Conspiracy Trial, see #43 - 44
36. Chicago Streets - Conspiracy Trial
37. Mrs. Bobby Seale - Conspiracy
38. Fred Hampton
39. Black Panthers
40. Jesse Ritter & Dr. Hippocrates
41. Dr. Hippocrates #2
42. Dr. Hippocrates #3
43. Lucy Montgomery & the Panthers-Conspiracy Trial
44. Abbie & Jerry at the Conspiracy Trial
45. Baggie #1 - David Laughing
46. Claude - Interviews at the Gallery of Erotic Art
47. Gallery #1 - Gallery of Erotic Art - Body Painting
48. Gallery #2 - Gallery of Erotic Art - Body Painting
49. Mark Kroll - Original Feedback
50. Junkyard
51. Norman Taffel - Prince Street
52. Norman Taffel - Prince Street #2
53. Revolting Theater Probe
54. Erotica - Tony Curtis and Mark Kroll
55. Mango #1
56. Mango #2
57. Carol Rapping. 57a. Carol Rapping#2
58. Setting up and Aldo Tambellini #1 - Vision and Television
59. Aldo Tambellini #2 - Moon Black - Vision and Television
60. Aldo Tambellini #3 - Charlotte Moorman - Vision & Television
61. Aldo Tambellini
62. WGBH Setup - Vision & Television
63. Nam June Paik #1 - Vision & Television
64. Panel Discussion - Vision & Television
65. Band (Charlie Mariano) - Vision & Television
66. David Silver - Vision & Television
67. New School- Mixed Media w/Bud Wirtschafter
68. Musica Electronica Viva at Baggies #1
69. Musica Electronica Viva at Baggies #2
70. Musica Electronica Viva at Baggie's #3
71. Musica Electronica Viva at Baggie's #4
72. St. Mark's New Years Eve
73. The Great White Way
74. Hells Angels #1
75. Hells Angels #2
76. Hells Angels Party #1
77. Hells Angels Party #2
78. Women's Lib #1 -Burning Theater and Alternate U.
79. Women's Lib #2 -Burning Theater and Alternate U.
80. Women's Lib #3 -Burning Theater and Alternate U.
81. Women's Lib Rally #1
82. Women's Lib Rally #2
83. Women's Lib Rally #3
84. Eclipse and Elijah - Eclipse Celebration - Central Park
85. CCNY #1 - recycled
86. CCNY #2 - recycled
87. CCNY #3 - Speeches
88. CCNY #4
89. CCNY #5
90. CCNY #6
91. Salvador Dali at the St. Regis Hotel
92. Finch Opening - Holography Show
93. Aldo Tambellini rapping at Prince Street
94. Ass & Hanging & Crowds at Reese Palley
95. House hunting #1 & #2 - Delaware Water Gap
96. Hells Angels at Home & Odyssey House Demonstration
97. Construction Worker's Rally
98. New Haven - Abbie and National Guard
99. David Peel at Columbia & Wall Street Demonstration
100. Health Demonstration & Paul O'Dwyer
101. Washington Demonstration - Cambo Invasion
102. Washington Demonstration #2
103. Washington Demonstration #3
104. Washington Demonstration #4
105. Nancy's Party
106. Electric Yogurt
107. Tech Tape #1 Dr. Electron
108. Tech Tape #2 Dr. Electron - recycled
109. Tech Tape #3 Dr. Electron
110. Tech Tape #4 Dr. Electron
111. A Zoo #1 - #2 - #3 - an upper east side party - spliced 111a. A Zoo #4 - same party
112. Special Effects #2
113. Fuck Flick #1
114. Fuck Flick #2
115. Fuck Flick #3
116. Fuck Flick #4
117. Fuck Flick #5
118. East Broadway - It's Gonna Rain
119. Jerry Rothenburg Chanting Indian Poetry
120. SoHo Benefit
121. In the Kitchen - Davidson and Una on Babycare
122. In the Kitchen #2
123. In the Country #1
124. In the Country #2
125. Dreams - Manhattan Center Concert
126. Purple Underground & Oz - Manhattan Center Concert
127. Oz & Power - Manhattan Center Concert
128. Power & NRBQ - Manhattan Center Concert
129. NRBQ & Pig Iron - Manhattan Center Concert
130. Alternate Media Conference at Goddard - Bathers
131. Alternate Media Conference - Bathers and Drummers
132. Alternate Media Conference - New Haven Black Panthers
133. Alternate Media Conference - Hog Farm
134. Alternate Media Conference - Blue Calzone
135. St. Anthony's Feast #1
136. Reese Palley Opening - Champagne Party
137. Videofreex Titles
138. Ruffins #1 - recycled
139. Ruffins #2 - recycled
140. Ruffins #3 - recycled
141. Horse Show and Cuba Meeting
142. Mountain #1 - Randall's Island Pop Festival
143. Mountain #2 - Randall's Island Pop Festival
144. Pop Festival Interviews #1
145. Pop Festival Interviews #2
146. Ferro Cement #1
147. Ferro Cement #2
148. Ferro Cement #3
149. Old Time Tape
150. Central Park Zoo - Tour
151. Dome #1 and Children #1
152. Dome #2
153. Dome #3a and Lorraine #1
154. Dome #3b and Lorraine #2
155. Dome #3c and Lorraine #3
156. Dome #4
157. Dome #5
158. Dome #6a
159. Dome #6b
160. Dome #7 & Lorraine #4
161. Dome #8 & Lorraine #5
162. Dome #9 & Children #2
163. Franklin Commune #1
164. Franklin Commune #2
165. Women's Lib Demonstration
166. Hell's Angels Run & Color Media Collection
167. Hart Island #1
168. Hart Island #2
169. Hart Island #3
170. Hart Island #4
171. Hart Island #5
172. Hart Island #6
173. Hart Island #7
174. Hart Island #8
175. Ray Brock's Wedding
176. Music Inn & Fire Engine
177. Alice and Obie
178. Fred Hampton Chant & Demonstration
179. Ten Wheel Drive #1
180. Ten Wheel Drive #2
181. Ten Wheel Drive #3
182. Flying - Parry & Ken Dewey
183. Sailing - Up the Hudson past Sing Sing
184. Sailing Feedback - Special Effects
185. Nixon & Commercials
186. Astral Fair #1
187. Astral Fair #2
188. Ricky Jay - Tonight Show (off air)
189. Knitting and Feedback
190. Media Freakout
191. Pig Banter & High School
192. Ten Wheel Drive -Harrisburg #1
193. Ten Wheel Drive -Harrisburg #2
194. Swans
195. Monday Morning Insanity w/Norman Taffell
196. Stairs and Split Faces
197. Joe McCord #2 - mime
198. Present Focus
199. Love America or Live #1 Tosun Bayrak
200. Love America or Live #2
201. Syracuse Media Conference #1
202. Syracuse Media Conference #2
203. To Nantucket #1 - Skip's Flying Tape
204. To Nantucket #2
205. Rooftop Fair
206. Buzzy at Record Plant #1 - "I owe my life"
207. Buzzy at Record Plant #2
208. Tom Nova's Rap - dog training
209. Tom Nova's Litz - mean dog
210. Carol and the Pony
211. Canine Castle - dog grooming
212. Snake #1 - snake east mouse
213. Snake #2 - again
214. Kunstler and Turco #1
215. Kunstler and Turco #2
216. Kunstler and Turco #3
217. Gorilla
218. Snow
219. Curtis' Abortion
220. Poker at John's
221. Rochester & George
222. Pratt Institute
223. Phyllis Gershuny
224. Felix - Jost Van Dyke
225. Foxy - Jost Van Dyke
226. Coral Bay, St. John
227. Christian - Jost Van Dyke
228. Rotary Club
229. Jerry and Woodstock #1
230. Woodstock #2
231. Pulsa
232. Wards Island
233. Earth People's Park Meeting - Electric Circus -#1
234. Earth People's Park Meeting #2
235. Earth People's Park Meeting #3
236. Christmas Carols in the Shower
237. Santa's going to Work & Bart and Nancy's Bedroom
238. Couples
239. Lloyd Cross and Ira Cohen
240. Phyllis and Allen's Video Seminar
241. Gerbils, Parrot, Fish
242. Sweet Potato Pie
243. Jakob Kohn on Cleaver - Leary
244. After the Bar with Tony and Michael #1
245. After the Bar with Tony and Michael #2
246. Chiropractor
247. Tosun Bayrak's Dinner and Wake
248. Ellen's Apartment #1
249. Ellen's Apartment #2
250. Ellen's Apartment #3
251. Tuli's Montreal Revolt
252. Asian Americans My Lai Demonstration
253. CBS - Cleaver Tapes
254. Rhinoceros and Bugs Bunny
255. Wall-Gazing
256. The Actress - Sandi Smith
257. Tai Chi with George
258. Coke Recycling and Sheepshead Bay
259. Miami Drive -Draft Counsel #1
260. Draft Counsel #2
261. Late Nite Show - Mother #1
262. Mother #2
263. Lenneke and Alan Singing
264. Lenneke and Alan in the Shower
265. Circus - Chuck
266. Gunslinger Video Festival
267. Process Video Revolution
268. Beer Can & Fight Slow Motion
269. House Hunting #1
270. House Hunting #2
271. Friday Night in the Park -recycled
272. Interview with D.C. Police PR Man - Mayday
273. Friday at Campsite - Organizational Meeting - Mayday
274. Campsite Saturday - Mayday
275. Pre-bust in the Park Sunday Morning - Mayday
276. Davidson's Jail Tape - Mayday
277. St. Stephen's & Rennie Davis - Interview - Mayday
278. Coming into D.C. over Key Bridge - Mayday
279. Key Bridge Busts - Runover - May Day
280. NBC & ABC News May 3, 1971 12pm (off-air)
281. St. Stephen's Church & Justice Department - Mayday
282. Interviews on Street #1 - Mayday
283. Interviews on Street #2 -Mayday
284. Mayday Headquarters - Mayday
285. Adapting Portapak for Video Out on Coax
286. Adapting Portapak for Video Out on Coax
287. Parsons Non Verbal Communications
288. Parsons - Two People
289. Meeting of the New York Historical Societies Ass.
290. The Purple Lancers Drum & Bugle Corps
291. Peter Kelley
292. Women's Conference - Rochester - Theater Piece
293. Sybil, St. Mark's Place & The Fire Uptown
294. Women's Conference - Rochester - Dance & Theater
295. Shirley, David, Andy & Sue See Themselves
296. Special Effects to Philly
297. The Cow Tape
298. Ricky's Magic
299. Harvey Making a Grain Shovel #1
300. Harvey Making a Grain Shovel #2
301. Harvey Making a Grain Shovel #3
302. Heart of the Country #1
303. Heart of the Country #2
304. A Misty Day
305. Monster #1
306. Richard Hoffman's Philosophies
307. Rome, N.Y. #1 - Shirley Clark & the Camera
308. Rome, N.Y. #2
309. Holography #1
310. Hamlet
311. Machines
312. Orgy Shawl
313. Nancy & the Cat #1
314. Nancy & the Cat #2
315. Nancy's Drug Problem
316. How to Silk Screen - Bill Cox - #1
317. How to Silk Screen #2
318. How to Silk Screen #3
319. How to Silk Screen #4
320. The Spinners - Spinning Flax and Wool
321. Ira Gets His Pancakes
322. Insect Metropolis
323. Cross Country - Driving to Colorado Conference
324. Wedding: Preparation, Ceremony, and Post Wedding Blues
325. Late Night Kitchen Discussion
326. Gebrangen Omeg Shabat - Washington, D.C.
327. Deer Killing & 1st Process of Rafi's Workshop
328. Sunday Dinner at Chris and Karen's
329. Everson Museum - Yoko - Allen Ginsberg
330. Philadelphia Hillel
331. Philadelphia Hillel
332. Fabrengen Discussion -Getting into Torah
333. Fabrengen Discussion - Cain and Abel #1
334. Fabrengen Discussion - Cain and Abel #2
335. Earth People's Park -Free School Dinner
336. Earth People's Park - Test Panel
337. Earth People's Park - Erection of Dome
338. Earth People's Park - Cement Mixer
339. Earth People's Park - Rap
340. And in the Process of Time
341. Me's and Youse
342. Kitchen Chaos with the Rhythm Boys
343. Stream #1
344. Stream #2
345. David "Himself" #1
346. David "Himself" #2
347. Searchin'
348. Laughing and Crying Songs
349. Wedding Close-up
350. Crafts Day - General Shots, Quilting, Axe Throwing
351. Crafts Day - Candles, Hewing, Guns, Wheels
352. Crafts Day - Fair Feedback #1 - Cliff
353. Crafts Day - Fair Feedback #2 - Freex at Work
354. Crafts Day - Bailing Twine, Glass and Dulcimer Man
355. Crafts Day -Dulcimer Man and Blacksmith
356. Crafts Day - Hatchet Lady and Fudge-Making
357. Crafts Day - Cabinetmaker #1
358. Crafts Day - Cabinetmaker #2
359. Crafts Day - Cabinetmaker #3
360. Charles the Brain Scientist #1
361. Charles the Brain Scientist #2
362. Raw Dead Meat
363. Tom Jones on the Dick Cavett Show
364. Fred Astaire at Home
365. First Snow - Thanksgiving 1971
366. Jerusalem- Sheep Slaughter, Welcome to Jerusalem
367. Jerusalem - Mayor of Jerusalem #1
368. Jerusalem - Mayor of Jerusalem #2 and Wailing Wall
369. Jerusalem - Archeological Dig #1 Pottery
370. Jerusalem - Archeological Dig #2 & Arab Boys & Yeshiva
371. Jerusalem - Archeological Dig #3 & Yeshiva, Wailing Wall
372. Jerusalem - Archeological Dig #4 & Jerusalem Pickle Store
373. Jerusalem - Archeological Dig #5 & Park Opening
374. Jerusalem - Yeshiva Morning
375. Jerusalem - Arrival in Jerusalem
376. Jerusalem - Airplane
377. Jerusalem - Yeshiva - Conversation & Singing
378. Jerusalem - Yeshiva - Slaughter Rap & Tommy Eating
379. Jerusalem - Busride, Market, 1st Brain
380. Jerusalem - 2nd Brain, Arab Feedback
381. Jerusalem - Black Panthers on Street
382. Jerusalem - Black Panthers Demonstration & Soccer Game
383. Jerusalem - Soccer Game #2, Hadassah Hospital
384. Jerusalem - Hadassah Hospital #2
385. Jerusalem - Old People's Workshop, Golstein Village
386. Jerusalem - Damascus Gate & Old City
387. Jerusalem - Songs of the Yeshiva, Rabbi Frank
388. Jerusalem - Tomb of Mary, Holy Sepulchre, Stations of the Cross
389. Jerusalem - Drive to Prison
390. Jerusalem - Briss
391. European Video Resources
392. Jack Moore in Amsterdam
393. Tajiri in Baarlo, Holland; Algol, Brussels
394. Video Chain, Brussels
395. NKTV Vision Hoppy
396. Gay Liberation Front - London
397. Putting in an Eel Run & A Social Gathering
398. Don't Throw Yer Cans in the Road
399. Bart's Cowboy Show
400. Lanesville Overview #1
401. Freex - German TV- Valeska, Albert, Constanza
402. Soup in Cup
403. Laneville TV - Easter Bunny
404. Lanesville Overview #2
405. Laser Games
406. Coyote Chuck - Westbeth Meeting - That's Not Right
407. Wolves Broadcast
408. You're Not Here, Yoko
409. Parsons Theatre Pieces #1 & #2
410. Show at 98 Prince Street
411. Davidson's Birthday Party
412. Househunting and Peter Sorenson's House
413. Yale Poet's Workshop
414. Cowboy Show #2
415. Freex in Paris
416. Gen Loc
417. Violin Snowsong & Other Fantastic Melodies
418. Elayne Varian's Mescaline Madness Meeting
419. Back From Rochester
420. Matting a Print
421. The Brain Scientist - sold
422. Dr. Cressman's Dental Health Program
423. The Soupstone - Tannersville School Play
424. Orange County Fair 1972 #1
425. Orange County Fair 1972 #2
426. Stoney Clove Rod and Gun Club Clambake
427. Pitching a Tipi #1
428. Pitching a Tip #2
429.
430. Peter's Sculpture - Welding - #1
431. Peter's Sculpture - Welding - #2
432. Peter's Sculpture - Welding - #3
433. Peter's Sculpture - Welding - #4
434. Thanksgiving Dinner - Nov, 1971
435. Mother Mass, Jewish Museum, David Brower
436. Arthur Waskow, Tree Planting for Viet Nam
437. Mush Wolf, Anchor Blocks #1
438. Anchor Blocks #2
439. Mr. Mojo & the End of the World
440. Schuman the Human and his Drug Store
441. Buzzy at the Gaslight
442. Replacing the Head Assembly on the AV-3400
443. Song of the South - off air
444. Retarded Children #1
445. Retarded Children #2
446. Retarded Children #3
447. Retarded Children #4
448. Retarded Children #5
449. Jesus on Roller Skates
450. WBQC (Whiz Bang Quick City) #1
451. WBQC (Whiz Bang Quick City) #2
452. WBQC (Whiz Bang Quick City) #3
453. WBQC (Whiz Bang Quick City) #4
454. WBQC (Whiz Bang Quick City) #5
455. WBQC (Whiz Bang Quick City) #6
456. WBQC (Whiz Bang Quick City) #7
457. Cowboy Show - Transporter
458. WMHT #1 - ETV in Action
459. WMHT #2
460. WMHT #3
461. Guilderland Middle School #1
462. Guilderland Middle School #2
463. Guilderland Middle School #3
464. Nothing Doing at the Looney Bin
465. Caterpiller Walk
466. Video for Historians Workshop - Cooperstown #1
467. Video for Historians Workshop #2
468. Video for Historians Workshop #3
469. Video for Historians Workshop #4
470. Video for Historians Workshop #5
471. Video for Historians Workshop #6
472. Video for Historians Workshop #7
473. Video for Historians Workshop #8
474. Video for Historians Workshop #9
475. Video for Historians Workshop #10
476. Video for Historians Workshop #11 - Cablecast
477. Video for Historians Workshop #12 - Cablecast
478. Video for Historians Workshop #13 - Overview
479. Halloween Parade in Phoenicia, N.Y.
480. Lanesville TV - August 12, 1972 w/Ricky Jay
481. Lanesville TV -october 22, 1972 w/Fran Gruenwald
482. Digging Sam's Well
483. Paul Traphagen - Beekeeper #1
484. Paul Traphagen - Beekeeper #2
485. John Benjamin Sings - Cleaning the Brushes
486. Storyteller, CBC, Videograph
487. Bill's Birthday Tape
488. Republican Convention - Ray Bloch & John Chancellor
489. Republican Convention - NBC Control Room
490. Lanesville TV Edits
491. Poughkeepsie Cable
492. Kayaks on the Esopus & Miami Beach Rhumba
493. Bart's Parents
494. Cowboy Show - off air - Lost in the Woods
495. Cowboy Show - Howard gets Skilled
496. Cowboy Show - Mail Order Bride
497. Lanesville TV Show
498. Footage for First Lanesville TV Show, Doyles, etc.
499. Lanesville Overview - Fran Gruenwald
500. Wolf Film #1
501. Wold Film #2
502. Dr. Young
503. The Dentists #1
504. Snow - Rock Band #1
505. Snow - Rock Band #2
506. Transporter Serial #2
507. Cowboy Show - Lost in the Woods
508. Sunday Nite - More at Home
509. On the Way to Video Poetry
510. Bart - Delay Probe
511. Lanesville TV Overview #3
512. A Night at the Circus or Dinner at Shirley Clarke's
513. Hunting for Bear w/the Benjamins and the Neals
514. Aunt Betty's Birthday Party
515. Hunting with Davidson and Aunt Betty
516. Ricky Jay after the Broadcast
517. Trashing and Gassing in Miami
518. Sam and Miriam
519. N.Y. Meat Scenes, Joe McCord "the Confession"
520. Mushroom Magic
521. Machines - B Track plus "Friedman, cut it out"
522. Lanesville Cable
523. Howard's Birthday Party #2
524. Nixon's Coronation - off air
525. Oriental Magic Show with a Man in a Box and a Barbarian

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