Posters from Scope and Scalpel performances from 1960s-1990s

EXCERPTS FROM SCOPE AND SCALPEL

Introduction

Scope and Scalpel is a drama society of the fourth year students at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. It was formed in 1955, and to this day, it carries on the tradition started by Dr. Musgrave and Dr. Felix "Bebe" Miller to produce a show in which they laugh at their profession, their school, and themselves. Each year, a week before graduation, a new Scope and Scalpel is presented. It is the largest and the longest running nonprofessional theatrical production in Pittsburgh.

In 2014, Dr. Jon Rittenberger, the Faculty Advisor to the Scope and Scalpel Society, gracioulsy gave his collection of recordings, playbills, and posters of many of the Society's past performances to the Rare Book and Special Collections of Falk Library. Since then, we have continued to add new materials to the collection annually after each performance in May.

Here, we present excerpts from select recordings throughout the show's long history to give you a preview of Scope and Scalpel's unique humor and production value. Full-length recordings of available productions can be viewed by those with a valid University computing account on the library's Panopto site at https://bit.ly/scope-and-scalpel. More information, including posters and playbills of all of our Scope and Scalpel holdings, can be found on our finding aid. Please contact us to view the Scope and Scalpel materials in person or to talk to our History of Medicine librarian.

Disclaimers

Sensitive Content

These performances are intended as parodies and are presented as historical materials.  The nature of historical materials is such that some material may represent attitudes, perspectives, and beliefs of different times that are no longer or never were consistent with the attitudes, perspectives, and beliefs of the University of Pittsburgh as a whole. 

Limited Audience

Full-length videos are available only to authenticated Pitt users. Individual researchers may get access by request. Downloading, copying, or sharing content is prohibited.

Performers

By participating in the recorded live performance, the performers are presumed to have agreed to the distribution of their appearance in video format.

Transfer of Media

Original video recording has been transferred to digital media by HSLS. The recording of these productions were available for purchase or distribution at the time of recording and no rights are assumed to remain with the recording company.

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