Howard Alk

Howard Alk (October 25, 1930 – January 1982) was an American filmmaker based in Chicago, Illinois, and an original co-founder of The Second City theater troupe. In the 1960s he began to work in film with the Chicago Film Group, filming and directing documentaries, completing American Revolution 2 and The Murder of Fred Hampton (1971). He also collaborated for years with singer/songwriter Bob Dylan, producing films with him through 1981.

Early life and education Born and raised in Chicago, Howard Alk attended local public schools. An advanced student, he enrolled in the University of Chicago at the age of 14; under the presidency and chancellery of Robert Maynard Hutchins, students could enroll in a Great Books-oriented interdisciplinary undergraduate program contingent on the passage of an entrance test and sophomore standing in high school, a requirement that may have been waived for Alk. Many students were placed in advanced classes on the basis of placement tests and could accelerate their studies by taking subject tests at their convenience, often completing the degree in as little as two years. They developed this theater troupe, based on improvisation, from Viola Spolin's theatre games. Alk had previously worked with Spolin's son, Sills, at the Gate of Horn.

According to Sahlins' 2001 autobiography, Days and Nights at the Second City, Alk coined the troupe's name. He is also credited with coining a definition of a Freudian slip as "meaning to say one thing and saying a mother."

Alk left The Second City in the early 1960s for other projects.

Alk also worked on Janis, Festival, Luxman Baul's Movie and other films.

Death Alk regularly used heroin. Although the coroner ruled his death an accidental heroin overdose, Although Alk's first wife, Jones, and his second wife, Joan, both expressed their belief that he had intentionally killed himself, no corroborating evidence has ever been found.

Alk was survived by his parents Rozetta and Lou, his wife Joan, and their young son Jesse Alk.

Films The Cry of Jazz (1959) -- editor And This is Free (1964) -- editor Dont Look Back (1967) -- assistant director Festival—editor You Are What You Eat (1968) -- editor American Revolution 2 (1969) -- director The Murder of Fred Hampton (1971) -- director Eat the Document (1972) -- cinematographer, editor Janis (1974) -- director My Friend Vince (1975) -- cinematographer, editor Hard Rain (1976) -- cinematographer, editor Renaldo and Clara (1978) -- cinematographer, editor