Popular Entertainment - Overview
This Museum's popular entertainment collections hold some of the Smithsonian's most beloved artifacts. The ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz reside here, along with the Muppet character Kermit the Frog, and props from popular television series such as M*A*S*H and All in the Family. But as in many of the Museum's collections, the best-known objects are a small part of the story.
The collection also encompasses many other artifacts of 19th- and 20th-century commercial theater, film, radio, and TV—some 50,000 sound recordings dating back to 1903; posters, publicity stills, and programs from films and performances; puppets; numerous items from World's Fairs from 1851 to 1992; and audiovisual materials on Groucho Marx, to name only a few.
"Popular Entertainment - Overview" showing 72 items.
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Laugh-In Lunch Box
- Description (Brief)
- This metal lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1969. The lunch boxes features imagery from the popular TV comedy show, Laugh-In. Laugh-In was a sketch comedy variety show that originally ran from 1968-1973 on NBC.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1969
- collected for nmah
- Smithsonian Institution
- maker
- Aladdin
- ID Number
- 1988.3160.36
- nonaccession number
- 1988.3160
- catalog number
- 1988.3160.36
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Campus Queen Lunch Box
- Description (Brief)
- This Campus Queen steel lunch box was manufactured by King Seeley Thermos Company in 1967. This Campus Queen lunch box features a magnetic game kit on the back, taking you from study hall to the prom, with stops at the Soda Fountain, Movies, and Beauty parlor. This lunch box also has the distinction of being featured in the music video for Cyndi Lauper’s 1984 number one hit, “Time After Time.”
- Date made
- 1967
- maker
- King Seeley Thermos Company
- ID Number
- 2001.3087.13
- nonaccession number
- 2001.3087
- catalog number
- 2001.3087.13
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
The Beverly Hillbillies Lunch Box
- Description (Brief)
- This tin lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1963. It features colorful action scenes from the television series The Beverly Hillbillies, on the lid, back and the sides. The Beverly Hillbillies ran from 1962-1971 on CBS, and was of the most successful shows of the 1960s. It held the number one spot in the Nielsen ratings its first two years, and received multiple Emmy nominations.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1963
- maker
- Aladdin Industries
- ID Number
- 2001.3099.02
- nonaccession number
- 2001.3099
- catalog number
- 2001.3099.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Get Smart Lunch Box
- Description (Brief)
- This tin lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1966. The box features artwork from the television series Get Smart on the lid, back and sides. Get Smart ran from 1965-1970, the first four years on NBC, and the last on CBS. It featured the adventures of Maxwell Smart as the bumbling Agent 86, and his female companion Agent 99. Created by Mel Brooks, Get Smart was a satiric take on the spy genre, poking fun at popular spy shows and movies like James Bond and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1966
- maker
- King Seeley Thermos
- ID Number
- 2001.3100.03.01
- nonaccession number
- 2001.3100
- catalog number
- 2001.3100.03.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Get Smart Thermos
- Description (Brief)
- This thermos was manufactured by Thermos in 1966, as the companion to lunch box object number 2001.3100.03.02. The box features artwork from the television series Get Smart, and is a repetition of the image on the back of the lunch box. Get Smart ran from 1965-1970, the first four years on NBC, and the last on CBS. It featured the adventures of Maxwell Smart as the bumbling Agent 86, and his female companion Agent 99.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1966
- maker
- King Seeley Thermos
- ID Number
- 2001.3100.03.02
- nonaccession number
- 2001.3100
- catalog number
- 2001.3100.03.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Astro Space Lunch Box
- Description (Brief)
- This domed, tin lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1960. The lunch box has two metal snaps for a hinged lid and a collapsible red plastic handle. The lunch box is covered with images of space scenes, including lunar exploration, satellites, and spaceships.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1960
- maker
- American Thermos Products Co.
- ID Number
- 2001.3100.08
- nonaccession number
- 2001.3100
- catalog number
- 2001.3100.08
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
The Flintstones Lunch Box
- Description (Brief)
- This tin lunch box was made by Aladdin industries in 1962. The box has an orange rim, and features images from The Flintstones on the lid, back and sides. The Flintstones ran from 1960-1966 on ABC, and was the longest running prime-time cartoon until The Simpsons. The Flintstones continued in a variety of television specials, movies, and films after its cancelation, and its other licensed products such as cereal and vitamins remain popular.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1962
- maker
- Aladdin
- ID Number
- 2001.3100.09.01
- nonaccession number
- 2001.3100
- catalog number
- 2001.3100.09.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
The Flintstones
- Description (Brief)
- This metal, glass and plastic thermos bottle has a screw-on, red plastic cup lid and a red and gray, screw-on plastic stopper. This bottle is the companion to lunch box #2001.3100.09.01. The bottle features art from The Flintstones, of the Flintstone and Rubble family eating a picnic and their children playing with their dinosaur, Dino.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1962
- maker
- Aladdin
- ID Number
- 2001.3100.09.02
- nonaccession number
- 2001.3100
- catalog number
- 2001.3100.09.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Lawman Lunch Box
- Description (Brief)
- This tin lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1961. It has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible red, plastic handle. The box features images from the television series Lawman, which ran from 1958-1962 on ABC. The show focused on the town of Laramie, Wyoming, and the action that happened around the Birdcage Saloon. Produced by Warner Brothers, Lawman had several crossover episode with other Warner Brother westerns like Maverick and Cheyenne.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1961
- depicted
- Russell, John
- Brown, Peter
- maker
- King Seeley Thermos
- ID Number
- 2001.3100.11.01
- nonaccession number
- 2001.3100
- catalog number
- 2001.3100.11.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Lawman Thermos
- Description (Brief)
- This thermos bottle was manufactured by Thermos in 1961, and is the companion piece to lunch box object number 2001.3100.11.01. The bottle is made of tin, plastic and glass and has a screw-on, red plastic cup lid and a screw-on red and tan plastic stopper. The bottle is yellow with drawings of cowboy clothing, equipment and firearms around the sides.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1961
- maker
- King Seeley Thermos
- ID Number
- 2001.3100.11.02
- nonaccession number
- 2001.3100
- catalog number
- 2001.3100.11.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center