Popular Entertainment

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.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1978
referenced
Burns, George
Channing, Carol
ID Number
2005.3021.106
nonaccession number
2005.3021
catalog number
2005.3021.106
This plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1970. It has a screw-on white plastic cup lid with handle and screw-on white plastic stopper. The thermos bottle is decorated with various Dr.
Description (Brief)
This plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1970. It has a screw-on white plastic cup lid with handle and screw-on white plastic stopper. The thermos bottle is decorated with various Dr. Seuss cartoons, including the Cat in the Hat.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1970
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.05.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.05.02
This plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1978. It has a screw-on orange cup lid with handle and screw-on beige plastic stopper. The bottle is ringed with images of disco dancers.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1978. It has a screw-on orange cup lid with handle and screw-on beige plastic stopper. The bottle is ringed with images of disco dancers.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1978
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.04.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.04.02
This chalkware statue of American jazz trumpeter and vocalist Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) was made by Esco Products, Inc. in New York, circa 1972.
Description

This chalkware statue of American jazz trumpeter and vocalist Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) was made by Esco Products, Inc. in New York, circa 1972. The statue depicts Armstrong in a burgundy jacket with white shirt, black bowtie, pants and shoes, holding a trumpet in his right hand and a handkerchief in his left hand. As in many of Esco’s celebrity statues, the heads are exaggerated in size.

The statue was given to American jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald and is inscribed on the bottom of the statue, “FROM PHOEBE.”

Location
Currently not on view
manufacturing date
ca 1972
depicted
Armstrong, Louis
ID Number
1996.0342.062
accession number
1996.0342
catalog number
1996.0342.062
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1977
referenced
Wilson, Nancy
ID Number
2005.3021.126
nonaccession number
2005.3021
catalog number
2005.3021.126
This custom–made "Silver Flair" trumpet belonged to renowned trumpeter, bandleader, and composer John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie, a founder of the modern jazz style known as bebop.
Description
This custom–made "Silver Flair" trumpet belonged to renowned trumpeter, bandleader, and composer John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie, a founder of the modern jazz style known as bebop. Renowned for his musical virtuosity and for his impish good humor and wit, Gillespie played this trumpet from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Its uniquely shaped upturned bell was Gillespie's internationally known trademark.
date made
1977
owner
Gillespie, Dizzy
user
Gillespie, Dizzy
maker
King Musical Instruments
ID Number
1986.0003.01
catalog number
1986.0003.01
accession number
1986.0003
serial number
673792
The Muppets. The Frog Prince (Columbia CC23530)33-1/3 rpmCurrently not on view
Description (Brief)
The Muppets. The Frog Prince (Columbia CC23530)
33-1/3 rpm
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1971
performer
Henson, Jim
maker
Columbia
ID Number
2005.0298.04
accession number
2005.0298
maker number
CC23530
catalog number
2005.0298.04
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1971
ID Number
2005.3021.011
nonaccession number
2005.3021
catalog number
2005.3021.011
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1974-12
depicted (sitter)
King, Billie Jean
photographer
Regan, Ken
ID Number
2014.0112.104
catalog number
2014.0112.104
accession number
2014.0112
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1977
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.3034.05670
nonaccession number
1996.3034
label number
4465
catalog number
1996.3034.05670
Diana Ross. side 1: Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) [mono]; side 2: Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) [stereo] (Motown M1377F)45 rpm. Accessioned with original printed sleeve.
Description (Brief)

Diana Ross. side 1: Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) [mono]; side 2: Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) [stereo] (Motown M1377F)
45 rpm. Accessioned with original printed sleeve. Pressed on gold colored vinyl.

This song was featured in the 1975 Motown Productions and Paramount Pictures film Mahogany, directed by Berry Gordy and starred Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Jean-Pierre Aumont, and Anthony Perkins.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1975
recording artist
Ross, Diana
manufacturer
Motown
ID Number
1996.3034.06750
catalog number
1996.3034.06750
nonaccession number
1996.3034
label number
M1377F
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1977
referenced
Lawrence, Steve
Gorme, Eydie
Berle, Milton
ID Number
2005.3021.102
nonaccession number
2005.3021
catalog number
2005.3021.102
Pearl Butler accepts a song request from a young fan. Pearl (1927-1998) and Carl Butler (1927-1992) were part of the honky-tonk and bluegrass music movements before World War II.
Description
Pearl Butler accepts a song request from a young fan. Pearl (1927-1998) and Carl Butler (1927-1992) were part of the honky-tonk and bluegrass music movements before World War II. After their 1962 hit, "Don't Let Me Cross Over," the Butlers became one of the most popular male-female vocal teams in country music.
Location
Currently not on view
negative
1973
print
2003
maker
Horenstein, Henry
ID Number
2003.0169.076
accession number
2003.0169
catalog number
2003.0169.076
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1977
referenced
Anka, Paul
ID Number
2005.3021.100
nonaccession number
2005.3021
catalog number
2005.3021.100
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1976
ID Number
2005.3021.023
nonaccession number
2005.3021
catalog number
2005.3021.023
Phyllis Diller wore this costume while performing as a solo pianist under the virtuoso pseudonym Dame Illya Dillya.
Description

Phyllis Diller wore this costume while performing as a solo pianist under the virtuoso pseudonym Dame Illya Dillya. The costume consists of a white dress decorated in cut-glass gems and silver sequins, an opera coat trimmed with a white fur shawl collar and wrists and decorated with plastic beads, a pair of white opera-length gloves (one of which is almost 8 feet long) and a tiara (which originally held a large white feather plume). Diller, while known for her stand-up comedy, was also an accomplished pianist. After graduating high school, Diller studied piano for three years at the Sherwood Conservatory of Music (at Columbia College Chicago), but eventually decided against a career in music.

After finding success in comedy, she received a call from the Pittsburgh Pops asking if she would do a show. With her mind in the music world, Diller responded and said she would love to and that she would play some Bach and Beethoven. The caller was so stunned that he did not let on that he only intended for her to perform her comedy. Thus began Diller’s career as an accomplished pianist. From 1971 to 1982 Diller performed with over 100 symphony orchestras across the United States and Canada in a show called The Symphonic Phyllis Diller. During these performances she would seriously perform pieces by Beethoven, Bach, and others as a solo pianist with an orchestra while integrating comedic elements.

The first half of The Symphonic Phyllis Diller was a performance by the symphony without Diller. After being dramatically introduced, Diller would sweep onstage in this concert dress and opera coat and proceed to peel off her white gloves. After peeling off the right glove and throwing it to the floor she would begin with the left which appeared to be endless because it is almost 8 feet long. After finally throwing the second glove to the ground Diller would toss the white fur around her neck to the ground and face the conductor, with her back to the audience, to unzip her long coat. The conductor would appear surprised, as if she was wearing nothing under the coat. Diller then proceeded to step out of the coat fully dressed and clap her hands, summoning two people carrying a stretcher onto the stage. These men then carefully arranged the clothes on the stretcher like a body and removed them from the stage. Next, Diller looked to the piano, ready to play, but discovered there was no piano bench. She then took the concert master’s chair who would proceed to take someone else’s chair, which continued until it reached the last violinist in the section, who was caught sleeping and grabbed the piano bench from backstage for himself before Diller snatched it. She then stepped over the bench in her long dress and bowed to the conductor 3 times before he started the music. During this musical prologue she dusted the piano, checked her sheet music, and looked at the audience through her binoculars before her entry into the piece. Despite the comedy pantomime up until this point, as soon as she began playing she was serious and generally impressed the audience with her musical skill.

date made
ca 1971
wearer
Diller, Phyllis
ID Number
COLL.DILLER.000001
accession number
2003.0289
catalog number
2003.0289.02.01
2003.0289.02.04
2003.0289.02.03
2003.0289.02.02
Henry Horenstein photographed Hank Williams Jr., the son of legendary singer Hank Williams, leaving his tour bus. Williams Jr. (b. 1949) spent his early career singing his father's songs in his own style.
Description
Henry Horenstein photographed Hank Williams Jr., the son of legendary singer Hank Williams, leaving his tour bus. Williams Jr. (b. 1949) spent his early career singing his father's songs in his own style. After a 1974 suicide attempt and a mountain climbing accident in 1975, he revamped his own image, modeling it after rowdy southern rockers. Later he was considered part of the Outlaw Country Movement.
Location
Currently not on view
negative
1973
print
2003
maker
Horenstein, Henry
ID Number
2003.0169.074
accession number
2003.0169
catalog number
2003.0169.074
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1979
ID Number
2005.3021.035
nonaccession number
2005.3021
catalog number
2005.3021.035
At Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, musicians could hang out, perform and hope for a chance to be discovered.Currently not on view
Description
At Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, musicians could hang out, perform and hope for a chance to be discovered.
Location
Currently not on view
negative
1974
print
2003
maker
Horenstein, Henry
ID Number
2003.0169.111
catalog number
2003.0169.111
accession number
2003.0169
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1972
ID Number
2016.0032.122
accession number
2016.0032
catalog number
2016.0032.122
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1977
recording artist
Nicholas, Jenny
manufacturer
Blue Candle
ID Number
1996.3034.05608
catalog number
1996.3034.05608
nonaccession number
1996.3034
label number
1525
Jeannie C. Riley. side 1: Harper Valley P.T.A.; side 2: Harper Valley P.T.A. (Plantation PL-173)45 rpm. Pressed on green vinyl. Accessioned with original printed sleeve.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Jeannie C. Riley. side 1: Harper Valley P.T.A.; side 2: Harper Valley P.T.A. (Plantation PL-173)
45 rpm. Pressed on green vinyl. Accessioned with original printed sleeve.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1978
recording artist
Riley, Jeannie C.
ID Number
1996.3034.06532
catalog number
1996.3034.06532
nonaccession number
1996.3034
label number
PL-173
This sheet music is for the song “Put Your Hand in the Hand,” with words and music by Gene MacLellan. It was published by Beechwood Music Corporation in Lebanon, Indiana in 1970.
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Put Your Hand in the Hand,” with words and music by Gene MacLellan. It was published by Beechwood Music Corporation in Lebanon, Indiana in 1970. The cover features an image of Canadian singer Anne Murray, who recorded this song on Capital Records.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1970
depicted (sitter)
Murray, Anne
publisher
Beechwood Music Corporation
ID Number
1986.0021.30
accession number
1986.0021
catalog number
1986.0021.30
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1970
recording artist
Presley, Elvis
manufacturer
RCA Victor
ID Number
1996.3034.06148
catalog number
1996.3034.06148
nonaccession number
1996.3034
label number
47-9835

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