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.

This metal, plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1954, and is the companion bottle to lunch box object number 2001.3100.14.01.The bottle has a red, screw-on plastic lid and a red plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This metal, plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1954, and is the companion bottle to lunch box object number 2001.3100.14.01.The bottle has a red, screw-on plastic lid and a red plastic stopper. The bottle has a yellow design with colorful action drawings of Roy Rogers riding on a horse on the sides of the thermos.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1954
depicted
Rogers, Roy
Evans, Dale
maker
Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.14.02
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.14.02
Roy Rogers. side 1: The Yellow Rose of Texas; side 2: On the Old Spanish Trail (RCA Victor 20-3074), from the album, Roy Rogers Souvenir Album (RCA Victor P 215).78 rpm. Side 1 was recorded in 1947. Side 2 was recorded in 1947 and initially released on Victor 20-2320.
Description
Roy Rogers. side 1: The Yellow Rose of Texas; side 2: On the Old Spanish Trail (RCA Victor 20-3074), from the album, Roy Rogers Souvenir Album (RCA Victor P 215).
78 rpm. Side 1 was recorded in 1947. Side 2 was recorded in 1947 and initially released on Victor 20-2320. This album was released in 1948
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1947
release date
1948
recording artist
Rogers, Roy
manufacturer
RCA Victor
ID Number
1996.0320.05236
maker number
20-3074
P 215
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05236
This harmonica was made by an undetermined maker, undetermined date. It is a Roy Rogers Riders model, with 10 single holes and 20 reeds. This harmonica has a black and white plastic comb attached to the top and bottom.
Description

This harmonica was made by an undetermined maker, undetermined date. It is a Roy Rogers Riders model, with 10 single holes and 20 reeds. This harmonica has a black and white plastic comb attached to the top and bottom. It is engraved:

KING OF THE COWBOYS
ROY ROGERS RIDERS
HARMONICA

This harmonica features U.S. Patent #2,317,425, dated April 27, 1943 for the manufacture of harmonicas submitted by Charles E. Wetzler and Paul F. Boehm assignors to The United States Harmonica Corporation.

Location
Currently not on view
depicted (sitter)
Rogers, Roy
ID Number
1988.0783.293
accession number
1988.0783
catalog number
1988.0783.293
patent number
2317425
Roy Rogers. side 1: Don't Fence Me In; side 2: Roll on Texas Moon (RCA Victor 20-3073), from the album, Roy Rogers Souvenir Album (RCA Victor P 215).78 rpm. Both tracks were recorded in 1947. This album was released in 1948.Currently not on view
Description
Roy Rogers. side 1: Don't Fence Me In; side 2: Roll on Texas Moon (RCA Victor 20-3073), from the album, Roy Rogers Souvenir Album (RCA Victor P 215).
78 rpm. Both tracks were recorded in 1947. This album was released in 1948.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1947
release date
1948
recording artist
Rogers, Roy
manufacturer
RCA Victor
ID Number
1996.0320.05235
maker number
20-3073
P 215
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05235
Roy Rogers. side 1: A Gay Ranchero; side 2: Home in Oklahoma (RCA Victor 20-3076), from the album, Roy Rogers Souvenir Album (RCA Victor P 215).78 rpm. Both tracks were recorded in 1947. This album was released in 1948.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Roy Rogers. side 1: A Gay Ranchero; side 2: Home in Oklahoma (RCA Victor 20-3076), from the album, Roy Rogers Souvenir Album (RCA Victor P 215).
78 rpm. Both tracks were recorded in 1947. This album was released in 1948.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1947
release date
1948
recording artist
Rogers, Roy
manufacturer
RCA Victor
ID Number
1996.0320.05238
maker number
20-3076
P 215
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05238
This Roy Rogers thermos was manufactured by Thermos in 1954. It features an image similar to the previous lunch box, object number 2001.3099.07.01.
Description (Brief)
This Roy Rogers thermos was manufactured by Thermos in 1954. It features an image similar to the previous lunch box, object number 2001.3099.07.01. Roy Rogers is posing with a kneeling Dale Evans, his horse Trigger, and his dog Bullet, under the sign for Roy Rogers and Dale Evans DOUBLE R BAR RANCH.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1954
depicted
Rogers, Roy
Evans, Dale
ID Number
2001.3099.07.02
nonaccession number
2001.3099
catalog number
2001.3099.07.02
Roy Rogers. side 1: San Fernando Valley; side 2: Along the Navajo Trail (RCA Victor 20-3075), from the album, Roy Rogers Souvenir Album (RCA Victor P 215).78 rpm. Side 1 was recorded in 1947. Side 2 was recorded in 1945 and initially released on RCA Victor 20-1730.
Description
Roy Rogers. side 1: San Fernando Valley; side 2: Along the Navajo Trail (RCA Victor 20-3075), from the album, Roy Rogers Souvenir Album (RCA Victor P 215).
78 rpm. Side 1 was recorded in 1947. Side 2 was recorded in 1945 and initially released on RCA Victor 20-1730. This album was released in 1948.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1947
1945
release date
1948
recording artist
Rogers, Roy
manufacturer
RCA Victor
ID Number
1996.0320.05237
maker number
20-3075
P 215
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05237
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1947
depicted (sitter)
Rogers, Roy
maker
Song and Picture Barn Dance Magazine
ID Number
2013.0247.01
accession number
2013.0247
catalog number
2013.0247.01
This song book Roy Rogers Favorite Cowboy Songs, was published by Robbins Music Corporation in New York, New York in 1943.
Description
This song book Roy Rogers Favorite Cowboy Songs, was published by Robbins Music Corporation in New York, New York in 1943. It features hits by Roy Rogers including “Roll Along Prairie Moon,” I’m an Old Cowhand,” “Leanin’ on the Ole Top Rail,” and “The Yellow Rose of Texas.” There is an image of Roy Rogers and his horse Trigger on the cover.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1943
depicted (sitter)
Rogers, Roy
publisher
Robbins Music Corporation
ID Number
2013.0252.01
accession number
2013.0252
catalog number
2013.0252.01
This tin lunch box was made by Thermos in 1954. It has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible red, plastic handle. The front of the box shows Roy Rogers and Dales Evans with their dog Bullet.
Description (Brief)
This tin lunch box was made by Thermos in 1954. It has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible red, plastic handle. The front of the box shows Roy Rogers and Dales Evans with their dog Bullet. The back of the box is an action shot of Roy Rogers roping a steer on his horse Trigger, with Dale Evans riding in the background. The Roy Rogers Show ran from 1951-1957, and focused on the cowboy adventures of Roy Rogers on his Double R Bar Ranch.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1954
depicted
Rogers, Roy
Evans, Dale
maker
Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.14.01
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.14.01
This steel lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1955. The lunch box features images of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, who starred in The Roy Rogers Show from 1951-1957.
Description (Brief)
This steel lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1955. The lunch box features images of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, who starred in The Roy Rogers Show from 1951-1957. Roy Rogers was Thermos’s first entry into the arena of officially licensed lunch box merchandise, and early Roy Rogers boxes sold over 2 million units.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1955
depicted
Rogers, Roy
Evans, Dale
maker
American Thermos Bottle Company
ID Number
2001.3087.03
nonaccession number
2001.3087
catalog number
2001.3087.03
This metal lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1954, and it came with an aluminum thermos. This Roy Rogers and Dale Evans lunch box features an image on front lid of Dale in a red dress, greeting Roy on his horse Trigger at gate of the "DOUBLE R BAR RANCH".
Description (Brief)
This metal lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1954, and it came with an aluminum thermos. This Roy Rogers and Dale Evans lunch box features an image on front lid of Dale in a red dress, greeting Roy on his horse Trigger at gate of the "DOUBLE R BAR RANCH". The back has a wood grain print with "RR" brand and name for box owner on the back, 2 vent slots. This was one Thermos’s first entries into the market of licensed lunch boxes, as a response to Aladdin’s Hopalong Cassidy box.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1954
depicted
Rogers, Roy
Evans, Dale
maker
American Thermos Bottle Company
ID Number
2001.3099.07.01
nonaccession number
2001.3099
catalog number
2001.3099.07.01

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