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 26 items.
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The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams Lunch Box
- Description (Brief)
- This dome-shaped metal lunch box was made in 1977 by Aladdin Industries. The box features imagery based on the hit TV series, The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams, which ran on NBC for two years from 1977-1978. The television series was based off of a 1974 feature film of the same name that was a huge success. The fictional character of Grizzly Adams was based off of the real man, James Capen Adams, a man who roamed the wilderness and tamed bears and other animals, often for P.T. Barnum’s shows.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1977
- collected for nmah
- Smithsonian Institution
- maker
- Aladdin
- ID Number
- 1988.3160.41
- catalog number
- 1988.3160.41
- nonaccession number
- 1988.3160
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
The Partridge Family Lunch Box
- Description (Brief)
- This metal lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1971. The lunch box features images based on the musical TV show, The Partridge Family that ran on ABC from 1970-1974. The television show crossed over into musical success, as The Partridge Family Album was released in 1970, and sold over a million copies.
- Date made
- 1971
- collected for nmah
- Smithsonian Institution
- maker
- Thermos
- ID Number
- 1988.3160.42
- catalog number
- 1988.3160.42
- nonaccession number
- 1988.3160
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
The Waltons Lunch Box
- Description (Brief)
- This metal lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1973. The lunch box features imagery from the TV show The Waltons, which ran on CBS from 1972-1981. The Waltons was a huge hit, winning five Primetime Emmy’s in 1973, including the Emmy for Outstanding Drama.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1973
- collected for nmah
- Smithsonian Institution
- maker
- Aladdin
- ID Number
- 1988.3160.44
- catalog number
- 1988.3160.44
- nonaccession number
- 1988.3160
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Kung Fu Lunch Box
- Description (Brief)
- This metal lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1974. The lunch box features imagery from David Carridine’s TV series, Kung Fu which ran from 1972-1975 on ABC.
- Date made
- 1974
- collected for nmah
- Smithsonian Institution
- maker
- Thermos
- ID Number
- 1988.3160.45
- nonaccession number
- 1988.3160
- catalog number
- 1988.3160.45
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Space: 1999 Lunch Box
- Description (Brief)
- This metal lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1974. The lunch box features imagery of the short-lived TV series, Space: 1999, which ran from 1975-1978 in syndication. In Space: 1999, an accidental explosion of nuclear waste stored on the moon propelled the moon out of its orbit and sent it hurtling through space sending the inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha looking for a new home and encountering adventures along the way.
- Date made
- 1974
- collected for nmah
- Smithsonian Institution
- maker
- Thermos
- ID Number
- 1988.3160.48
- catalog number
- 1988.3160.48
- nonaccession number
- 1988.3160
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
The Road Runner Lunch Box
- Description (Brief)
- This metal lunch box was made by Thermos in 1970. The lunch box features imagery based on the cartoon adventures of Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner. These shorts were featured in a variety of Loony Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons, all centering on the Coyote trying to catch the Road Runner, often using a variety of products from the Acme Corporation.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1970
- collected for nmah
- Smithsonian Institution
- maker
- Thermos
- ID Number
- 1988.3160.50
- catalog number
- 1988.3160.50
- nonaccession number
- 1988.3160
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
The Six Million Dollar Man Lunch Box
- Description (Brief)
- This metal lunch box was made by Aladdin Industries in 1974. The lunch box features imagery based on Lee Majors hit TV show, The Six Million Dollar Man, which ran from 1974-1978 on ABC. The front of the box features Lee Major’s character Steve Austin using his bionic abilities to bend steel, leap a car, outrace a horse, and uproot a small tree. The opposite side shows Austin using his bionic strength to dispatch bad guys wielding a small tree.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1974
- collected for nmah
- Smithsonian Institution
- maker
- Aladdin
- ID Number
- 1988.3160.51
- catalog number
- 1988.3160.51
- nonaccession number
- 1988.3160
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Welcome Back, Kotter Lunch Box
- Description (Brief)
- This metal lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1976. The lunch box features imagery from the TV show Welcome Back, Kotter that aired from 1975-1979 on ABC. Welcome Back, Kotter was a huge hit, helping propel John Travolta on to star in movies such as Grease and Saturday Night Fever.
- Date made
- 1976
- collected for nmah
- Smithsonian Institution
- maker
- Aladdin
- ID Number
- 1988.3160.57
- catalog number
- 1988.3160.57
- nonaccession number
- 1988.3160
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Happy Days Lunch Box
- Description (Brief)
- This metal lunch box was made by Thermos in 1977. The lunch box features imagery from the TV show, Happy Days. Happy Days ran from 1974-1984 on ABC, and was one of the most popular shows of its time. It served as the genesis for iconic spin-off series like Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, and Joanie Loves Chachi.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1977
- collected for nmah
- Smithsonian Institution
- maker
- Thermos
- ID Number
- 1988.3160.58
- catalog number
- 1988.3160.58
- nonaccession number
- 1988.3160
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Miss America Lunch Box
- Description (Brief)
- This metal lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1972. The lunch box features imagery based on the annually televised Miss America Pageant. Originally a beauty pageant when it began in 1921, the Miss America Pageant became a “scholarship pageant” over the years, offering its first scholastic financial aid in 1945. The Miss America Pageant is now the world’s largest provider of scholarships for young women, making $45 million dollars available in scholarships on a yearly basis.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1972
- collected for nmah
- Smithsonian Institution
- maker
- Aladdin
- ID Number
- 1988.3160.63
- nonaccession number
- 1988.3160
- catalog number
- 1988.3160.63
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center