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 1943 items.
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- No Image Available
"Barbie" Doll
- Description
- In 1959, the Mattel toy company introduced Barbie. Unlike most dolls at the time, Barbie was a grown–up—a "teenage fashion model" that could date, drive, and wear fabulous clothes. While often criticized for her unrealistic physical proportions and for promoting gender stereotypes, Barbie has also evolved with the times to reflect social and cultural changes in American culture. Since the 1980s she has taken on many new careers, from police officer to paleontologist to presidential candidate.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- ca 1958
- maker
- Mattel, Inc.
- ID Number
- 1988.0608.17
- catalog number
- 1988.0608.17
- accession number
- 1988.0608
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
- No Image Available
J.D. Crowe & the New South
- Description
- Fans cover the hillside enjoying the performance of J.D. Crowe (b.1937) and his band, The New South.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- n.d.
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.009
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.009
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
- No Image Available
Bartender
- Description
- Bartender Wanda Lohman, known as "Miss Wanda," worked at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge from 1960 to 1984. The walls of Tootsie's became a kind of community scrapbook. Tootsie, like her patrons, was a fan of country music. She collected autographs, posters, record albums, and photographs. Patrons, family, and friends contributed their comments and added photos.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1974
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.107
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.107
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center