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.

Printed advertisement for the television series Popi. The monotone advertisement, cut from a newspaper or magazine, features a photograph of the title character, portrayed by Héctor Elizondo, alongside a young woman and two children.
Description (Brief)
Printed advertisement for the television series Popi. The monotone advertisement, cut from a newspaper or magazine, features a photograph of the title character, portrayed by Héctor Elizondo, alongside a young woman and two children. Text printed above the photo reads "HIS POCKET IS EMPTY BUT HIS HEART IS FULL" and below the photo "Popi's got two kids, three jobs, and great dreams of success. He's also got a knack for failing in the most hilarious way possible, and still keeping a grin on his face. It'll keep one on yours, too. Starring Hector Elizondo as 'Popi.'"
Popi was a sitcom produced by MGM Television that aired on CBS from January to August 1976. The series was an adaptation of the 1969 film of the same name and was one of the first American television series to feature a Latino cast and story. Popi starred actor Héctor Elizondo as a Puerto Rican widower. The show’s theme song was composed by Carlos Santana.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1976
Associated Name
MGM Television
Elizondo, Hector
maker
CBS
ID Number
2023.0103.01
catalog number
2023.0103.01
accession number
2023.0103
Printed advertisement for the television series Sanchez of Bel-Air. The color advertisement, cut from a magazine, features a photograph of a hard shell taco filled with ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese on a plate next to a glass of sparkling wine.
Description (Brief)
Printed advertisement for the television series Sanchez of Bel-Air. The color advertisement, cut from a magazine, features a photograph of a hard shell taco filled with ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese on a plate next to a glass of sparkling wine. Text printed below the photo reads "Can a street-wise family survive on easy street? Watch 'Sanchez of Bel Air,' an all-new comedy series, only on USA. See it once, and you'll have a craving for Mexican every Friday night."
Sanchez of Bel Air was a sitcom created by Dave Hackel and April Kelly that aired on the USA Network from October 3 to December 26, 1986. The show was a loose adaptation of The Beverly Hillbillies’ concept of a family’s dramatic change in fortune, following the Sanchez family’s move to the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The series was criticized for its inattention to Hispanic culture, with few Latinos on its writing staff. Sanchez of Bel Air was a landmark for the establishment of residual payment system between production companies and the Screen Actors Guild. It was the first basic show that had a contract for a residual agreement for reruns. The formula reached in this contract has served as a blanket for other contracts and is often referred to as the "Sanchez Formula."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1986
ID Number
2023.0103.02
accession number
2023.0103
catalog number
2023.0103.02
Publicity photograph of the cast of the television series ¿Qué Pasa, USA? The photograph features members of the cast in three levels in pairs, with those in the middle seated in chairs.
Description (Brief)
Publicity photograph of the cast of the television series ¿Qué Pasa, USA? The photograph features members of the cast in three levels in pairs, with those in the middle seated in chairs. The photograph has been marked with red grease pencil for reproduction or publication.
¿Qué Pasa, USA? was the first bilingual sitcom in American history. It was created by Manuel 'Cookie' Mendoza, filmed at PBS member station WPBT in Miami, Florida, and aired on PBS nationwide from 1977 to 1980. The program followed the lives of the Cuban-American Peña family in Little Havana, Miami, Florida, representing the joys and frustrations of daily life in this community, including code-switching, intergenerational conflict, and cultural pride vs. acculturation to American norms.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1977-1980
ID Number
2023.0103.04
accession number
2023.0103
catalog number
2023.0103.04
Press kit for the television series Viva Valdez. The kit consists of a blue paper folder with photographs and information about the series inside. The front of the folder has a television screen-shaped cut exposing a black and white photograph of the family inside.
Description (Brief)
Press kit for the television series Viva Valdez. The kit consists of a blue paper folder with photographs and information about the series inside. The front of the folder has a television screen-shaped cut exposing a black and white photograph of the family inside. Printed text reads "Viva Valdez / NEW ABC-TV FAMILY COMEDY SERIES / PREMIERES MONDAY, MAY 31 / Columbia Pictures Television / PUBLICITY DEPARTMENT * COLGEMS SQUARE * BURBANK, CALIFORNIA * 91505"
Viva Valdez was a briefly-lived sitcom that aired on ABC from May 31 to September 6, 1976. Created by Bernard Rothman, Jack Wohl, and Stan Jacobson, the show told the story of the Mexican-American Valdez family of East Los Angeles, California.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1976
maker
Columbia Pictures
ID Number
2023.0103.03
accession number
2023.0103
catalog number
2023.0103.03
Script used in the production of the Chico and the Man episode “The Juror.” The script has an orange cover and is bound by two metal brads in holes punched near the left side.
Description (Brief)
Script used in the production of the Chico and the Man episode “The Juror.” The script has an orange cover and is bound by two metal brads in holes punched near the left side. Airing as the thirteenth episode of season two of the popular series, the premise for this episode is that Chico is on jury duty and features many tongue-in-cheek jokes about the justice system. After Ed attempts to influence Chico’s decision in the case, Chico confesses this to the Judge. When Chico refuses to incriminate Ed for jury tampering, he is jailed. Ed appeals to the judge on their behalf.
Chico and the Man was a television situation comedy series that aired from 1974-1978, and was notable as the first American television series set in a Mexican-American neighborhood. The series starred Jack Albertson as Ed Brown, the elderly owner of a garage in East Los Angeles, and Freddie Prinze as Chico Rodriguez, a young Mexican-American who begins working for the prejudiced and cantankerous Brown. Over time, Chico begins to soften Brown’s misanthropy and bigotry, becoming a surrogate son to the still-grieving widower. The series was created by veteran producer James Komack and based on his observation of the humor of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, popular comedians who turned down his offer to appear in the show. Komack Company Inc. and Wolper Productions produced the 30-minute show for NBC. Jose Feliciano wrote and performed the theme song for the series. It became a moderate ratings success, and earned an Emmy Award for Jack Albertson as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1976) and a nomination for Jose Feliciano as well as Golden Globe nominations for Best Musical/Comedy Series and Best Television Actor, for Prinze. When Prinze committed suicide in 1977, the producers considered cancellation, but instead decided instead to revamp the series with new characters, a 12-year old boy named Raul (Gabriel Melgar) and his attractive and overprotective Aunt Charo (Charo). Facing declining ratings, the show was canceled the next season.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1974
Associated Name
Prinze, Freddie
Albertson, Jack
maker
Komack, James
Wolper Organization
ID Number
2023.0084.01
accession number
2023.0084
catalog number
2023.0084.01
One-piece costume worn by Diosa Costello as Bloody Mary in the original Broadway production and national touring production of South Pacific. The boxy, yellow, long sleeved zip jacket has black knit pants attached to the jacket's brown lining.
Description (Brief)
One-piece costume worn by Diosa Costello as Bloody Mary in the original Broadway production and national touring production of South Pacific. The boxy, yellow, long sleeved zip jacket has black knit pants attached to the jacket's brown lining. This costume was worn with several Hawaiian leis. Set during World War II, South Pacific critically examines racism and prejudice while exploring the romances and interactions between American soldiers, nurses, French colonists, and native South Pacific islanders. The critically acclaimed and popular show ran for 1,925 performances and has been revived numerous times. The original production won ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Male Performer, Best Female Performer, Best Supporting Male Performer, Best Supporting Female Performer, Best Director, Best Book, and Best Score.
Diosa Costello (1913-2013) was an actress, singer, and dancer, who claimed to be “the first Latina on Broadway” in a historically significant career on stage and screen. Born Juana de Dios Castrello y Cruz in Guayama, Puerto Rico, she first began performing in the chorus at the Teatro San Jose after moving with her family to New York as a child. Taking the stage name Diosa Costello, she earned fame and fans dancing and singing in clubs and theaters in Spanish Harlem. Billed as “The Latin Bombshell,” she was booked at the La Conga Club alongside Cuban newcomer Desi Arnaz in the late 1930s. The duo worked well together, Desi leading the band with his conga drum while Diosa danced and both performers cracked jokes and interacted with the audience. They were cast as leads in the Rodgers and Hart musical Too Many Girls, which opened at the Imperial Theatre in 1939. The popular show was adapted as a 1940 RKO Radio Pictures film starring Arnaz, Lucille Ball, and Eddie Bracken, but Ann Miller appeared in the role Costello played on Broadway. Costello made her film debut in 1941’s They Met In Argentina, performing alongside Maureen O’Hara and Buddy Ebsen, and appeared in the final American Laurel and Hardy film The Bullfighters (1945) as well as the 1953 3-D musical Miss Sadie Thompson. In 1950, she landed the biggest theatrical role of her career, cast as Bloody Mary in the original touring company of the hit musical South Pacific. After touring for a year, she was tapped to replace Juanita Hall, who originated the role, in the original production at Broadway’s Belasco Theatre. She performed there for another seven months, through early 1952, and for years afterward included her numbers from the show - particularly "Happy Talk" and "Bali Hai" - in her nightclub act. In later years, Costello performed at nightclubs in New York City, at resorts in the Catskills and Miami Beach, and in Las Vegas.
date made
1950
ID Number
2011.0208.01
accession number
2011.0208
catalog number
2011.0208.01
Issue of TV Guide dated March 1, 1975, featuring an Al Hirschfeld illustration of the lead characters in the television series Chico and the Man as portrayed by Freddie Prinze and Jack Albertson.
Description (Brief)
Issue of TV Guide dated March 1, 1975, featuring an Al Hirschfeld illustration of the lead characters in the television series Chico and the Man as portrayed by Freddie Prinze and Jack Albertson. In the colorful illustration, Albertson is depicted wearing a black hat, plaid shirt, and purple sweater standing before Prinze, wearing a yellow undershirt and blue jacket with a "Chicano Power" patch, and a gold necklace.
Chico and the Man was a television situation comedy series that aired from 1974-1978, and was notable as the first American television series set in a Mexican-American neighborhood. The series starred Jack Albertson as Ed Brown, the elderly owner of a garage in East Los Angeles, and Freddie Prinze as Chico Rodriguez, a young Mexican-American who begins working for the prejudiced and cantankerous Brown. Over time, Chico begins to soften Brown’s misanthropy and bigotry, becoming a surrogate son to the still-grieving widower. The series was created by veteran producer James Komack and based on his observation of the humor of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, popular comedians who turned down his offer to appear in the show. Komack Company Inc. and Wolper Productions produced the 30-minute show for NBC. Jose Feliciano wrote and performed the theme song for the series. It became a moderate ratings success, and earned an Emmy Award for Jack Albertson as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1976) and a nomination for Jose Feliciano as well as Golden Globe nominations for Best Musical/Comedy Series and Best Television Actor, for Prinze. When Prinze committed suicide in 1977, the producers considered cancellation, but instead decided instead to revamp the series with new characters, a 12-year old boy named Raul (Gabriel Melgar) and his attractive and overprotective Aunt Charo (Charo). Facing declining ratings, the show was canceled the next season.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1975
Associated Name
Prinze, Freddie
Albertson, Jack
Hirschfeld, Al
maker
TV Guide Magazine Group, Inc.
ID Number
2023.0083.01
accession number
2023.0083
catalog number
2023.0083.01
Yellow plastic lei worn by Diosa Costello as Bloody Mary in the original Broadway production and national touring production of South Pacific.Set during World War II, South Pacific critically examines racism and prejudice while exploring the romances and interactions between Amer
Description (Brief)
Yellow plastic lei worn by Diosa Costello as Bloody Mary in the original Broadway production and national touring production of South Pacific.
Set during World War II, South Pacific critically examines racism and prejudice while exploring the romances and interactions between American soldiers, nurses, French colonists, and native South Pacific islanders. The critically acclaimed and popular show ran for 1,925 performances and has been revived numerous times. The original production won ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Male Performer, Best Female Performer, Best Supporting Male Performer, Best Supporting Female Performer, Best Director, Best Book, and Best Score.
Diosa Costello (1913-2013) was an actress, singer, and dancer, who claimed to be “the first Latina on Broadway” in a historically significant career on stage and screen. Born Juana de Dios Castrello y Cruz in Guayama, Puerto Rico, she first began performing in the chorus at the Teatro San Jose after moving with her family to New York as a child. Taking the stage name Diosa Costello, she earned fame and fans dancing and singing in clubs and theaters in Spanish Harlem. Billed as “The Latin Bombshell,” she was booked at the La Conga Club alongside Cuban newcomer Desi Arnaz in the late 1930s. The duo worked well together, Desi leading the band with his conga drum while Diosa danced and both performers cracked jokes and interacted with the audience. They were cast as leads in the Rodgers and Hart musical Too Many Girls, which opened at the Imperial Theatre in 1939. The popular show was adapted as a 1940 RKO Radio Pictures film starring Arnaz, Lucille Ball, and Eddie Bracken, but Ann Miller appeared in the role Costello played on Broadway. Costello made her film debut in 1941’s They Met In Argentina, performing alongside Maureen O’Hara and Buddy Ebsen, and appeared in the final American Laurel and Hardy film The Bullfighters (1945) as well as the 1953 3-D musical Miss Sadie Thompson. In 1950, she landed the biggest theatrical role of her career, cast as Bloody Mary in the original touring company of the hit musical South Pacific. After touring for a year, she was tapped to replace Juanita Hall, who originated the role, in the original production at Broadway’s Belasco Theatre. She performed there for another seven months, through early 1952, and for years afterward included her numbers from the show - particularly "Happy Talk" and "Bali Hai" - in her nightclub act. In later years, Costello performed at nightclubs in New York City, at resorts in the Catskills and Miami Beach, and in Las Vegas.
date made
before 1951
ID Number
2011.0208.03
accession number
2011.0208
catalog number
2011.0208.03
The Marvel Comics' superhero America Chavez, known as Ms. America, first appeared in the 2011 comic book series Vengeance. This March 2017 issue marks the character's debut in her own series.
Description (Brief)
The Marvel Comics' superhero America Chavez, known as Ms. America, first appeared in the 2011 comic book series Vengeance. This March 2017 issue marks the character's debut in her own series. The comic's story was written by Gabby Rivera and illustrated by Joe Quinones.
Ms America Chavez is a Latina LGBTQ student from another reality . Originally created by Joe Casey and Nick Dragotta, Chavez has been prominently featured as a member of such supehero teams as the Young Avengers, A-Force and the Ultimates.
Chavez's powers include super strength, speed , flight and the ability to travel through alternate realities.
An earlier version of Marvel's Miss America character existed in the 1940s.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2017-03
maker
Marvel Comics
ID Number
2018.0171.01
accession number
2018.0171
catalog number
2018.0171.01
Lei worn by Diosa Costello as Bloody Mary in the original Broadway production and national touring production of South Pacific.
Description (Brief)
Lei worn by Diosa Costello as Bloody Mary in the original Broadway production and national touring production of South Pacific. The brown cork lei necklace is made of larger cork balls are strung between three smaller cork balls.
Set during World War II, South Pacific critically examines racism and prejudice while exploring the romances and interactions between American soldiers, nurses, French colonists, and native South Pacific islanders. The critically acclaimed and popular show ran for 1,925 performances and has been revived numerous times. The original production won ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Male Performer, Best Female Performer, Best Supporting Male Performer, Best Supporting Female Performer, Best Director, Best Book, and Best Score.
Diosa Costello (1913-2013) was an actress, singer, and dancer, who claimed to be “the first Latina on Broadway” in a historically significant career on stage and screen. Born Juana de Dios Castrello y Cruz in Guayama, Puerto Rico, she first began performing in the chorus at the Teatro San Jose after moving with her family to New York as a child. Taking the stage name Diosa Costello, she earned fame and fans dancing and singing in clubs and theaters in Spanish Harlem. Billed as “The Latin Bombshell,” she was booked at the La Conga Club alongside Cuban newcomer Desi Arnaz in the late 1930s. The duo worked well together, Desi leading the band with his conga drum while Diosa danced and both performers cracked jokes and interacted with the audience. They were cast as leads in the Rodgers and Hart musical Too Many Girls, which opened at the Imperial Theatre in 1939. The popular show was adapted as a 1940 RKO Radio Pictures film starring Arnaz, Lucille Ball, and Eddie Bracken, but Ann Miller appeared in the role Costello played on Broadway. Costello made her film debut in 1941’s They Met In Argentina, performing alongside Maureen O’Hara and Buddy Ebsen, and appeared in the final American Laurel and Hardy film The Bullfighters (1945) as well as the 1953 3-D musical Miss Sadie Thompson. In 1950, she landed the biggest theatrical role of her career, cast as Bloody Mary in the original touring company of the hit musical South Pacific. After touring for a year, she was tapped to replace Juanita Hall, who originated the role, in the original production at Broadway’s Belasco Theatre. She performed there for another seven months, through early 1952, and for years afterward included her numbers from the show - particularly "Happy Talk" and "Bali Hai" - in her nightclub act. In later years, Costello performed at nightclubs in New York City, at resorts in the Catskills and Miami Beach, and in Las Vegas.
date made
before 1951
ID Number
2011.0208.02
accession number
2011.0208
catalog number
2011.0208.02
Green plastic lei worn by Diosa Costello as Bloody Mary in the original Broadway production and national touring production of South Pacific.Set during World War II, South Pacific critically examines racism and prejudice while exploring the romances and interactions between Ameri
Description (Brief)
Green plastic lei worn by Diosa Costello as Bloody Mary in the original Broadway production and national touring production of South Pacific.
Set during World War II, South Pacific critically examines racism and prejudice while exploring the romances and interactions between American soldiers, nurses, French colonists, and native South Pacific islanders. The critically acclaimed and popular show ran for 1,925 performances and has been revived numerous times. The original production won ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Male Performer, Best Female Performer, Best Supporting Male Performer, Best Supporting Female Performer, Best Director, Best Book, and Best Score.
Diosa Costello (1913-2013) was an actress, singer, and dancer, who claimed to be “the first Latina on Broadway” in a historically significant career on stage and screen. Born Juana de Dios Castrello y Cruz in Guayama, Puerto Rico, she first began performing in the chorus at the Teatro San Jose after moving with her family to New York as a child. Taking the stage name Diosa Costello, she earned fame and fans dancing and singing in clubs and theaters in Spanish Harlem. Billed as “The Latin Bombshell,” she was booked at the La Conga Club alongside Cuban newcomer Desi Arnaz in the late 1930s. The duo worked well together, Desi leading the band with his conga drum while Diosa danced and both performers cracked jokes and interacted with the audience. They were cast as leads in the Rodgers and Hart musical Too Many Girls, which opened at the Imperial Theatre in 1939. The popular show was adapted as a 1940 RKO Radio Pictures film starring Arnaz, Lucille Ball, and Eddie Bracken, but Ann Miller appeared in the role Costello played on Broadway. Costello made her film debut in 1941’s They Met In Argentina, performing alongside Maureen O’Hara and Buddy Ebsen, and appeared in the final American Laurel and Hardy film The Bullfighters (1945) as well as the 1953 3-D musical Miss Sadie Thompson. In 1950, she landed the biggest theatrical role of her career, cast as Bloody Mary in the original touring company of the hit musical South Pacific. After touring for a year, she was tapped to replace Juanita Hall, who originated the role, in the original production at Broadway’s Belasco Theatre. She performed there for another seven months, through early 1952, and for years afterward included her numbers from the show - particularly "Happy Talk" and "Bali Hai" - in her nightclub act. In later years, Costello performed at nightclubs in New York City, at resorts in the Catskills and Miami Beach, and in Las Vegas.
date made
before 1951
ID Number
2011.0208.04
accession number
2011.0208
catalog number
2011.0208.04
About 32,000 Tejano music fans filled the seats of the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on March 14, 1994, to see their favorite regional musicians acknowledged at the 14th Annual Tejano Music Awards.
Description (Brief)
About 32,000 Tejano music fans filled the seats of the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on March 14, 1994, to see their favorite regional musicians acknowledged at the 14th Annual Tejano Music Awards. The Queen of Tejano music, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez wore this leather jacket and satin brassiere combo during two performances that evening –singing “Donde Quiera Que Estés” with the Barrio Boyzz and fronting her band Los Dinos singing her iconic hit “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom.”
While Tejano music was (and remains) immensely popular with working-class Mexican Americans, Selena took Tejano music to the mainstream. Selena Quintanilla-Pérez and her band, Los Dinos, incorporated cumbia and pop into their sound transforming this regional genre into an international phenomenon.
Inspired by other musical divas like Janet Jackson and Madonna, Selena’s sexy outfits broke with the outdated expectations of what female performers in Tejano music should wear. She took the shiny embellishments and form-fitting silhouettes of these pop stars and made it her own with working-class sensibility and a Texan flair.
Selena’s family donated this performance costume to the Smithsonian, and it is the same one in which she is depicted at the Selena Memorial statue in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Description (Spanish)
Desde el doo-wop y el country blues, hasta la polka y el hip-hop, los compositores de música tejana se han visto forzados por la frontera a entender el valor del intercambio cultural. La cantante Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (1971-1995) interpretaba una fusión de cumbia, pop y música tejana contemporánea. La joven estrella surgió y a duras penas llegó a la fama en los mercados de Estados Unidos y Latinoamérica, pero su carrera quedó truncada a la edad de 23 años, cuando fue asesinada por una ex manager a quien había despedido por robar. Selena fue un éxito comercial de un modo jamás imaginable por sus predecesores más tradicionales como el Flaco Jiménez, Freddy Fender o Little Joe. Este traje, integrado por botas de cuero, pantalones ajustados, corsé de raso y chaqueta de motociclista, ejemplifica la idiosincrasia de un estilo que oscilaba entre la rebelde sexy y la niña buena mexicoamericana. Procedente de Lake Jackson, Texas, Selena nació en el seno de una familia de músicos. Como creció hablando inglés, debió aprender a cantar en español por fonética para grabar sus primeros álbumes dirigidos al mercado de habla hispana. Irónicamente, su material crossover para la radio en inglés no salió al aire hasta el final de su carrera, poco después de su trágica muerte. Selena, quien pasó su niñez en medio de la banda de música familiar, actuando en celebraciones de bodas, restaurantes, ferias y otros modestos escenarios a lo largo de la frontera entre México y Estados Unidos, vive aún consagrada en la memoria de la gente como una de las grandes estrellas de la música tejana.
wearer
Selena
maker
North Beach
ID Number
1999.0104.01
accession number
1999.0104
catalog number
1999.0104.01
About 32,000 Tejano music fans filled the seats of the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on March 14, 1994, to see their favorite regional musicians acknowledged at the 14th Annual Tejano Music Awards.
Description (Brief)
About 32,000 Tejano music fans filled the seats of the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on March 14, 1994, to see their favorite regional musicians acknowledged at the 14th Annual Tejano Music Awards. The Queen of Tejano music, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez wore this leather jacket and satin brassiere combo during two performances that evening –singing “Donde Quiera Que Estés” with the Barrio Boyzz and fronting her band Los Dinos singing her iconic hit “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom.”
While Tejano music was (and remains) immensely popular with working-class Mexican Americans, Selena took Tejano music to the mainstream. Selena Quintanilla-Pérez and her band, Los Dinos, incorporated cumbia and pop into their sound transforming this regional genre into an international phenomenon.
Inspired by other musical divas like Janet Jackson and Madonna, Selena’s sexy outfits broke with the outdated expectations of what female performers in Tejano music should wear. She took the shiny embellishments and form-fitting silhouettes of these pop stars and made it her own with working-class sensibility and a Texan flair.
Selena’s family donated this performance costume to the Smithsonian, and it is the same one in which she is depicted at the Selena Memorial statue in Corpus Christi, Texas.
wearer
Selena
user
Selena
ID Number
1999.0104.03
accession number
1999.0104
catalog number
1999.0104.03
Mariachis, groups comprised of vocalists, trumpeters, violinists, and various bass and guitar players, are today considered Mexico's traditional musical ensemble.
Description
Mariachis, groups comprised of vocalists, trumpeters, violinists, and various bass and guitar players, are today considered Mexico's traditional musical ensemble. Originally from the state of Jalisco, mariachi music transformed itself from a regional to a national music between the 1930s and 1950s. Its accompanying attire is the fancy charro costume for men and the china poblana dress (like the one pictured here) for women. The thriving song, music, and dance culture surrounding mariachi today is the product of pioneering work by Mexican American educators and performers in the early 1960s. Mariachi instruction programs have since grown in popularity across Mexican American communities, with student mariachi ensembles beginning to perform as early as elementary or middle school. But Mexican American musical traditions began much earlier than the mariachi movement—they include styles as diverse as the choir music of the California missions and the corridos and ballads of San Antonio's Rosita Fernández (1925 1997). This china poblana dress, made in the 1960s, belonged to Fernández who, though performing a wide repertoire of Mexican song styles, is most identified with música norteña, rather than mariachi. Her sixty-year career as a local radio, TV, and theater star garnered her the title, "San Antonio's First Lady of Song."
Description (Spanish)
Los mariachis, integrados por vocalistas, trompetistas, violinistas y varios intérpretes de bajo y guitarra, se consideran en la actualidad como el conjunto tradicional de música mexicana por excelencia. La música mariachi se originó en el estado de Jalisco, transformándose entre las décadas de 1930 y 1950, de música regional a música nacional. El atuendo que la caracteriza es el elegante traje charro para los hombres y el vestido de china poblana (como el que aquí se ilustra) para las mujeres. La floreciente cultura de hoy en día en torno al canto, música y danza de los mariachis es producto de la labor pionera de los educadores e intérpretes mexicoamericanos de principios de la década de 1960. Desde entonces, los programas de instrucción para mariachis se han vuelto populares a lo largo de las comunidades mexicoamericanas, observándose conjuntos de estudiantes que comienzan a actuar tan prematuramente como en la escuela primaria o media. Sin embargo, las tradiciones musicales mexicoamericanas ya habían echado raíces con anterioridad al movimiento mariachi—abarcaban estilos tan diversos como la música de coro de las misiones de California y los corridos y baladas de Rosita Fernández de San Antonio (1925-1997). Este vestido de china poblana, confeccionado en la década de1960, perteneció a Fernández, a quien, si bien interpreta un gran repertorio de estilos de canciones mexicanas, se la identifica con la música norteña, más que con la mariachi. Su trayectoria de sesenta años como estrella de la radio local, la televisión y el teatro le adjudicó el título de "Primera Dama de la Canción de San Antonio".
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1960s
user
Fernández, Rosita
maker
Tenis, Mr.
ID Number
2001.0130.01
accession number
2001.0130
catalog number
2001.0130.01
About 32,000 Tejano music fans filled the seats of the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on March 14, 1994, to see their favorite regional musicians acknowledged at the 14th Annual Tejano Music Awards.
Description (Brief)
About 32,000 Tejano music fans filled the seats of the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on March 14, 1994, to see their favorite regional musicians acknowledged at the 14th Annual Tejano Music Awards. The Queen of Tejano music, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez wore this leather jacket and satin brassiere combo during two performances that evening –singing “Donde Quiera Que Estés” with the Barrio Boyzz and fronting her band Los Dinos singing her iconic hit “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom.”
While Tejano music was (and remains) immensely popular with working-class Mexican Americans, Selena took Tejano music to the mainstream. Selena Quintanilla-Pérez and her band, Los Dinos, incorporated cumbia and pop into their sound transforming this regional genre into an international phenomenon.
Inspired by other musical divas like Janet Jackson and Madonna, Selena’s sexy outfits broke with the outdated expectations of what female performers in Tejano music should wear. She took the shiny embellishments and form-fitting silhouettes of these pop stars and made it her own with working-class sensibility and a Texan flair.
Selena’s family donated this performance costume to the Smithsonian, and it is the same one in which she is depicted at the Selena Memorial statue in Corpus Christi, Texas.
wearer
Selena
user
Selena
maker
Zodiac
ID Number
1999.0104.04
accession number
1999.0104
catalog number
1999.0104.04
About 32,000 Tejano music fans filled the seats of the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on March 14, 1994, to see their favorite regional musicians acknowledged at the 14th Annual Tejano Music Awards.
Description (Brief)
About 32,000 Tejano music fans filled the seats of the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on March 14, 1994, to see their favorite regional musicians acknowledged at the 14th Annual Tejano Music Awards. The Queen of Tejano music, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez wore this leather jacket and satin brassiere combo during two performances that evening –singing “Donde Quiera Que Estés” with the Barrio Boyzz and fronting her band Los Dinos singing her iconic hit “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom.”
While Tejano music was (and remains) immensely popular with working-class Mexican Americans, Selena took Tejano music to the mainstream. Selena Quintanilla-Pérez and her band, Los Dinos, incorporated cumbia and pop into their sound transforming this regional genre into an international phenomenon.
Inspired by other musical divas like Janet Jackson and Madonna, Selena’s sexy outfits broke with the outdated expectations of what female performers in Tejano music should wear. She took the shiny embellishments and form-fitting silhouettes of these pop stars and made it her own with working-class sensibility and a Texan flair.
Selena’s family donated this performance costume to the Smithsonian, and it is the same one in which she is depicted at the Selena Memorial statue in Corpus Christi, Texas.
wearer
Selena
user
Selena
maker
Mambo
ID Number
1999.0104.02
accession number
1999.0104
catalog number
1999.0104.02
The New Avengers No. 39 features the story "Echo," written by Brian Michael Bendis, with art by David Mack.
Description
The New Avengers No. 39 features the story "Echo," written by Brian Michael Bendis, with art by David Mack. The cover features the characters of Echo and Wolverine.
The superhero team “The Avengers” were introduced by Marvel Comic's creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1963' Avengers No.1. Comprised of many of Marvel’s most popular characters, the long-running series has been adapted for animated television series and in block-buster feature films.
Derived from the original Avengers series, the The New Avengers began in 2005.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2008-05
maker
Marvel Comics
ID Number
2018.0171.15
accession number
2018.0171
catalog number
2018.0171.15

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