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.

Benny Goodman's Quintet. side 1: Pick-a-Rib [part 1]; side 2: Pick-a-Rib [part 2] (Blue Ace 224).78 rpm. These tracks were originally recorded in 1938 and released on Victor 26166.Blue Ace was a bootleg record label, founded around the late 1940s.
Description (Brief)

Benny Goodman's Quintet. side 1: Pick-a-Rib [part 1]; side 2: Pick-a-Rib [part 2] (Blue Ace 224).
78 rpm. These tracks were originally recorded in 1938 and released on Victor 26166.

Blue Ace was a bootleg record label, founded around the late 1940s. The label was dedicated to the unauthorized reissue of jazz recordings from the 1935-1942 period. Brooklyn record store owner Sam Meltzer is allegedly to have produced the recordings, who was also associated with the bootleg Hot Jazz Club of America [HJCA] recordings, which focused on jazz recordings of the 1920s.

Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1938
recording artist
Benny Goodman's Quintet
manufacturer
Blue Ace
ID Number
1988.0698.1109
catalog number
1988.0698.1109
accession number
1988.0698
collector/donor number
G80
maker number
224
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 sheet music is for the song “Hail, Hail, the Gang’s All Here (What the - Deuce - Do We Care),” with lyrics by D. A. Esrom [Theodora Morse] and music by Theodore Morse and Arthur Sullivan. It was published by Leo Feist, Inc. in New York, New York in 1917.
Description

This sheet music is for the song “Hail, Hail, the Gang’s All Here (What the - Deuce - Do We Care),” with lyrics by D. A. Esrom [Theodora Morse] and music by Theodore Morse and Arthur Sullivan. It was published by Leo Feist, Inc. in New York, New York in 1917. The original tune was written by Arthur Sullivan for the comic opera The Pirates of Penzance.

The cover art for this sheet music was made by Rosenbaum Studios. The firm was founded by Morris Rosenbaum (1886-1953) in the early 1910s. There were several artists working for Rosenbaum Studios throughout the firm’s 27 years in operation. Variations of a rosebud/RS symbol were used to sign the artwork. Morris Rosenbaum was commissioned to create the logo for the newly formed film company MGM (Metro Goldwyn Mayer) in 1924.

Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1917
publisher
Leo Feist Inc.
ID Number
1985.0403.05
accession number
1985.0403
catalog number
1985.0403.05
This sheet music is for the song “Time Waits For No One,” with music and lyrics by Cliff Friend and Charles Tobias. It was published by Remick Music Corp. in New York, New York in 1944.”Time Waits For No One” was featured in the 1944 Warner Bros.
Description

This sheet music is for the song “Time Waits For No One,” with music and lyrics by Cliff Friend and Charles Tobias. It was published by Remick Music Corp. in New York, New York in 1944.

”Time Waits For No One” was featured in the 1944 Warner Bros. musical film, Shine On, Harvest Moon, directed by David Butler and starred Ann Sheridan and Dennis Morgan. The cover features a still from the movie.

Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1944
publisher
Remick Music Corporation
ID Number
1985.0393.17
accession number
1985.0393
catalog number
1985.0393.17
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2011
maker
D. C. Comics, Inc.
ID Number
2018.3010.262
nonaccession number
2018.3010
catalog number
2018.3010.262
This sheet music is for the song “I ‘Wanna’ Sing About You,” by Cliff Friend and Dave Dreyer. It was published by Irving Berlin, Inc. in New York, New York in 1931. The cover features an image of Husk O’Hare and his band, a popular East Coast territory band.
Description
This sheet music is for the song “I ‘Wanna’ Sing About You,” by Cliff Friend and Dave Dreyer. It was published by Irving Berlin, Inc. in New York, New York in 1931. The cover features an image of Husk O’Hare and his band, a popular East Coast territory band. Husk O’Hare (1896-1970) was an American jazz bandleader active during the 1920s and 1930s.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1931
publisher
Irving Berlin, Inc.
ID Number
1983.0694.07
accession number
1983.0694
catalog number
1983.0694.07
This sheet music for the song “By Studying My Lady’s Eyes” was written by Thomas Bailey Aldrice and composed by Julius S. Lyons. The song was originally published by Wm. A. Pond and Co.
Description
This sheet music for the song “By Studying My Lady’s Eyes” was written by Thomas Bailey Aldrice and composed by Julius S. Lyons. The song was originally published by Wm. A. Pond and Co. of New York, New York in 1889, and appeared as a supplement to the “New York Herald” on May 31, 1903. The sheet music features a pencil drawing of a woman casting a sultry gaze at the viewer.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1902
lyricist
Aldrich, Thomas Bailey
composer
Lyons, Julius J.
publisher
William A. Pond & Co.
ID Number
1982.0440.42
accession number
1982.0440
catalog number
1982.0440.42
various artists. Historic Jazz Concert at Music Inn (Atlantic 1298).33-1/3 rpm.Music Inn, also called the Music Barn, was an inn, performance venue, and the summer program of jazz education for the Lenox School of Jazz, in Lenox Massachusetts.
Description (Brief)

various artists. Historic Jazz Concert at Music Inn (Atlantic 1298).
33-1/3 rpm.

Music Inn, also called the Music Barn, was an inn, performance venue, and the summer program of jazz education for the Lenox School of Jazz, in Lenox Massachusetts. From 1957-1960, the school featuring faculty including Dizzy Gillespie, Jimmy Giuffre, Percy Heath, and Connie Kayvenue. The performance venue and inn was in in operation from 1950–1979.

Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1956
manufacturer
Atlantic
ID Number
1978.0670.801
maker number
1298
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.801
This sheet music is for the song “Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in The Morning,” by Irving Berlin. It was published by Waterson, Berlin and Snyder Co. in New York, New York in 1918.
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in The Morning,” by Irving Berlin. It was published by Waterson, Berlin and Snyder Co. in New York, New York in 1918. The cover features an image of a WWI soldier and an inset of American comedian, singer, dancer, actor, and song writer Eddie Cantor, who performed this song in Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1918
publisher
Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co.
ID Number
1985.0392.12
accession number
1985.0392
catalog number
1985.0392.12
The Deal Family. side 1: The Home Coming Week; side 2: Where Shall I Be (Columbia 15670-D).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
The Deal Family. side 1: The Home Coming Week; side 2: Where Shall I Be (Columbia 15670-D).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1929
recording artist
Deal Family
manufacturer
Columbia
ID Number
1996.0320.15145
collector/donor number
10599
maker number
15670-D
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.15145
Date made
1991
ID Number
2005.3021.142
nonaccession number
2005.3021
catalog number
2005.3021.142
This sheet music is for the song “Little Girls, Good Bye,” with lyrics by William LeBaron and music by Fritz Kreisler and Victor Jacobi. It was published by T. B. Harms and Francis, Day & Hunter in New York, New York in 1919.
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Little Girls, Good Bye,” with lyrics by William LeBaron and music by Fritz Kreisler and Victor Jacobi. It was published by T. B. Harms and Francis, Day & Hunter in New York, New York in 1919. This song was featured in the Broadway operetta Apple Blossoms, with book and lyrics by William LeBaron and music by Fritz Kreisler and Victor Jacobi. Apple Blossoms opened at the Globe Theatre on October 17, 1919 and ran for 256 performances.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1919
composer
Kreisler, Fritz
publisher
T. B. Harms and Francis, Day & Hunter
ID Number
1983.0694.11
accession number
1983.0694
catalog number
1983.0694.11
1983.0694.10
This sheet music is for the song “Fairy Tales,” with libretto by Harry B. Smith and music by Victor Herbert. It was published by Edward Schuberth and Company in New York, New York in 1897.
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Fairy Tales,” with libretto by Harry B. Smith and music by Victor Herbert. It was published by Edward Schuberth and Company in New York, New York in 1897. This song was featured in the Broadway three-act operetta The Idol’s Eye, libretto by Harry B. Smith and music by Victor Herbert. The Idol’s Eye opened at The Broadway Theatre on October 25, 1897 and ran for 56 performances.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1897
publisher
Edward Schuberth and Company
ID Number
1983.0694.10
accession number
1983.0694
catalog number
1983.0694.10
1983.0694.11
This sheet music is for the song “Dancing Around,” with words by Joe McCarthy and music by James V. Monaco. It was published by Broadway Music Corporation in New York, New York, in 1913.Currently not on view
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Dancing Around,” with words by Joe McCarthy and music by James V. Monaco. It was published by Broadway Music Corporation in New York, New York, in 1913.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1913
publisher
Broadway Music Corporation
ID Number
1983.0830.28
accession number
1983.0830
catalog number
1983.0830.28
E. Byron Chrisy and William E. Christy, comp. "Christy's New Songster and Black Joker" (New York: Dick & Fitzgerald, 1863)Yellow paper cover with black ink. off-white paper inside pages with black ink.
Description (Brief)
E. Byron Chrisy and William E. Christy, comp. "Christy's New Songster and Black Joker" (New York: Dick & Fitzgerald, 1863)
Yellow paper cover with black ink. off-white paper inside pages with black ink. This book features "Songs, Choruses, Stump Speeches, Witticisms, Jokes, Conundrums, etc." as sung and delivered by the blackface minstrel group, Christy's Minstrels, formed by Edwin Pearce Christy.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1863
ID Number
2016.3125.11
nonaccession number
2016.3125
catalog number
2016.3125.11
Bob Crosby and his Orchestra. side 1: Ec-Stacy; side 2: Chain Gang (Decca DU 40145).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Bob Crosby and his Orchestra. side 1: Ec-Stacy; side 2: Chain Gang (Decca DU 40145).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1942
recording artist
Bob Crosby and his Orchestra
manufacturer
Decca
ID Number
1978.0670.213
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.213
maker number
DU 40145
This song book The Harry Von Tilzer Dance Folio Number 5, was published by the Harry Von Tilzer Music Publishing Company of New York, New York around 1900.
Description
This song book The Harry Von Tilzer Dance Folio Number 5, was published by the Harry Von Tilzer Music Publishing Company of New York, New York around 1900. The cover advertises the folio as “containing arrangements for the piano of the latest and most popular music of the day, arranged by Alfred J. Doyle.” The red and white cover features a small photo of Harry Von Tilzer at the bottom. Folios like this contained 40 piano compositions, usually without the lyrics, at a cheaper price than buying them individually.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
ca 1900
publisher
Harry Von Tilzer Music Publishing Co.
ID Number
1982.0005.15
accession number
1982.0005
catalog number
1982.0005.15
Jack Simmons and the Kramdenettes. I Want a Wife Like Alice Kramden (Home By Dawn HD-001)33-1/3 rpmCurrently not on view
Description (Brief)
Jack Simmons and the Kramdenettes. I Want a Wife Like Alice Kramden (Home By Dawn HD-001)
33-1/3 rpm
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1983
ID Number
1989.0372.01
catalog number
1989.0372.01
accession number
1989.0372
maker number
HD-001
This sheet music is for the song “Hong Kong Blues,” with words and music by Hoagy Carmichael. It was published by Larry Spier, Inc. in New York, New York in 1939. There is an inset image of Hoagy Carmichael on the cover.”Hong Kong Blues” was featured in the 1944 Warner Bros.
Description

This sheet music is for the song “Hong Kong Blues,” with words and music by Hoagy Carmichael. It was published by Larry Spier, Inc. in New York, New York in 1939. There is an inset image of Hoagy Carmichael on the cover.

”Hong Kong Blues” was featured in the 1944 Warner Bros. romance-war-adventure film, To Have and Have Not, directed by Howard Hawks and starred Humphrey Bogart, Walter Brennan, Lauren Bacall, Dolores Moran, and Hoagy Carmichael.

Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1939
referenced
Bogart, Humphrey
Bacall, Lauren
depicted (sitter)
Carmichael, Hoagy
publisher
Larry Spier, Inc.
ID Number
1987.0423.03
accession number
1987.0423
catalog number
1987.0423.03
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
This sheet music is for the song “Three Wonderful Letters from Home.” with words by Joe Goodwin and Ballard MacDonald and music by James F. Hanley. It was published by Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. in New York, New York in 1918.
Description

This sheet music is for the song “Three Wonderful Letters from Home.” with words by Joe Goodwin and Ballard MacDonald and music by James F. Hanley. It was published by Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. in New York, New York in 1918. The cover of this popular World War I song depicts a mother, wife, and daughter writing letters with marching troops and a plane, ship, and tank in the background.

The cover art for this sheet music was made by American artist and designer Albert Wilfred Barbelle (1887-1957). With a prolific career spanning over forty years, Barbelle created numerous works of cover art for sheet music and albums.

Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1918
publisher
Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc.
ID Number
1985.0808.13
accession number
1985.0808
catalog number
1985.0808.13
Johnny's Machines written by Helen Palmer with illustrations by Cornelius De Witt, and published by Simon & Schuster in New York, New York, in 1949, reprint 1950.Cornelius De Witt (1905-1956) was born in Germany but spent most of his life in and around New York.
Description (Brief)

Johnny's Machines written by Helen Palmer with illustrations by Cornelius De Witt, and published by Simon & Schuster in New York, New York, in 1949, reprint 1950.

Cornelius De Witt (1905-1956) was born in Germany but spent most of his life in and around New York. De Witt worked successfully in several mediums including printmaking, painting and illustration. De Witt‘s realistic style of drawing created distinctly visual images and in turn children found the books easy to read and comprehend. He was best known for his Golden book on the human body.

Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1949
author
Palmer, Helen
illustrator
Dawitt, Cornelius
publisher
Simon and Schuster
maker
Simon and Schuster
ID Number
1990.0375.05
accession number
1990.0375
catalog number
1990.0375.05
Come Play House written by Edith Osswald with illustrations by Eloise Wilkin. This book was published by Simon and Schuster in New York, New York, in 1948, reprinted 1949.A Graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology, Eloise Wilkin (1904-1987) studied illustration.
Description (Brief)

Come Play House written by Edith Osswald with illustrations by Eloise Wilkin. This book was published by Simon and Schuster in New York, New York, in 1948, reprinted 1949.

A Graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology, Eloise Wilkin (1904-1987) studied illustration. In her early years she worked as a freelance artist in New York City, illustrating schoolbooks for children learning to read, paper dolls and puzzles. She was married and raising a family in upstate New York when she started working from home creating illustrations for Little Golden Books in 1946. A prolific illustrator, Wilkin's work is easily identifiable for her adorable images of children with round faces and rosy pink cheeks. It is reported that she modeled her characters on her own family members and friends. Her beautifully detailed settings and backgrounds demonstrate her meticulous research and attention to detail. Her depiction of the idyllic home and family life reflected the post war optimism of the 1950s. She worked for Little Golden Books until 1984 and continued to design dolls for Vogue and Madame Alexander.

A stalwart Catholic, Wilkins was much attuned to the awakening social conscious of the 1960s. In 1964, the National Urban League, headed up by Whitney Young, brought attention to what he considered a fundamental omission on the part of the juvenile publishing world who he accused of racial stereotyping. Indeed, there were no children of color depicted in this vast category of books, but Eleanor Wilkin was one of the first illustrators to include an integrated classroom in We Like Kindergarten.

Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1948
author
Osswald, Edith
illustrator
Wilkin, Eloise Burns
maker
Simon and Schuster
ID Number
1990.0375.04
accession number
1990.0375
catalog number
1990.0375.04
Bunny Berigan and his Blue Boys. side 1: You Took Advantage of Me; side 2: Chicken and Waffles (Decca 18117), from the album, Gemsof Jazz, Vol. 2 (Decca A-201).78 rpm. Both tracks were recorded in 1935. This album was released in 1941.Currently not on view
Description
Bunny Berigan and his Blue Boys. side 1: You Took Advantage of Me; side 2: Chicken and Waffles (Decca 18117), from the album, Gemsof Jazz, Vol. 2 (Decca A-201).
78 rpm. Both tracks were recorded in 1935. This album was released in 1941.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1935
release date
1941
recording artist
Bunny Berigan and his Blue Boys
manufacturer
Decca
ID Number
1978.0670.548
accession number
1978.0670
maker number
18117
A-201
catalog number
1978.0670.548

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