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.

In "The Wizard of Oz", Dorothy's journey from Kansas to Oz is symbolized by a shift from black and white to Technicolor.
Description
In "The Wizard of Oz", Dorothy's journey from Kansas to Oz is symbolized by a shift from black and white to Technicolor. This camera was one of several used to film the Oz scenes.
Invented in 1932, the Technicolor camera recorded on three separate negatives--red, blue and green--which were then combined to develop a full-color positive print. The box encasing the camera, a "blimp," muffled the machine's sound during filming.
The Early Color Cinema Equipment Collection [COLL.PHOTOS.000039] includes equipment, media and ephemera related to color motion pictures from the birth of the cinema to the mid twentieth century. This collection is comprised of 5 motion picture cameras, 3 movie projectors, more than 34 pieces of editing and other apparatus, more than 60 pieces of early color film and two notebooks illustrating the Technicolor process.
Reproducing natural color on film had been an industry goal since the earliest days of motion picture production, but it took several decades to perfect a technology for making movies in color. Motion picture directors often toned or hand-tinted monochromatic film in the industry’s early days to add life and emotion to their productions. Though movie producers continued to use toning and tinting, these costly and inefficient processes could never produce the full range of color that movie cameras failed to record. Therefore, innovators increasingly focused on the use of color filters during capture and projection to reproduce color detail.
Danish-American inventor August Plahn built and patented a camera and projector that split motion picture images through three color lenses using 70mm film. When the film, with three images printed across its width, was projected through the same colored filters, movies’ natural color was restored. The collection includes forty five short lengths of processed film and documents related to Plahn’s work as well as one camera, three projector heads and over seventy-five pieces of apparatus used by the engineer.
While Plahn had little success marketing his inventions, the Boston-based Technicolor Corporation effectively marketed their similar technology to become the industry standard. The color cinema collection includes four Technicolor cameras as well as over twenty-five pieces of equipment related to the Technicolor process and a book of photographs illustrating Technicolor film processing in a train car.
The Society of Motion Picture Engineers, the industry’s leading trade group, donated examples of a number of other early color film technologies, including Prizma, Kelley-line screen, Krayn Screen, Naturalcolor, Multicolor and Morgana color processes.
This finding aid is one in a series documenting the PHC’s Early Cinema Collection [COLL.PHOTOS.000018]. The cinema-related objects cover the range of technological innovation and popular appeal that defined the motion picture industry during a period in which it became the premier form of mass communication in American life, roughly 1885-1930. See also finding aids for Early Sound Cinema [COLL.PHOTOS.000040], Early Cinema Equipment [COLL.PHOTOS.000037], Early Cinema Film and Ephemera [COLL.PHOTOS.000038] and the Gatewood Dunston Collection [COLL.PHOTOS.000021].
Location
Currently not on view (running boards)
date made
1937
maker
Technicolor Corporation
ID Number
PG.008166
catalog number
8166
maker number
Patent No: 2,000,058
accession number
260112
Laurindo Almeida. Guitar From Ipanema (Capitol T-2197).33-1/3 rpmCurrently not on view
Description (Brief)
Laurindo Almeida. Guitar From Ipanema (Capitol T-2197).
33-1/3 rpm
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1964
recording artist
Almeida, Laurindo
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1978.0670.802
maker number
T-2197
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.802
Cliffie Stone. side 1: Bake Them Hoecakes Brown; side 2: The Gal I Ledt Behind Me (Capitol 20100). from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Cliffie Stone. side 1: Bake Them Hoecakes Brown; side 2: The Gal I Ledt Behind Me (Capitol 20100). from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1947
recording artist
Stone, Cliffie
maker
Capitol
ID Number
1989.0207.17
accession number
1989.0207
catalog number
1989.0207.17
maker number
20100
BD-44
Diana Ross. side 1: Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) [mono]; side 2: Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) [stereo] (Motown M1377F)45 rpm. Accessioned with original printed sleeve.
Description (Brief)

Diana Ross. side 1: Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) [mono]; side 2: Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) [stereo] (Motown M1377F)
45 rpm. Accessioned with original printed sleeve. Pressed on gold colored vinyl.

This song was featured in the 1975 Motown Productions and Paramount Pictures film Mahogany, directed by Berry Gordy and starred Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Jean-Pierre Aumont, and Anthony Perkins.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1975
recording artist
Ross, Diana
manufacturer
Motown
ID Number
1996.3034.06750
catalog number
1996.3034.06750
nonaccession number
1996.3034
label number
M1377F
J. Stratton Shufelt. side 1: Overshadowed; side 2: The Old Ship Zion (Fellowship Music FM 019/020), from the album, Strat Sings (Fellowship Music 1).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
J. Stratton Shufelt. side 1: Overshadowed; side 2: The Old Ship Zion (Fellowship Music FM 019/020), from the album, Strat Sings (Fellowship Music 1).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording artist
Shufelt, J. Stratton
manufacturer
Fellowship Music
ID Number
1996.0320.05267
maker number
FM 019/020
FM 1
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05267
Oak Ridge Quartet. side 1: No Tears in Heaven; side 2: Old Time Religion (Capitol 48023), from the album, Songs from The Grand Ole Opry (Capitol AD 86).78 rpm.The cover art for this album was made by Carlos Andreson.
Description

Oak Ridge Quartet. side 1: No Tears in Heaven; side 2: Old Time Religion (Capitol 48023), from the album, Songs from The Grand Ole Opry (Capitol AD 86).
78 rpm.

The cover art for this album was made by Carlos Andreson. Andreson, also as Anderson, (1905-1978) was an American painter, lithographer, and teacher. A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Andreson studied at the University of Utah, then subsequently in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, and Berlin. In 1933, Andreson returned to the United States, creating paintings and drawings of early pioneer life for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and teaching at Utah Arts Center. After the start of WWII, Anderson was commissioned by Abbott Laboratories to paint medical subjects at the stateside Naval hospitals. Andreson moved to San Francisco after the war where he produced artwork for the Oakland Army Base.

Location
Currently not on view
release date
1948
recording artist
Oak Ridge Quartet
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05119
maker number
48023
AD 86
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05119
Album cover for Square Dances (Capitol BD-44).78 rpm. 4-disc set (includes 1989.0207.15 - .18)Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Album cover for Square Dances (Capitol BD-44).
78 rpm. 4-disc set (includes 1989.0207.15 - .18)
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1947
recording artist
Stone, Cliffie
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1989.0207.19
accession number
1989.0207
catalog number
1989.0207.19
maker number
BD-44
Tex Ritter. side 1: I Love My Rooster; side 2: Texas Rangers (Capitol 20038). from the album, Children's Songs and Stories (Capitol BD-14).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Tex Ritter. side 1: I Love My Rooster; side 2: Texas Rangers (Capitol 20038). from the album, Children's Songs and Stories (Capitol BD-14).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
release date
1945
recording artist
Ritter, Tex
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05224
maker number
20038
BD-14
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05224
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1986
recording artist
Steve Miller Band
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.3034.05323
label number
B-5704
nonaccession number
1996.3034
catalog number
1996.3034.05323
Tex Ritter. side 1: The Phantom White Stallion of Skull Valley; side 2: The Wreck of Number Nine (Capitol 20039), from the album, Children's Songs and Stories (Capitol BD-14).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Tex Ritter. side 1: The Phantom White Stallion of Skull Valley; side 2: The Wreck of Number Nine (Capitol 20039), from the album, Children's Songs and Stories (Capitol BD-14).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
release date
1945
recording artist
Ritter, Tex
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05225
maker number
20039
BD-14
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05225
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2016.0032.082
accession number
2016.0032
catalog number
2016.0032.082
Cliffie Stone. side 1: Soldier's Joy; side 2: Special Instructions for Square Dancing (Capitol 20098), from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Cliffie Stone. side 1: Soldier's Joy; side 2: Special Instructions for Square Dancing (Capitol 20098), from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
release date
1947
recording artist
Cliffie Stone and his Square Dance Band
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05293
maker number
20098
BD 44
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05293
The Dinning Sisters. side 1: Aunt Hagar's Blue; side 2: Where Or When (Capitol 20018),from the album, Songs of the Dinning Sisters (Capitol B-D 7).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
The Dinning Sisters. side 1: Aunt Hagar's Blue; side 2: Where Or When (Capitol 20018),from the album, Songs of the Dinning Sisters (Capitol B-D 7).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
release date
1945
recording artist
Dinning Sisters
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05087
maker number
20018
B-D 7
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05087
Fanny Brice. side 1: Cleaniness; side 2: Good and Bad (Capitol 7-32023), from the album, Baby Snooks (Capitol DC 3081).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Fanny Brice. side 1: Cleaniness; side 2: Good and Bad (Capitol 7-32023), from the album, Baby Snooks (Capitol DC 3081).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
release date
1949
recording artist
Brice, Fanny
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05059
maker number
7-32023
DC 3081
catalog number
1996.0320.05059
accession number
1996.0320
Cliffie Stone. side 1: Soldier's Joy; side 2: Special Instructions for Square Dancing (Capitol 20098). from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Cliffie Stone. side 1: Soldier's Joy; side 2: Special Instructions for Square Dancing (Capitol 20098). from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1947
recording artist
Cliffie Stone and his Square Dance Band
maker
Capitol
ID Number
1989.0207.15
accession number
1989.0207
catalog number
1989.0207.15
maker number
20098
BD-44
This sheet music is for the song “Tonight We Love,” with lyrics by Bobby Worth and music adapted by Ray Austin and Freddy Martin. It was published by Maestro Music Company in Hollywood, California in 1941.
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Tonight We Love,” with lyrics by Bobby Worth and music adapted by Ray Austin and Freddy Martin. It was published by Maestro Music Company in Hollywood, California in 1941. The cover features an inset image of Freddy Martin, who featured this song with his orchestra.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1941
depicted (sitter)
Martin, Freddy
manufacturer
Maestro Music Company
ID Number
1986.0021.46
accession number
1986.0021
catalog number
1986.0021.46
Uncle Henry's Original Kentucky Mountaineers. side 1: The Love That We Once Knew; side 2: Those "Gone and Left Me" Blues (Capitol 48034), from the album, Music from the Hills (Capitol AD 136).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Uncle Henry's Original Kentucky Mountaineers. side 1: The Love That We Once Knew; side 2: Those "Gone and Left Me" Blues (Capitol 48034), from the album, Music from the Hills (Capitol AD 136).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
release date
1949
recording artist
Uncle Henry's Original Kentucky Mountaineers
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05317
maker number
48034
AD 136
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05317
Cliffie Stone. side 1: I'm Foever Blowing Bubble; side 2: Missouri Waltz (Capitol 48031), from the album, Waltzes (Capitol AD 108).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Cliffie Stone. side 1: I'm Foever Blowing Bubble; side 2: Missouri Waltz (Capitol 48031), from the album, Waltzes (Capitol AD 108).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
release date
1948
recording artist
Stone, Cliffie
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05302
maker number
48031
AD 108
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05302
Pete Daily's Dixieland Band. side 1: Sensation; side 2: Original Dixieland One-Step (Capitol 15432), from the album, Pete Daily's Dixieland Band (Capitol CC-183).78 rpm.This album cover was painted by American artist William George (b. 1930).
Description

Pete Daily's Dixieland Band. side 1: Sensation; side 2: Original Dixieland One-Step (Capitol 15432), from the album, Pete Daily's Dixieland Band (Capitol CC-183).
78 rpm.

This album cover was painted by American artist William George (b. 1930). George is an American illustrator and painter who studied under Norman Rockwell. George’s work has been featured on album covers, paperback crime and western covers, and magazine covers.

Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1949
recording artist
Pete Daily's Dixieland Band
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1978.0670.451
maker number
15432
CC-183
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.451
maker
Liberace Music
ID Number
1986.0803.01
accession number
1986.0803
catalog number
1986.0803.01
The Beatles. Meet The Beatles! (Capitol T-2047).LP. 33-1/3 rpm.The Beatles burst onto the American scene in the early 1960s with a series of hit singles. Meet the Beatles! is the second Beatles album released in the United States.
Description

The Beatles. Meet The Beatles! (Capitol T-2047).
LP. 33-1/3 rpm.

The Beatles burst onto the American scene in the early 1960s with a series of hit singles. Meet the Beatles! is the second Beatles album released in the United States. It was the first American Beatles album to be issued by Capitol Records.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1964
recording artist
Beatles
maker
Capitol Records
ID Number
2011.0106.30
accession number
2011.0106
catalog number
2011.0106.30
The Sputniks. side 1: HEY, MARYANN; side 2: MY LOVE IS GONE (Class 217)45 rpm.Musical groups in Scandinavia, Brazil, East Germany, and the United States took the name "The Sputniks." This doo-wop recording is by a short-lived American group.
Description

The Sputniks. side 1: HEY, MARYANN; side 2: MY LOVE IS GONE (Class 217)
45 rpm.

Musical groups in Scandinavia, Brazil, East Germany, and the United States took the name "The Sputniks." This doo-wop recording is by a short-lived American group. Side two is a recording of "My Love is Gone."

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1958
composer
Nathan, N.
Vikki, J.
recording artist
Sputniks, The
manufacturer
Class
ID Number
1996.0153.20014
label number
217
accession number
1996.0153
catalog number
1996.0153.20014
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1957
recording artist
Nelson, Ricky
manufacturer
Imperial
ID Number
1996.3034.05542
nonaccession number
1996.3034
label number
IMP-153
catalog number
1996.3034.05542
Howard McGhee and his Orchestra. side 1: Cool Fantasy [part 1]; side 2: Cool Fantasy [part 2] (Modern 20-618).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Howard McGhee and his Orchestra. side 1: Cool Fantasy [part 1]; side 2: Cool Fantasy [part 2] (Modern 20-618).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1945
recording artist
McGhee, Howard
manufacturer
Modern
ID Number
2014.0105.88
accession number
2014.0105
catalog number
2014.0105.88
20-618

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