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.

This mixing box was made by Raytheon Manufacturing Company in Chicago, Illinois, 1950s. It is a portable mixing box, model RR-30, serial #201, made of metal, with plastic components.
Description (Brief)

This mixing box was made by Raytheon Manufacturing Company in Chicago, Illinois, 1950s. It is a portable mixing box, model RR-30, serial #201, made of metal, with plastic components. This mixing box was used with other equipment in the remote ready box (2002.0319.20) by the Annapolis, Maryland radio station, WANN (1190 AM), for remote broadcasts. The mixer was accessioned with a custom carrying box, made of wood, covered with beige and brown fabric, with a clear plastic handle, two metal latches, and metal covered corners. The front of the box is stenciled “WANN.”

WANN (1190 AM) was a radio station based out of Annapolis, Maryland that primarily served the area's growing African American community. Morris Blum founded it in 1946, and it broadcast to the entire mid-Atlantic region. The station was home to disc jockey Charles "Hoppy" Adams starting in the early 1950s. Adams hosted weekly events at a local African American only beach, Carr's Beach, which were popular with the area's youth population.

WANN continued to program gospel, rhythm and blues, and public affairs features until 1992 when the station changed to a mainstream country format with the catchphrase “Bay Country 1190.” Around 1998, the station changed ownership and became WBIS, broadcasting a News Talk Information format.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1950s
manufacturer
Raytheon Manufacturing Co.
ID Number
2002.0319.21
accession number
2002.0319
catalog number
2002.0319.21
Original cover artwork used for the book Doctor Squash the Doll Doctor, written by Margaret Wise Brown with illustrations by J.P.
Description (Brief)

Original cover artwork used for the book Doctor Squash the Doll Doctor, written by Margaret Wise Brown with illustrations by J.P. Miller and published by Simon & Schuster in New York, New York, in 1952.

John Parr Miller (1913-2004) was a native New Yorker who initially worked in the model department of Disney Studios from 1934-1942. He created characters for some of the earliest Disney productions, including Pinocchio, Fantasia and Dumbo. His interests expanded to include children’s illustrations, and his first assignment with Little Golden Books was the artwork for the Little Red Hen, one of the original fifteen books published in 1942. Working in a simple somewhat abstract style, Miller utilized bold, sharp lines and bright colors to make his images appear more graphic than painterly.

Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1952
maker
Miller, J.P.
ID Number
1992.0634.082.01
accession number
1992.0634
catalog number
1992.0634.082.01
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1958
recording artist
Presley, Elvis
manufacturer
RCA Victor
ID Number
1996.3034.06127
label number
47-7280
catalog number
1996.3034.06127
nonaccession number
1996.3034
Louis Armstrong with Sy Oliver and his Orchestra. side 1: A Kiss to Build a Dream On; side 2: (When We Are Dancing I Get Ideas (Decca 27720).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Louis Armstrong with Sy Oliver and his Orchestra. side 1: A Kiss to Build a Dream On; side 2: (When We Are Dancing I Get Ideas (Decca 27720).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1951
recording artist
Armstrong, Louis
Sy Oliver and his Orchestra
manufacturer
Decca
ID Number
2014.0105.05
accession number
2014.0105
catalog number
2014.0105.05
maker number
27720
Howdy Doody's Lucky Trip was written by Edward Kean with illustrations by Harry McNaught, published by Simon & Schuster in New York, New York, in 1953.In addition to Howdy Doody's Lucky Trip, Harry McNaught illustrated several Little Golden Books, including the Wizard of Oz serie
Description

Howdy Doody's Lucky Trip was written by Edward Kean with illustrations by Harry McNaught, published by Simon & Schuster in New York, New York, in 1953.

In addition to Howdy Doody's Lucky Trip, Harry McNaught illustrated several Little Golden Books, including the Wizard of Oz series from the 1950s, the popular Animal Babies and several Big Golden Books on nature and science. More recently, he created the images for two Little Golden Books on the characters from the Muppets.

From 1947 to 1960, the Howdy Doody Show was the leading children’s TV program in the United States. The creator of the Howdy Doody character, “Buffalo” Bob Smith, first performed him as a radio character. When the show transitioned to TV, Frank Paris created the new puppet, but left the show (with the puppet) in 1948 to disputes over merchandising rights. Velma Dawson created the now ubiquitous Howdy Doody that debuted in 1949. This Howdy Doody became popular spokes character, hawking sponsored products on the show or in print.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1953
maker
Simon and Schuster
ID Number
2013.0078.01
accession number
2013.0078
catalog number
2013.0078.01
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1950
depicted (sitter)
Day, Doris
ID Number
2017.3021.305
nonaccession number
2017.3021
catalog number
2017.3021.305
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1951
maker
Music Publishing Company of Africa
ID Number
2017.3021.266
nonaccession number
2017.3021
catalog number
2017.3021.266
Benny Goodman. The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert [disc 1] (Columbia ML 4341), from the album, The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert (Columbia SL-160).33-1/3 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Benny Goodman. The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert [disc 1] (Columbia ML 4341), from the album, The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert (Columbia SL-160).
33-1/3 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1938
release date
1950
recording artist
Goodman, Benny
manufacturer
Columbia
ID Number
1978.0670.736
maker number
SL-160
ML 4341
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.736
This sheet music is for the song, “In the Cool, Cool of the Evening,” with lyrics by Johnny Mercer and music by Hoagy Carmichael. It was published by Famous Music Corporation in New York, New York in 1951.
Description

This sheet music is for the song, “In the Cool, Cool of the Evening,” with lyrics by Johnny Mercer and music by Hoagy Carmichael. It was published by Famous Music Corporation in New York, New York in 1951. The sheet music cover features images of Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman.

”In the Cool, Cool of the Evening” was featured in the 1951 Paramount Pictures musical romantic comedy film, Here Comes the Groom, directed by Frank Capra and starred Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman. Carmichael and Mercer received an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “In the Cool, Cool of the Evening” in 1952.

Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1951
depicted (sitter)
Crosby, Bing
composer
Carmichael, Hoagy
lyricist
Mercer, Johnny
publisher
Famous Music Corporation
ID Number
1987.0423.05
accession number
1987.0423
catalog number
1987.0423.05
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1959
ID Number
2016.0203.01
accession number
2016.0203
catalog number
2016.0203.01
This sheet music is for the song “The Thing” that was written and composed by Charles R. Grean and published by Hollis Music, Inc. of New York City in 1950. The cover features a green geometric pattern and an inset photograph of Phil Harris holding a record.
Description (Brief)
This sheet music is for the song “The Thing” that was written and composed by Charles R. Grean and published by Hollis Music, Inc. of New York City in 1950. The cover features a green geometric pattern and an inset photograph of Phil Harris holding a record. Harris introduced and featured the song, recording it for RCA Victor Records on RCA record number 20-3968 which lasted 14 weeks on the Billboard charts, and hit #1.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1950
recording artist
Harris, Phil
publisher
Hollis Music, Inc.
ID Number
1983.0424.031
accession number
1983.0424
catalog number
1983.0424.031
George Lewis' Ragtime Band. George Lewis' Ragtome Band (Jazz Man LP1).33-1/3 rpm.Jazz Man Records was founded by David Ashford Stuart in 1941. The record label was devoted to traditional New Orleans-style jazz.
Description (Brief)

George Lewis' Ragtime Band. George Lewis' Ragtome Band (Jazz Man LP1).
33-1/3 rpm.

Jazz Man Records was founded by David Ashford Stuart in 1941. The record label was devoted to traditional New Orleans-style jazz. In 1946, Stuart sold the label to Nesuhi Ertegun, brother of Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records, and Nesuhi’s wife Marili Morden, owners of the Jazz Man Record Shop in Hollywood, the label’s namesake. Jazz Man Records continued to produce recordings until late 1954.

Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1953
recording artist
George Lewis' Ragtime Band
manufacturer
Jazz Man
ID Number
1978.0670.707
maker number
LP1
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.707
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1936
1950
depicted (sitter)
Sinatra, Frank
maker
Spencer Music Corp.
ID Number
2015.0215.0077
accession number
2015.0215
catalog number
2015.0215.0077
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1950s
depicted (sitter)
Sinatra, Frank
ID Number
1982.0377.06
accession number
1982.0377
catalog number
1982.0377.06
Howdy Doody's Circus was written by Edward Kean with illustrations by Liz Dauber and Don Gormely, and published by Simon & Schuster in New York, New York, in 1950.During the 1940s and 1950s, Don Gormley created drawings for the popular Dell comic book series, Dell's Four Colors,
Description (Brief)

Howdy Doody's Circus was written by Edward Kean with illustrations by Liz Dauber and Don Gormely, and published by Simon & Schuster in New York, New York, in 1950.

During the 1940s and 1950s, Don Gormley created drawings for the popular Dell comic book series, Dell's Four Colors, that included Disney characters like Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse and Porky Pig as well as the popular cartoon character Oswald the Rabbit from 1942-1962. Additionally, he illustrated characters created by Walter Lantz, including Mr. McGoo and Andy Panda.

Liz Dauber's art career included working in several mediums, including illustrations, painting and magazine cover art. In her early years, she created colorful cover art for the popular New York women’s fashion magazine Mademoiselle. Married to Gregorio Prestopino, a painter of the Ashcan school, she and her husband were part of the planned community called Jersey Homesteads. Established by FDR during the Depression, this cooperative effort was meant to foster industrial, agricultural and artistic endeavors that served and enriched the community. Her illustrations for Howdy Doody's Circus was her sole effort for Little Golden Books, but she went on to illustrate several children and young adult books that featured topics about history, folklore and biographies. Her emphasis on juvenile literature also included books for the Scholastic Young Reader series and the Ginnie books.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1950
maker
Simon & Schuster
ID Number
1980.0626.01
accession number
1980.0626
catalog number
1980.0626.01
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950
ID Number
1986.0587.03
accession number
1986.0587
catalog number
1986.0587.03
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1953
lyricist; composer
Davis, Link
referenced
Morse, Ella Mae
Chacksfield, Frank
ID Number
2017.3021.258
nonaccession number
2017.3021
catalog number
2017.3021.258
Original artwork, of page 10, for the book Howdy Doody's Circus, written by Edward Kean with illustrations by Liz Dauber and Don Gormely, and published by Simon & Schuster in New York, New York, in 1950.During the 1940s and 1950s, Don Gormley created drawings for the popular Dell
Description (Brief)

Original artwork, of page 10, for the book Howdy Doody's Circus, written by Edward Kean with illustrations by Liz Dauber and Don Gormely, and published by Simon & Schuster in New York, New York, in 1950.

During the 1940s and 1950s, Don Gormley created drawings for the popular Dell comic book series, Dell's Four Colors, that included Disney characters like Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse and Porky Pig as well as the popular cartoon character Oswald the Rabbit from 1942-1962. Additionally, he illustrated characters created by Walter Lantz, including Mr. McGoo and Andy Panda.

Liz Dauber's art career included working in several mediums, including illustrations, painting and magazine cover art. In her early years, she created colorful cover art for the popular New York women’s fashion magazine Mademoiselle. Married to Gregorio Prestopino, a painter of the Ashcan school, she and her husband were part of the planned community called Jersey Homesteads. Established by FDR during the Depression, this cooperative effort was meant to foster industrial, agricultural and artistic endeavors that served and enriched the community. Her illustrations for Howdy Doody's Circus was her sole effort for Little Golden Books, but she went on to illustrate several children and young adult books that featured topics about history, folklore and biographies. Her emphasis on juvenile literature also included books for the Scholastic Young Reader series and the Ginnie books.

Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1950
maker
Dauber, Liz
Gormley, Don
ID Number
1992.0634.076.10
accession number
1992.0634
catalog number
1992.0634.076.10
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1952
maker
Francis, Day & Hunter Ltd.
ID Number
2017.3021.294
nonaccession number
2017.3021
catalog number
2017.3021.294
Original artwork, of page 14, for the book Howdy Doody's Circus, written by Edward Kean with illustrations by Liz Dauber and Don Gormely, and published by Simon & Schuster in New York, New York, in 1950.During the 1940s and 1950s, Don Gormley created drawings for the popular Dell
Description (Brief)

Original artwork, of page 14, for the book Howdy Doody's Circus, written by Edward Kean with illustrations by Liz Dauber and Don Gormely, and published by Simon & Schuster in New York, New York, in 1950.

During the 1940s and 1950s, Don Gormley created drawings for the popular Dell comic book series, Dell's Four Colors, that included Disney characters like Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse and Porky Pig as well as the popular cartoon character Oswald the Rabbit from 1942-1962. Additionally, he illustrated characters created by Walter Lantz, including Mr. McGoo and Andy Panda.

Liz Dauber's art career included working in several mediums, including illustrations, painting and magazine cover art. In her early years, she created colorful cover art for the popular New York women’s fashion magazine Mademoiselle. Married to Gregorio Prestopino, a painter of the Ashcan school, she and her husband were part of the planned community called Jersey Homesteads. Established by FDR during the Depression, this cooperative effort was meant to foster industrial, agricultural and artistic endeavors that served and enriched the community. Her illustrations for Howdy Doody's Circus was her sole effort for Little Golden Books, but she went on to illustrate several children and young adult books that featured topics about history, folklore and biographies. Her emphasis on juvenile literature also included books for the Scholastic Young Reader series and the Ginnie books.

Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1950
maker
Dauber, Liz
Gormley, Don
ID Number
1992.0634.076.14
accession number
1992.0634
catalog number
1992.0634.076.14
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1950
depicted (sitter)
Page, Patti
maker
Trutone Africa
ID Number
2018.3010.165
nonaccession number
2018.3010
catalog number
2018.3010.165
This sheet music is for the song “Chimes of Arcady,” with words by Harry Tobias and music by Percy Wenrich. It was published by Tobey Music Corporation in 1958.
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Chimes of Arcady,” with words by Harry Tobias and music by Percy Wenrich. It was published by Tobey Music Corporation in 1958. The cover feaures an image of American singer, multi-instrumentalist, and orchestra leader Billy Vaughn (1919–1991) who recorded this song on Dot Records 45-15771 in 1958.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1958
music publisher
Tobey Music Corp.
ID Number
1983.0529.43
accession number
1983.0529
catalog number
1983.0529.43
This music box disc was made by Lloyd G. Kelley, successor to the Regina Music Box Company, in Hanover, Massachusetts, 1950s.
Description

This music box disc was made by Lloyd G. Kelley, successor to the Regina Music Box Company, in Hanover, Massachusetts, 1950s. It is Regina Disc #3031 – “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” This disc is playable in a Regina Disc Music Box that can accommodate a 15-1/2” diameter disc.

This disc features the following patents:

U. S. Patent #417649, dated December 17, 1889, by Oskar Paul Lochmann for a music plate for mechanical instruments.

U. S. Patent #500374, dated June 27, 1893, by Gustav A. Brachhausen and Paul Riessner for a note-plate for music boxes.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1950s
ID Number
MI.73.01.18.06
catalog number
73.01.18.06
accession number
301414
maker number
3031
patent number
500374
417649
Oscar Peterson. side 1: Where or When; side 2: Oscar's Blues (Mercury 8922), from the album, Oscar Peterson (Mercury C106).78 rpm.The cover art for this album was by David Stone Martin (born David Livingstone Martin, 1913-1992).
Description

Oscar Peterson. side 1: Where or When; side 2: Oscar's Blues (Mercury 8922), from the album, Oscar Peterson (Mercury C106).
78 rpm.

The cover art for this album was by David Stone Martin (born David Livingstone Martin, 1913-1992). Martin was an American artist best known for his illustrations on jazz album covers for labels including Mercury, Asch, Clef, Disc, and Dial. Many of his commissions were from Martin’s longtime friend, American jazz record producer and concert promoter Norman Granz (1918-2001).

Location
Currently not on view
release date
1950
recording artist
Peterson, Oscar
manufacturer
Mercury
ID Number
1981.0656.471
accession number
1981.0656
maker number
8922
C106
catalog number
1981.0656.471

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