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.

The black comedy film Dr. Stangelove echoed public concerns about the cataclysmic potential of faulty communication systems, unstable leaders, the bomb, and nuclear annihilation.
Description
The black comedy film Dr. Stangelove echoed public concerns about the cataclysmic potential of faulty communication systems, unstable leaders, the bomb, and nuclear annihilation.
date made
ca 1964
maker
Columbia Pictures
ID Number
2013.3088.01
nonaccession number
2013.3088
catalog number
2013.3088.01
Paul Revere and The Raiders. side 1: The Great Airplane Strike; side 2: In My Community (Columbia 4-43810)45 rpm. Accessioned with original printedsleeve.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Paul Revere and The Raiders. side 1: The Great Airplane Strike; side 2: In My Community (Columbia 4-43810)
45 rpm. Accessioned with original printedsleeve.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1966
recording artist
Paul Revere and The Raiders
manufacturer
Columbia
ID Number
1996.3034.06452
catalog number
1996.3034.06452
label number
4-43810
nonaccession number
1996.3034
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1964
depicted (sitter)
Harrison, George
maker
Topps Chewing Gum
ID Number
1987.0717.08.02
accession number
1987.0717
catalog number
1987.0717.08.02
Original artwork, of page 9, for the book New Brother New Sister, written by Jean Fielder with illustrations by Joan Esley, and published by Golden Press in New York, New York, in 1966.Marjorie Joan Esley (1904-2000) was born in upstate New York and showed a proficiency for art a
Description (Brief)

Original artwork, of page 9, for the book New Brother New Sister, written by Jean Fielder with illustrations by Joan Esley, and published by Golden Press in New York, New York, in 1966.

Marjorie Joan Esley (1904-2000) was born in upstate New York and showed a proficiency for art at a young age. She attended the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute (now known as RIT) and the Grand Central School of Art in New York City. During her time at RIT she became close friends with a fellow student, Eloise Wilkin, who also became an illustrator for Little Golden Books. Esley, worked as a freelance artist illustrating children’s readers for school textbooks, as well as drawing for the Girl Scout Magazine and the Post. Esley contracted with Little Golden Books to work on New Brother, New Sister and Play Street, both written by Esther Wilkin, sister-in-law of fellow illustrator, Eloise Wilkin. In addition to her work as an illustrator, Esley went on to author and illustrate several books of her own.

The concept of the "here and now” as seen in New Brother, New Sister, was Golden Books attempt to introduce and link children to everyday life experiences. Promoted in home advice columns as well as advertisements, this book and others like The New Baby, were early attempts to help 2-5-year old children welcome the new sibling to the family. The theories behind progressive education stressed the need for intellectual, personal and emotional development in order to create a well-rounded individual.

Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1966
maker
Esley, Joan
ID Number
1992.0634.094.10
accession number
1992.0634
catalog number
1992.0634.094.10
This steel, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1968. It has a screw-on white plastic cup lid with handle and screw-on white plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This steel, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1968. It has a screw-on white plastic cup lid with handle and screw-on white plastic stopper. The bottle is decorated with blue and gray with cartoon images of the The Flying Nun, a show that ran from 1967-1970 on ABC and starred Sally Fields as Sister Bertrille.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1968
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.06.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.06.02
These oddly cut index cards are actually programs for the very first video games.These program cards were used with the “Brown Box,” prototype for the first multiplayer, multiprogram video game system.
Description
These oddly cut index cards are actually programs for the very first video games.
These program cards were used with the “Brown Box,” prototype for the first multiplayer, multiprogram video game system. Users of the "Brown Box" could play a variety of games by flipping the switches along the front of the unit. The games included ping-pong, checkers, four different sports games, target shooting with the use of a lightgun and a golf putting game which required the use of a special attachment.
To play these games, the user placed one of these program cards between the two sets of switches on the "Brown Box" (as you can see in the picture). The dots on the card indicated in which position the switches should be set. Magnavox licensed the "Brown Box" and released the system as the Magnavox Odyssey in 1972, with the switch system replaced by a plug-in game slot and plastic program cards.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1967
patent holder
Baer, Ralph H.
inventor
Baer, Ralph H.
ID Number
2006.0102.05
catalog number
2006.0102.05
accession number
2006.0102
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1961
ID Number
2016.0032.104
accession number
2016.0032
catalog number
2016.0032.104
This machine paved the way for the video games of today.In 1967, Ralph Baer and his colleagues at Sanders Associates, Inc. developed a prototype for the first multiplayer, multiprogram video game system.
Description
This machine paved the way for the video games of today.
In 1967, Ralph Baer and his colleagues at Sanders Associates, Inc. developed a prototype for the first multiplayer, multiprogram video game system. Since Sanders hoped to license the technology for a commercial venture, Baer understood that the games had to be fun or investors and consumers would not be interested. In an oral history interview (copies available in the Archives Center at the National Museum of American History), Ralph Baer recalled, “The minute we played ping-pong, we knew we had a product. Before that we weren’t too sure.”
Originally called TV Game Unit #7, much like the "Pump Unit" before it, it became far better known by its nickname, “The Brown Box.” The name comes from the brown wood-grain, self-adhesive vinyl used to make the prototype look more attractive to potential investors. The "Brown Box," though only a prototype, had basic features that most video games consoles still have today: two controls and a multigame program system.
The "Brown Box" could be programmed to play a variety of games by flipping the switches along the front of the unit, as can be seen in the picture. Program cards were used to show which switches needed to be set for specific games. "Brown Box" games included ping-pong, checkers, four different sports games, target shooting with the use of a lightgun and a golf putting game, which required the use of a special attachment. Sanders licensed the "Brown Box" to Magnavox, which released the system as the Magnavox Odyssey in 1972.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1967-1968
patent holder
Baer, Ralph H.
inventor
Baer, Ralph H.
maker
Baer, Ralph H.
ID Number
2006.0102.04
catalog number
2006.0102.04
accession number
2006.0102
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
This metal thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1964. The bottle has a red plastic cup lid with handle. The thermos features artwork from the television show Fireball XL5.
Description (Brief)
This metal thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1964. The bottle has a red plastic cup lid with handle. The thermos features artwork from the television show Fireball XL5. Fireball XL5 was filmed using Supermarionation, a combination of animation and puppetry that was made famous by the show’s creators, Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. Fireball XL5 was another show that took advantage of the public’s fascination with space, as does this thermos, with its various images of rockets and space ships.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1964
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.13.02
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.13.02
This steel, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1967. It has a screw-on white plastic cup lid with handle and screw-on white plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This steel, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1967. It has a screw-on white plastic cup lid with handle and screw-on white plastic stopper. The thermos has a lavender background, with images of Twiggy modeling various outfits around the exterior.
Location
Currently on loan
Date made
1967
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.25.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.25.02
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1967
recording artist
Presley, Elvis
Jordanaires
manufacturer
RCA Victor
ID Number
1996.3034.06139
label number
47-9115
catalog number
1996.3034.06139
nonaccession number
1996.3034
Rocky and His Friends was written by Ann McGovern with illustrations by Ben De Nunez and Al White, and published by Golden Press in New York, New York, in 1960, 2nd Printing in 1973.Like many of the other artists that worked on Little Golden Books, Ben De Nunez worked as an anima
Description (Brief)

Rocky and His Friends was written by Ann McGovern with illustrations by Ben De Nunez and Al White, and published by Golden Press in New York, New York, in 1960, 2nd Printing in 1973.

Like many of the other artists that worked on Little Golden Books, Ben De Nunez worked as an animator at Disney Studios from 1955 to 1961. Information on Al White is limited but we do know he worked at Disney at some point and was the “background” illustrator for Little Golden Books from 1959-1964. White’s illustrations for Little Golden Books includes, Top Cat, Ruff and Reddy and Bozo Finds a Friend.

The techniques used to create the 2-d images limited the animator who created images with strong, well defined outlines and flat colors, but with the more complex 3-d process used for book illustrations, the illustrator had more freedom and created characters that became part of the background, blending both techniques to create a more 3-d image. De Nunez was known as a character illustrator and White was a background illustrator. Despite the difference in artistic styles, both illustrators worked together to create a unified picture.

The introduction of TV into the home had great impact on American society and culture, and its impact on Little Golden Books was no exception. In the 19th century consumer products such as toys, books and games were already used as a tie-in to historical events, sports and famous people, and this phenomenon was expanded with the introduction of radio, movies and television. These new means of communication generated a whole new cast of characters and the impact on Golden Books was significant. A license with Walt Disney granted Little Golden Books the right to publish stories about some of Disney’s earliest creations, including favorites such as Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo and Sleeping Beauty. Moreover, the books began to feature television personalities like Howdy Doody, Roy Rogers and Captain Kangaroo, as well as popular Saturday morning cartoon characters like Woody Woodpecker, Bugs Bunny and Huckleberry Hound. These new partnerships with Warner Bros. and Hanna-Barbera significantly reduced the development of original stories and instead the books featured stories taken from children’s television shows. This opened the flood gates to create consumer products associated with popular movie and cartoon personalities. This practice continues today and proves to be a very lucrative endeavor.

Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1960
maker
Little Golden Books
ID Number
1992.0634.041
accession number
1992.0634
catalog number
1992.0634.041
Sunny and The Sunliners. side 1: No One Else Will Do; side 2: Out of Sight, Out of Mind (Tear Drop 3027)45 rpmThis 7-inch 45 rpm record contained the Sunny and the Sunliners single “Out of Sight—Out of Mind” with the B-side “No One Else Will Do” released in March of 1964.
Description

Sunny and The Sunliners. side 1: No One Else Will Do; side 2: Out of Sight, Out of Mind (Tear Drop 3027)

45 rpm

This 7-inch 45 rpm record contained the Sunny and the Sunliners single “Out of Sight—Out of Mind” with the B-side “No One Else Will Do” released in March of 1964. The song was arranged by Glenn Preen and produced by Crazy Cajun label owner Huey P. Meaux. Sunny & the Sunliners was a mainly Chicano group from San Antonio specializing in Tejano cover songs. This record was a promotional D. J. copy.

Location
Currently not on view (sleeve)
date made
1964
recording artist
Sunny and the Sunliners
manufacturer
Tear Drop
ID Number
1996.3034.07613
catalog number
1996.3034.07613
label number
3027
nonaccession number
1996.3034
This 7-inch 45 rpm record contained the Sunny and the Sunglows single “Talk To Me” with the B-side “Every Week, Every Month, Every Year” that was released in 1963.
Description
This 7-inch 45 rpm record contained the Sunny and the Sunglows single “Talk To Me” with the B-side “Every Week, Every Month, Every Year” that was released in 1963. Sunny and the Sunglows later changed their name to Sunny and the Sunliners, and are credited by this moniker on the B-side of the record. This record was pressed in England by the Decca Record Company, and recorded by Tear Drop in Philadelphia. Sunny & the Sunliners was a mainly Chicano group from San Antonio specializing in Tejano cover songs, the single “Talk To Me” hit number 11 on the Billboard Top 100.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1963
composer
Seneca, Joe
recording artist
Sunny and the Sunliners
composer
Valier, Alton
manufacturer
London
ID Number
1996.0153.20138
catalog number
1996.0153.20138
accession number
1996.0153
label number
HL 9792
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1966
ID Number
2016.0032.107
accession number
2016.0032
catalog number
2016.0032.107
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1966
recording artist
Young Rascals
manufacturer
Atlantic
ID Number
1996.3034.06325
accession number
1996.3034
catalog number
1996.3034.06325
label number
45-2338
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1964
depicted (sitter)
Harrison, George
Beatles
maker
Topps Chewing Gum
ID Number
1987.0717.08.07
accession number
1987.0717
catalog number
1987.0717.08.07
This toy gun proves that target-shooting games were part of video game history from the very beginning.This lightgun was used to play the Target Practice game on the “Brown Box,” a prototype for the first multiplayer, multiprogram video game system.
Description
This toy gun proves that target-shooting games were part of video game history from the very beginning.
This lightgun was used to play the Target Practice game on the “Brown Box,” a prototype for the first multiplayer, multiprogram video game system. Magnavox licensed the Brown Box and released the system as the Magnavox Odyssey in 1972. The lightgun and four target games were later sold as a separate expansion package.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1967-1968
patent holder
Baer, Ralph H.
inventor
Baer, Ralph H.
ID Number
2006.0102.06
catalog number
2006.0102.06
accession number
2006.0102
The Rooftop Singers. side 1: Tom Cat; side 2: Shoes (Vanguard VRS-35019)45 rpm. Accessioned with original printed sleeve.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
The Rooftop Singers. side 1: Tom Cat; side 2: Shoes (Vanguard VRS-35019)
45 rpm. Accessioned with original printed sleeve.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1963
manufacturer
Vanguard
ID Number
1996.3034.06722
label number
VRS-35019
catalog number
1996.3034.06722
nonaccession number
1996.3034
various artists. The Hot Ones! (Columbia Special Products XTV 88513).33-1/3 rpmThis record was made by Columbia Special Products for the Johnson Brothers Motor Company.
Description (Brief)

various artists. The Hot Ones! (Columbia Special Products XTV 88513).
33-1/3 rpm

This record was made by Columbia Special Products for the Johnson Brothers Motor Company. It features previously released recordings and was used as a promotional tool for the Johnson Seahorse outboard motor in the 1960s.

Location
Currently not on view
release date
1960s
recording artist
Krupa, Gene
Condon, Eddie
James, Harry
Basie, Count
Ellington, Duke
Hampton, Lionel
Dukes Of Dixieland
Brubeck, Dave
Greco, Buddy
Herman, Woody
McRae, Carmen
manufacturer
Columbia Special Products
ID Number
1978.0670.784
maker number
XTV 88513
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.784
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1960
ID Number
2016.0032.100
accession number
2016.0032
catalog number
2016.0032.100
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1964
1964-1965
depicted (sitter)
Beatles
maker
Topps Chewing Gum
ID Number
2011.3043.16
nonaccession number
2011.3043
catalog number
2011.3043.16
This sheet music is for the song “On A Clear Day You Can See Forever,” with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Burton Lane. It was published by Chappell and Co. Inc. in New York, New York, in 1965.
Description
This sheet music is for the song “On A Clear Day You Can See Forever,” with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Burton Lane. It was published by Chappell and Co. Inc. in New York, New York, in 1965. The song was featured in the Paramount Pictures film, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, directed by Vincente Minnelli and starred Barbra Steisand and Yves Montand.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1965
publisher
Chappell & Co. Inc.
ID Number
1985.0808.08
accession number
1985.0808
catalog number
1985.0808.08

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