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 steel lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1962. The lunch box has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible red, plastic handle. This pets n’ pals lunch box features an image of the collie Lassie on one side, and the stallion Black Beauty on the other.
Description (Brief)
This steel lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1962. The lunch box has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible red, plastic handle. This pets n’ pals lunch box features an image of the collie Lassie on one side, and the stallion Black Beauty on the other.
Date made
1962
maker
Thermos
ID Number
2001.3087.11.01
nonaccession number
2001.3087
catalog number
2001.3087.11.01
Bowtie worn by Bill Nye on the television series Bill Nye the Science Guy.
Description (Brief)
Bowtie worn by Bill Nye on the television series Bill Nye the Science Guy. The navy blue bowtie is made of fabric printed with a white and red ink representation of the periodic table.
Bill Nye the Science Guy was a half-hour series produced by KCTS Seattle and syndicated by Buena Vista Television from 1993-1998. In the series, Bill Nye, an engineer and entertainer, taught scientific concepts in a fast-paced style, peppered with humor and musical interludes. Nye first developed the persona and concept for the show while moonlighting as a sketch comedian in Seattle, then received funding from the National Science Foundation and US Department of Energy to develop the program as a television series. Nye described the show as a combination of Pee-wee's Playhouse and Mr. Wizard, and its playful, accessible style made it a success with audiences and critics. After the Children's Television Act was enacted into law in 1990, television stations actively sought educational programming to meet the new federal requirements for license renewal, and Bill Nye the Science Guy became a popular choice in syndication. It was the first television program to run concurrently on both public and commercial broadcast stations, and the series won 19 Emmy Awards over the course of its run. Studies have shown that viewers of the show demonstrate increased comprehension and application of scientific facts and concepts and interest in science compared to non-viewers.
ID Number
2016.0177.03
catalog number
2016.0177.03
accession number
2016.0177
This leather-bound script is from the first episode of Phyllis Diller’s television show The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show which was taped on July 16, 1968 and aired on September 15, 1968.
Description
This leather-bound script is from the first episode of Phyllis Diller’s television show The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show which was taped on July 16, 1968 and aired on September 15, 1968. The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show aired on Sunday nights on NBC from September to December 1968. The show was a variety show where Diller participated in everything from the opening monologue to comedy sketches to musical numbers. Guests on the show included Ray Charles, Sonny & Cher, and Zsa Zsa Gabor, among others. In a similar fashion to Diller’s first show, The Pruitts of Southampton, Diller was unhappy with how the show was run as well as with her place in the operations, and it never managed to find success.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1968-07-14
associated institution
California Bookbinding Company
producer
NBC
maker
Diller, Phyllis
ID Number
2003.0289.38
accession number
2003.0289
catalog number
2003.0289.38
The ventriloquist figure known as “Bob Campbell” was created by puppeteer Jay Johnson for the TV comedy series, Soap. The character of Bob was used often as an uninhibited alter ego for Chuck, spouting outrageous observations about various situations and characters.
Description (Brief)
The ventriloquist figure known as “Bob Campbell” was created by puppeteer Jay Johnson for the TV comedy series, Soap. The character of Bob was used often as an uninhibited alter ego for Chuck, spouting outrageous observations about various situations and characters. The series, which aired on the ABC network from 1977 to 1981, was a prime-time weekly, half-hour satire of daytime television soap operas. As devised by writer-producer, Susan Harris, the show was highly controversial for its time, dealing openly with such topics as race, religion, sexuality and organized crime.
Jay Johnson (born 1949) best known for his roles on the television show Soap and the Broadway show, Jay Johnson: the Two and Only!, is a writer, comedian, ventriloquist, cartoonist, magician, and puppeteer. The character of Bob is the most recognized of his many ventriloquist figures. Dressed in a vivid “mod” orange T-shirt and jeans, Bob appears to be the quintessence of the 1970s, the decade of his birth. A wooden control, accessed through an opening in the back, which triggers the movement of the head, eyes, and mouth.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1977
ID Number
2007.0079.01
accession number
2007.0079
catalog number
2007.0079.01
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
photographer
Regan, Ken
ID Number
2014.0112.247
catalog number
2014.0112.247
accession number
2014.0112
This headband was worn by Phyllis Diller on Circus of the Stars in 1983. The complete costume consists of a hot pink dress with lime green polka dots, lime green bloomers, a hot pink headband, a handbag with a metal insert designed to hold fish, and two pairs of pantyhose.
Description (Brief)

This headband was worn by Phyllis Diller on Circus of the Stars in 1983. The complete costume consists of a hot pink dress with lime green polka dots, lime green bloomers, a hot pink headband, a handbag with a metal insert designed to hold fish, and two pairs of pantyhose. Diller also wore a lime green clown wig with the costume. During the 8th Circus of the Stars Phyllis Diller performed at Sea World with Clyde the seal and a 3,000 pound walrus named Schmedley.

Airing between 1977 and 1994, Circus of the Stars was an annual CBS television special that showcased celebrities performing circus acts. Phyllis Diller appeared on 3 episodes of the program—in 1983, 1985, and 1994. NMAH also has the costume she wore for Circus of the Stars Goes to Disneyland in 1994 (Catalog Number 2003.0289.07).

Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1983
ID Number
2003.0289.06.03
accession number
2003.0289
catalog number
2003.0289.06.03
This metal lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1974. The lunch box features imagery from David Carridine’s TV series, Kung Fu which ran from 1972-1975 on ABC.
Description (Brief)
This metal lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1974. The lunch box features imagery from David Carridine’s TV series, Kung Fu which ran from 1972-1975 on ABC.
Date made
1974
collected for nmah
Smithsonian Institution
maker
Thermos
ID Number
1988.3160.45
nonaccession number
1988.3160
catalog number
1988.3160.45
Hawaiian shirt worn by Tom Selleck in the role of Thomas Sullivan Magnum on the television series Magnum P.I.
Description
Hawaiian shirt worn by Tom Selleck in the role of Thomas Sullivan Magnum on the television series Magnum P.I. The short-sleeved rayon shirt is printed with a colorful parrot and tropical foliage pattern on a red field, and has carved wood buttons.
The crime drama series Magnum P.I. aired on CBS from 1980-1988, and followed the titular private investigator's detective work on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Magnum was a veteran of the United States Navy who served as a Navy SEAL and intelligence officer during the Vietnam War, and the series was lauded for its depiction of Vietnam veterans' successful post-war careers and lives. Selleck won the 1984 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Magnum, and the show was a popular success, regularly ranking in the top twenty programs on television in the United States during its run.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1980s
date made
before 1980
user
Selleck, Tom
ID Number
1988.0409.03
accession number
1988.0409
catalog number
1988.0409.03
This Christmas card was a prop from Season 1, Episode 10, “In Excelsis Deo,” of the NBC television drama The West Wing.
Description

This Christmas card was a prop from Season 1, Episode 10, “In Excelsis Deo,” of the NBC television drama The West Wing. In this episode, Chief of Staff Leo McGarry (played by John Spencer) is frustrated by the number of Christmas cards he is forced to sign.

The West Wing is a one-hour drama that aired on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006. It is set in Washington, D.C., and follows the fictional Democratic President Josiah “Jed” Bartlet (played by Martin Sheen) and his senior West Wing staff behind-the-scenes during political and personal issues through two terms of office. The creator, Aaron Sorkin, was the lead writer for almost all of the episodes in the first four seasons, working with fellow executive producers Thomas Schlamme and John Wells. The West Wing is known for its quick dialogue and shots of staff walking and talking through the hallways of the White House—known as “walk and talks.” The series won 26 Emmy Awards and 3 Golden Globes.

Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1999
ID Number
2000.3050.08
nonaccession number
2000.3050
catalog number
2000.3050.08
Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001) was one of the most popular syndicated dramas on American television. Audience interest in the program helped lead a new wave of tough female action-adventure heroes in American popular culture.
Description
Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001) was one of the most popular syndicated dramas on American television. Audience interest in the program helped lead a new wave of tough female action-adventure heroes in American popular culture. The character remains a touchstone to many, including as a LGBTQ icon, with that aspect of the character's life hinted at strongly throughout the show.
Portrayed by American actress Lucy Lawless, the character of Xena was first introduced on the program Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995-1999.) Like Hercules, the spin-off Xena: Warrior Princess was set in a fantastical historical era based on the mythology of Ancient Greece.
On the program, Xena, a fierce fighter with exceptional abilities, embarks upon good deeds to atone for past sins. She is accompanied on her journey by her close companion Gabrielle, played by Renee O'Connor.
The show attracted a devoted following, and during its run was consistently amongst the most watched syndicated television programs in the United States. Having aired in over 100 countries around the world, its success has spawned numerous tie-ins such as video games, comic books and an animated movie.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1995 - 2001
Associated Name
Lawless, Lucy
ID Number
2005.0281.08
accession number
2005.0281
catalog number
2005.0281.08
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1978
associated person
Blanc, Mel
maker
Jarex Corp.
ID Number
1983.0555.04
accession number
1983.0555
catalog number
1983.0555.04
This metal lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1972. The lunch box features imagery based on the annually televised Miss America Pageant.
Description (Brief)
This metal lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1972. The lunch box features imagery based on the annually televised Miss America Pageant. Originally a beauty pageant when it began in 1921, the Miss America Pageant became a “scholarship pageant” over the years, offering its first scholastic financial aid in 1945. The Miss America Pageant is now the world’s largest provider of scholarships for young women, making $45 million dollars available in scholarships on a yearly basis.
Location
Currently on loan
Date made
1972
collected for nmah
Smithsonian Institution
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
1988.3160.63
nonaccession number
1988.3160
catalog number
1988.3160.63
Film recording of the pilot episode for the television series I Love Lucy, made for CBS in 1951. The brown metal reel of 16mm film is enclosed in a brown film can.
Description (Brief)
Film recording of the pilot episode for the television series I Love Lucy, made for CBS in 1951. The brown metal reel of 16mm film is enclosed in a brown film can. The label reads, "Ball & Arnaz / Pepito / Audition / 2nd Edition with / Laught added / Serial number 51030201".
This pilot episode was directed by Ralph Levy and filmed before a live audience at CBS Columbia Square in Hollywood, California on March 2, 1951. The pilot episode was not made for broadcast and did not air as part of the show's original run, although it did convince CBS to greenlight the series for production. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz gave this reel of film to Pepito Perez as a personal gift and keepsake. Perez was an actor and comedian best known for his character "Pepito the Spanish Clown," an act he performed in this 1951 pilot episode. The pilot film was thought lost until Perez' widow Joanne discovered this copy, which CBS then restored and aired in a special broadcast March 30, 1990.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1951
referenced
Arnaz, Desi
Ball, Lucille
maker
Columbia Broadcasting System
ID Number
1990.0694.01
catalog number
1990.0694.01
accession number
1990.0694
Hat worn by Larry Hagman in the role of J.R. Ewing on the television series Dallas, which aired on CBS from 1978-1991.
Description
Hat worn by Larry Hagman in the role of J.R. Ewing on the television series Dallas, which aired on CBS from 1978-1991. The light brown felt cowboy hat has a feather hatband and leather band inside.
One of the longest running hour-long television dramas in American history, Dallas revolved around the lives of the often feuding Ewing family and their oil company in Texas. The show originally focused on the wedding of Bobby Ewing and Pamela Barnes, but later centered on the greedy and corrupt oil tycoon, J.R. Ewing. The third season's cliffhanger finale left the entire nation wondering who shot J.R., and when the fourth season premiered, it became one of the highest viewed television episodes in history thanks to the millions of people who tuned in to find out the answer to that question.
Date made
1973 - 1983
user; actor
Hagman, Larry
maker
Resistol
ID Number
1984.0193.01
accession number
1984.0193
catalog number
1984.0193.01
Vest worn by Sid Caesar as part of his German Professor costume in sketches on the television series Your Show of Shows.
Description
Vest worn by Sid Caesar as part of his German Professor costume in sketches on the television series Your Show of Shows. The yellow vest is made of a cotton blend, with 4 buttons - 3 white and 1 pearl - and a black back.
Comedian Sid Caesar (1922-2014) was an influential and acclaimed comedian best known for his pioneering work on television, especially Your Show of Shows, a comedy variety show which aired from 1950-1954. The German Professor was a character used by Caesar to mock the pretentiousness of media experts and satirize intellectual fads. In sketches, the Professor’s ridiculous name changed based on whatever expertise he was supposed to have, such as memory expert “Lapse Von Memory” and Medical Doctor “Hugo von Gezundheit.”
date made
ca 1950
ID Number
1989.0172.02
accession number
1989.0172
catalog number
1989.0172.02
This metal lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1957. This lunch box features images from the television show Brave Eagle. The sides feature colorful depictions of Indians hunting buffalo and in combat with each other.
Description (Brief)
This metal lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1957. This lunch box features images from the television show Brave Eagle. The sides feature colorful depictions of Indians hunting buffalo and in combat with each other. Brave Eagle was a short-lived TV series, airing one season in 1955-1956 on CBS. The show was notable because its main protagonist was Native American, and featured scenes of the West from the Native American point of view.
Date made
1957
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.06.01
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.06.01
This thermos was manufactured by Thermos in 1966, as the companion to lunch box object number 2001.3100.03.02. The box features artwork from the television series Get Smart, and is a repetition of the image on the back of the lunch box.
Description (Brief)
This thermos was manufactured by Thermos in 1966, as the companion to lunch box object number 2001.3100.03.02. The box features artwork from the television series Get Smart, and is a repetition of the image on the back of the lunch box. Get Smart ran from 1965-1970, the first four years on NBC, and the last on CBS. It featured the adventures of Maxwell Smart as the bumbling Agent 86, and his female companion Agent 99.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1966
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.03.02
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.03.02
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.

first printing
1960
second printing
1972
publisher
Simon & Schuster
printer
Western Publishing Co., Inc.
author
McGovern, Ann
illustrator
De Nunez, Ben
White, Al
ID Number
COLL.GOLDNBK.000018
accession number
1992.0634
This coloring book, Ding Dong School: Miss Frances Says Let's Color, was created by Frances Horwich, illustrator unknown. It was published by Whitman Publishing Co. in Racine, Wisconsin, 1954).
Description (Brief)

This coloring book, Ding Dong School: Miss Frances Says Let's Color, was created by Frances Horwich, illustrator unknown. It was published by Whitman Publishing Co. in Racine, Wisconsin, 1954). This coloring book has a white cover with a black and white photo of "Miss Frances," and white pages with black and tinted blue or orange illustrations.

Ding Dong School was one of the earliest educational shows for very young children. The television series was first broadcast out of Chicago on WNBQ in 1952 and was syndicated in 1959. The host Dr. Frances Horwich, was known on the show as "Miss Frances."

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1954
publisher
Whitman Publishing, LLC
ID Number
1992.0634.046
accession number
1992.0634
catalog number
1992.0634.046
This steel lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1971. This lunch box features images from the television show Woody Woodpecker, including Knothead and Splinter, Woody’s nephew and niece.
Description (Brief)
This steel lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1971. This lunch box features images from the television show Woody Woodpecker, including Knothead and Splinter, Woody’s nephew and niece. Woody has been a fixture in cartoons and movies since his creation in 1940, and has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Date made
1971
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2001.3087.19
nonaccession number
2001.3087
catalog number
2001.3087.19
date made
1950s
maker
Russell Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1988.0608.13
accession number
1988.0608
catalog number
1988.0608.13
Promotional lobby card for the 1954 movie "Superman in Exile." The film was a compilation of three previously released episodes of the popular television series "Adventures of Superman." The card, one of a set produced for the film, features a still of four characters, including
Description (Brief)
Promotional lobby card for the 1954 movie "Superman in Exile." The film was a compilation of three previously released episodes of the popular television series "Adventures of Superman." The card, one of a set produced for the film, features a still of four characters, including Superman's alter-ego, Clark Kent in a science laboratory.
Premiering in 1952, the syndicated program "Adventures of Superman" ran on television for 6 seasons and 104 episodes. The three episodes packaged into the movie "Superman in Exile" were all taken from the show's second season (1953-1954.) They include the stories "Superman in Exile;" "The Face and the Voice," and "The Whistling Bird"
The "Adventures of Superman" starred actor George Reeves in the title role. The show also featured Noel Neill as journalist Lois Lane, Jack Larson as cub reporter/ photographer Jimmie Olson, and John Hamilton as editor Perry White.
The character of Superman first flew into action in 1938. The costumed superhero was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two Jewish teenagers from Cleveland Ohio, who used, among other things, Classical mythology, philosopher Fredrich Nietzche's concept of the "uber mensch," and the era's popular science fiction and adventure writing, for inspiration.
With his debut in Action Comics #1, Superman became an instant sensation with audiences, inspired by the "Man of Tomorrow's" virtue and heroics at time when the Nation was slowly emerging from the economic catastrophe of the Great Depression and moving closer to World War.
Born on the doomed planet Krypton, Superman was sent to Earth as a child, where our world's yellow sun granted him extraordinary powers such as flight, super-strength, near-invulnerability, as well as other extraordinary abilities including heat and X-Ray vision. As an adult living in the city of Metropolis, the alien, born Kal-El, protects his identity by assuming the persona of Clark Kent, a "mild-mannered" journalist.
Fighting for "Truth and Justice," Superman birthed a cultural fascination with superheroes, and has become one of the most recognizable and influential fictional characters in history. In addition to comic books, the character has been explored in all forms of media, including radio, television, and film, and has been used to promote a variety of successful consumer products, educational initiatives and public service campaigns.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1954
depicted; associated person
Reeves, George
associated person
Neill, Noel
Larson, Jack
copyright holder
National Comics Publications, Inc.
maker
National Comics Publications, Inc.
ID Number
1987.0213.014
accession number
1987.0213
catalog number
1987.0213.014

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