Popular Entertainment

Elvis Presley Record

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.

Resource Type: Bottles

Bozo the Clown Thermos

This steel, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1983. It has a screw-on red plastic cup lid with handle and screw-on red plastic stopper. The thermos has colorful images of Bozo the Clown and other circus activities.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This steel, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1983. It has a screw-on red plastic cup lid with handle and screw-on red plastic stopper. The thermos has colorful images of Bozo the Clown and other circus activities.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1963
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.20.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.20.02

Get Smart Thermos

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

Emergency! Thermos

This plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1973. It has a screw-on red cup lid with handle, but the stopper is missing. The thermos features images from the television series, Emergency!. Emergency!
Description (Brief)
This plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1973. It has a screw-on red cup lid with handle, but the stopper is missing. The thermos features images from the television series, Emergency!. Emergency! ran from 1972-1978 on NBC, and chronicled the adventures of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1973
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.21.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.21.02

Lawman Thermos

This thermos bottle was manufactured by Thermos in 1961, and is the companion piece to lunch box object number 2001.3100.11.01. The bottle is made of tin, plastic and glass and has a screw-on, red plastic cup lid and a screw-on red and tan plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This thermos bottle was manufactured by Thermos in 1961, and is the companion piece to lunch box object number 2001.3100.11.01. The bottle is made of tin, plastic and glass and has a screw-on, red plastic cup lid and a screw-on red and tan plastic stopper. The bottle is yellow with drawings of cowboy clothing, equipment and firearms around the sides.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1961
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.11.02
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.11.02

Hee Haw Thermos

This tin, plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1970. It has a screw-on, red plastic cup lid and a beige and red screw-on, plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This tin, plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1970. It has a screw-on, red plastic cup lid and a beige and red screw-on, plastic stopper. The bottle has a tan wooden background, and drawings of the two stars from the television show Hee Haw, Gordie Tapp and Don Harron, on the side of the thermos.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1970
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.20
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.20

Pets and Pals Thermos

Plastic and glass thermos bottle with a red plastic screw-on cup lid and red and beige plastic, screw-on stopper. There is a yellow design with a farm scene with a young girl, a boy and a dog and horses overall.
Description (Brief)
Plastic and glass thermos bottle with a red plastic screw-on cup lid and red and beige plastic, screw-on stopper. There is a yellow design with a farm scene with a young girl, a boy and a dog and horses overall.
Date made
1962
maker
Thermos
ID Number
2001.3087.11.02
nonaccession number
2001.3087
catalog number
2001.3087.11.02

Tarzan Thermos

This steel, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1967. It has a screw-on green plastic cup lid with handle and green plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This steel, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1967. It has a screw-on green plastic cup lid with handle and green plastic stopper. The bottle features colorful action images of Tarzan swinging through the jungle, watched by his ape friend Cheeta and a child.
Description
This steel, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1967. It has a screw-on green plastic cup lid with handle and green plastic stopper. The bottle features colorful action images of Tarzan swinging through the jungle, watched by his ape friend Cheeta and a child.
Comic book featuring the pulp action hero “Tarzan”. DC’s Tarzan of the Apes series ran from 1972-1977. It began with issue no. 207, following the sequencing of the Title’s former publisher, Gold Key Comics, whose version ran from 1948-1972.
“Tarzan” is a fictional character created by American author Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950). Burrough’s introduced his vine-swinging jungle hero in the story Tarzan of the Apes first published in the magazine The All-Story in 1912. The story was later reprinted as a standalone novel in 1914.
An Englishman from a noble family, Tarzan’s family dies while on an African Expedition. As an infant he us taken in and raised by Apes in Africa, learning to communicate with animals and developing exceptions strength and dexterity. Although he later discovers his human origins, Tarzan decides to remain in the jungle, developing a romantic relationship with marooned Englishwoman Jane Porter.
One of the 20th centuries first action-adventure heroes, Tarzan became a global phenomenon, inspiring the prolific Burroughs, also known for works such as his John Carter of Mars series, to pen 23 sequels featuring his “ape-man.” Inspiring scores of other pulp adventure heroes, Tarzan has become of the world’s most recognized literary characters. He remains a vital part of our shared popular culture, featured in novelizations, comic books, television, and feature films.
Reflecting many outdated cultural beliefs, the story of Tarzan expressed many elitist and racist notions accepted at the time of Burrough’s writing.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1967
Associated Name
Burroughs, Edgar Rice
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.17.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.17.02

Dr. Seuss Thermos

This plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1970. It has a screw-on white plastic cup lid with handle and screw-on white plastic stopper. The thermos bottle is decorated with various Dr.
Description (Brief)
This plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1970. It has a screw-on white plastic cup lid with handle and screw-on white plastic stopper. The thermos bottle is decorated with various Dr. Seuss cartoons, including the Cat in the Hat.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1970
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.05.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.05.02

Barbie Thermos

This black thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1962. The thermos has a red plastic lid and screw-on stopper. The bottle is decorated with images of Barbie in various poses.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This black thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1962. The thermos has a red plastic lid and screw-on stopper. The bottle is decorated with images of Barbie in various poses.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1962
maker
American Thermos Bottle Company
ID Number
2004.3009.22.02
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.22.02

Dick Tracy Thermos

This tin, plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1967. It has a red plastic, screw-on cup lid and a red plastic, screw-on stopper.
Description (Brief)
This tin, plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1967. It has a red plastic, screw-on cup lid and a red plastic, screw-on stopper. The bottle features are from the cartoon series, Dick Tracy on the sides, showing Tracy talking into his signature 2-way wrist radio.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1967
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3101.19
nonaccession number
2001.3101
catalog number
2001.3101.19

Fat Albert Thermos

This square plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1973. It has a red plastic, screw-on cup lid and a white and red, plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This square plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1973. It has a red plastic, screw-on cup lid and a white and red, plastic stopper. The bottle is orange and has a portrait of Fat Albert from the television series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids on the front of the thermos.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1973
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.03.02
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.03.02

Marvel Comic's Super Heroes Thermos

This plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1976. It has a screw-on black plastic cup lid with handle and screw-on beige plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1976. It has a screw-on black plastic cup lid with handle and screw-on beige plastic stopper. The bottle is the companion to lunch box object number 2003.3070.11.01, and shows images of Marvel’s super heroes like Spider-Man, Captain America, and the Hulk.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1976
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.11.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.11.02

Prop genie bottle from I Dream of Jeannie

Prop genie bottle used in the production of the television sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. The glass bottle is repurposed 1964 Jim Beam Christmas edition glass whiskey decanter painted with Middle Eastern design motifs on a purple base paint layer.
Description (Brief)
Prop genie bottle used in the production of the television sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. The glass bottle is repurposed 1964 Jim Beam Christmas edition glass whiskey decanter painted with Middle Eastern design motifs on a purple base paint layer. The bottle has a bulging base section with ridges painted with a pattern suggesting stained glass windows, then narrows to a near-conical flask section painted with curlicues and arches, another small bulging ring with painted gemstones, a cylindrical section painted with arches, and terminates with a flared opening section. The bottle top is a flared glass stopper with an ornamental finial. According to donor and Jeannie star Barbara Eden, the bottle was one of several used in the production of the series and this particular one was given to her as a memento after the last day of shooting by the wardrobe woman, Joie Hutchinson.
I Dream of Jeannie was a fantasy television series that premiered September 18, 1965 and ran for five seasons on NBC. The show was created by Sidney Sheldon and produced by Screen Gems and Sidney Sheldon Productions. The series chronicled the life of astronaut Tony Nelson (portrayed by Larry Hagman), who discovers an ancient genie trapped in a bottle after crash landing in the South Pacific. When Nelson frees Jeannie (Barbara Eden) from the bottle, she is bound to serve him and grant his wishes with her magical powers. After Tony tries to free her, she falls in love with him and stows away during his rescue to continue to serve and live with him in his Florida home. The series found humor in the unusual domestic arrangement of man and lovestruck servant, sometimes verging on transgressive satire on gender roles, married life, and heteronormative sexuality in postwar American life. The series was a moderate success in its 1965-1970 run, placing in the top 30 shows in the Nielsen ratings in two of those seasons, but has been remarkably popular and long-lived in American popular culture in the decades since through reruns and in memory.
date made
1964
user
Eden, Barbara
maker
Jim Beam
ID Number
2022.0140.01
accession number
2022.0140
catalog number
2022.0140.01

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Thermos Bottle

This plastic thermos bottle was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1979, and has an orange plastic, screw-on cup lid and a beige plastic screw-on stopper. The thermos bottle features images from the television show Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.
Description (Brief)
This plastic thermos bottle was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1979, and has an orange plastic, screw-on cup lid and a beige plastic screw-on stopper. The thermos bottle features images from the television show Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. This bottle matches lunch box object #2001.3087.27.02.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1979
maker
Aladdin Industries
ID Number
2001.3087.27.02
nonaccession number
2001.3087
catalog number
2001.3087.27.02

Star Wars: A New Hope Thermos

This square plastic thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1977. It has a red plastic, screw-on cup lid and a white and red plastic, screw-on stopper. The thermos has a blue background, and features an image of C3-PO and R2-D2 from Star Wars: A New Hope on the front.
Description (Brief)
This square plastic thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1977. It has a red plastic, screw-on cup lid and a white and red plastic, screw-on stopper. The thermos has a blue background, and features an image of C3-PO and R2-D2 from Star Wars: A New Hope on the front. The bottle is a companion piece to lunch box #2001.3101.18.01.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1977
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3101.18.02
nonaccession number
2001.3101
catalog number
2001.3101.18.02

Daniel Boone Thermos

This steel and glass thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1956. It has a red plastic cup lid and gray plastic stopper. The bottle has imagery of the frontier hero Daniel Boone, showing an action image of Boone fighting Indians.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This steel and glass thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1956. It has a red plastic cup lid and gray plastic stopper. The bottle has imagery of the frontier hero Daniel Boone, showing an action image of Boone fighting Indians.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1956
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.03.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.03.02

Satellite Thermos

This plastic and glass vacuum thermos bottle was manufactured by the American Thermos Products Company and served as a companion bottle to the Satellite Lunch Box, object number 2001.0387.06.01.
Description (Brief)
This plastic and glass vacuum thermos bottle was manufactured by the American Thermos Products Company and served as a companion bottle to the Satellite Lunch Box, object number 2001.0387.06.01. The bottle is adorned with action scenes in space featuring rockets and satellites hovering over the surface of the moon.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1958
maker
American Thermos Bottle Company
ID Number
2001.3087.06.02
nonaccession number
2001.3087
catalog number
2001.3087.06.02

Aladdin Angler Thermos

This large metal and glass thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1953. It has a large screw-on orange plastic cup with handle, and two yellow plastic cups for buddies in fishing boat, and screw-on red plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This large metal and glass thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1953. It has a large screw-on orange plastic cup with handle, and two yellow plastic cups for buddies in fishing boat, and screw-on red plastic stopper. The thermos is dark green with named fish images, and an action image of a fisherman in a boat reeling in a fish.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1953
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.31
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.31

Lost in Space Thermos

This metal thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1967. It has a red plastic lid and stopper. The bottle is decorated with colorful animated scenes depicting a lift off of a rocket, the orbit of a command module, and the re-entry of the module into the atmosphere.
Description (Brief)
This metal thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1967. It has a red plastic lid and stopper. The bottle is decorated with colorful animated scenes depicting a lift off of a rocket, the orbit of a command module, and the re-entry of the module into the atmosphere. Instead of creating a new thermos to go along with the Lost in Space box, Thermos re-used the imagery from the Orbit thermos, object number 2001.3100.13.02.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1967
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.19.02
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.19.02

Annie Oakley Thermos

This tin, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1965. It has a black, screw-on plastic cup lid. The bottle has a gray and tan design featuring Annie Oakley riding her horse and shooting behind her.
Description (Brief)
This tin, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1965. It has a black, screw-on plastic cup lid. The bottle has a gray and tan design featuring Annie Oakley riding her horse and shooting behind her. The bottle is the companion piece to lunch box #2001.3101.05.01.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1965
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2001.3101.05.02
nonaccession number
2001.3101
catalog number
2001.3101.05.02

Snoopy Doghouse Thermos

This square plastic thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1968. It has a red plastic, screw-on cup lid and a white and red plastic, screw-on stopper. The thermos is a yellow doghouse with a colorful drawing of Snoopy from the cartoon series, Peanuts on the side.
Description (Brief)
This square plastic thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1968. It has a red plastic, screw-on cup lid and a white and red plastic, screw-on stopper. The thermos is a yellow doghouse with a colorful drawing of Snoopy from the cartoon series, Peanuts on the side. This is the companion bottle to lunch box #2001.3101.14.01.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1968
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3101.14.02
nonaccession number
2001.3101
catalog number
2001.3101.14.02

Campbell's Tomato Soup Thermos

This metal, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1973. It has a screw-on red cup lid and screw-on red stopper. The thermos is a replica of the red and white Campbell's Tomato soup can design.
Description (Brief)
This metal, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1973. It has a screw-on red cup lid and screw-on red stopper. The thermos is a replica of the red and white Campbell's Tomato soup can design. This thermos accompanies Aladdin's pop art bread loaf dome lunch box, object number 2001.3101.16. Andy Warhol’s Campbell Soup Can paintings, created in 1962, had permeated popular culture at this point, and this thermos may be a take on those paintings.
Date made
1973
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.34
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.34

The Harlem Globetrotters Thermos

This tin, plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1971. It has a screw-on, blue plastic cup lid and a beige and red screw-on, plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This tin, plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1971. It has a screw-on, blue plastic cup lid and a beige and red screw-on, plastic stopper. The thermos has a red and white striped design and colorful portrait drawings of the team members from The Harlem Globetrotters television show on the side of the thermos. The Harlem Globetrotters was a Hanna-Barbera cartoon that ran from 19770-1973, featuring the real players from the real team at that time, with their fictional manager Granny settling conflicts around the world with basketball games.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1971
depicted
Harlem Globetrotters
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.19
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.19

Roy Rogers Chow Wagon Thermos

This metal and plastic thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1958. The thermos has a colorful animated action scene of Roy Rogers on his bucking horse Trigger, herding cattle.
Description (Brief)
This metal and plastic thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1958. The thermos has a colorful animated action scene of Roy Rogers on his bucking horse Trigger, herding cattle. The thermos reads “Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Double R Bar Ranch.” This thermos is the companion bottle to the lunch box object number 2004.3009.31.01
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1958
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.31.02
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.31.02

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