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.

Date: 1940s

Crazy Rhythm; Easter Parade

Harry James and his Orchestra. side 1: Crazy Rhythm; side 2: Easter Parade (Columbia 36545).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Harry James and his Orchestra. side 1: Crazy Rhythm; side 2: Easter Parade (Columbia 36545).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1942
recording artist
Harry James and His Orchestra
manufacturer
Columbia
ID Number
1978.0670.150
maker number
36545
accession number
1978.0670

You've Gone; At the Darktown Strutter's Ball

Benny Goodman and his Orchestra. side 1: After You've Gone; side 2: At the Darktown Strutter's Ball (Columbia 36699).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Benny Goodman and his Orchestra. side 1: After You've Gone; side 2: At the Darktown Strutter's Ball (Columbia 36699).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1942
recording artist
Benny Goodman and his Orchestra
manufacturer
Columbia
ID Number
1978.0670.139
maker number
36699
accession number
1978.0670

Program: The Late George Apley

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1944
ID Number
2016.3009.257
nonaccession number
2016.3009
catalog number
2016.3009.257

E.S. Boogie; Spencerian Theory

Earl Spencer. side 1: E.S. Boogie [part 1]; side 2: Spencerian Theory [part 2] (Black & White 799), from the album Progressions in Boogie (Black & White 62)78 rpmCurrently not on view
Description (Brief)
Earl Spencer. side 1: E.S. Boogie [part 1]; side 2: Spencerian Theory [part 2] (Black & White 799), from the album Progressions in Boogie (Black & White 62)
78 rpm
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1946
recording artist
Spencer, Earle
composer
Polena, Paul
Wham, Harry
manufacturer
Black & White
ID Number
1996.0153.11926.02
catalog number
1996.0153.11926.02
accession number
1996.0153
label number
799

Classics Illustrated No. 5: Moby Dick

This issue of Classics Illustrated, published by the Gilberton Company, Inc. in April 1947, contains an adaptation of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. The cover art by Louis Zansky depicts the crew of the Peoquod battling the white whale Moby Dick.
Description
This issue of Classics Illustrated, published by the Gilberton Company, Inc. in April 1947, contains an adaptation of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. The cover art by Louis Zansky depicts the crew of the Peoquod battling the white whale Moby Dick. The comic also contains the “Concord Hymn” by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Classic Comics was a series of comic book adaptations of literary classics published from 1941 until 1971. The series aimed to expose young people to classic literature through the more popular medium of a comic book. Classic Comics was first published by Elliott Publishing in 1941, but founder Albert Kanter spun off publishing to the Gilberton Company in 1942. In 1947 Classic Comics became Classics Illustrated. Kanter sold the company to the Frawley Corporation in 1967, who published the series until 1971.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1947
author
Melville, Herman
maker
Gilberton Company, Inc.
ID Number
2013.0086.037
catalog number
2013.0086.037
accession number
2013.0086

Song Hits Magazine - July 1946

Song Hits Magazine – July 1946 published by Song Lyrics, Inc. This monthly magazine features lyrics of popular songs of the day. There is an image of American musician and big band leader Harry James on the cover.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Song Hits Magazine – July 1946 published by Song Lyrics, Inc. This monthly magazine features lyrics of popular songs of the day. There is an image of American musician and big band leader Harry James on the cover.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1946
depicted (sitter)
James, Harry
maker
Song Lyrics, Inc.
ID Number
1985.0888.03
accession number
1985.0888
catalog number
1985.0888.03

Aunt Hagar's Blues; East St. Louis Blues

side 1: The Dixieland Jazz Group of "NBC's Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street" with Lena Horne. Aunt Hagar's Blues; side 2: The Dixieland Jazz Group of "NBC's Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street." East St.
Description
side 1: The Dixieland Jazz Group of "NBC's Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street" with Lena Horne. Aunt Hagar's Blues; side 2: The Dixieland Jazz Group of "NBC's Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street." East St. Louis Blues (Victor 27544), from the album, The Birth of the Blues: An Album Of W.C. Handy Music (Victor P 82).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1941
recording artist
Horne, Lena
Dixieland Jazz Group of NBC's CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY of Lower Basin Street
manufacturer
Victor
ID Number
1979.1023.156
accession number
1979.1023
maker number
27544
P 82
catalog number
1979.1023.156

America’s Greatest Comics No. 8

America’s Greatest Comics issue No. 8 was published by Fawcett Publications, Inc. in the summer of 1943 and sold for 15 cents.
Description
America’s Greatest Comics issue No. 8 was published by Fawcett Publications, Inc. in the summer of 1943 and sold for 15 cents. The cover features the character of Billy Batson speaking through a megaphone with images of Captain Marvel, Captain Marvel Jr., Spy Smasher, Golden Arrow, and Captain Midnight behind him.
This issue features the stories of: Captain Marvel using a game of baseball to mediate a Martian between adults and kids; Captain Midnight and Spy Smasher teaming up to keep the super-fast cyclone engine from the Germans and the Japanese; Spy Smasher foiling Joseph Goebbels’s propaganda plot to create a film showing Spy Smasher failing; Golden Arrow brokering peace in the west between the battling Watfields and Makays; and Captain Marvel Jr. battling Mr. Morpheus and his ability to manipulate dreams into nightmares.
Issues of America’s Greatest Comics included several stories, each featuring a different hero, within its 100 page full color book. The superheroes featured in these comics were the most popular characters of Fawcett Publications who also appeared in other comics.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1943
maker
Fawcett Publications, Inc.
ID Number
2013.0086.009
catalog number
2013.0086.009
accession number
2013.0086

Johnny's Machines

Original artwork, of pages 28 and 29, for the book Johnny's Machines, written by Helen Palmer with illustrations by Cornelius De Witt, and published by Simon & Schuster in New York, New York, in 1949.Cornelius De Witt (1905-1956) was born in Germany but spent most of his life in
Description (Brief)

Original artwork, of pages 28 and 29, for the book Johnny's Machines, written by Helen Palmer with illustrations by Cornelius De Witt, and published by Simon & Schuster in New York, New York, in 1949.

Cornelius De Witt (1905-1956) was born in Germany but spent most of his life in and around New York. De Witt worked successfully in several mediums including printmaking, painting and illustration. De Witt‘s realistic style of drawing created distinctly visual images and in turn children found the books easy to read and comprehend. He was best known for his Golden book on the human body.

Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1949
maker
Dawitt, Cornelius
ID Number
1992.0634.073.21
accession number
1992.0634
catalog number
1992.0634.073.21

Dolores

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1941
maker
Paramount Music Corporation
ID Number
2015.0215.0061
accession number
2015.0215
catalog number
2015.0215.0061

Children's Cowboy Songs

Children's Cowboy Songs song book and coloring book published by Edward Schuberth and Company in New York, New York, in 1946. The cover, by artist Albert Barbelle, features a multi-color ink image depicting a boy and a girl riding horses.
Description

Children's Cowboy Songs song book and coloring book published by Edward Schuberth and Company in New York, New York, in 1946. The cover, by artist Albert Barbelle, features a multi-color ink image depicting a boy and a girl riding horses.

The cover art for this song book was made by American artist and designer Albert Wilfred Barbelle (1887-1957). With a prolific career spanning over forty years, Barbelle created cover art for sheet music and albums.

Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1946
publisher
Edward Schuberth and Company
ID Number
2013.0253.01
accession number
2013.0253
catalog number
2013.0253.01

Rachel's Dream; Shine

Benny Goodman Sextet. side 1: Rachel's Dream; side 2: Shine (Columbia 36925).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Benny Goodman Sextet. side 1: Rachel's Dream; side 2: Shine (Columbia 36925).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1945
recording artist
Benny Goodman Sextet
manufacturer
Columbia
ID Number
1988.0698.1125
catalog number
1988.0698.1125
accession number
1988.0698
collector/donor number
G96
maker number
36925

Frank Sinatra

Nickolas Muray color carbro photograph of Frank Sinatra for Modern Screen Magazine ca. 1940s. Sinatra is in a suit with a burgandy tie and white carnation on his lapel. Behind him, there are floating records.
Description (Brief)
Nickolas Muray color carbro photograph of Frank Sinatra for Modern Screen Magazine ca. 1940s. Sinatra is in a suit with a burgandy tie and white carnation on his lapel. Behind him, there are floating records. Editing marks in pencil are drawn directly onto the photograph.
Recto: Signed by the artist in lower right corner (pencil). Mount verso: "Frank Sinatra No. 17" (pencil).
The photograph is mounted on Monogram Illustration Board. Photograph appeared on the cover of the January 1947 issue of Modern Screen.
Description
Nickolas Muray was born in Szeged, Hungary on February 15, 1892. Twelve years after his birth, Muray left his native town and enrolled in a graphic arts school in Budapest. Enrolling in art school was the first step on a road that would eventually lead him to study a photographic printing process called three-color carbro. In the course of his accomplished career, Muray would become an expert in this process and play a key role in bringing color photography to America.
While attending art school in Budapest, Muray studied lithography and photoengraving, earning an International Engraver's Certificate. Muray was also introduced to photography during this time period. His combined interest in photography and printmaking led him to Berlin, Germany to participate in a three-year color-photoengraving course. In Berlin, Muray learned how to make color filters, a first step in the craft that would one day become his trademark. Immediately after the completion of the course, Muray found a good job with a publishing company in Ullstein, Germany. However, the threat of war in Europe forced Muray to flee for America in 1913. Soon after his arrival in New York, Muray was working as a photoengraver for Condé Nast. His specialty was color separations and half-tone negatives.
By 1920, Muray had established a home for himself in the up-and-coming artists' haven of Greenwich Village. He opened a portrait studio out of his apartment and continued to work part time at his engraving job. Harper's Bazaar magazine gave Muray his first big assignment in 1921. The project was to photograph Broadway star Florence Reed. The magazine was so impressed with his photographs that they began to publish his work monthly. This allowed him to give up his part time job and work solely as a photographer. It did not take long for Muray to become one of the most renowned portrait photographers in Manhattan. Muray spent much of the early 1920s photographing the most famous and important personalities in New York at the time.
In his spare time Muray enjoyed fencing. In 1927, he won the National Sabre Championship and in 1928 and 1932, he was on the United States Olympic Team. During World War II, Muray was a flight lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1947
depicted
Sinatra, Frank
maker
Muray, Nickolas
ID Number
PG.007917
catalog number
7917
accession number
258415

Everybody Loves My Baby; The Call Of the Blues

Sidney De Paris' Blue Note Jazz Men. side 1: Everybody Loves My Baby; side 2: The Call of the Blues (Blue Note 40).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Sidney De Paris' Blue Note Jazz Men. side 1: Everybody Loves My Baby; side 2: The Call of the Blues (Blue Note 40).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1944
recording artist
Sidney De Paris' Blue Note Jazz Men
manufacturer
Blue Note
ID Number
1978.0670.777
maker number
40
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.777

Get All My Lovin' on a Saturday Night; Bittersweet

Ben Pollack and his Pick-A-Rib Boys. side 1: Get All My Lovin' on a Saturday Night; side 2: Bittersweet (Modern 216).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Ben Pollack and his Pick-A-Rib Boys. side 1: Get All My Lovin' on a Saturday Night; side 2: Bittersweet (Modern 216).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1949
recording artist
Ben Pollack and His Pick-a-Rib Boys
manufacturer
Modern
ID Number
2014.0105.70
accession number
2014.0105
catalog number
2014.0105.70
maker number
216

Never No Mo' Blues; Daddy and Home

Jimmie Rodgers. side 1: Never No Mo' Blues; side 2: Daddy and Home (RCA Victor 21-0043), from the album, Yodeling Yours (RCA Victor P 244), 78 rpm. Both tracks were recorded in 1928. This album was released in 1949.Currently not on view
Description
Jimmie Rodgers. side 1: Never No Mo' Blues; side 2: Daddy and Home (RCA Victor 21-0043), from the album, Yodeling Yours (RCA Victor P 244),
78 rpm. Both tracks were recorded in 1928. This album was released in 1949.

Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1928
release date
1949
recording artist
Rodgers, Jimmie
manufacturer
RCA Victor
ID Number
1996.0320.05256
maker number
21-0043
P 244
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05256

Long Ago and Far Away; All of Me

Teddy Wilson.
Description

Teddy Wilson. side 1: Long Ago and Far Away; side 2: All of Me (Musicraft 372), from the album, Teddy Wilson Plays (Musicraft N7).
78 rpm.

The cover art for this album was made by Art Seiden (1923-2004) an American artist and illustrator best known for his illustrations for children’s books. Seiden illustrated over 300 books and was author and artist for more than 20 children’s books.

Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1946
recording artist
Wilson, Teddy
manufacturer
Musicraft
ID Number
1981.0656.475
accession number
1981.0656
maker number
372
N7
catalog number
1981.0656.475

The Foggy Foggy Dew; Black Is the Color

Burl Ives. side 1: The Foggy Foggy Dew; side 2: Black Is the Color (Asch 345-2), from the album, The Wayfaring Stranger (Asch 345).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Burl Ives. side 1: The Foggy Foggy Dew; side 2: Black Is the Color (Asch 345-2), from the album, The Wayfaring Stranger (Asch 345).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
release date
1944
recording artist
Ives, Burl
manufacturer
Asch
ID Number
1979.1023.089
maker number
345-2
345
accession number
1979.1023
catalog number
1979.1023.089

Maxology

Max Roach Quintet. side 1: Maxology [part 1]; side 2: Maxology [part 2] (Prestige 702)78 rpm. "Maxology" is also known as "Baby Sis."Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Max Roach Quintet. side 1: Maxology [part 1]; side 2: Maxology [part 2] (Prestige 702)
78 rpm.
"Maxology" is also known as "Baby Sis."
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1949
recording artist
Max Roach Quintet
manufacturer
Prestige
ID Number
1978.0670.360
maker number
702
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.360

The Cowboy Serenade (While I'm Rollin' My Last Cigarette); Yes Indeed!

The Charioteers. side 1: The Cowboy Serenade (While I'm Rollin' My Last Cigarette); side 2: Yes Indeed! (Okeh 6310).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
The Charioteers. side 1: The Cowboy Serenade (While I'm Rollin' My Last Cigarette); side 2: Yes Indeed! (Okeh 6310).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1941
recording artist
Charioteers, The
composer
Oliver, Sy
Hall, Richard
manufacturer
Okeh
ID Number
1996.0153.08705
catalog number
1996.0153.08705
label number
6310
accession number
1996.0153

As Long As I Live; Benny's Bugle

Benny Goodman and his Sextet featuring Count Basie. side 1: As Long As I Live; side 2: Benny's Bugle (Columbia 35901).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Benny Goodman and his Sextet featuring Count Basie. side 1: As Long As I Live; side 2: Benny's Bugle (Columbia 35901).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1940
recording artist
Benny Goodman and his Sextet
Basie, Count
manufacturer
Columbia
ID Number
1988.0698.1131
catalog number
1988.0698.1131
accession number
1988.0698
collector/donor number
G102
maker number
35901

Modern Comics No. 46

Modern Comics No. 46 was published by Quality Comics in February 1946. The cover art by Al Bryant features the military characters of Blackhawk and his Soldiers of Fortune reading a map of the world.
Description
Modern Comics No. 46 was published by Quality Comics in February 1946. The cover art by Al Bryant features the military characters of Blackhawk and his Soldiers of Fortune reading a map of the world. This issue features the Blackhawks in "The Liberation of Sai Fan;" Choo Choo in "Busy Day for Choo Choo;" Death Patrol in "The Five Bat Boys;" Private Dogtag in "Civil Warrior;" Ezra in "The Dog Washer;" and P.T. Boat in "The Steel Fortress of Mauvino Island."
Modern Comics was a continuation of Military Comics, which was renamed after issue number 43 in October 1945 following the end of World War II. Each issue of Modern Comics featured a story about the Blackhawk Squadron and several other tales of action and adventure. The Squadron was led by the Polish pilot Blackhawk, who battled the Nazi army that killed his brother and sister. The rest of the squadron was a motley crew of international military men with specialized skills to help defeat the Axis powers.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1946
maker
Quality Comics
ID Number
2013.0086.084
catalog number
2013.0086.084
accession number
2013.0086

Detective Comics No. 108

Detective Comics No. 108 was published by DC Comics in February 1946 and sold for ten cents. George Russos illustrated the black cover that depicts the Batplane flying through the bat signal, with Batman and Robin in the foreground.
Description
Detective Comics No. 108 was published by DC Comics in February 1946 and sold for ten cents. George Russos illustrated the black cover that depicts the Batplane flying through the bat signal, with Batman and Robin in the foreground. The cover’s caption reads: “In this issue Batman and Robin trail Sky-Bandits in the jet-propelled Batplane!” This issue features Batman and Robin in the “The Goat of Gotham City,” Slam Bradley in “How High is Up?” Air Wave in “Second Childhood?” and the Boy Commandos in “The Miracle of Hoo-Dun-Dat.”
Detective Comics was an anthology comic featuring stories about characters including Batman, Robin, Slam Bradley, the Boy Commandos, Air Wave, Martian Manhunter, and Roy Raymond TV Detective. Batman was introduced in Detective Comics No. 27, and continued to star in the series even after receiving his own title.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1945
maker
D. C. Comics, Inc.
ID Number
2013.0086.074
catalog number
2013.0086.074
accession number
2013.0086

"My Great, Great, Grandfather"

This sheet music for the song "My Great, Great, Grandfather" was written by Edna Fischer and Al Garman, and published by Tele-Mus Publishing, Co., Inc., in Hollywood, California, in 1942. On the cover there is an image of actors J.
Description (Brief)
This sheet music for the song "My Great, Great, Grandfather" was written by Edna Fischer and Al Garman, and published by Tele-Mus Publishing, Co., Inc., in Hollywood, California, in 1942. On the cover there is an image of actors J. Anthony Smythe and Minetta Ellen from the radio soap opera One Man's Family. This song was featured in the radio program. One Man's Family, created by Carlton E. Morse, and was on air from 1932 to 1959.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1942
ID Number
2016.0093.01
accession number
2016.0093
catalog number
2016.0093.01

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.