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.
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J.D. Crowe & the New South
- Description
- Fans cover the hillside enjoying the performance of J.D. Crowe (b.1937) and his band, The New South.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- n.d.
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.009
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.009
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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Bartender
- Description
- Bartender Wanda Lohman, known as "Miss Wanda," worked at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge from 1960 to 1984. The walls of Tootsie's became a kind of community scrapbook. Tootsie, like her patrons, was a fan of country music. She collected autographs, posters, record albums, and photographs. Patrons, family, and friends contributed their comments and added photos.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1974
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.107
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.107
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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Dress worn by Phyllis Diller
- Description
- This yellow and brown full-length dress with white and orange daisy print was worn by Phyllis Diller. Diller (1917-2012) began her comedy career in the 1950s at the age of 37 and broke barriers in the comedy world to become the first solo female comic to be a household name. She developed a stage persona of an incompetent housewife and dressed in outlandish outfits with wild hair. Her material focused on self-deprecating jokes that tackled the idealized image of American mothers and homemakers. She also created many mythical personas for her stage act including her “husband” Fang, her “neighbor” Mrs. Clean, and her “mother-in-law” Moby Dick.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2003.0289.04
- accession number
- 2003.0289
- catalog number
- 2003.0289.04
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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Fur Bonnet worn by Phyllis Diller in Field and Stream
- Description
- This fur bonnet was worn by Phyllis Diller when she posed nude for Field and Stream magazine in 1973. In that same year, Field and Stream magazine awarded Diller “Miss Fun Fishing 1973” “on the occasion of her selection as the first centerfold in the magazine’s 78 year history.” NMAH also has the trophy for this award in its collection (Catalog Number 2003.0289.16).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1973
- maker
- Neiman Marcus
- ID Number
- 2003.0289.12
- accession number
- 2003.0289
- catalog number
- 2003.0289.12
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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Phyllis Diller’s American Comedy Lifetime Achievement Award
- Description
- This American Comedy Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Phyllis Diller in 1991. The American Comedy Awards began in 1987 and are presented annually in the United States to honor performers in the field of comedy. After the death of Lucille Ball in 1989 the statue awarded was named “the Lucy” in her honor. Other recipients of the Lifetime Achievement in Comedy award include Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Lily Tomlin, Red Skelton, Betty White and Johnny Carson.
- Phyllis Diller (1917-2012) began her comedy career in the 1950s at the age of 37 and broke barriers in the comedy world to become the first solo female comic to be a household name. She developed a stage persona of an incompetent housewife and dressed in outlandish outfits with wild hair. Her material focused on self-deprecating jokes that tackled the idealized image of American mothers and homemakers. She also created many mythical personas for her stage act including her “husband” Fang, her “neighbor” Mrs. Clean, and her “mother-in-law” Moby Dick.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1991
- distributor
- American Comedy Awards
- maker
- American Comedy Awards
- ID Number
- 2003.0289.41
- accession number
- 2003.0289
- catalog number
- 2003.0289.41
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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Phyllis Diller’s USO Liberty Bell Award
- Description
- In 1978, the USO of Philadelphia, Inc. presented Phyllis Diller with the USO Liberty Bell Award “for demonstrating concern for the welfare and morale of America’s armed forces.” Diller joined Bob Hope’s USO Christmas tour in 1966 and toured around Vietnam, Thailand, Guam, Wake Island, and the Philippines entertaining troops. She also joined Hope’s USO tour of the Persian Gulf in 1987. Costumes from both of these USO tours are included in NMAH’s collection (Catalog Numbers 2003.0289.05 and 2003.0289.09).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1978
- associated institution; distributor
- United Services Organization
- maker
- United Services Organization
- ID Number
- 2003.0289.42
- accession number
- 2003.0289
- catalog number
- 2003.0289.42
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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sound recording: Lonely Moments; Whistle Blues
- Description (Brief)
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra. side 1: LONELY MOMENTS; side 2: WHISTLE BLUES (Capitol 324)
- 78 rpm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1947
- recording artist
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra
- maker
- Capitol
- ID Number
- 1981.0566.023
- accession number
- 1981.0566
- maker number
- 374
- catalog number
- 1981.0566.023
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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sound recording: Jumpin' At the Woodside; There'll Be Some Changes Made
- Description (Brief)
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra. side 1: JUMPIN' AT THE WOODSIDE; side 2: THERE'LL BE SOME CHANGES (Columbia 35210)
- 78 rpm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1939
- recording artist
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra
- maker
- Columbia
- ID Number
- 1981.0566.034
- maker number
- 35210
- accession number
- 1981.0566
- catalog number
- 1981.0566.034
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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sound recording: Zaggin' With Zig; Busy As a Bee (I'm Buzz, Buzz, Buzzin')
- Description (Brief)
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra. side 1: ZAGGIN' WITH ZIG; side 2: BUSY AS A BEE (I'M BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZIN') (Columbia 35356)
- 78 rpm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1939
- recording artist
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra
- maker
- Columbia
- ID Number
- 1981.0566.037
- maker number
- 35356
- accession number
- 1981.0566
- catalog number
- 1981.0566.037
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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sound recording: My Blue Heaven; Put That Kiss Back Where You Found It
- Description (Brief)
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra. side 1: MY BLUE HEAVEN; side 2: PUT THAT KISS BACK WHERE YOU FOUND IT (Columbia 37091)
- 78 rpm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1946
- recording artist
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra
- maker
- Columbia
- ID Number
- 1981.0566.052
- maker number
- 37091
- accession number
- 1981.0566
- catalog number
- 1981.0566.052
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
-
sound recording: Hora Staccato; Man Here Plays Fine Piano
- Description (Brief)
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra. side 1: HORA STACCATO; side 2: MAN HERE PLAYS FINE PIANO (Columbia 37207)
- 78 rpm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1946
- recording artist
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra
- maker
- Columbia
- ID Number
- 1981.0566.055
- maker number
- 37207
- accession number
- 1981.0566
- catalog number
- 1981.0566.055
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
-
sound recording: A String Of Pearls; Jersey Bounce
- Description (Brief)
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra. side 1: A STRING OF PEARLS; side 2: JERSEY BOUNCE (Columbia 38062)
- 78 rpm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1942
- recording artist
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra
- maker
- Columbia
- ID Number
- 1981.0566.066
- maker number
- 38062
- accession number
- 1981.0566
- catalog number
- 1981.0566.066
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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sound recording: Why Don't You Do Right; Somebody Else Is Taking My Place
- Description (Brief)
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra. side 1: WHY DON'T YOU DO RIGHT; side 2: SOMEBODY ELSE IS TAKING MY PLACE (Columbia 38198)
- 78 rpm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1941-1942
- recording artist
- Lee, Peggy
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra
- maker
- Columbia
- ID Number
- 1981.0566.067
- maker number
- 38198
- accession number
- 1981.0566
- catalog number
- 1981.0566.067
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
-
sound recording: Woodchopper's Ball; Indian Boogie Woogie
- Description (Brief)
- Woody Herman and his Orchestra. side 1: WOODCHOPPER'S BALL; side 2: INDIAN BOOGIE WOOGIE (Decca 25079)
- 78 rpm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1938-1939
- recording artist
- Woody Herman and his Orchestra
- maker
- Decca
- ID Number
- 1981.0566.090
- accession number
- 1981.0566
- maker number
- 25079
- catalog number
- 1981.0566.090
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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sound recording: King Porter; Sometimes I'm Happy
- Description (Brief)
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra. side 1: KING PORTER; side 2: SOMETIMES I'M HAPPY (Victor 25090)
- 78 rpm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1935
- recording artist
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra
- maker
- Victor
- ID Number
- 1981.0566.115
- maker number
- 25090
- accession number
- 1981.0566
- catalog number
- 1981.0566.115
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
-
sound recording: Dinah; Moonglow
- Description (Brief)
- Benny Goodman Quartet. side 1: DINAH; side 2: MOONGLOW (Victor 25398)
- 78 rpm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1936
- recording artist
- Benny Goodman Quartet
- maker
- Victor
- ID Number
- 1981.0566.116
- maker number
- 25398
- accession number
- 1981.0566
- catalog number
- 1981.0566.116
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
-
sound recording: Exactly Like You; Love Me Or Leave Me
- Description (Brief)
- side 1: Benny Goodman and his Orchestra. EXACTLY LIKE YOU; side 2: Benny Goodman Trio. LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME (Victor 25406)
- 78 rpm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1936
- recording artist
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra
- Benny Goodman Trio
- maker
- Victor
- ID Number
- 1981.0566.117
- maker number
- 25406
- accession number
- 1981.0566
- catalog number
- 1981.0566.117
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
-
sound recording: Somebody Loves Me; Jam Session
- Description (Brief)
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra. side 1: SOMEBODY LOVES ME; side 2: JAM SESSION (Victor 25497)
- 78 rpm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1936
- recording artist
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra
- maker
- Victor
- ID Number
- 1981.0566.118
- maker number
- 25497
- accession number
- 1981.0566
- catalog number
- 1981.0566.118
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
-
Sound Recording, "And the Angels Sing"
- Description (Brief)
- Benny Goodman (1909-1986,) the King of Swing, was one of the America’s most popular band leaders and the leader of one of the first racially integrated musical groups. Goodman was a clarinetist by training, and his big band performances in Chicago and New York throughout the 1930s helped make jazz a respectable musical form. He and his orchestra performed the first jazz concert in New York’s Carnegie Hall in 1938. “And the Angels Sing,” recorded in 1939, was one of Goodman’s many hits. The musician would go on to play a variety of music, including bebop and classical.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1939
- recording artist
- Benny Goodman and his Orchestra
- maker
- Victor
- ID Number
- 1981.0566.119
- maker number
- 26170
- accession number
- 1981.0566
- catalog number
- 1981.0566.119
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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sound recording: My Object All Sublime; Oh! A Private Bufoon
- Description (Brief)
- Nelson Eddy. side 1: MY OBJECT ALL SUBLIME; side 2: OH! A PRIVATE BUFFOON (Columbia 4271-M), from the album, "Patter Songs From Gilbert and Sullivan" (Columbia M440)
- 78 rpm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- recording artist
- Eddy, Nelson
- Eddy, Nelson
- maker
- Columbia
- ID Number
- 1981.0566.179
- accession number
- 1981.0566
- maker number
- 4271-M
- M440
- catalog number
- 1981.0566.179
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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