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.

Bunny Berigan and his Blue Boys. side 1: You Took Advantage of Me; side 2: Chicken and Waffles (Decca 18117), from the album, Gemsof Jazz, Vol. 2 (Decca A-201).78 rpm. Both tracks were recorded in 1935. This album was released in 1941.Currently not on view
Description
Bunny Berigan and his Blue Boys. side 1: You Took Advantage of Me; side 2: Chicken and Waffles (Decca 18117), from the album, Gemsof Jazz, Vol. 2 (Decca A-201).
78 rpm. Both tracks were recorded in 1935. This album was released in 1941.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1935
release date
1941
recording artist
Bunny Berigan and his Blue Boys
manufacturer
Decca
ID Number
1978.0670.548
accession number
1978.0670
maker number
18117
A-201
catalog number
1978.0670.548
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1977
referenced
Wilson, Nancy
ID Number
2005.3021.126
nonaccession number
2005.3021
catalog number
2005.3021.126
Original Cast Album. This Is the Army (Decca A-340). 4-disc set. (album for 1988.0384.02-.-05).78 rpm.This album is from the Broadway musical This Is the Army, with book by James McColl, and music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. The musical was produced by the U. S.
Description

Original Cast Album. This Is the Army (Decca A-340). 4-disc set. (album for 1988.0384.02-.-05).
78 rpm.

This album is from the Broadway musical This Is the Army, with book by James McColl, and music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. The musical was produced by the U. S. Army in 1942, and featured a cast of U. S. soldiers, for the benefit of the Army Relief Fund. The revue ran at the Broadway Theatre from July 4, 1942, to September 26, 1942, for 113 performances.

Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1942
composer
Berlin, Irving
manufacturer
Decca
ID Number
1988.0384.01
accession number
1988.0384
maker number
340
catalog number
1988.0384.01
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
side 1: Lyn Murray and his Orchestra with Audrey Marsh. I'm Wishing; side 2: Lyn Murray and his Orchestra with Harrison Knox. One Song (Decca 23328), from the album, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Decca A-368).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
side 1: Lyn Murray and his Orchestra with Audrey Marsh. I'm Wishing; side 2: Lyn Murray and his Orchestra with Harrison Knox. One Song (Decca 23328), from the album, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Decca A-368).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1944
recording artist
Lyn Murray and his Orchestra
Marsh, Audrey
Knox, Harrison
manufacturer
Decca
ID Number
1979.1023.116
accession number
1979.1023
maker number
23328
A-368
catalog number
1979.1023.116
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1942
depicted (sitter)
Cugat, Xavier
maker
Robbins Music Corporation
ID Number
2014.0163.01
accession number
2014.0163
catalog number
2014.0163.01
Doc Evans Ensemble. side 1: Fidgety Feet; side 2: Clarinet Marmalade (Disc 6071), from the album, Doc Evans' Dixieland Five (Disc).78 rpm.Album cover illustration was by David Stone Martin (born David Livingstone Martin, 1913-1992).
Description

Doc Evans Ensemble. side 1: Fidgety Feet; side 2: Clarinet Marmalade (Disc 6071), from the album, Doc Evans' Dixieland Five (Disc).
78 rpm.

Album cover illustration was by David Stone Martin (born David Livingstone Martin, 1913-1992). Martin was an American artist best known for his illustrations on jazz album covers for labels including Mercury, Asch, Disc, and Dial. Many of his commissions were from Martin’s longtime friend, American jazz record producer and concert promoter Norman Granz (1918-2001).

Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1947
recording artist
Doc Evans Ensemble
artist
Martin, David Stone
manufacturer
Disc
ID Number
1978.0670.603
accession number
1978.0670
maker number
6071
catalog number
1978.0670.603
This custom–made "Silver Flair" trumpet belonged to renowned trumpeter, bandleader, and composer John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie, a founder of the modern jazz style known as bebop.
Description
This custom–made "Silver Flair" trumpet belonged to renowned trumpeter, bandleader, and composer John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie, a founder of the modern jazz style known as bebop. Renowned for his musical virtuosity and for his impish good humor and wit, Gillespie played this trumpet from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Its uniquely shaped upturned bell was Gillespie's internationally known trademark.
date made
1977
owner
Gillespie, Dizzy
user
Gillespie, Dizzy
maker
King Musical Instruments
ID Number
1986.0003.01
catalog number
1986.0003.01
accession number
1986.0003
serial number
673792
Date made
1866-09
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.189
catalog number
033675.189
accession number
70138
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1861
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.183
catalog number
033675.183
accession number
70138
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.181
catalog number
033675.181
accession number
70138
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
This sheet music is for the song “Happy Days Are Here Again,” with music by Milton Ager and words by Jack Yellen. It was published by Ager, Yellen and Brownstein, Inc. in New York, New York in 1929.
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Happy Days Are Here Again,” with music by Milton Ager and words by Jack Yellen. It was published by Ager, Yellen and Brownstein, Inc. in New York, New York in 1929. The song was featured in the 1930 Metro-Goldwyn Pre-Code romantic musical film Chasing Rainbows, directed by Charles Reisner and starred Bessie Love and Charles King, Jack Benny, Marie Dressler, and Eddie Phillips.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1929
publisher
Ager, Yellen & Bornstein Inc.
ID Number
1984.1117.13
accession number
1984.1117
catalog number
1984.1117.13
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1914
depicted (sitter)
Tucker, Sophie
maker
Jerome H. Remick & Co.
ID Number
2017.3021.317
nonaccession number
2017.3021
catalog number
2017.3021.317
This roller organ roll was made by an undetermined maker in the United States, about 1885. It is roll #152 - "See San Waltz." This roll is playable in 20-note roller organs.This roller organ roll features U. S. Patent #333390, dated July 14, 1885, by Henry B.
Description (Brief)

This roller organ roll was made by an undetermined maker in the United States, about 1885. It is roll #152 - "See San Waltz." This roll is playable in 20-note roller organs.

This roller organ roll features U. S. Patent #333390, dated July 14, 1885, by Henry B. Morris for a barrel for mechanical musical instruments.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1885
ID Number
1984.0843.28
catalog number
1984.0843.28
accession number
1984.0843
maker number
152
This sheet music is for the song “The Vamp,” a novelty foxtrot composed by Byron Gay. The sheet music was published by Leo Feist Inc. of New York City in 1919. The cover is a portrait illustration of a young woman, with a large flower in her hair.
Description (Brief)
This sheet music is for the song “The Vamp,” a novelty foxtrot composed by Byron Gay. The sheet music was published by Leo Feist Inc. of New York City in 1919. The cover is a portrait illustration of a young woman, with a large flower in her hair. The illustration is signed by Henry Hutt. The song was a lively tune with lyrics describing new steps to a dance called “the Vamp.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1919
composer
Gay, Byron
publisher
Leo Feist, Inc.
ID Number
1983.0424.100
accession number
1983.0424
catalog number
1983.0424.100
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1937
composer
Romberg, Sigmund
maker
Chappell and Co.
ID Number
2017.3021.327
nonaccession number
2017.3021
catalog number
2017.3021.327
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
This roller organ roll was made by an undetermined maker in the United States, about 1885. It is roll #626 - "Walk in the Light." This roll is playable in 20-note roller organs.This roller organ roll features U. S. Patent #333390, dated July 14, 1885, by Henry B.
Description

This roller organ roll was made by an undetermined maker in the United States, about 1885. It is roll #626 - "Walk in the Light." This roll is playable in 20-note roller organs.

This roller organ roll features U. S. Patent #333390, dated July 14, 1885, by Henry B. Morris for a barrel for mechanical musical instruments.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1885
user
Meggers, Edith R.
ID Number
MI.74.11a.23
catalog number
74.11a.23
accession number
314637
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
This sheet music is for the composition, “Ciribiribin,” by Alberto Pestalozza. It was published by Belwin, Inc. in New York, New York in 1931. This sheet music is No. 495 from the Belwin series Edition Beautiful, published from 1920s-1930s.
Description

This sheet music is for the composition, “Ciribiribin,” by Alberto Pestalozza. It was published by Belwin, Inc. in New York, New York in 1931. This sheet music is No. 495 from the Belwin series Edition Beautiful, published from 1920s-1930s.

Belwin was formed in 1918 by music publishing employee Max Winkler (1888-1965), film-maker Max Winkler (1875-1961), and publisher of original composition and arrangements for silent cinema S.M. Berg. The name Belwin was created by combining the surnames of Berg and Winkler.

Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1931
publisher
Belwin Inc.
ID Number
1984.0568.43
accession number
1984.0568
catalog number
1984.0568.43
This sheet music for the song “Planet Patrol,” was written by Albert Blitz with arrangement by John W. Schaum. It was published by Belwin Inc. in New York, New York, in 1954.Currently not on view
Description
This sheet music for the song “Planet Patrol,” was written by Albert Blitz with arrangement by John W. Schaum. It was published by Belwin Inc. in New York, New York, in 1954.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1954
publisher
Belwin Inc.
ID Number
1983.0830.11
accession number
1983.0830
catalog number
1983.0830.11
Count Basie and his Orchestra. Basie Plays Hefti (Roulette R-52011).33-1/3 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Count Basie and his Orchestra. Basie Plays Hefti (Roulette R-52011).
33-1/3 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1958
recording artist
Count Basie and his Orchestra
manufacturer
Roulette
ID Number
1978.0670.752
maker number
R-52011
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.752
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

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