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.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1961
recording artist
Nelson, Rick
manufacturer
Imperial
ID Number
1996.3034.05546
catalog number
1996.3034.05546
nonaccession number
1996.3034
label number
5770
Art Tatum. side 1: Song of the Vagabound; side 2: Kerry Dance (American Recording Artists 4504), from the album, Piano Impressions, (American Recording Artists A-1).78 rpm.The cover art for this album was made by American illustrator Gene Widhoff (1907-1972).
Description

Art Tatum. side 1: Song of the Vagabound; side 2: Kerry Dance (American Recording Artists 4504), from the album, Piano Impressions, (American Recording Artists A-1).
78 rpm.

The cover art for this album was made by American illustrator Gene Widhoff (1907-1972). Widhoff began his career as a staff artist for RKO Pictures where he created images for movie posters and theater lobby cards. He created album covers for the American Recording Artists (ARA) label. Later in his career, Widhoff worked as staff artist for NBC. Widoff received an Emmy for “Outstanding Achievement in Creative Technical Craft” in 1971.

Location
Currently not on view
release date
1945
recording artist
Tatum, Art
manufacturer
American Recording Artists
ID Number
1981.0656.524
maker number
4504
A-1
accession number
1981.0656
catalog number
1981.0656.524
side 1: Benny Goodman and his Quartet. The Lonesome Road; side 2: Benny Goodman and his Quintet. Fine and Dandy (Capitol 394).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
side 1: Benny Goodman and his Quartet. The Lonesome Road; side 2: Benny Goodman and his Quintet. Fine and Dandy (Capitol 394).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1947
recording artist
Benny Goodman and his Quartet
Benny Goodman and his Quintet
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1988.0698.1108
catalog number
1988.0698.1108
accession number
1988.0698
collector/donor number
G79
maker number
394
William Boyd. side 2: Hopalong Cassidy and the Square Dance Holdup; side 3: Hopalong Cassidy and the Square Dance Holdup (Capitol 32015), from the album, Hopalong Cassidy and the Square Dance Holdup (Capitol CBX 3075).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
William Boyd. side 2: Hopalong Cassidy and the Square Dance Holdup; side 3: Hopalong Cassidy and the Square Dance Holdup (Capitol 32015), from the album, Hopalong Cassidy and the Square Dance Holdup (Capitol CBX 3075).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
release date
1950
recording artist
Boyd, William
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05123
maker number
32015
CBX 3075
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05123
Benny Goodman Sextet. side 1: Hi 'Ya Sophia; side 2: Have You Got a Little Love to Spare (Capitol 462).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Benny Goodman Sextet. side 1: Hi 'Ya Sophia; side 2: Have You Got a Little Love to Spare (Capitol 462).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1947
recording artist
Benny Goodman Sextet
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1988.0698.1129
catalog number
1988.0698.1129
accession number
1988.0698
collector/donor number
G100
maker number
462
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1986
recording artist
Steve Miller Band
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.3034.05324
label number
V-5646
catalog number
1996.3034.05324
nonaccession number
1996.3034
George Shearing Quintet. Shearing On Stage! (Capitol T-1187).33-1/3 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
George Shearing Quintet. Shearing On Stage! (Capitol T-1187).
33-1/3 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1957
release date
1959
recording artist
George Shearing Quintet
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1978.0670.748
maker number
T-1187
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.748
Cliffie Stone. side 1: Bake Them Hoecakes Brown; side 2: The Gal I Ledt Behind Me (Capitol 20100). from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Cliffie Stone. side 1: Bake Them Hoecakes Brown; side 2: The Gal I Ledt Behind Me (Capitol 20100). from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
release date
1947
recording artist
Stone, Cliffie
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05295
maker number
20100
BD 44
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05295
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1964
recording artist
Beach Boys
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.3034.00408
catalog number
1996.3034.00408
nonaccession number
1996.3034
label number
5174
Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra. side 1: San; side 2: Wang Wang Blues (Capitol 10026), from the album, The History of Jazz Vol. 2 - The Golden Era (Capitol CE-17).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra. side 1: San; side 2: Wang Wang Blues (Capitol 10026), from the album, The History of Jazz Vol. 2 - The Golden Era (Capitol CE-17).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1945
recording artist
Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1978.0670.086
accession number
1978.0670
maker number
10026
catalog number
1978.0670.086
maker number
CE-17
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1986
manufacturer
A&M
ID Number
1996.3034.05716
catalog number
1996.3034.05716
label number
AM-2811
nonaccession number
1996.3034
Cliffie Stone and his Square Dance Band. side 1: Golden Slippers; side 2: Ragtime Annie (Capitol 20101), from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Cliffie Stone and his Square Dance Band. side 1: Golden Slippers; side 2: Ragtime Annie (Capitol 20101), from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
release date
1947
recording artist
Cliffie Stone and his Square Dance Band
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05300
maker number
20101
BD 44
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05300
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1985
recording artist
Queen
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.3034.06246
label number
B-5530
nonaccession number
1996.3034
catalog number
1996.3034.06246
Ben Pollack and his Pick-a-Rib Boys. side 1: Maryland, My Maryland; side 2: Sensation Rag (Discovery 133).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Ben Pollack and his Pick-a-Rib Boys. side 1: Maryland, My Maryland; side 2: Sensation Rag (Discovery 133).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1949
recording artist
Ben Pollack and His Pick-a-Rib Boys
manufacturer
Discovery
ID Number
1978.0670.239
maker number
133
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.239
Cliffie Stone and his Square Dance Band. side 1: Golden Slippers; side 2: Ragtime Annie (Capitol 20101), from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Cliffie Stone and his Square Dance Band. side 1: Golden Slippers; side 2: Ragtime Annie (Capitol 20101), from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
release date
1947
recording artist
Cliffie Stone and his Square Dance Band
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05296
maker number
20101
BD 44
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05296
Jazz Session honoring Charlie Venturo. side 1: The Man I Love [part 1]; side 2: Stompin' at the Savoy [part 1] (Lamplighter LL 105-A/107-A), from the album, Jazz Gems, Vol. 1.78 rpm.These recordings were from The Lamplighter Jazz Sessions, on KPAS radio station in Los Angeles.
Description

Jazz Session honoring Charlie Venturo. side 1: The Man I Love [part 1]; side 2: Stompin' at the Savoy [part 1] (Lamplighter LL 105-A/107-A), from the album, Jazz Gems, Vol. 1.
78 rpm.

These recordings were from The Lamplighter Jazz Sessions, on KPAS radio station in Los Angeles. Jazz writer and columnist for The Los Angeles Daily News Lamplighter column, Ted Yerxa, hosted the half-hour program from late 1944 to early 1947.

Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1946
recording artist
Bigard, Barney
Ventura, Charlie
DeGeer, Ray
Fields, Harry
Kessell, Barney
Callender, Red
manufacturer
Lamplighter
ID Number
1978.0670.617
accession number
1978.0670
maker number
LL 107-A
LL 105-A
catalog number
1978.0670.617
Oak Ridge Quartet. side 1: Her Mansion Is Higher Than Mine; side 2: I've Found a Hidin' Place (Capitol 48025), from the album, Songs from the Grand Ole Opr" (Capitol AD 86).78 rpm.The cover art for this album was made by Carlos Andreson.
Description

Oak Ridge Quartet. side 1: Her Mansion Is Higher Than Mine; side 2: I've Found a Hidin' Place (Capitol 48025), from the album, Songs from the Grand Ole Opr" (Capitol AD 86).
78 rpm.

The cover art for this album was made by Carlos Andreson. Andreson, also as Anderson, (1905-1978) was an American painter, lithographer, and teacher. A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Andreson studied at the University of Utah, then subsequently in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, and Berlin. In 1933, Andreson returned to the United States, creating paintings and drawings of early pioneer life for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and teaching at Utah Arts Center. After the start of WWII, Anderson was commissioned by Abbott Laboratories to paint medical subjects at the stateside Naval hospitals. Andreson moved to San Francisco after the war where he produced artwork for the Oakland Army Base.

Location
Currently not on view
release date
1948
recording artist
Oak Ridge Quartet
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05121
maker number
48025
AD 86
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05121
Pat Boone. side 1: Twixt Twelve and Twenty; side 2: Rock Boll Weevil (Dot 15955)45 rpm. Accessioned with original printed sleeve.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Pat Boone. side 1: Twixt Twelve and Twenty; side 2: Rock Boll Weevil (Dot 15955)
45 rpm. Accessioned with original printed sleeve.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1959
recording artist
Boone, Pat
manufacturer
Dot
ID Number
1996.3034.00757
nonaccession number
1996.3034
label number
15955
catalog number
1996.3034.00757
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1960
recording artist
Boone, Pat
manufacturer
Dot
ID Number
1996.3034.00744
nonaccession number
1996.3034
label number
16048
catalog number
1996.3034.00744
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1984
recording artist
Some, Belouis
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.3034.00513
label number
B-5492
nonaccession number
1996.3034
catalog number
1996.3034.00513
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1964
depicted (sitter)
Sinatra, Frank
Martin, Dean
Crosby, Bing
maker
Sergeant Music Co.
Criterion Music Corp.
ID Number
2015.0215.0126
accession number
2015.0215
catalog number
2015.0215.0126
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1964
depicted (sitter)
Sinatra, Frank
Martin, Dean
Crosby, Bing
maker
Criterion Music Corp.
Sergeant Music Co.
ID Number
2015.0215.0012
accession number
2015.0215
catalog number
2015.0215.0012
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1964
depicted (sitter)
Sinatra, Frank
maker
Four Star Television Music Co., Inc.
ID Number
2015.0215.0016
accession number
2015.0215
catalog number
2015.0215.0016
Mel Blanc. Bugs Bunny and the Tortoise (Capitol L-6962)33-1/3 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Mel Blanc. Bugs Bunny and the Tortoise (Capitol L-6962)
33-1/3 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1975
recording artist
Blanc, Mel J.
maker
Capitol
ID Number
1983.0555.07
accession number
1983.0555
maker number
L-6992
catalog number
1983.0555.07

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