Popular Entertainment

Art Tatum. side 1: Hallelujah!; side 2: Memories of You (American Recording Artists 4501), 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.

Charlie Shavers, Stan Getz, Willie Smith, Red Norvo, "Nature Boy," Oscar Moore, Johnny Miller, and Louie Bellson. side 1: Body and Soul [part 1]; side 2: Body and Soul [part 2] (Modern 20-695).
78 rpm

This pressing is from a live recording in the Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, California on June 23, 1947 of a Just Jazz concert by American impresario, Gene Norman.

This badge is from Jazz Day L.A in Los Angeles, California, in 2000. It is made of white paper with black ink, encased in a plastic sleeve with a white elastic chord. The badge is printed:

JAZZ DAY L.A.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2000
@ the PERFORMING ARTS CENTER of Los Angeles
FLOYD LEVIN
ARTIST

Floyd Levin (1922-2007) was a Los Angeles textile manufacturer who turned his passion for jazz into a second career as an influential jazz journalist and historian. His numerous reviews, profiles, and articles were published in magazines such as Down Beat, Jazz Journal International, Metronome, and American Rag. He also authored Classic Jazz: A Personal View of the Music and the Musicians. Items in this collection (2011.3086) were acquired from Levin’s attendance at Jazz Festivals, conferences, and other music events.

This badge is from the Home Theater and Specialty Audio Show [Hi-Fi ’98] in Los Angeles, California, in 1998. It is made of white paper with black ink, laminated in plastic, with a metal spring clip on the back. The badge is printed:

HI-FI '98
The Home Theater & Specialty Audio Show
Floyd Levin
Jazz Journal International
PRESS

Hi-Fi is an annual event, sponsored mostly by Stereophile magazine, with exhibits featuring the latest in audiophile gear as well as panel discussions and seminars relating to electronic audio recording and reproductions. Hi-Fi ’98 was held in the Westin Hotel and Exposition Center in Los Angeles, California, June 9-14, 1998.

Floyd Levin (1922-2007) was a Los Angeles textile manufacturer who turned his passion for jazz into a second career as an influential jazz journalist and historian. His numerous reviews, profiles, and articles were published in magazines such as Down Beat, Jazz Journal International, Metronome, and American Rag. He also authored Classic Jazz: A Personal View of the Music and the Musicians. Items in this collection (2011.3086) were acquired from Levin’s attendance at Jazz Festivals, conferences, and other music events.

This badge is from the 10th Annual International Ellington Conference in Culver City, California, in 1991. It made of white paper with black, blue, and red ink, encapsulated in plastic. The badge is printed:

Lucille Levin
Studio City
CA
THE DUKE ELLINGTON SOCIETY
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER
PRESENTS13,14
15,16
THE TENTH
ANNUAL
INTERNATIONAL
ELLINGTON
CONFERENCE

Floyd Levin (1922-2007) was a Los Angeles textile manufacturer who turned his passion for jazz into a second career as an influential jazz journalist and historian. His numerous reviews, profiles, and articles were published in magazines such as Down Beat, Jazz Journal International, Metronome, and American Rag. He also authored Classic Jazz: A Personal View of the Music and the Musicians. Items in this collection (2011.3086) were acquired from Levin’s attendance at Jazz Festivals, conferences, and other music events.

This Patron badge is from the Los Angeles Classic Sweet & Hot Music Festival, in 1996. It made of yellow paper with black lettering, encapsulated in plastic. The badge is printed:

First Annual [foundation logo] THE LOS ANGELES
SWEET & HOT
MUSIC FESTIVAL
PATRON
1996.

Founded in 1996, The Sweet & Hot Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the music of the 1920s through 50s. The foundation produces an annual event in Los Angeles which support jazz education programs for Los Angeles area high school students.

The foundation also honors legends in classic jazz by placing permanent bronze plaques with their names, in the ground surrounding the pool and garden area at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel. Known as the “Sweet & Hot Music Walk of Fame,” it features jazz greats Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin and Benny Goodman, Cole Porter, Lionel Hampton and Billie Holiday.

Floyd Levin (1922-2007) was a Los Angeles textile manufacturer who turned his passion for jazz into a second career as an influential jazz journalist and historian. His numerous reviews, profiles, and articles were published in magazines such as Down Beat, Jazz Journal International, Metronome, and American Rag. He also authored Classic Jazz: A Personal View of the Music and the Musicians. Items in this collection (2011.3086) were acquired from Levin’s attendance at Jazz Festivals, conferences, and other music events.

This button is from the Los Angeles Classic Jazz Festival, in 1984. The button is a made of white paper with blue and red lettering covered with a clear film, on a round two-piece metal button with a pin back. The button is printed:

LOS ANGELES
CLASSIC
JAZZ
FESTIVAL
1984

Floyd Levin (1922-2007) was a Los Angeles textile manufacturer who turned his passion for jazz into a second career as an influential jazz journalist and historian. His numerous reviews, profiles, and articles were published in magazines such as Down Beat, Jazz Journal International, Metronome, and American Rag. He also authored Classic Jazz: A Personal View of the Music and the Musicians. Items in this collection (2011.3086) were acquired from Levin’s attendance at Jazz Festivals, conferences, and other music events.