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.

Place: Los Angeles

Hi 'Ya Sophia; Baby, Have You Got a Little Love to Spare

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

I Want To Make the World Turn Around; Slinky

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

Shearing On Stage!

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

Bake Them Hoecakes Brown; The Gal I Left Behind Me

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

I Get Around; Don't Worry Baby

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

San; Wang Wang Blues

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

If You Leave; If You Leave

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

Golden Slippers; Ragtime Annie

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

One Vision; One Vision

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

Maryland, My Maryland; Sensation Rag

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

Golden Slippers; Ragtime Annie

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

The Man I Love; Stompin' at the Savoy

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

Los Angeles Classic Jazz Festival Button

This button is from the Los Angeles Classic Jazz Festival, in 1990. The button is a made of light blue paper with dark blue and orange lettering covered with a clear film, on a round two-piece metal button with a pin back.
Description

This button is from the Los Angeles Classic Jazz Festival, in 1990. The button is a made of light blue paper with dark blue and orange lettering covered with a clear film, on a round two-piece metal button with a pin back. The button is printed:

LOS ANGELES AIRPORT Marriott
LOS ANGELES AIRPORT HILTON
LOS ANGELES
CLASSIC
JAZZ
FESTIVAL
1990

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.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1990
user
Levin, Floyd
ID Number
2011.3086.042
nonaccession number
2011.3086
catalog number
2011.3086.042

Jazz at the Plaza Button

This button is from Jazz at the Plaza festival in Los Angeles, California. It is a diamond-shaped button made of paper with a white background and pink printing covered with a clear film, on a two-piece metal button with a pin back.
Description

This button is from Jazz at the Plaza festival in Los Angeles, California. It is a diamond-shaped button made of paper with a white background and pink printing covered with a clear film, on a two-piece metal button with a pin back. The button is printed:

BALDWIN HILLS
CRENSHAW PLAZA
MUSEUM OF AFRICAN
AMERICAN ART
Jazz
at the
Plaza
Coors

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.

Location
Currently not on view
user
Levin, Floyd
ID Number
2011.3086.148
nonaccession number
2011.3086
catalog number
2011.3086.148

Her Mansion Is Higher Than Mine; I've Found a Hidin' Place

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

Los Angeles Classic Jazz Festival Button

This button is from the Los Angeles Classic Jazz Festival, in 1988. It is a made of speckled red paper with white ink covered with a clear film, on a round two-piece metal button with a pin back.
Description

This button is from the Los Angeles Classic Jazz Festival, in 1988. It is a made of speckled red paper with white ink covered with a clear film, on a round two-piece metal button with a pin back. The button is printed:

LOS ANGELES
CLASSIC
JAZZ
FLOYD
Levin
FESTIVAL
1995

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.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1995
user
Levin, Floyd
ID Number
2011.3086.090
nonaccession number
2011.3086
catalog number
2011.3086.090

Twixt Twleve and Twenty; Rock Boll Weevil

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

(Welcome) New Lovers; Words

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

Some People; Some People

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

My Kind of Town

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

My Kind of Town

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

That's Life

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

Bugs Bunny and the Tortoise

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

Model chart of Woody Woodpecker

Original model chart of the animated film and television character Woody Woodpecker. The chart, with six images of the character in pencil and annotations on white paper, was likely drawn by animator Alex Lovy based on a concept by Walter Lantz.
Description (Brief)
Original model chart of the animated film and television character Woody Woodpecker. The chart, with six images of the character in pencil and annotations on white paper, was likely drawn by animator Alex Lovy based on a concept by Walter Lantz. The pencil inscriptions on the chart include notes on drawing the character and the production note "Walt. Lanz Prod. #992 Aug 22, 1940".
This chart was created for the first cartoon to feature Woody Woodpecker, an animated short titled Knock Knock, which premiered in 1940. In the short film, part of Walter Lantz's Andy Panda series distributed by Universal Pictures, the mischievous Woody torments Andy and his father Papa by pecking at the wood elements of their house. The Pandas are foiled in their attempts to catch or maim the bird until Andy finally captures Woody by pouring mysteriously heavy salt on his tail. Mel Blanc provided the voice of Woody as well as Papa Panda; Andy Panda was voiced by Sara Berner.
Woody Woodpecker was a popular success, becoming one of the best-loved and most memorable American cartoon characters of the mid-20th century. Between 1940 and 1972, Woody appeared in nearly 200 animated shorts distributed by Universal and United Artists. The plucky, self-confident woodpecker with a staccato laugh became a popular culture icon, painted on the nose of combat aircraft during World War II, appearing in other forms of media, serving as mascot for Universal Studios, and depicted on a wide range of retail merchandise and toys.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1940
associated person
Lantz, Walter
maker
Walter Lantz Productions
ID Number
1982.0567.01
accession number
1982.0567
catalog number
1982.0567.01

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