This Museum's collections of popular entertainment artifacts 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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Selected Objects |
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Alien Egg Prop
The mysterious world of science fiction is a major influence in American popular culture, from Superman comics to the various Star Trek TV series. The 1979 movie Alien is a ...
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Cuban Rumba Dress
This is a Bata Cubana, or Cuban Rumba dress, donated to the Smithsonian by Celia Cruz, the great Cuban salsa singer in 1997. An adaptation of the traditional Cuban rumba ...
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Electric Guitar
Custom-made by the Minneapolis, Minn., firm of Knut-Koupee Enterprises, this “Yellow-cloud” electric guitar was designed and used by Prince. The musician's distinctive personal symbol adorns both the top and the ...
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Evel Knievel's Harley-Davidson XR-750
More than a daredevil, Evel Knievel combined sportsmanship and show business to become one of the most famous performers in America. The perils of his sport—making a motorcycle "fly" over ...
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"Gypsy" Robe
The gypsy robe is a symbol of good luck among Broadway chorus members, who call themselves "gypsies" because of the transient nature of their work. The opening night ceremony of ...
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Hello, Dolly Dress
One of the most distinctive comediennes of her generation, Carol Channing (b. 1921) catapulted to stardom as the baby-voiced heroine of the musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949). Nearly two decades ...
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Kermit the Frog Puppet
Kermit, a hand and rod puppet created in 1955 by Jim Henson, belongs to America's beloved puppet troupe, The Muppets. Kermit has served as master of ceremonies, comic, and crusader ...
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M*A*S*H Sign Post
Declaring the distances to such places as Boston, San Francisco, and Toledo, this sign post graced the set of M*A*S*H during the show's 11–year run. Set in Korea during the ...
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"Mistoffelees" Jacket
Achieving an eighteen-year run of 7,397 consecutive performances at Manhattan's Winter Garden Theatre, CATS holds the record as the longest-running show in Broadway history. The show, which premiered in London ...
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Pair of Tap Shoes
Ann Miller (1923–2004), among the finest tap dancers in the history of the American musical, appeared in such classic films as Easter Parade (1948), On the Town (1949), and Kiss ...
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Sound Recording
Elvis Aron Presley (1935–1977) is one of the best-known and most influential figures in popular music. Throughout his career, Elvis incorporated pop, gospel, country, and blues elements into creating his ...
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The King and I Mask
This exquisite mask, based on 19th-century Thai ceremonial headgear, was created by Australian designer Roger Kirk for the 1996 Broadway revival of the musical play, The King and I. It ...
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Related Items from the Archives Center |
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Duke Ellington Collection
Photographs, sound recordings, and oral histories.
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Theatre, Motion Pictures and Television
These collections include paper, film, video, audio and photographic materials.
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The Falcon Trio Vaudeville Collection, 1912-1931
Between 1912 and 1931, Edie Falcon and his trio, the Flying Falcons, performed across the country in vaudeville acts, outdoor fairs, and other popular venues.
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