Search Results

Performer:

Basie, Count, 1904-  Search this

Webster, Ben  Search this

Armstrong, Louis, 1901-1971  Search this

Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974  Search this

Fitzgerald, Ella, 1917-1996  Search this

Goodman, Benny (Benjamin David), 1909-1986  Search this

Jamal, Ahmad, 1930-  Search this

Robinson, Bill, 1878-1949  Search this

Davis, Miles  Search this

Collector:

Smith, Ernie  Search this

Names:

Apollo Theatre (New York, N.Y.)  Search this

Extent:

30 Cubic feet (352 film reels , 16 mm)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Motion pictures (visual works)

Place:

Harlem (New York, N.Y.) -- 20th century

Date:

1894-1979

Summary:

More than 300 reels of 16mm black and white and color film, silent and sound, fiction and documentary motion picture film documenting jazz and related musical performances, social and popular dance styles and performances, jazz musicians, performance locales, and documentation of African-American popular culture. A list of featured performers in the collection is shown below. The films are frequently compilations produced by Smith for lectures.

Scope and Contents:

The collection consists of 352 reels of 16mm motion picture film. Most of the film is 16mm black and white and sound (composite optical track print), although a few titles are silent or in color. The collection is comprised of compilation reels created by Ernie Smith to accompany his lectures, topical compilation reels created by Ernie Smith, compilation reels created by the Archives Center, and single title reels. The Archives Center produced master and reference video copies using a wet-gate telecine film-to-tape transfer system. Titles were often combined to allow for increased ease of handling, storage, and duplication.

The collection is strongest in the areas of jazz dance styles including Lindy Hop and tap, overviews of jazz musical performers and styles; specific jazz musicians and performers including Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Woody Herman, Artie Shaw, Bob Crosby, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Jack Teagarden as well as a wide range of female vocalists; and documentation of the New York jazz and club scene. The collection includes feature films and excerpts from feature films, Soundies and other film shorts, television kinescopes, and documentary films.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into one series and is not arranged in accordance with standard archival procedures. The breadth of the collection and the existence of so many multiple topic and/or performer compilation reels made it impossible to impose traditional archival series order. Therefore, each reel is described at the item level in the container list.

Biographical / Historical:

Ernie Smith began collecting jazz-related film in 1955. He wrote the entry about jazz film in the "Grove Dictionary of Jazz," and worked with Marshall Stearns on the book "Jazz Dance."

Ernest (Ernie) Smith began collecting jazz and jazz dance films during the mid-1950s. An Art Director for a New York advertising agency, Smith had a long-standing interest in jazz and jazz dance that began during his youth in Pittsburgh, Pa. Early on, Smith discovered that jazz music was best appreciated while dancing. He became an accomplished Lindy Hopper, frequenting both white and African American ballrooms.

His job at the advertising agency supported Smith's two passions - painting and jazz dance and music. Smith was also a film enthusiast so, in 1954, after taking a jazz class at the New School taught by Marshall Stearns, a leading jazz scholar, he began collecting examples of jazz and jazz dance on film. In the process of creating his film collection, Smith became one of the leading authorities on jazz and jazz dance films. He collaborated with Stearns on the 1964 book Jazz Dance, compiling the book's jazz dance film listing. He also wrote the extensive entry on jazz film for the 1988 edition of New Grove Dictionary of Jazz .

Smith built his film collection by identifying films of potential interest and acquiring them through trade and purchase. He created lecture reels on specific topics -- the history of jazz, social dance, tap dance, Duke Ellington, Lindy Hop -- and presented lecture/screenings nationally and internationally. He also provided footage for numerous documentaries and maintained active relationships with filmmakers, other film collectors, jazz scholars, the swing dance community, and musicians.

Ernie Smith donated his film collection to the Archives Center in 1993. He continues to lecture and participate in swing dance activities, but he devotes the majority of his time to painting and related artistic pursuits.

Provenance:

The Archives Center acquired the collection from Ernie Smith in 1993.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Tap dancing -- 1930-1970  Search this

Motion pictures and music -- 1930-1970  Search this

Dancing in motion pictures, television, etc. -- 1930-1970  Search this

Television and music -- 1930-1970  Search this

Jazz -- 20th century -- United States  Search this

Jazz musicians -- 1930-1970  Search this

Jazz dance -- 1930-1970  Search this

African Americans in the performing arts -- 1930-1970  Search this

Genre/Form:

Motion pictures (visual works) -- 20th century

Citation:

Ernie Smith Jazz Film Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Sponsor:

America's Jazz Heritage: A Partnership of the The Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund and the Smithsonian Institution provided the funding to produce many of the video master and reference copies.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0491

See more items in:

Ernie Smith Jazz Film Collection

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0491

Collection Artist:

Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975  Search this

Collection Collector:

Marx, Groucho (Julius Henry), 1890-1977 (comedian)  Search this

Extent:

1 Motion picture film (16mm black and white optical track print, 900 feet.)

Container:

Reel AC0269-OF0018

Type:

Archival materials

Moving Images

Motion picture films

Date:

1958

Scope and Contents:

Creator: John Guedel (producer) Broadcast on NBC.

Performers: Art Linkletter (host)

Content: People do silly tasks to earn prize money.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Reference copies of audiovisual materials must be used. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Collection Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Collection Citation:

Groucho Marx Collection, 1911-1978, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

See more items in:

Groucho Marx Collection

Groucho Marx Collection / Series 9: Audiovisual / 9.1: Moving Images

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0269-ref392

Collection Creator:

Free, Jerry D.  Search this

International Battle of the Bands, Inc.  Search this

Container:

Box 42, Folder 19

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

11/4/83 -12/19/84

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Some materials are restricted until 2050. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Collection Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Collection Citation:

International Battle of the Bands Records, 1981-1998, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

See more items in:

International Battle of the Bands Records

International Battle of the Bands Records / Series 1.4: International Battle of the Bands / 1.4.5: Program files - Staging of regional/final/future competitions

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0677-ref1047

Collection Creator:

Free, Jerry D.  Search this

International Battle of the Bands, Inc.  Search this

Container:

Box 3, Folder 16-17

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

10/12-10/17/81

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Some materials are restricted until 2050. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Collection Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Collection Citation:

International Battle of the Bands Records, 1981-1998, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

See more items in:

International Battle of the Bands Records

International Battle of the Bands Records / Series 1.1: International Battle of the Bands / 1.1.4: Program Files - Staging of regional/final/ future competitions

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0677-ref584

Collection Creator:

Free, Jerry D.  Search this

International Battle of the Bands, Inc.  Search this

Container:

Box 16, Folder 14

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

1984

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Some materials are restricted until 2050. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Collection Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Collection Citation:

International Battle of the Bands Records, 1981-1998, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

See more items in:

International Battle of the Bands Records

International Battle of the Bands Records / Series 1.4: International Battle of the Bands / 1.4.5: Program files - Staging of regional/final/future competitions

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0677-ref1048

Collection Creator:

Free, Jerry D.  Search this

International Battle of the Bands, Inc.  Search this

Container:

Box 6, Folder 45

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

1/25-12/8/82

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Some materials are restricted until 2050. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Collection Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Collection Citation:

International Battle of the Bands Records, 1981-1998, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

See more items in:

International Battle of the Bands Records

International Battle of the Bands Records / Series 1.2: International Battle of the Bands / 1.2.5: Program files - Staging of regional/final/future competitions

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0677-ref713

Creator:

Boudini, Phil  Search this

Boudini Brothers  Search this

Boudini, Dan, 1891-  Search this

Names:

Orpheum Circuit  Search this

Bernard, Adele  Search this

Extent:

1.25 Cubic feet (4 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Clippings

Business records

Advertisements

Periodicals

Contracts

Postcards

Sheet music

Programs

Scores

Magazines (periodicals)

Telegrams

Music

Scrip

Date:

1909-1928

Scope and Contents:

The papers document the Boudini Brothers Vaudeville act. They include letters, postcards and telegrams, mostly of a business nature (such as relating to bookings); business papers including contracts and papers relating to expenses; photographs of the family and of the act; programs; scores and sheet music; music manuscripts; advertisements for appearances; magazines; periodicals; clippings and articles; calendars; scrip; and miscellaneous.

Arrangement:

1 series.

Biographical / Historical:

Phil and Dan Boudini (original names: Filippo and Domenico D'Agostino) were accordionists. Phil was born in Ireland, Dan in Italy. As children, they and their parents moved to Paris. After an apprenticeship, Dan worked in an accordion store. After immigrating to America, they appeared as a vaudeville act during the 1910s and 1920s, performing on the Orpheum Circuit. Initially, the act was called the Boudini Brothers. Their agent was also Harry Houdini's agent and suggested that they adopt the similar name. Phil left the act in 1917, and Dan Boudini's wife, Adele Bernard, joined the act. That act ended in 1928 and Dan and Adele lived the rest of their lives in Wallingford, Connecticut.

Provenance:

Division of Culture and the Arts.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Performing arts  Search this

Vaudeville  Search this

Accordion  Search this

Accordionists  Search this

Accordion music  Search this

Entertainers  Search this

Genre/Form:

Clippings

Business records

Advertisements

Periodicals

Contracts

Postcards

Sheet music

Programs

Scores

Magazines (periodicals)

Telegrams

Music -- Manuscripts

Scrip

Citation:

Boudini Brothers Vaudeville Collection, 1909-1928, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.1426

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-1426

Author:

Kennedy, John F (John Fitzgerald) 1917-1963  Search this

Magnum Photos, inc  Search this

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (U.S.)  Search this

Physical description:

127 p. illus. (part col.) ports. (part col.) 29 cm

Type:

Pictorial works

Place:

United States

Date:

1962

[c1962]

Topic:

Performing arts  Search this

Art, American  Search this

Intellectual life  Search this

Call number:

E169.1 .C91

NX60 .C912

E169.1.C91

NX60.C912

Data Source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_sil_121966

Author:

Blacking, John  Search this

Kealiinohomoku, Joann W  Search this

International Congress of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (9th : 1973 : Chicago, Ill.)  Search this

Physical description:

xxii, 344 pages : illustrations, music ; 24 cm

Type:

Congresses

Kongreß

Conference papers and proceedings

Date:

1979

©1979

Topic:

Ethnomusicology  Search this

Dance--Social aspects  Search this

Music--Social aspects  Search this

Folk dancing  Search this

Folk music  Search this

Music and society  Search this

Ethnomusicologie--Congrès  Search this

Musique folklorique--Congrès  Search this

Danse folklorique--Congrès  Search this

Dance  Search this

Music  Search this

Performing arts  Search this

Anthropology--Theory and criticism  Search this

Volksmusik  Search this

Volkstanz  Search this

Kongress  Search this

Muziek  Search this

Dans  Search this

Culturele antropologie  Search this

Danse--Aspect social  Search this

Musique traditionnelle--Congrès  Search this

Call number:

NX50 .P43

NX50.P43

Data Source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_sil_128920

Author:

Independent Curators Incorporated  Search this

Physical description:

v. ill. 28 cm

Type:

Directories

Place:

United States

Date:

197u

Topic:

Artists  Search this

Performing arts  Search this

Call number:

AP1 .I38

NX110 .L57

AP1.I38

Data Source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_sil_129599

Author:

Wilmeth, Don B  Search this

Physical description:

xxi, 305 p. ; 25 cm

Type:

Dictionaries

Place:

United States

Date:

1981

C1981

Topic:

Performing arts  Search this

English language--Slang  Search this

Popular culture  Search this

Call number:

PN1579 .W5X

PN1579.W5X

Data Source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_sil_131676

Author:

Marincola, Paula  Search this

University of Pennsylvania Institute of Contemporary Art  Search this

Physical description:

25 p. : ill. ; 28 cm

Type:

Exhibitions

Place:

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

Date:

1980

C1980

20th century

Topic:

Performance art  Search this

Show windows--Exhibitions  Search this

Street art--Exhibitions  Search this

Arts, Modern--Exhibitions  Search this

Call number:

NX511.P35 S8X

NX511.P35S8X

Data Source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_sil_142519

Author:

80 Langton Street  Search this

Physical description:

ill. ; 11 x 15-18 x 28 cm

Type:

Catalogs

Place:

California

San Francisco

Date:

1976

[1976?]-

Topic:

Art  Search this

Performance art  Search this

Arts  Search this

Call number:

NX427.S4 E34

Data Source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_sil_155479

Author:

University of Wisconsin Arts Council  Search this

Physical description:

v. 23 cm

Type:

Directories

Place:

Wisconsin

Date:

1968

Topic:

Art  Search this

Performing arts  Search this

Call number:

NX26.W82 A1

NX26.W82A1

Data Source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_sil_157784

Author:

University of Iowa Center for New Performing Arts  Search this

University of Iowa Museum of Art  Search this

Physical description:

v

Type:

Exhibitions

Date:

1972

Topic:

Performing arts  Search this

Arts  Search this

Call number:

NX427.I6 I64

NX427.I6I64

Data Source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_sil_157786

Author:

Wasserman, Steven R  Search this

Physical description:

xiii, 846 p. ; 29 cm

Type:

Directories

Place:

United States

Canada

Date:

1982

C1982

Topic:

Performing arts  Search this

Performing arts--Directories  Search this

Call number:

PN2289.L55 1982X

Data Source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_sil_176794

Author:

Garbero Zorzi, Elvira  Search this

Palazzo Medici Riccardi  Search this

Gosudarstvennyĭ muzeĭ iziashchnykh iskusstv (Moscow, Russia)  Search this

Gosudarstvennyĭ Ėrmitazh (Russia)  Search this

Physical description:

18 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 22 x 29 cm

Type:

Exhibitions

Place:

Italy

Florence

Date:

1978

Topic:

Performing arts  Search this

Call number:

PN2686.F5 T25

PN2686.F5T25

Data Source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_sil_177575

Author:

Library of Congress Exhibits Office  Search this

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division  Search this

Physical description:

[28] p. 25 cm

Type:

Exhibitions

Place:

United States

Date:

1972

Topic:

Performing arts  Search this

Call number:

PN1582.U6 A5X

PN1582.U6A5X

Data Source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_sil_22273

Author:

Universitair Centrum voor Lichamelijke Opleiding en Sport (Heverlee, Belgium)  Search this

Physical description:

64 p. : ill. (some col.), maps ; 21 x 24 cm

Type:

Exhibitions

Date:

1983

[1983]

Topic:

Art, Primitive  Search this

Sculpture, Primitive  Search this

Performing arts in art  Search this

Call number:

N5311 .D19 1983

N5311.D19 1983

Data Source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_sil_272709

Author:

Wasserman, Steven R  Search this

O'Brien, Jacqueline Wasserman  Search this

Physical description:

xi, 1040 p. ; 29 cm

Type:

Directories

Place:

United States

Canada

Date:

1985

C1985

Topic:

Performing arts  Search this

Performing arts--Directories  Search this

Call number:

PN2289.L55 1985X

Data Source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_sil_287431