Object Details
wearer
Diller, Phyllis
Description
Phyllis Diller wore this outfit, including the red and white Santa dress with belt, a pair of red panties, red pantyhose, white gloves, and a head band with a white pompom at the end of a rod, when she joined Bob Hope’s USO tour of the Persian Gulf in 1987. Other members of the 1987 tour included I Dream of Jeannie actress Barbara Eden, Connie Stevens and her daughters Joely and Tricia Leigh Fisher, “God Bless the USA” singer Lee Greenwood, and Miss USA Michelle Royer.
Diller was lifelong friends with Bob Hope, co-starring with him in 3 films and many TV specials. In 1978, the USO of Philadelphia, Inc. awarded Diller the USO Liberty Bell Award “for demonstrating concern for the welfare and morale of America’s armed forces.” The award is also at NMAH (Catalog Number 2003.0289.42).
Credit Line
Gift of Phyllis Diller
date made
ca 1987
ID Number
COLL.DILLER.000005
accession number
2003.0289
catalog number
2003.0289.09.01
2003.0289.09.02
2003.0289.09.03
2003.0289.09.04
2003.0289.09.05
Object Name
costume
Physical Description
cotton (overall material)
synthetic fibers (overall material)
nylon (overall material)
plastic (overall material)
glass (overall material)
adhesive (overall material)
metal (overall material)
elastic (overall material)
fur (overall material)
Measurements
overall (dress): 37 in x 17 in; 93.98 cm x 43.18 cm
overall (gloves): 7 1/2 in x 3 3/4 in; 19.05 cm x 9.525 cm
overall (head ornament): 10 in x 7 in; 25.4 cm x 17.78 cm
overall (panties): 12 1/2 in x 13 1/2 in; 31.75 cm x 34.29 cm
overall (pantyhose): 37 in x 8 3/4 in; 93.98 cm x 22.225 cm
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Culture and the Arts: Entertainment
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Phyllis Diller
Data Source
National Museum of American History
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nmah_1822343