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Wooden clapper from the Cotton Club promoting Ethel Waters

African American Museum

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    Object Details

    Subject of

    Ethel Waters, American, 1896 - 1977
    Cotton Club, American, 1923 - 1940

    Description

    This is a wood clapper instrument with black etched type on front and back. Consisting of three pieces of wood, two small rectangles are attached via thin metal strips to the large paddle-shaped base, one on each side. There is black type on both small wooden rectangles. The type on one side of the clapper reads, "The Cotton Club/ Aristocrat of Harlem/ Lenox Ave. & 142nd St. / Phone Bradhurst 2-7767-1687." On reverse side type reads, "Hear/ Ethel Waters/ Sing/ Stormy Weather/ Geo. Dewey Washington." There is a decorative border in black ink around both rectangles. There is text on the reverse side at one end of the rectangle that reads "National Bo [illegible] Co. / [illegible] west 64th [illegible]."

    Transcription Center Status

    Transcribed by digital volunteers

    Credit Line

    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Dwandalyn R. Reece in memory of Pauline Watkins Reece

    Date

    ca. 1933

    Object number

    2015.45.3

    Restrictions & Rights

    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

    Type

    noisemakers

    Medium

    ink on wood with metal

    Dimensions

    H x W: 2 × 8 1/2 × 7/8 in. (5.1 × 21.6 × 2.2 cm)

    Place used

    Harlem, New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America

    See more items in

    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

    Classification

    Memorabilia and Ephemera - Advertisements

    Exhibition

    Musical Crossroads

    On View

    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

    Data Source

    National Museum of African American History and Culture

    Topic

    African American
    Actors
    Dance
    Entertainers
    Nightlife
    Popular music
    Segregation
    Singers (Musicians)
    Stereotypes

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd550d95824-1fa8-4ed1-a2b3-e256fc77fc04

    Record ID

    nmaahc_2015.45.3
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