Cabin in The Sky: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A musical comedy with the title Cabin in The Sky. It consists of three (3) reels of black-and white 16mm acetate film with optical sound.

The film follows Little Joe Jackson (Eddie Anderson) who has a gambling problem and is killed in a shootout with gangsters. While on his death bed, Little Joe is visited by agents of God and Satan who both entice him to heaven and hell respectively. God grants Little Joe six more months on Earth to prove himself worthy and enter heaven.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1943
• Directed by: Vincente Minnelli, American, 1903 - 1986
• Subject of: Ethel Waters, American, 1896 - 1977
• Subject of: Eddie Anderson, American, 1905 - 1977
• Subject of: Lena Horne, American, 1917 - 2010
• Subject of: Louis Armstrong, American, 1901 - 1971
• Subject of: Rex Ingram, American, 1895 - 1969
• Subject of: Mantan Moreland, American, 1902 - 1973
• Subject of: Ruby Dandridge, American, 1900 - 1987
• Type: sound films
• Type: black-and-white films (visual works)
• Type: feature films
• Type: 16mm (photographic film size)
• Medium: acetate film
• Dimensions: Duration (Reel 1): 18 Minutes
• Dimensions: Length (Film): 650 Feet
• Dimensions: Duration (Reel 2): 39 Minutes
• Dimensions: Length (Film): 1400 Feet
• Dimensions: Duration (Reel 3): 33 Minutes
• Dimensions: Length (Film): 1200 Feet
• Place used: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
• Place filmed: Los Angeles, California, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Actors
• Topic: Film
• Topic: Hollywood (Film)
• Topic: Music
• Topic: Musical films
• Topic: Race films
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Object number: 2017.55.59.1abc
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Transferred from the DC Public Library
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.