No Maps On My Taps: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A documentary film with the title No Maps on My Taps. It consists of two reels of 16mm acetate film with bi-lateral variable area optical sound.

The documentary features music by Lionel Hampton and live performances by tap dancers Bunny Briggs, Chuck Green and Harold "Sandman" Sims, as well as reflections and commentary on their careers. Some of their performances take place at the Smalls Paradise nightclub in Harlem, New York, while at other times the men can be seen performing on the sidewalks.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1979
• Directed by: George Nierenberg
• Subject of: Bunny Briggs, American, 1922 - 2014
• Subject of: Chuck Green, American, 1919 - 1997
• Subject of: Lionel Hampton, American, 1908 - 2002
• Subject of: Howard Sims, American, 1917 - 2003
• Subject of: Small's Paradise, American, founded 1925
• Owned by: D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
• Type: sound films
• Type: color films (visual works)
• Type: 16mm (photographic film size)
• Medium: acetate film
• Dimensions: Duration (Reel 1): 28 Minutes
• Dimensions: Length (Film): 1000 Feet
• Dimensions: Duration (Reel 2): 28 Minutes
• Dimensions: Length (Film): 1000 Feet
• Place used: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
• Place filmed: Harlem, New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Conductors (Musicians)
• Topic: Documentary films
• Topic: Entertainers
• Topic: Film
• Topic: Instrumentalists (Musicians)
• Topic: Jazz (Music)
• Topic: Nightlife
• Object number: 2017.55.2.1ab
• 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.