Reel one of NBC Special Treat: The Tap Dance Kid: Museum Object and Cultural History
Reel one of NBC Special Treat: The Tap Dance Kid: Date: ca. 1978. Directed by: Barra Grant, American, born 1948. Produced by: Evelyn Barron, American.
The object in the museum catalogue
Reel one of a two-reel children's film with the title NBC Special Treat: The Tap Dance Kid. It consists of a single reel of 16mm color polyester film with optical sound.
The film opens with Dipsy Sheridan (Charles "Honi" Coles) leading a tap dance audition for a part in an upcoming Broadway show. Shortly after, Dipsy informs two of the other men in the room that "There is one kid who can do it" but "It would never work out." The footage then quickly cuts to Willie Sheridan (James Pelham) tap dancing in the street. Later in the film, Dipsy attempts to convince his older brother William Sheridan (Charles Blackwell) to allow Willie to perform in his upcoming Broadway show, however, Mr. Sheridan strongly objects to his younger brother’s proposal.
Materials, dates and provenance
- Date: ca. 1978
- Directed by: Barra Grant, American, born 1948
- Produced by: Evelyn Barron, American
- Subject of: James Pelham, American
- Subject of: Claudia McNeil, American, 1917 - 1993
- Subject of: Charles "Honi" Coles, American, 1911 - 1992
- Subject of: Danielle Spencer, American, 1965 - 2025
- Subject of: Anna Maria Horsford, American, born 1948
- Subject of: Charles Blackwell, American, 1929 - 1995
- Type: sound films
- Type: color films (visual works)
- Type: 16mm (photographic film size)
- Medium: polyester film
- Dimensions: Duration: 26 Minutes
- Dimensions: Length (Film): 950 Feet
- Place used: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
- Place filmed: New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
- Topic: African American
- Topic: Actors
- Topic: Broadway Theatre
- Topic: Children
- Topic: Children's television
- Topic: Photography
- Topic: Tap dancing
- Topic: Television
- Object number: 2017.55.48.1a
- 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.
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