Grandmaster Flash Onstage at The Ritz, NYC: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A black-and-white photograph of Grandmaster Flash onstage at The Ritz nightclub in New York City. Flash is viewed from above the camera, standing with his left hand on his left hip and looking out over his left shoulder. He wears light-colored pants with dark stripes down the side, a studded belt with handcuffs, a dark and light-colored jacket, and a dark-colored hat. Another performer and the stage lights are visible behind him.

On the verso is an adhesive label with the Eyejammie.com logo and [Title: Grandmaster Flash Onstage at The Ritz / Photographer: Harry Allen] printed in black text.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: early 1980s
• Photograph by: Harry Allen, American, born 1964
• Subject of: Grandmaster Flash, American, born 1958
• Subject of: The Ritz, American, 1980 - early 1990s
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Type: portraits
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet): 19 13/16 × 15 15/16 in. (50.4 × 40.5 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Image): 17 15/16 × 12 1/16 in. (45.5 × 30.7 cm)
• Place captured: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Fashion
• Topic: Hip-hop (Music)
• Topic: Musicians
• Topic: Photography
• Object number: 2015.132.38
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• 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: © Harry Allen Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.