Photographic plate for the April 1937 edition of The Show-Down Magazine: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A photographic plate for page 8 of the April 1937 edition of The Show-Down Magazine with five (5) photographs of Al Moore and Dennie, Freeman and Freeman, Paul Brown, and two (2) images of Ethel Moses. All of the performers are depicted at the Ubangi Club, standing on a stage set featuring a facade of close-set buildings. The photographs are adhered to a cardboard backing. On the back of the plate are handwritten notations in pencil.

A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of Ubangi Club ballroom dancers, Al Moore and Dennie, reading a copy of Show-Down magazine. Dennie is depicted wearing a black hat, a medium toned double-breasted jacket, a matching calf-length skirt, and pumps. Moore is standing behind her, with his proper left arm wrapped around her back and his hand resting on her proper left arm. He is wearing a medium toned, pinstriped suit and tie. The two are holding a copy of The Show-Down magazine. Both are looking at it and smiling. In the bottom right corner is a handwritten inscription in pencil that reads, [crop].

A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of Ubangi Club tap duo, Freeman and Freeman. The woman, depicted on the right, is wearing a light toned half hat, a dark dress with a collar and buttons down the front, and lace up shoes. The man is standing behind her, with his proper left arm wrapped around her back and his hand resting on her proper left shoulder. He is wearing a dark three piece suit and tie. The two hold a copy of The Show-Down magazine featuring a close up of a woman on the front cover. Both are looking at the viewer and are smiling.

A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of Ethel Moses. Moses is depicted in full length, on a wooden stage at the Ubangi Club. She is standing with her arms akimbo with her hands resting on her hips, her body is turned towards the right side of the image, and with her head tilted toward the left side of the image. She is looking towards the left edge of the image and smiling. She is wearing a one piece, bathing suit costume. The top of the suit has a halter neck and a diagonally striped top. The bottom of the suit is dark with a striped belt that matches the top of the suit.

A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of Paul Brown. Brown is depicted in full length, on a wooden stage at the Ubangi Club. He is standing with his proper right forward and crossed in front of his proper left leg, his head turned towards the viewer. His elbows are out and his hands are clasped together in front of his chest. He is smiling and looking towards the left edge of the image. He is wearing a dark, double breasted, pinstriped suit and a dark tie.

A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of Ethel Moses. Moses is depicted in full length, on a wooden stage at the Ubangi Club. She is standing with her arms akimbo and with her hands resting on her hips. Her proper left shoulder held slightly forward and her proper left knee is bent. Her body is turned towards the left side of the image and her head is tilted toward the right side of the image. She is looking towards the right side of the image. She is wearing a one piece, bathing suit costume. The top of the suit has a halter neck and a diagonally striped top. The bottom of the suit is dark with a striped belt that matches the top of the suit.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1937
• Photograph by: Hughey J. Battelle
• Subject of: Al Moore
• Subject of: Unidentified Woman or Women
• Subject of: Unidentified Man or Men
• Subject of: Freeman and Freeman, American
• Subject of: Ethel Moses, American, 1904 - 1982
• Subject of: Paul Brown
• Subject of: Ubangi Club, American, 1934 - 1944
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper on cardboard
• Dimensions: H x W x D (Overall): 10 7/8 × 5 1/16 × 1/16 in. (27.7 × 12.9 × 0.2 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (2013.46.25.261a): 5 7/16 × 2 13/16 in. (13.8 × 7.1 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (2013.46.25.261b): 5 3/8 × 2 1/16 in. (13.7 × 5.2 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (2013.46.25.261c): 5 1/4 × 1 3/8 in. (13.3 × 3.5 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W x D (2013.46.25.261d): 5 1/4 × 1 15/16 in. (13.3 × 4.9 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (2013.46.25.261e): 5 1/4 × 1 9/16 in. (13.3 × 4 cm)
• Place captured: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Place made: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Dance
• Topic: Entertainers
• Topic: Jazz (Music)
• Topic: Mass media
• Topic: Nightlife
• Topic: Photography
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Object number: 2013.46.25.261a-e
• 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: Unknown - Restrictions Possible Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.