Polaroid portrait of Kool Herc and Al B at Stardust Ballroom: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This is a color Polaroid depicting DJ Kool Herc (left) and Al B (right) at the Stardust Ballroom in the Bronx, NY. Both men are show full-length, posed along a three-step staircase and leaning against the railing. Kool Herc is wearing his costume ensemble from Beat Street, an all denim outfit consisting of a jacket and jeans with brown fringe along the edges. He is wearing a black felt Stetson and sunglasses. Al B is wearing denim jeans and a dark colored jacket with black, square-shaped glasses. There are several people in the background.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: ca. 1984
• Photograph by: Unidentified
• Subject of: DJ Kool Herc, Jamaican American, born 1955
• Subject of: Al B
• Subject of: Stardust Ballroom, American
• Type: group portraits
• Type: instant camera photographs
• Medium: dye and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (image): 3 3/4 × 2 7/8 in. (9.5 × 7.3 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (sheet): 4 1/4 × 3 1/4 in. (10.8 × 8.3 cm)
• Place captured: Bronx, New York City, Bronx County, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: DJs (Musicians)
• Topic: Hip-hop (Music)
• Topic: Nightlife
• Topic: Photography
• Object number: 2022.73.4.2
• 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.