Print of Cab Calloway conducting his band: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A black and white photograph of Cab Calloway conducting a band. Calloway is pictured at the right side of the image, in profile. He is turned facing towards the band, on the left. His proper left arm is raised, with a conductor's baton lightly grasped in his open hand. His head is pulled back, his face and gaze turned upwards, and his mouth open. He wears a light colored, double-breasted suit jacket and matching pants with a dark stripe up the side. The band members are gathered closely before him and to his proper left, wearing matching jackets and playing their instruments. From the bottom left is a trumpet player, a trombone player with slide outstretched, and an upright bass player turned to look and smile directly at the camera. To Calloway's proper right are two saxophone players. In the background are four chorus girls in matching light colored headdresses and sequined outfits. A large floral arrangement is in the top left corner and an art deco style, diamond shaped light fixture is in the top center. There are no marks or inscriptions, front or back.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1930s
• Photograph by: Unidentified
• Subject of: Cab Calloway, American, 1907 - 1994
• Subject of: Al Morgan, American, 1908 - 1974
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Image): 4 5/8 × 6 9/16 in. (11.8 × 16.7 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet): 4 15/16 × 6 7/8 in. (12.5 × 17.5 cm)
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Composers (Musicians)
• Topic: Conductors (Musicians)
• Topic: Dance
• Topic: Jazz (Music)
• Topic: Musicians
• Topic: Nightlife
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Object number: 2013.237.10
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Cabella Calloway Langsam
• 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 displayed image also has an explicit CC0 designation. The underlying object's rights statement is: Public domain Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.