Bowler hat for Ain't Misbehavin' costume worn by André De Shields: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Bowler hat from Ain't Misbehavin' costume ensemble for Act I worn by André De Shields during the 1982 NBC TV special. The bowler hat is made from dark navy blue felt and a shiny fabric border on the upturned edges of the hat. The hatband surrounds the head of that hat and folds over itself to make a flat bow on the proper right. The hatband fabric is mostly blue with a central line of white, light blue, yellow and light blue. The inside of the hat is lined with a shiny fabric material and has an edging of leather and felt to keep the hat in place. The top crown inside the hat is lined with clear plastic over the manufacture's label that reads, [PRO REGE ET GREGE / JAY LORD / REG. / HATTER / NEW YORK]. The label also includes an illustration of a top hat and walking stick.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1982
• Created by: Jay Lord Hatters, American, 1937 - 1989
• Worn by: André De Shields, American, born 1946
• Type: derbies (hats)
• Medium: wool (textile), felt, silk (textile), leather and plastic
• Dimensions: H x W x D: 11 7/8 × 10 × 4 3/4 in. (30.2 × 25.4 × 12.1 cm)
• Place made: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Actors
• Topic: Broadway Theatre
• Topic: Clothing and dress
• Topic: Costume
• Topic: Entertainers
• Topic: Musical Theatre
• Topic: Television
• Object number: 2018.1.1.2
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of André De Shields
• 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: No Known Copyright Restrictions Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.