Costume worn by Phyllis Diller on Circus of the Stars: Museum Object and Cultural History
Costume worn by Phyllis Diller on Circus of the Stars: date made: ca 1983. wearer: Diller, Phyllis. Object Name: costume.
The object in the museum catalogue
Phyllis Diller wore this costume on Circus of the Stars in 1983. The costume consists of a hot pink dress with lime green polka dots, lime green bloomers, a hot pink headband, a handbag with a metal insert designed to hold fish, and two pairs of pantyhose. Diller also wore a lime green clown wig with the costume. During the 8th Circus of the Stars Phyllis Diller performed at Sea World with Clyde the seal and a 3,000 pound walrus named Schmedley.
Airing between 1977 and 1994, Circus of the Stars was an annual CBS television special that showcased celebrities performing circus acts. Phyllis Diller appeared on 3 episodes of the program—in 1983, 1985, and 1994. NMAH also has the costume she wore for Circus of the Stars Goes to Disneyland in 1994 (Catalog Number 2003.0289.07).
Materials, dates and provenance
- date made: ca 1983
- wearer: Diller, Phyllis
- Object Name: costume
- Physical Description: synthetic fibers (overall material)
- Physical Description: cotton (overall material)
- Physical Description: metal (overall material)
- Physical Description: plastic (overall material)
- Physical Description: elastic (overall material)
- Physical Description: nylon (overall material)
- Measurements: overall (dress): 34 in x 17 in; 86.36 cm x 43.18 cm
- Measurements: overall (bloomers): 28 in x 20 1/2 in; 71.12 cm x 52.07 cm
- ID Number: COLL.DILLER.000003
- accession number: 2003.0289
- catalog number: 2003.0289.06.01
- catalog number: 2003.0289.06.02
- catalog number: 2003.0289.06.03
- catalog number: 2003.0289.06.04
- catalog number: 2003.0289.06.05
- catalog number: 2003.0289.06.06
- Credit Line: Gift of Phyllis Diller
- Data Source: National Museum of American History
Sources and reuse
Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.
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