Group portrait of the Christmas cast party for Lew Leslie's "Blackbirds of 1928": Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Black and white silver gelatin photograph of a group portrait from the Christmas cast party for Lew Leslie's play, "Blackbirds of 1928," Paris production in 1929. The photograph depicts a large group arranged on a small stage in three rows, the first row seated on the edge of the stage, the second row seated on chairs, and the third row standing behind them. A dark curtain is visible in the background, with tables and chairs to the side and three light fixtures above. A small toy French bulldog is placed on the ground front and center of the group. Most individuals are looking towards the camera and smiling. The group photographed consists of members of the cast and crew of the production, as well as other guests, and includes Clarence Robinson, William Grant Still, Mantan Moreland, Tim Moore, Lew Leslie, Man Ray, Ira Gershwin, Adelaide Hall, Mistinguett (Jeanne Florentine Bourgeois), James Joyce, Kurt Weill, Aida Ward, Elisabeth Welch, Nina Mae McKinney, Ruth Gordon and Jed Harris.

At the bottom right corner of the photograph is a handwritten inscription in blue ink reading [To Marmetta / With Love / From Ruthie / Paris / 1929]. On the reverse is the photographer's stamp: [Reportages Photographiques Ruysdal].

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1929
• Created by: Reportages Photographiques Ruysdal
• Subject of: Clarence Robinson
• Subject of: Mantan Moreland, American, 1902 - 1973
• Subject of: Tim Moore, American, 1887 - 1958
• Subject of: Lew Leslie, 1888 - 1963
• Subject of: Man Ray, American, 1890 - 1976
• Subject of: Ira Gershwin, American, 1896 - 1983
• Subject of: Adelaide Hall, American, 1901 - 1993
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Type: portraits
• Medium: photographic gelatin and silver on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W: 9 3/8 x 11 11/16 in. (23.8 x 29.7 cm)
• Place captured: Paris, France, Europe
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Actors
• Topic: Broadway Theatre
• Topic: Composers (Musicians)
• Topic: Entertainers
• Topic: Holidays and festivals
• Topic: Literature
• Topic: Musical Theatre
• Object number: 2011.57.27.1
• 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 displayed image also has an explicit CC0 designation. The underlying object's rights statement is: No Known Copyright Restrictions Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.