Photograph of a performer, Toada, and three men dressed in theatrical costumes: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of three (3) men and a woman dressed in theatrical costumes. The woman is depicted center, standing on a white platform with her arms slightly raised at her sides. She is wearing a feathered bikini top, feathered wristlets, and a feathered skirt that leaves her legs and bikini bottoms exposed at the front. The men are posed around her. Each is holding a conga drum with a diamond pattern decoration. Each man wears a shirt with a laced-up front and puffy sleeves, pants, and sandals. Two of the men are posed on the left side of the image, and one of the right. White text printed in the negative in the bottom right corner reads [JAMES KOLLÁR / RADIO CITY, N.Y.]. Near the bottom right corner is an inscription in blue ink that reads, [To The Princess Laurie / You're so wonderful - / I'm happy I know you. / Always Your Friend / Toada]. The image is framed by a white border with black text printed in the bottom right corner that reads: [MOSS PHOTO, N.Y.]. There are no inscriptions on the back of the image.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: early 20th-mid 20th century
• Photograph by: James Kollar
• Distributed by: Moss Photo Service, Inc., American
• Subject of: Unidentified Woman or Women
• Subject of: Unidentified Man or Men
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Type: portraits
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Image): 9 3/8 × 7 7/16 in. (23.8 × 18.9 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet): 10 1/16 × 8 1/8 in. (25.5 × 20.7 cm)
• Place made: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Place printed: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Entertainers
• Topic: Music
• Topic: Nightlife
• Topic: Photography
• Topic: Stereotypes
• Topic: Theatre
• Object number: 2013.46.25.29
• 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.