Written by
Koehler, Ted L., American, 1894 - 1973
Arlen, Harold, American, 1905 - 1986
Illustrated by
Lefkowitz, Sydney, American
Published by
Mills Music Incorporated, 1919 - 1965
Subject of
Healy, Dan, American, 1888 - 1969
Robinson, Clarence
Cotton Club, American, 1923 - 1940
Date
1931
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 12 1/16 × 9 3/16 in. (30.6 × 23.3 cm)
Description
Sheet music for the song "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" from the production of "Rhythm-mania" from The Cotton Club. The cover is a red palate with brown. Along the top in a red band is the song title "BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA." In the upper third, below the song title is the production title, in large brown letters. The title curves in a shallow, diagonal "s" pattern with the club listed above in red "The COTTON CLUB/ presents/ RHYTH-MANIA." Below the production title are two columns, one on the left edge of the cover, and one on the right. The left column "STAGED BY DAN HEALY/ DANCES BY/ CLARENCE ROBINSON." The right column "LYRICS BY/ TED KOEHLER/ MUSIC BY/ HAROLD ARLE." In the lower half of the cover is an illustration of a dancing line of people. Alternating between male and female, the dancers' PR side faces the viewer. There are two men and two women. The men wear dark jackets and pants with red and white striped shirts. They also have bowler hats and hold canes in their PR hands, with their PR arms bent behind their backs. Their PR legs are bent upward with their PL arm bent upward. The women wear sleeveless red dresses that are low cut and revealing. On their wrists are red bangles and their high heels feature bows tied at the ankle. The women have hoop earrings in their PR ears. Their legs are bent walking forward, while their torsos lean back. Their PR arms are bent behind them with their PL arms bent with their PL hands in front of them. At the bottom right corner is the illustrator's signature "Leff." Along the bottom edge is a band of red. In the lower left corner in a white rectangle is a song list "GET UP, GET OUT, GET UNDER THE SUN/ BREAKFAST DANCE/ NEATH THE PALE CUBAN MOON/ WITHOUT RHYTHM/ BETWEEN THE DEVIL/ AND THE DEP BLUE SEA/ KICKIN' THE GONG AROUND." In the lower right corner in a small rectangle is the music publisher with an illustration of a windmill with the words "MILLS MUSIC/ INC/ Music Publishers/ Mills Building/148-150 West 46th St. New York."
Place used
New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Written Music
Type
sheet music
Topic
Dance
Entertainers
Musical Theatre
Nightlife
Popular music
Segregation
Stereotypes
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Vicki Gold Levi
Object number
2013.223.17
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd57e6cd54c-2e25-4a6c-8ce7-378982e43b37

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

Share this page