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
Cotton Club, American, 1923 - 1940
Date
1932
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 12 × 9 in. (30.5 × 22.9 cm)
Description
Sheet music for the song "I've Got the World on a String" Cotton Club Parade 21st edition. The front cover is divided into four triangular fields of alternating red and blue that fan outwards from a point towards the bottom right margin. A white rectangle at the top margin contains words "I've Got the World on a String" in blue letters. Beneath the title, in white letters, are the words "The COTTON CLUB/ presents/ COTTON CLUB PARADE/ OF 1932/ 21st Edition." At center bottom are the words "Lyrics and Music by/ TED KOEHLER/ and/ HAROLD ARLEN." Beneath are the words "staged by/ DAN HEALY." To the left of this phrase is a rectangle with the words "Mills Music/ Inc. / Music Publishers/ 1619 Broadway - New York, N.Y." and an image of two windmills. In a white rectangle in the lower left corner that contains four song titles. Throughout the blue and red fields are cartoon figures in various poses. At the top right quarter are two figures in tuxedos playing trumpets, and the legs of a female dancer. Below them are a music staph and a dancing figure with a top hat and cane. Below this figure is a partial figure of a man in a tuxedo playing the saxophone. In the adjacent blue field is a dancing female figure in a thigh-length dress with a plunging neckline. She has a large fluffy bustle behind her. She is surrounded by music staphs, stars, piano keys, and high rise buildings.
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
2013.223.9
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd55602b5ce-6806-4b4e-b514-299c7f18d408

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

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