Created by
Calloway, Cab, American, 1907 - 1994
Calloway, Nuffie, American, 1915 - 2008
Subject of
Calloway, Cab, American, 1907 - 1994
Calloway, Nuffie, American, 1915 - 2008
Horne, Lena, American, 1917 - 2010
Date
early 1950s
Medium
acetate film on metal
Dimensions
Length (film strip): 350 Feet
Duration: 00:12:38
Description
A compilation reel of silent, black-and-white home movies featuring Cab Calloway and his family at their home in Long Island, NY and at the beach. (N.B. Original footage has exposure irregularities). It consists of 16mm film (2015.273.2.2.1a), an original 400-foot film reel (2015.273.2.2.1b), and original 400-foot film can (2015.273.2.2.1c).
The first two shots of the film were captured in front of the Calloway home. The first depicts Zulme "Nuffie" Calloway, Cab Calloway's wife, holding one of their children, and the second shows the local milkman dropping off milk. This is followed by shots of Mrs. Calloway and an unidentified woman exiting an unidentified building. The next shot captures an unidentified woman showing off one of Calloway's children for the camera. An overexposed section follows. The subsequent series of shots depict Calloway napping with one of his children in a hammock as an unidentified older woman sits next to them. This is followed by a sequence focused on Calloway's children, a toddler and an elementary-school-aged boy, and the unidentified older woman. The three individuals pose for the camera in different positions. Mrs. Calloway also appears in several shots. The next series again focuses on the toddler at a gathering of family and friends in the front yard. Lena Horne can be seen in many of the shots playing with the toddler. Horne interacts with various unidentified individuals and poses for the camera in front of Calloway's home in the following series of shots. The film concludes with a sequence filmed during a family trip to the beach. The Calloway's toddler-age child appears most prominently. There are also shots of Mrs. Calloway and an unidentified older child, as well as a shot of Calloway carrying the toddler on his shoulders.
Place filmed
Long Beach, Nassau County, New York, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
The Cabell “Cab” Calloway III Collection
Classification
Archival Collections
Time-based Media - Moving Images
Type
silent films
home movies
16mm (photographic film size)
Topic
Actors
Children
Composers (Musicians)
Conductors (Musicians)
Domestic life
Entertainers
Families
Fatherhood
Film
Jazz (Music)
Motherhood
Recreation
Singers (Musicians)
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Cabella Calloway Langsam
Object number
2015.273.2.2.1abc
Restrictions & Rights
Creative Arts By Calloway, LLC
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd549020070-9f05-46c8-81e0-0c8e19dd8e74

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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