Designed by
Straightman (aka LAVA), American, died 2020
Printed by
Prestype, American
Distributed by
Police Athletic League, American, founded 1936
Subject of
Kool DJ AJ, American, died 2015
DJ Ken-Du, American
MC Ladie Lil-Lee, American
MC E-Man, American
MC Ricky D, British American, born 1965
The Herculords, American
DJ Kool Herc, Jamaican American, born 1955
DJ Clark Kent
DJ J.C., American, 1961 - 2022
Busy Bee Starski, American, born 1962
Date
September 22, 1979
Medium
ink on paper (fiber product)
Dimensions
H x W: 10 13/16 × 8 3/8 in. (27.5 × 21.2 cm)
Description
A flier for “A Show with a Funkbox” designed by Straightman. The flier is in portrait orientation and printed on pink paper with black text and graphics. The text is centered inside an Art Deco-style, black and pink frame with stepped corners. Printed inside the solid, black, top band of the frame is a thin pink rectangle with the graphic designer’s information printed in small, narrow, black text that reads [A STRAiGHTMAN FLYER – 427-7299 ®]. Inside the frame, near the top, is a black outlined, Art Deco-style, elongated hexagon with the graphic designer’s information repeated at the top, the text [THE P.A.L.] at the center, and the word [(PRESENTS)] below. The exterior of the hexagon is accentuated on each side with two five-pointed stars and additional stars bookend the word [(PRESENTS)].
Below is the main body of the flier with black text in varying sizes and fonts that read [A SHOW WITH FUNKBOX] emphasized below with an Art Deco-style marquee graphic. Below the marquee graphic is the text [FEATURING] above the Playboy bunny logo. Below the Playboy logo is a larger central graphic of two women dancing under the word [DISCO] printed in an Art Deco font. The women are illustrated wearing sleeveless dresses with long, flowing, calve length skirts. The woman on the right has her proper right arm extended above her head in a disco dance pose. The woman on the left has her proper right toes pointed outwards. Around the women’s heads and shoulders are four illustrated flashing lights.
The performing acts and event information are listed on the left and right sides of the flier: [KOOL D.J. A.J… / D.J. KEN·DU. / MC’S LADIE LIL LEE. / MC. E·MAN… / MC. RICKY·D / SAT·SEPT 22, 1979 / DAMAGE $3 TIL- / 12:am. TIME / 9:pm·UNTIL.] printed on the left, and [HERCULORD’S. / KOOL HERC. / THE ROCK / Machine... / D.J. / CLARK / kent. / the / IMPERIAL / D.J. & MC. J.C! / -ALSO- / B.B. STARSky!] printed on the right. A graphic of a pointing hand on the bottom right points toward an outlined rectangle at the bottom of the flier. Inside the rectangle is the venue information and directions printed in black text that reads [E·182 & 183 st. Webster Ave. / Take Train N? 2·5 To 149st. / Take Bus N? 41·55X·To 183st.]. Printed on either side of the directions are solid black, profile silhouettes of a woman holding a spyglass on the left, and a man holding a magnifying glass on the right. The silhouettes are facing each other and are overlaid on mirror image outlines of the Bronx borough of New York City. Two Prestype trademarks are printed in the bottom left and top right corners of the flier. At the center of the bottom edge of the frame is an inverted Playboy bunny logo. The back of the flier has no text or inscriptions.
Transcription Center Status
Transcription Available
Place used
Bronx, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design
Memorabilia and Ephemera - Advertisements
Type
fliers (printed matter)
Topic
Design
Disco (Music)
DJs (Musicians)
Graphic design
Hip-hop (Music)
Nightlife
Rappers (Musicians)
Urban life
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2020.38.1.8
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd56f78b85c-9044-4b09-a1a9-f09aee72bc77

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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