Coin-Operated Treasures: Black-Cast Soundies from the Astoria Studio

From 1941 to 1947, coin-operated, art-deco-style wooden cabinets called Panorams played three-minute musical shorts known as Soundies in bars, restaurants, and other public venues across the country. Vividly capturing the performances of big bands, folk artists, vocalists, dancers, and novelty acts, these proto music videos comprise a dynamic visual record of the popular entertainers of the era. More than 300 of the roughly 1,800 Soundies produced feature Black performers, including Cab Calloway, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and Fats Waller. This exhibition presents a Panoram machine, recently acquired by the Museum, alongside eight Soundies featuring Black performers filmed in 1941 and 1942 by Minoco Productions using stages at the Eastern Service Studios (now Kaufman Astoria Studios), just next door to the Museum.  

Organized by Barbara Miller, Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs, and Charlotte Kasper, Assistant Curator for Collections and Exhibitions 

Special thanks to Mark Cantor, Susan Delson, and Kino Lorber