Explore Black History

ca. 1941

A black-and-white photograph of Hazel Scott performing with Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra. Scott is depicted at the center of the photograph. She is shown standing in full length, singing into a microphone. She is wearing a light tone gown, off the shoulders, with black lace detailing at the neckline and over the front and side panels of the skirt, and has a white flower tucked into her hair. She is facing the audience and looking towards the viewer. She is holding the microphone stand with her proper left hand, and her proper right hand is balled at her side. Behind her are four members of Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra. All four men are wearing matching black tuxedos with white dress shirts and small black bowties. Al Hall stands on the far left side of the image, playing a double base. The man on his proper left side, Benny Morton, is playing a trombone. Bill Coleman stands next to him playing a trumpet, and Jimmy Hamilton stands on the far right side of the image, playing a clarinet. The men are standing behind plain, rectangular, hip level bandstands. Playing piano in the foreground is Teddy Wilson, shown in profile. He is wearing a light tone, tuxedo, white dress shirt, and bowtie. His elbows are bent and his hands are in playing position on the piano's keyboard. In the background is a plain, light tone fabric curtain.
On the verso of the photograph are newspaper clippings from 1940 about Hazel Scott and her performances printed in English and German adhered to a piece of cream colored paper. A German language Aufbau article titled [Hazel aus Trinidad] from July 26, 1940, is adhered to the top left quadrant. Adhered to the bottom left corner is a New York World-Telegram column titled [Without Worrying Over Cover Charges], from August 17, 1940, that mentions her performances at Café Society in Greenwich Village. Adhered to the right edge of the verso are three additional newspaper clippings with unknown sources. The clipping adhered to the top right edge is an advertisement for a Scott performance at the Golden Gate Ballroom on September 6, 1940 with [Aug 31st 1940] written in black in above. The undated article titled [Café Society Stars Take / The Air on Chain Program] adhered to the center right edge notes Scott’s guest star role on the radio show, “We, the People,” from WABC-CBS along with other Café Society performers. Adhered to the bottom right corner is an article titled, [Hazel Scott To / Café Society], that notes that Scott is the new headliner at the Café Society in Greenwich Village with [Aug 28th 1940] written in black in above.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Photographs and Still Images

Musical Crossroads

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Adam Clayton Powell III

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2023.101.1

gelatin silver prints
portraits

Unknown – Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper with newsprint and adhesive on paper (fiber product) and cardboard

H x W (Sheet): 14 9/16 × 10 5/8 in. (37 × 27 cm)
H x W (Image): 11 1/8 × 10 1/16 in. (28.2 × 25.5 cm)

Object Name • Photograph of Hazel Scott performing with Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra

nmaahc_2023.101.1

NMAAHC

PHOTOGRAPH OF HAZEL SCOTT PERFORMING WITH TEDDY WILSON AND HIS ORCHESTRA

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1940s

Coleman, Bill • New York World-Telegram • Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra • Café Society • WABC-CBS • Morton, Benny • Hall, Al • Golden Gate Ballroom • Scott, Hazel • Wilson, Teddy • Hamilton, Jimmy • Aufbau

New York City • United States • North and Central America

Nightlife • Photography • Entertainers • Instrumentalists (Musicians) • Jazz (Music) • Singers (Musicians)

NMAAHC • Musical Crossroads

City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America

Portraits • Photographs

Yes

Images

Unknown - Restrictions Possible