Explore Black History

1958

An episode entitled "Early Jazz," from the television anthology called The Subject is Jazz. It consists of a single reel of black-and-white, 16 mm acetate film with bilateral variable-area optical sound. The episode opens with title cards that read [The / National Broadcasting / Company / in cooperation with / The / Educational Television / and Radio Center / presents / the subject / is / jazz / With / Gilbert / Seldes / Early / Jazz]. An announcer speaks as the title cards appear, while a jazz band performs in the background. Host Gilbert Seldes then appears on screen and uses an analogy to compare jazz music to the Mississippi River. He then describes the sources/elements of jazz: drums from Africa, marching band music, hymns, British folk songs, and other miscellaneous sounds. Subsequently, he introduces Wilbur de Paris and his band, and the group performs "Muskrat Ramble."
Host Seldes then returns to the screen and discusses the development of jazz music in New Orleans. Some of the other topics/scenes in the episode include a New Orleans band playing hymns in a procession before and after a funeral; the musical instruments used in jazz (as he describes each musical instrument and the role it plays in the band, a band member plays that instrument in the background until all the instruments start playing); the proliferation of jazz to other cities in the United States. At one point, Wilbur de Paris then joins Gilbert Seldes on set and describes the development of jazz ensembles (the band then performs "Frankie and Johnny" in a New Orleans jazz style). Seldes then asks Wilbur de Paris to explain the difference between New Orleans jazz and Dixieland jazz (the band performs "Panama Rag" to demonstrate Dixieland music); de Paris is also asked to explain how his "new" New Orleans jazz differs from traditional New Orleans jazz. The episode ends with Gilbert Seldes describing the next episode in the series before the closing credits role.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

The Subject Is Jazz

Time-based Media - Moving Images

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Anonymous Gift in memory of Ernest (Ernie) R. Smith, Jazz Historian

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2015.275.42.1a

sound films
black-and-white films (visual works)
16mm (photographic film size)

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

acetate film

Duration (digital file): 00:30:11
Physical extent (film): 1200 ft

Title • The Subject Is Jazz: Early Jazz

nmaahc_2015.275.42.1a

NMAAHC

THE SUBJECT IS JAZZ: EARLY JAZZ

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1950s

de Paris, Wilbur • Smith, Ernie • Seldes, Gilbert Vivian • Universal Network Television • Norford, George

Orleans Parish • United States • North and Central America • Louisiana • New Orleans

Television • Motion pictures • Instrumentalists (Musicians) • Jazz (Music)

City • New Orleans • County • Orleans Parish • State • Louisiana • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America

black-and-white films (visual works) • 16mm (photographic film size) • sound films

Unknown - Restrictions Possible