Explore Black History

1950-1958

A black-and-white photograph of Disc Jockey Bill “Hawk” Hawkins with Bill Bailey. The photograph, taken from inside the Bill Hawkins’ Record Studio, depicts Hawkins and Bailey standing behind a large DJ console with a microphone and a turntable. Hawkins and Bailey are depicted from the waist up, facing the left edge of the photograph. Hawkins, on the far right, holds an advertisement for his WEW radio show in front of him with his proper right hand and he is gesturing towards it with his proper left hand. Bailey, center, looks over Hawkins’ proper right arm at the advertisement. Both men are smiling. Hawkins is wearing a dark collared shirt with wavy white vertical lines, a dark tie, and dark trousers. Over his ears are a pair of headphones with black wires draped down the front of his shirt. Bailey is depicted wearing a dark suit, white collared shirt, and a medium-toned tie with thin, white diagonal stripes. In front of the men is DJ equipment and a silver tone microphone. The advertisement in Hawkins’ hand depicts a graphic of a footed beer glass with a banner across the front and a small speaker over the foot. The text, printed in varying fonts and sizes over the graphics, reads [[WR?]ITE A / GOLDEN / TIME” / COMMERCIAL / YOUR HOST / Burkhardt’s / Special / BEER / WEWS / SATURDAY 11 PM]. In the top right corner of the advertisement are graphics of musical notes and white text that reads [There’s a Smile / in Every Bubble!]. White text printed in the bottom right corner reads [[---?]T’s EASY!] and [BREW[---?] [---?], AKRON, OHIO]. Behind Hawkins and Bailey is a window framed in wood paneling with white curtains on the right. On the left is a clear window and the head of a young man in profile is visible. Some posters with graphics and text are visible above him. The photograph has a white border and a landscape orientation. The back of the photograph is white and plain with a stamp slightly above and to the left of center and handwritten black and red ink inscriptions at the center and in the top right corner. The black ink stamp reads [JAMES A. JOYCE / PHOTOGRAPHER / TY 1-0748 CLEVELAND, OHIO].

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Photographs and Still Images

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of W. Allen Taylor, son of "Walkin' Talkin' Bill Hawkins," The First Black Disc Jockey of Cleveland, Ohio

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2018.91.2.10

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

H x W (Sheet): 5 1/16 × 7 in. (12.9 × 17.8 cm)

Object Name • Photograph of Disc Jockey Bill “Hawk” Hawkins with Bill Bailey

nmaahc_2018.91.2.10

NMAAHC

PHOTOGRAPH OF DISC JOCKEY BILL “HAWK” HAWKINS WITH BILL BAILEY

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1950s

Bailey, Bill • Joyce, James A. • WEW • Burkhardt Brewing Company • Bill Hawkins’ Record Studio • Hawkins, Bill

United States • North and Central America • Ohio • Cleveland • Cuyahoga County

Photography • Tap dancing • Radio

City • Cleveland • County • Cuyahoga County • State • Ohio • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America

Portraits • Photographs

Images

Unknown - Restrictions Possible