Explore Black History

1948-1958

A black-and-white photograph of Disc Jockey Bill “Hawk” Hawkins with Mary Lou Williams and Paul Breckenridge inside the DJ booth in Bill Hawkins’ Record Studio. Breckenridge is depicted on the far left, Williams at center, and Hawkins on the far right. Breckenridge is smiling, facing the viewer, and looking down at an advertisement for Burkhardt’s Beer that he holds in his hands. The advertisement 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 [WRITE 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!]. Printed in the bottom left corner is small white text, [IT’S EASY! / IT’S FUN! / TAKE A CARD!], above a small, encircled, five-pointed star logo and additional small white text that reads [THE BURKHARDT BREWING CO. AKRON, OHIO]. Breckenridge is wearing a medium-toned, corduroy, button down shirt over a white undershirt and medium-toned trousers. He has a thick mustache and his head is slightly tilted towards Williams. Williams is depicted in profile facing Breckenridge. She is holding a promotional bottle of Burkhart Beer attached to a small cardboard cutout of a bulldog in her proper right hand and is smiling and looking towards the advertisement in Breckenridge’s hands. She is wearing a dark dress with a star shaped pin at the vee of the neckline. She has a fur stole with a fox face and a paw draped over her proper right shoulder. Hawkins is also depicted in profile facing Breckenridge. He is wearing a white collared shirt, medium-toned trousers, and is wearing a pair of headphones over his ears with cords that dangle down the front of his shirt. He is holding another promotional bottle of Burkhart Beer attached to a cardboard cutout in his proper right hand. In the background are two windows set into the wood panel walls inside Hawkin’s recording studio. In the bottom right corner is a photographer’s mark with black text that reads [James A. Joyce / PHOTOGRAPHER / CLEVELAND, OHIO]. The photograph has a white border and a landscape orientation. The back of the photo is white and plain with a photographer’s stamp at the center and two inscriptions. The black ink stamp reads [JAMES A. JOYCE / PHOTOGRAPHER / TY 1-0748 CLEVELAND, OHIO] and the red pencil inscriptions in the top right quadrant read [Paul Breckenridge / Mary Lou Williams].

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

2018.91.2.33

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 × 7 1/8 in. (12.7 × 18.1 cm)

Object Name • Photograph of Bill “Hawk” Hawkins, Mary Lou Williams, and Paul Breckenridge

nmaahc_2018.91.2.33

NMAAHC

PHOTOGRAPH OF BILL “HAWK” HAWKINS, MARY LOU WILLIAMS, AND PAUL BRECKENRIDGE

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1940s • 1950s

Breckenridge, Paul • Joyce, James A. • WEW • Burkhardt Brewing Company • Williams, Mary Lou • Hawkins, Bill

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

Photography • Composers (Musicians) • Radio • Instrumentalists (Musicians) • Jazz (Music) • Singers (Musicians)

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

Portraits • Photographs

Images

Unknown - Restrictions Possible