The Subject Is Jazz: Early Jazz

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

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.

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