A Visual Journey is a virtual exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History (discussed in the September 19, 1997 Scout Report). This photographic exhibit displays more than 60 captioned images captured by Lisa Law during the late 60s and early 70s. The photographs are divided into eight galleries, taking visitors on a journey that visually explores the era's social...

One of the most enduring legends of American film, stage, and screen receives an excellent tribute on this online exhibit from the Library of Congress, dealing with his 70 year career, and more broadly, the enduring legacy and history of vaudeville in the United States. Different sections of the site include an essay on the early life of Bob Hope, the story of American vaudeville in the first...

This month marks the 35th anniversary of the Beatles' arrival in America, an event that sparked the "second British Invasion" of 1964-67. Soon after their historic appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, a string of British bands sought their fortune on the US pop charts, as American youths clamored for singles, clothes, and anything else hip and new from the old country. This new site from the...

The Chicago Film Archives is an amazing regional film archive that collects, preserves, and provides access to films that represent the spirit of the Midwest. They work together with a range of other partners to host film festivals, develop seminars, and also sponsor public lectures. Visitors should click on over to the Explore Collections area to browse through over 600 films. This section...

Based in New York, the City Lore organization is a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting the cultural heritage of the city through a variety of programs and events. Two online exhibits dealing with the Puerto Rican Day parade and the making of lace highlight some of their more recent work. A resources link on the site leads to several helpful articles that highlight the study of urban...

Born on May 29, 1903 in England, Bob Hope (who is sometimes affectionately referred to as "Old Ski Slope"), turned 100 yesterday. From his early days in vaudeville (where he and a partner were once the opening act for Fatty Arbuckle), Hope went on to legendary status as a comedian working on radio, film, and later, television. While Hope is unable to attend the public celebrations being held in...

Sponsored by the National Humanities Center, the Digital Scriptorium, and Duke University, this online exhibit examines "the complex relationship between modern medicine and modern advertising." Containing over 600 documents dating from 1913 to 1963, the collection contains different printed advertisements organized around categories such as personal and oral hygiene and household products....

Bill Young has created a fascinating and well-thought out tribute to the New York World's Fair of 1964-1965, whose theme was "Peace Through Understanding." Easily navigated, the site features a navigation tutorial, which may be helpful, as there is a substantial amount of material contained here. Visitors to the site can search for different information about the Fair by clicking one of the maps...

Only in America, one might say, would artistic self-expression be so successfully mass produced, commodified, and regimented. Nevertheless, in a brave attempt at recuperation, the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History offers this new Website on the popular 1950s' hobby of painting by number from the perspective of "the artists and entrepreneurs who created the popular paint...

The advent of the high fidelity turntable and the launch of Sputnik may seem to be wholly unrelated events, but in terms of recorded music, they blended together to create a world-wide fascination with what later would be termed "space-age pop." The site itself covers many aspects of space age pop (and its related musical cousins such as exotica and lounge music) with great attention to detail....