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Museum object · Time-based Media - Moving Images

Film clip of "Stealin' Apples" from A Song is Born

1948

United States, North and Central America

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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.

A film clip of Benny Goodman and Lionel Hampton performing the jazz song "Stealin' Apples" in the musical film A Song is Born. It consists of a single reel of positive, black-and-white, 16mm acetate film with bilateral variable-area optical sound (a) and an original plastic film reel (b). The footage opens with Professor Magenbruch (Benny Goodman) walking into a room accompanied by another gentleman. Professor Magenbruch approaches Lionel Hampton, who stands by a vibraphone and asks, "Is this the music here?" After a brief conversation, the group plays the tune to the jazz song "Stealin' Apples.” An audience surrounds Hampton, Professor Magenbruch and the other instrumentalists, and dances to the beat.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2015.275.32.1ab

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