Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Smithsonian World/WETA "Selling the Dream" Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0418
Creators:
Smithsonian World
Dates:
1990-1991
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
23 Cubic feet
16 boxes
Repository:
The collection documents "Selling the Dream" was an hour long television documentary that aired in early 1991 as part of the public television series, Smithsonian World.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Series 1, boxes 1-15: 16 mm color film shot for the program, arranged in two subseries. Subseries A, boxes 1-10, consists of primary source materials including film footage of a meeting of scholars, historians, archivists, Weiden & Kennedy advertising agency personnel, and Nike executives at the Smithsonian's Center for Advertising History for the Nike Advertising Oral History and Documentation Project; interviews with scholars, historians, industry representatives (including transcripts for some interviews); and documentation of a Mitsubishi GT3000 ad from pitch to production, including meetings between Grey advertising agency personnel and Mitsubishi account representatives, a live commerical shoot and a production session with a commercial narrator. Subseries B, boxes 11-15, consists of secondary materials created during production, including pre-production sync pulls, trims, and lifts as compiled and edited by producer Steven York and Associates. Series 2, box 16, contains documentary materials relating to the show's production and broadcast, including correspondence, press releases, and publicity. Transcripts for the interviews are located here.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is divided into two series.
Series 1: Film
Series 2: Documentary Material

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
"Selling the Dream" was an hour-long television documentary that aired in early 1991 as part of the public television series "Smithsonian World." The program traces the evolution of advertising from the late 19th century through the creative revolution of the 1960s to explore how advertising both influences and reflects American culture. In addition to historical imagery, the program follows a contemporary Mitsubishi GT3000 automobile advertising campaign from conception to production. The program features interviews with the men and women who created the advertising as well as with scholars, historians, industry advocates and government officials who comment on the role and history of advertising in a comsumer culture. "Selling the Dream" was underwritten by Southwestern Bell and co-produced by WETA and the Smithsonian Institution. The Center for Advertising History served as a resource and consultant to the producers.

Administration

Author
Mimi L. Minnick
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Collection donated by Smithsonian World through executive producer Sandra Bradley, in August 1991.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Mimi L. Minnick, archivist, 1991.

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Smithsonian World/WETA "Selling the Dream" Collection, 1990-1991, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Use
There are reproduction restrictions on material in this collection. See repository details.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Stereotypes (Social psychology) in advertising Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Symbolism in advertising Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wit and humor in advertising Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sex role in advertising Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Audiovisual materials Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Oral history -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Television advertising Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Motion pictures (visual works) -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Transcripts Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Interviews -- 1950-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Press releases -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wieden & Kennedy Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
WETA Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gitlin, Todd Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Center for Advertising History (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Grey Advertising. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Oda, Frances Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mitsubishi Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Marchand, Roland Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Polykoff, Shirley Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pertshuk, Michael Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ogilvy, David Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu