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Tag: Lindy Hop


Oct
2018

Roundup of My Favorite Vintage Online Reads & Videos

categories: vintage articles

It’s been awhile since I have done a roundup of my favourite vintage reads and videos. So just as we close up October….here you go. Enjoy everyone!

Oh and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

1940s vintage halloween photo of a man bobbing for apples while women and a soldier stand around watching.

A friend of mine is selling the below 1940s/1950s Harford Frocks Sales Cards and I was very curious on the history behind them. Well the fantastic ‘Vintage Traveler‘ Blog has written a post on these cool items of fashion history and solved my mystery. It’s well worth the read, so check it out HERE! 

1940s/1950s Harford Frocks Sales Cards
1940s Fashion: 1940s/1950s Harford Frocks Sales Card featuring a woma in a shirtwaist dress

Camp Hollywood 2018 Open Lindy Finals

YUP WOW!   (Video Link)

Further Reading: Swing Dance & the Big Band Era (archived blog posts)

Awesome Garage Sale Find! Dance tickets from Toronto’s Palais Royale ballroom possibly from the 1930s.

Palais Royale Toronto Vintage Tickets

Oct. 18, 1929, women were finally declared “persons” under Canadian law.

Read all about the Historic Ruling HERE.

Prime Minister King poses with Nellie McClung, 2 senators and Famous Five family members in front of the tablet unveiled commemorating the Women as Persons ruling

Prime Minister King poses with Nellie McClung, 2 senators and “Famous Five” family members in front of the tablet unveiled commemorating the “Women as Persons” ruling.

In a Fit of 1940s Optimism, Greyhound Proposed a Fleet of Helicopter Buses

Article by Smithsonian – The 1940s were a period of rapid technological advancement in America. On that account, perhaps, the planners at Greyhound can be forgiven for their optimism when, on this day in 1943, they promised that people would be trading up their bus seat for one on a helicopter bus soon. Continue Reading Article…

1940s vintage photo of 1940s people waiting to get on a Greyhound Bus.

1940s Nail Guide-Now this is not an article or a video but it’s just to fun NOT to share!

1940s vintage advertising for a Manicure nail guide featuring the ways t he ways to polish your nails.

Rename Oakland airport? Petition seeks to recognize trailblazing Berkeley pilot-Maggie Gee

She was a pioneering pilot, flying planes for the military during WWII, a coder in the early days of computers and a tireless community advocate. And now, one Walnut Creek resident is on a quest to rename Oakland International Airport in her honor. Read the story HERE

1940s Vintage Photo: An old portrait of Maggie Gee in her pilot's uniform is shown on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009, at her home in Berkeley, Calif. Gee served as a pilot for two years during World War II and was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in July. A children's book based on her life as a Women's Airforce Service Pilot (WASP) was just published.
An old portrait of Maggie Gee in her pilot’s uniform is shown on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009, at her home in Berkeley, Calif. Gee served as a pilot for two years during World War II and was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in July. A children’s book based on her life as a Women’s Airforce Service Pilot (WASP) was just published. (Maggie Gee/Contributed)

Have a wonderful rest of your week friends and if you read or saw something really cool, please share in the comments section below. Thanks!

Liz


May
2018

Vintage Photos of The Lindy Hop

categories: Lindy Hop, vintage images, Vintage Photo Tuesday

May 26th is a very special day in the Lindy Hop Community (the original Swing Dance) as it’s ‘World Lindy Hop Day‘ AND the birthday of one of the founders of the dance, Frankie Manning. Many communities around the world will be celebrating and here in Toronto we are hosting a Big Band Swing Dance. I’m the emcee for the night and it’s going to be a wonderful night of music and dance.

For today’s Vintage Photo Tuesday (collection of vintage photo posts) I wanted to share images of the Lindy Hop/Jitterbug that myself and so many others have enjoyed over the years.

Let the dancing begin!

Vintage Photos of the Lindy Hop

Lindy Hop at the Savoy Ballroom.

1930s vintage photo of Lindy Hoppers at the savoy ballroom in 1930s fashions dancing.
Source: Pinterest

The History of Lindy Hop

It begins in the African American communities of Harlem, New York during the late 1920s in conjunction with swing jazz. Lindy Hop is closely related to earlier African American vernacular dances but quickly gained its own fame through dancers in films, performances, competitions, and professional dance troupes. It became especially popular in the 1930s with the upsurge of aerials. The popularity of Lindy Hop declined after World War II, and it converted to other forms of dancing, but it never disappeared during the decades between the 1940s and the 1980s until European and American dancers revived it starting from the beginning of the 1980s (Source).

NOTE: For a much more detailed and excellent read on this dance, please check out Yehoodi’s-Lindy Hop: Its Origins, Innovators, and Legacy

The Vintage Images

Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers was a professional performing group of Savoy Ballroom swing dancers, started in 1935 by Herbert “Whitey” White. Frankie Manning mentioned above was part of this troupe.

Whitey's Lindy Hoppers vintage photo
Source: NYPL Digital Collections

Frankie Manning & Ann Johnson in 1941, demonstrating an Aerial Step that Frankie was the original creator of.

1940s vintage photo of Frankie Manning & Ann Johnson in 1941, demonstrating an Aerial Step that Frankie was the original creator of.
Source: Laura Windley

Original swing dancers Willa Mae Ricker & Leon James, dance the Lindy Hop for Life Magazine in April 23rd, 1943.

1940s Vintage Photo: Original swing dancers Willa Mae Ricker & Leon James, dance the Lindy Hop for Life Magazine in April 23rd, 1943.
Source: Swungover
1940s Vintage Photo: Original swing dancers Willa Mae Ricker & Leon James, dance the Lindy Hop for Life Magazine in April 23rd, 1943.
Source: Pinterest
1940s Vintage Photo: Original swing dancers Willa Mae Ricker & Leon James, dance the Lindy Hop for Life Magazine in April 23rd, 1943.
Source: Pinterest

Jitterbug contest, 1939.

1930s Vintage Photo of a couple doing a dance aerial at a Jitterbug contest in 1939.
Source: Tumblr

Lindy Hopping at the famous Savoy Ballroom, in Harlem New York.

Lindy hop vintage photo at the Savoy Ballroom. A Black couple dancing the Lindy Hop and having a blast!
Source: Tumblr

Kaye Popp and Stanley Catron also demonstrating The Lindy Hop for Life magazine, April 23rd 1943.

1940s vintage photo of Kaye Popp and Stanley Catron also demonstrating The Lindy Hop for Life magazine, April 23rd 1943.
Source: Time.com

Washington, D. C. Jitterbugs at an Elk’s Club dance, 1943.

1940s Vintage Photo: Washington, D. C. Jitterbugs at an Elk's Club dance, 1943.
Source: Wikipedia

Jean Veloz and little brother Ray Phelps, famous swing dancers in the 1940s.

Jean Veloz and little brother Ray Phelps dancing the lindy hop 1940s

Lindy Hop dance in the 1940s.

1940s Vintage Photo of a social Lindy hop dance in NY. Super 1940s fashions.
Source: Tumblr

Dorothy McGuire doing the Lindy at the Stage Door Canteen. -1940s photo.

1940s vintage photo of Dorothy McGuire doing the Lindy at the Stage Door Canteen
Source: Pinterest

I will leave you with one last photo of Frankie Manning and Ann Johnson perfecting an Aerial Move. Truly a work of art!

Frankie Manning and Ann Johnson Vintage Dance Photo
Source: Pinterest

I hope you enjoyed browsing these wonderful vintage Lindy Hop Photos and if you are not a swing dancer yet, maybe this post will enourage you to make the move. It truly is loads of fun!

FURTHER READING:

Liz