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.

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

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.

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

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:

Swing Dance & The Big Band Era – Archived blog posts from the Vintage Inn Blog
Ontario Vintage Dance Hall History – Archived blog posts on various dance halls
Prom in the 1940s & 1950s
Vintage Photo Tuesday-The 1947 Dance Teachers Strike
Vintage Photo Tuesday: The Social Dance
Vintage Dance Cards
Time to Dance! Vintage Instructions to get you dancing in no time
1940s Women’s Fashion Ideas For Your Next Vintage Dance
The Dancing Side of the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend

Liz

I’m off on my next big adventure to NYC tomorrow for the big Swing Dancing (Lindy Hop) event Frankie 100-Celebrating the life and legacy of Frankie Manning. I’m all packed, printed off my schedule and danced a few solo Charleston steps in the kitchen..I’m ready to dance my feet off!

While I’m off dancing I thought I would share some vintage Lindy Hop clips to get you in the spirit as well. To learn about the HISTORY of this Black Dance please visit HERE.

Now in the words of Frankie Manning “One, two, you know what to do”

Vintage Lindy Hop Videos

1930s-1940s

Hellzapoppin’-1941

Many people consider Hellzapoppin’ the greatest single Lindy Hop performance of all time. Frankie was in charge of putting the routine together, and mentioned in his autobiography that the dancers worked extra hard for this performance, practicing even longer hours than usual to perfect it. His autobiography also has a long section of anecdotes regarding the process and filming. First couple: William Downes and Francis “Mickey” Jones; 2nd, Norma Miller and Billy Ricker; 3rd, Al Minns and Willamae Ricker; 4th, Frankie Manning and Ann Johnson. Dean Collins also does a dance in this film to the song “Watch the Birdie.” (The sequences, however, were shot on different days, and arguably the two most significant figures in Lindy Hop Leading — Frankie Manning and Dean Collins — never met.) (Source)

Frankie Manning Dancing at the Savoy Ballroom-1930s

It’s very rare for us to have social dancing footage of the original dancers in the original swing era. We are lucky to have a few brief seconds of Frankie Manning dancing with a partner in a crowded Savoy ballroom from what is probably the late 1930s. Whether or not its social dancing is hard to say, as he very well might have realized there was a camera filming him, and changed his dancing because of it. Still, though, it’s great to see a young Frankie Manning in a suit, in his element. It’s only a few tiny seconds, but at least we have that much (Source).

Jitterbug History featuring Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers-1942

This short was filmed in 1940 (though not released till 1942) and near the end you can see the Whitey’s. It’s also the same group of dancers who did Hellzapoppin’. Note that this clip has extremely slow dancing compared to the other Whitey’s Lindy Hop performance footage. William Downes and Mickey Jones first, Norma Miller and Billy Ricker second, Willamae Ricker and Al Minns third, and Frankie Manning and Ann Johnson forth (Source).

Buck Privates with Dean Collins and Jewel McGowan-1941

Swing Fever-1944

Jean Veloz (Jeanne Phelps) is featured here dancing with Don Gallager & Lenny Smith in this delightful number “One Girl and Two Boys,” sung by Marilyn Maxwell with Kay Kyser’s band.

Groovie Movie-1944

Jimmy Dorsey playing One O’Clock Jump. Dancers – Charles “Chuck/Gossomer” Saggau, Arthur Walsh, Lenny Smith, Kay Smith, Jeanne Phelps Veloz, Irene Thomas.

Don’t Knock the Rock-1956

(As a fan of 1950s Rock n Roll, this clip is a real favorite of mine). Band: Bill Haley & His Comets with a slew of Los Angeles swing dancers, including: Gil & Nikki Brady, Freda Angela Wyckoff, Lenny Smith, and Joe Lanza.

Have a great week and weekend! Keep on Swinging!

Share in the comments section below what your favourite video was.

FURTHER READING: Collection of Vintage Blog Posts on Swing Dance & The Big Band Era

Liz 🙂

Tag: vintage lindy hop