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From Hellzapoppin' (1941), the hilarious Hollywood production directed by H.C. Pootter and starring zany commdians Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson, this clip features Rex Stewart (co), Jap Jones (tb), Elemer Fane (cl), unknown (ts), Slim Galliard (p,g,tap-dancing), Slam Stewart (b), Cee Pee Johnson (d), The Harlem Congaroos (dancers, AKA Whitey's Lindyhoppers).

http://www.savoystyle.com/hellzapoppin.html
"This movie, based on a hit Broadway play, showcases Whitey's Lindy Hoppers dancing the most famous and most spectacular Lindy Hop scene ever preserved on film. The dancing was choreographed by Frankie Manning.

"The scene starts when musicians Slim Galliard and Slam Stewart, in workmen's garb, discover some musical instruments while supposedly delivering a package backstage. They play a few tentative notes, and a spontaneous, swinging jam starts cooking . More backstage 'workers' join the jam, including Rex Stuart on trumpet and C.C. Johnson on the 'bongo drums'. The music builds in excitement until, as if out of nowhere, four Lindy Hopping couples, dressed in overalls and uniforms, swing out into the cameras at a frenetic tempo. Each couple executes amazing acrobatic shines. Then the group unites for precision ensemble work filmed at an angle that emphasizes legwork and speed.

"The choreography and the dancing are as near to perfect Lindy Hop as you can see anywhere! The scene will take your breath away no matter how many times you see it. It is no wonder that this film was responsible for the simultaneous revival of Lindy Hop in Sweden and Britain in the 1980's.

"An interesting sidenote: Whitey's Lindy Hoppers' routine in Hellzapoppin' was originally danced and choreographed to different music, namely 'Jumping at the Woodside'. Universal Studios had a composer who was on staff write new music for the routine."

Harlem Congaroo Dancers
( aka Whitey's Lindy Hoppers)
# William Downes (overalls) and Frances "Mickey" Jones (maid).
# Norma Miller and Billy Ricker (chef's hat).
# Al Minns (white coat, black pants) and Willa Mae Ricker.
# Ann Johnson (maid) and Frankie Manning (overalls)

Goddam that's sweet!

Frankie Manning is still alive. He actually doesn't look a whole lot older. See for yourself[1]. The guy worked for the US Postal Service after swing died. He was rediscovered in the mid-90s, and begrudgingly taught the current wave of swing dancers.

Frankie Manning is over 90 years old. He STILL DANCES. At 90. I honestly don't have enough words to describe how much amazing this gentleman is.

[1] http://frankiemanning.com/

damn even got the white folks done come out!

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag.(show it anyway)

Great post!

I was just about to post this, it's a fantastic video. I'll *promote it when I'm elgible for sure!

This video cannot be promoted as a VideoSift Classic because HistNerd promoted a video less than four days ago - sorry.

*promote

Re-promoting this video to the front page as a VideoSift Classic. Originally published on Sunday 16th July 2006 (promotion called by gold star member HistNerd)

Remember when Jazz music had melody and rhythm? When you could actually dance to it?

*dead, two choices for replacement,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTg5V2oA_hY or the longer, better quality http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0BHxhUnokU

The link to this video has been flagged as dead. Fix it within 7 days or it will be discarded (dead called by Gold Star member bamdrew)

*undead - thanks for the links, bamdrew, I used the longer, better quality one

The link to this video has been fixed (undead called by original submitter oohahh)

Tags for this video have been changed from 'lindyhop, swing, dance, frankiemanning, slim' to 'lindyhop, swing, dance, frankiemanning, slim, 40s' - edited by swampgirl

*promote *jazz

Promoting this video back to the front page; last published Monday, March 5th, 2007 4:23pm PST - promote requested by swampgirl.

Adding video to channels (Jazz) - requested by swampgirl.

At end of the video: "Oh, shit, the White Man -- RUN!"

Frankie's 95th birthday is coming up. http://Frankie95.com if you happen to be a swing dance nerd in NY.

*promote!

Promoting this video back to the front page; last published Tuesday, December 16th, 2008 8:51am PST - promote requested by E_Nygma.

*cinema
Classic scene:)

Adding video to channels (Cinema) - requested by Eklek.

*dance

Adding video to channels (Dance) - requested by deputydog.

3 more comments have been lost in the ether at this killed duplicate.

*dead

Automatically replaced video embed code with backup #5648 (supplied by member chingalera) - video declared dead by member eric3579.