USA 1937 82 mins. Black and White Republic Pictures A musical revue with an all-star cast that includes Cab Calloway and his Orchestra, Ted Lewis and his Orchestra, Louis Prima and his Band, Gene Autry, and Joe DiMaggio. Manhattan Merry-Go-Round has a storyline about gangsters taking over a radio station. Variety Magazine of the day […]
Malcolm X
1992 Directed by Spike Lee In this film of the life of the great African American activist Malcolm X, his early fascination with Lindy Hop is portrayed with exciting dance scenes. The dancing was choreographed by Otis Sallid who supplied the staging. Frankie Manning was dance consultant and provided the authentic Lindy Hop styling, steps […]
Killer Diller
All-American News 1948 Director: Josh Binney Producer: E. M. Glucksman Story/Screenplay: Hal Seeger Photographer: Lester Lang Editor: L. Hesse Music: Rene J. Hall. 73 mins., black & white, 35mm. FGC 2380-83 The Congaroo Dancers do a Lindy Hop routine next to a prop palm tree. They dance extremely fast with excellent execution to the music […]
Jammin’ the Blues
Directed by Gjon Mili 10 minutes 1944 This film of top jazz musicians is beautiful to the ears and the eyes. The photographer Gjon Mili, who is responsible for the 1943 LIFE Magazine cover story on Lindy Hop, shot this film as though it were a series of photographs. There are some short scenes with […]
Hellzapoppin’
1941 Directed by H. C. Potter 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 Slim Galliard and Slam Stewart, in workmen’s garb, discover some musical instruments […]
Day at the Races
1937 Directed by Sam Wood This very fun Marx Brothers film is considered among the 100 funniest films of all times. In it Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers dance to All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm. Whitey himself can be seen on the sidelines. He is identifiable by the streak of white in his hair. This scene, like […]
Hot Chocolates
Also known as Cottontail Soundie * 1941 The Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers group that appears in this soundie was also known as the The Harlem Congaroos. They were the undisputed stars of all the groups of Whitey’s dancers. After completing the filming of Hellzapoppin’, the group had a contract to do a second film for Universal […]
Cootie Williams and His Orchestra
Soundie 1943 Dancers: Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers- Leon James and Dottie Mae Johnson Russell Williams and Connie Hill This content was originally written by Judy Pritchett with Frank Manning. Copyright, 1995, 1996, 1997 for the savoystyle.com. It may not be reproduced without written permission. Please use the contact form on this website to get in touch. […]
The Call of the Jitterbug
Documentary 1988 Jesper Sorensen, Vibeke Winding, and Tana Ross. Produced by Green Room Productions. 35 min. sd. color with black and white sequences. The Call of the Jitterbug, which takes its name from the Cab Calloway song, is one the best documentaries of Lindy Hop produced so far. It includes oral history interviews with Norma […]
The Big Apple
1938 from KEEP PUNCHING (also known as Jittering Jitterbugs) A film clip featuring Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers. It was originally part of the black-cast film Keep Punchin’ and was also released as the short “Jittering Jitterbugs” in1943. Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers perform a Big Apple routine which was choreographed by Frankie Manning. They also do the Lindy […]
Twistmouth George
“Twistmouth George” aka “Susquehanna” aka George Ganaway. The dancer known as “Twistmouth George” –no doubt to distinguish him from his rival, “Shorty George”– was one of the great dancers and innovators from the earliest days of the Savoy Ballroom. He went on to become a professional solo dancer and did not frequent the Savoy Ballroom […]
Leroy “Stretch” Jones
A popular first generation Lindy Hopper, in the early years of the Savoy Ballroom (1927 to early 1930’s), Leroy “Stretch” Jones was one of Frankie Manning’s idols. Frankie thought of him as the Fred Astaire of Lindy Hop, with his grace and flashy movements. His partner Little Bea was like Ginger Rogers. Stetch was 6 […]
