Jitterbug's swing at Club Imperial * St.Louis 1959

[artsHscience]

I was walking my dogs down Hodiamont and heard music tonight and walked towards the old Club Imperial; now called Club Legit and it was packed. There were several hundred cars in several lots for a Horton Hears a Boom Rave dance. So the club lives on as a place for young people to dance. I'm happy; the neighborhood has hit hard times.

[tmax45R]

By the late 50's swing danceing had become toned down to a more conservative style of dancing.

[Khultan]

@tmax45R I wonder why. By the 1970s and mid70s, those 20 year olds who were probably juveniles in the 60s didn't have the ability to dance which is why the music turned out the way it did. Ugh.

[waynebrasler]

I grew up about 10 minutes from the Club Imperial and even babysat for George Edick, who had terrible reputation but to me he was a very nice man with a very nice family. He always insisted on driving me home. Ike and Tina got their start there (at first she was Bonnie).

[andidance]

Amazing footage! Thanks for posting!

[burndogswing]

LOL; That couple walking back are doing an Aurther Murray Ballroom step. It's still used in Step lists today... I don't see any Saint Louis Shag in this video...

[Weebonilass]

Imperial Swing is still popular in St Louis. There are currently five or six Imperial Swing clubs in the area.

[SoldierUSArmy]

Lani Zee sang a few times on this TV progarm doowop songs like Funny, Funny, Funny.

[ginsushark]

acording to jitterbuzz: "The name "Saint Louis Shag" comes from the Imperial, a pre-Lindy dance that was quite popular in St. Louis and Kansas City. The dance takes its name from the Imperial Ballroom in Saint Louis. As with everything else, the Imperial got modified and adapted into Lindy during the late 1920s. "

[RhythmJunkie]

@ginsushark jitterbuzz is wrong, the George Edick, the owner of Club Imperial, started calling it that to help build his club up, otherwise they were doing a regional style of Lindy Hop, the better dancers also did St. Louis Shag, which probably originated in the 1930's and is a Charleston variant with triple steps

[burndogswing]

LOL; That couple walking back are doing an Aurther Murray Ballroom step. It's still used in Step lists today... I don't see any Saint Louis Shag in this video...

[MrChillin65]

yea, i stand corrected...your right, my mouth commented but my brain wasnt in gear...(as usual)...i love old film of jive/lindy hop/etc, and on 2nd look this is pretty cool....esp COMPARED to the modern ballroom/"jive" crap you mention...and the blonde is certainly grooving ! mark me up as an idiot...

[MrChillin65]

yea, i stand corrected...your right, my mouth commented but my brain wasnt in gear...(as usual)...i love old film of jive/lindy hop/etc, and on 2nd look this is pretty cool....esp COMPARED to the modern ballroom/"jive" crap you mention...and the blonde is certainly grooving ! mark me up as an idiot...

[MrChillin65]

stiff white kids trying to jive....lol.

[Direness]

@MrChillin65 Actually, they were doing Imperial Swing, an offshoot of Lindy Hop. That's the way its supposed to look for their region, & actually, those hips are swaying & they're moving pretty fast. The one brunette is very upright, but the guys are fairly loose and the blonde is "grooving" the entire time. So I'm not really seeing that these folks are "stiff" even if they look "white". Especially if you look at today's Ballroom "Jive" crap or West Coast Swing, these kids are pretty rockin'.

[duncanstpt]

Kids sure looked old back then.

[TZAVELENA]

no, we are just infantalised till we are very old....

[djkissbird]

@duncanstpt lmaoooo this is the funnyest comment I ever seen! I thought that one day when I was watching grease lol

[JMOGH1]

@duncanstpt Oh boy, I wish you could teach me. Fabulous dancing.

[Vintage1976]

The line up for this band was most likely; Ike Turner-Guitar Tommy Hodges -Vocals Jimmy Thomas-Vocal Fred Sample-Piano Jesse Knight Jr.- Bass Eugene Washington- Drums Eddie Jones- Tenor Sax Carlson Oliver- Tenor Sax Jackie Brenston- Baritone Sax *very possible*- Robbie Montgomery- Vocals.

[MrHighwaytohell]

what song is playing before Charlie Brown?

[RoundRock9]

The song is called (not surprisingly) "So Fine" and it was recorded by The Fiestas

[shangpush]

Question-- Can anyone identify the name of the last song and the name of who is playing?  It has a great rhythm. Thanks.

[RoundRock9]

The tune is "Señor Blues". Based on other peoples comments it's being played by Ike Turner and his band. Taj Mahal also has done a good version of it. I couldn't remember the title either so I had to research it. It's very evocative and brought back memories of dancing in the 50's

[dingdeb1]

I met Teddy in the 70s and knew him until he died around 1994 or so. I have a bunch of photos of him. He could be very fun but was a little kooky. he was married in the 60s to Ginger. she died while they were married. did your mom tell you he was your father? why do you say he secreted the Harvest moon dance? He did not have any other kids that I know of. what was the Harvest moon dance, where was it?

[Doyouwantodance]

@dingdeb1 There was a Harvest Moon Festival in New York and one in Chicago. Nationwide dance contest. Different dances. I danced Jitterbug in New York with Mike Fiala and in Chicago with Butch Giamo in 1961. I am in the clip above. Don't know what she means by "he 'serceted' the Harvest Moon" but I'm sure Teddy did win one or some of them.

[motorvating]

This aint swing, this is jiving which was born of swing dancing.

[dingdeb1]

I knew him very very well. who is your mother? How old are you? If you can give me enough information to prove you are his child, I will tell you a bunch of stuff that I knew about him.

[tootyfump]

My mom was Rada Sue (Morgan)DeSherlia she was from Alton I was born May 1960. I have his picture with my mom and his dog. I have been searching for years. I know he serceted the Harvest Moon dance, and won the jitterbug compitition.

[tootyfump]

Teddy Cole was my father. Does anyone know anything about him. I never met him. Very interested in knowing.

[skatah1]

I knew Teddy well. We were friends from around 1954 - 1970. He was a kind, kooky guy. A gentle person, but very eccentric. I may have one old pic of him at a picnic. If I can find it I will email it to you. The last I heard from Teddy he had bought a trash pick-up service and named it TC's Trash.  And he had a little song for the business that went something like "TC's my name, trash is my game".

[toby11377]

I danced there till 1955. tuesday nights and it was the place to go. I remember Teddy Cole, Kenny Wetzel, Collico. they were the ones to watch back then. Ike Turner played every week. I'm 72 yrs old and there was nothing like the Club Imperial Swing or the club. I tought a few of the guys who hubby brought home to learn the male part. I wasn't to bad at teaching the Imperial. great memiores... glad I have them and glad I found this clip... yes if the beat is slow I can still do it.

[Weebonilass]

@toby11377

I met Kenny in his later years after he'd moved to California and gotten involved in West Coast Swing. He was one wild and crazy guy.

[PolarSkua]

@toby11377 I so enjoyed reading your thoughtful post. Did Chuck Berry ever perform there?

[early60srcool]

@toby11377 You go Daddio! I am 60 and remember watching American bandstand. It was fun to watch the regulars dancing together with their partners, Then before I knew it, you had a partner but you were dancing apart: until disco came out! What goes around comes around!

[JodyLomax]

I think it is a good video but seems they should be able to clean it up a bit. It is just so blurry. and some parts skip or they are left out. Good try though

[TomtenT]

@JodyLomax

Blurriness is "cleaned up". You're stuck. Just as missing parts aren't "skipping". They're just gone and we have to enjoy this pretty much as it is.

I like it. - Nice slow tempo, not hysterical high-speed gymnastics , as much of other clips found under "swing".

Thanks for the upload.

[rickysbestgirl]

i'd love to go to a school to learn this dance

[justRob25]

Check-out Jitterbug classes near you. If you can't find those, look for Lindy Hop/Swing Rock and Roll, Boogie-Woogie or ballroom Jive or East Coast Swing (most are variations but fro mthe sam roots)

If none of those are available, Ceroc or Modern Jive or French Jive are an alternative.

There's bound to be dancing near you! Once you get started, you'll find what you're looking for.

[rickysbestgirl]

Thanks. I'll look into it.

[RoundRock9]

I'm from that era. There were a lot of rock and roll dances in the 50's derived from the Jitterbug and Lindy Hop. In addition to the Imperial we also have the Carolina Shag (which is thriving), D. C. Hand Dance, Beach Bop in Florida, the Push and the Whip in Texas and others. They all look different but come from the same roots. Depending on where you live one of these may be currently availble to you.

[rickysbestgirl]

Thank you. I will definately check it out.

[jettkrash]

I think the old dude is Dick Clark and the girl in the black dress ain't wearing herself no

panties!

[JodyLomax]

give me a break youngster. That is NOT Dick Clark and the girl in the black dress IS wearing panties. Good grief. This was the 50's. we were not like that. I know because I am on this tape.And to rickysbestgirl, the do teach this at some of the evening schools. They call it the IMPERIAL DANCE. You can take lessons.

[JodyLomax]

your on the wrong web site for stupid remarks. Why dont you get off here and not mess up a perfectly good dance website. Or maybe just get a life.

[may251961]

i am dateing pat we are going to get married

[knitesite]

I am wondering who this is thats going to marry Pat Darr? I am an OLD friend of hers. But in one of your comments you reffered to her as a him. You said (who is dancing with Pat) and then (I talk to him all the time)

[SpeedTriple59]

when does the jitterbuggin kick in this is a waltz,cant wait till next saturday,man oh man that was a funeral,no one had any soul..

[may251961]

could any body tell me who the girl is thats danceing with pat darr in the video i would like to know i talk to him all the time.

[Doyouwantodance]

I don't see Pat unless that's her on the left of the screen dancing at first then switched to the right side of the screen dancing about :25. It is too grainy to tell for sure, but looks like her. If that's her it is Mike Fiala she is dancing with. If you talk to either of them, tell them Nita said hi.

[knitesite]

hey neets, is that person saying that Pat darr is a guy??? Thats too weird.

[Doyouwantodance]

I danced at the Imperial on Tuesday nites during 59 and 60. I recognize Mike Fialla in the clip, but it is so fuzzy I don't know if I know anyone else. Didn't realize it was Mike till the 5th or 6th time I watched it. Wish the tape was clearer. I agree Knitesite that it was not "rough" at least that I saw. Little Annie "Tina" was awesome even then.

[knitesite]

Wow, I didnt realize it was Mike either. But there is no missing his style of dance. I wonder if I know you. Mike hung out with us at Imperial. Did you also know Tommy Wiber or Carol Petrie, and Pat Darr? They were some of my besst friends back then?

[Doyouwantodance]

Don't know if I did this right the first time so maybe will be on twice, but yes did know Tommy, Pete and Pat. The girl in the middle of the clip has a dance style like my best friend, but can't really tell if it is her. Also, I danced with Mike in the New York Harvest Moon Festival.

[knitesite]

come on, who is this???? This is Jody who was dancing with Tommy. Could this be you Nita??? Too funny if it is. Yeah at first I thought that was me in the front but then I saw Tommy and realized it was me in the back. let me know who this is OK????

[knitesite]

yeah thats weird. It does look like me. So who is she anyway. Can you tell

[Doyouwantodance]

Oh, for crying out loud. The girl I was watching in the front who danced like my BF is not, but I saw in the background -- ta dah -- Tommy and Jody dancing. When the heck were you there when I wasn't. Oh, well. Surprise, surprise. Love it. What great memories.

[knitesite]

silly girl. This was when it was on tv. remember when Steve Mizerany jumped out of a wash machine singing "splish splash I was taking a bath" I dont think you were there that day. Is this Nita?? This is Jody

[Doyouwantodance]

Yup, til me. Too funny.  I didn't think it could be you cause you said you were one of the dancers. I didn't think you would have been there if I wasn't or at least I would have known you went. I just don't remember that at all. Do you recognize anyone else?

[knitesite]

no cant tell who they are. Its too fuzzy. But did you see the other video that is all about Teddy Cole? Too funny. Boy does this bring back memories. I dont know why you werent there the day we did this on tv. Cant remember. You should have been the one dancing with Mike Fialla. You always did. Who is the girl with him??

[Doyouwantodance]

don't recognize the girl who looks like you or the one dancing with Mike. About 1:05on the tape, could that be Butch Giamo, his head is cut off the tape most of the time, but looks like his dance style?? Saw Teddy Cole. What a trip down memory lane, huh?

[knitesite]

I think its awesome. Especially since I am one of the couples dancing. I had never seen this before and was thrilled to death to come across it. Yeah for the Imperial Club in 59

[ChristopherClem]

Dance Party was the most positive TV program that was ever broadcast. It should have not been taken off the air ever and should have been as sanusact as the daily news, sport events or church services on TV. It was a much more positive image of youth than what they are today, no drugs or liquor, gangs or crime and just teenagers dressed up and having a very good time and so much so than today. The dances such have been held on Saturday evening to allow having the daytime for sports.

[allaboard70]

Great live documentation from St. Louis in the 50's. Yeah!

[RoundRock9]

What's the name of the last song they are dancing to? I'm from that era and I recognize the tune but I dont' remember the name.

[Unique12277]

yeah,i been to this club..its changed its name..times were rough then with the black&white issue and still going STRONG today..the same damn way..very racist in St.Louis.

[knitesite]

well we hung out at the Imperial Club in 59 and on and I never saw it being "rough" and never saw any of the so called black& white issue. Sorry but that is just not accurate. Tina Turner (then called Little Ann)used to come and sit at our table during break. There was no problem.

[dentgt]

Steve Mizerany (sponser) used to be a wacky style appliance dealer in St Louis

[likemywifelovefilm]

is there any way i can get this video on my comp so i can edit it?

[eli2lewy]

Thanks,I never seen this.I was only 7,but you would think they would replay this great find over and over.

[RhythmJunkie]

Actually the Ike Turner Band is Black..(every dancer i talk to considered the Black bands to be the best! Jazz, Blues, R&B ect.) but unfortunately in St. Louis even into the 1960's Black & White people didn't dance together much, it happened, just not very often. Definately not on TV...that would have been the end of the show!

[mexdodge]

Well, Ike Turner is responsible for the creation of Rock n' Roll. Rock got it's start in the 40s, but didnt get mainstream amongst the whites til Elvis and Haley came along. The blacks eventually moved onto other sounds.

[NoMoSpam]

how come no color people in this?

[FrankeeFraud]

I dunno, genius; think maybe they're all in jail?

[nosibor]

Ike Turner is a friend of mine from Club Imperial. He said he will use some of our songs on an upcoming album. I left a video response and would appreciate your featurng "Pickin' on the Blues"

[NGuillen1]

Its amazing how they're labeled as 'kids' but they all look about 30 something yrs. Wow.

[gilmore48]

How did you find this? Growing up in St.Louis I remember the show and was on it in the early 60's...Great!!

[RhythmJunkie]

A record collector in New York had a boot leg of it, i'm trying to get the original film stock...which is much better quality!

[GatewayGhettoProd]

@RhythmJunkie Did you ever obtain the film? The St. Louis Media History Foundation would be interested in obtaining a copy...

[00Syd]

So many sweaters!

[MrMemories]

Now that was dancing with class!

[breezy3762]

Can't beat the classics! Too cool. I only wish we had a place to hang and dance like this again.

[barlin07]

Most big cities in the the US have a swing scene. You should look into it. type swing, lindy hop, jitterbug, or jive into google followed by your state or city and you should be able to find some place to go dancing.

[Xegethra]

more places in the uk could benefit from that....

[barlin07]

Sweden and France have awesome swing scenes too. Maybe you could make a trip out there sometime during a competition or workshop.

[Xegethra]

if i had the time i would....hmm

[andersingram]

tons of places in the uk have lindy hop scenes ... the dancing done is very similar to this kind of jitterbug ... cant promise ike turner as a house band though !

[Direness]

Certainly worth watching! Thanks!