Swing Dancing from the Movie Ghost Catchers (1944)

[allenlewis]

I don't know how this great dance clip turned to race, but everything you see in this clip was already done by the lindy hoppers from the savoy ball room, they are all black... you don't see them it this clip.

[moebanshee]

awesome clip!!!

[PattyPetite666]

Ella is smoking in this one!

[Kirke182]

Ella Mae Morse was a terrific singer of that era and quite successful but never became a household name for some reason. She sang R&B and boogie-woogie without sublimating it into something cutesy-cute the way white female singers were supposed to do back then. That might have played a role in her not getting noticed more. What she sings here was not representative of her style.

[john91722]

From the comedy team of Olson and Johnson

[ozulu45]

funny watching white people imitate a black dance, well at least they stayed on beat and moved pretty good!

[fancyinla]

Everyone knows this dance started with African-Americans in the NY Savoy ballroom. Why is it "funny" that people of another skin color liked it so much they adopted it, too? It should be flattering more than anything. I am a swing dancer and I'll tell you this much- Asian-Americans and white folks keep this dance alive. It's not bitterness either; I'd love to see more African Americans pursue it. If you're anxious to do better than these guys, maybe you should try it.

[ozulu45]

@ozulu45 uh hey mack.... type in style elements,to see how dancin evolves in the future... well like the present... okay golden oldie?? excuse me ..... KIRK here.... 2 to beam up...........

[RetroArtist1]

This movie was my first introduction to swing music and swing dancing. I was just a kid when I first saw this movie and have been in love with it ever since. A must own DVD or VHS (if you can find it) for anyone who loves ghosts and swing! Thanks for posting this neato keen clip!

[MrRJDB1969]

Man , the 1940's were GREAT !!

[sladedude44]

The most decorated combat unit during ww2 was the japanese american 442 combat regiment.I was stationed at fort meade Md.We marched down penna.ave.The 442,the 82 paratroopers and we of the quarter master battalion of fort meade.Pres. truman pesented more medals on the japanese american infantry men,dispite the fact their families were interned by the american government.i was one white guy who was proud that day.

[Kirke182]

@sladedude44 And I'd like to point out, because obviously some people here live in a fantasy world, there was never one case of espionage by Japanese-Americans ever proven in WW2. as far as I know, 10 people were convicted of passing info to the Japanese govt--all were white.

[john91722]

@Kirke182 I recall seeing an article that indicated that pretty much all of the spying was done by Japanese nationals that had traveled to the US and was prior to the war.

[ThetalmudHater]

Whte boy! Very good. Nips were locked up because they were sending information to back to their gook cousins, so in effect you were (and in my mind still are) traitors. Why not return where you belong and leave white America alone -- we never needed you -- by the way did you know that at the turn of the century Nihon sent out 100s of photographers to the west to copy everything. Without Yankee dollars you'd be in a rice paddy

[MississippiWerewolf]

I was looking for - Lon Chancey Jr. the Wolf man But Think the Video was Great ....

[Direness]

Has anyone seen a clean version of this song on the market? I have a rough'n'tumble version of it, but it'd be nice to find an easy on the ear full version to dance to.

[xeasternxz]

When people had class and could have a good time without attitude.

[skbirds]

Thanks for posting, this is great! Can you by any chance upload in higher quality?

[sonnyboythethird]

"Shoot the birdseed to me, Hector." They don't write 'em like that any more. (Could you add Ella Mae Morse to the tags. It would make this easier to find. Thanks.)

[Kirke182]

Sometimes I find myself wishing to have lived in the swing era of the 40s since I love the music and then I realize I'm classified as Japanese-American. It would have been the worst time of my life.

[ThetalmudHater]

@Kirke182 Don't blame people classified as White Americans. They did NOT start the war. Another ungrateful migrant. Surprise.

[Kirke182]

@ThetalmudHater I don't recall blaming anybody. Another defensive white boy desperate to blame everybody else for his own problems.

[john91722]

@Kirke182 if you lived on the West Coast your family would be relocated to a camp. However for the Japanese in Hawaii they did not have to go to any relocation camps.

[Kirke182]

@john91722 I have never been to Hawaii and I didn't mention "relocation" camps. I said it would have been the worst time of my life.

[john91722]

@Kirke182 When you used the term classified that made me recall a few of the programs PBS has on the internment camps. I associate that term as being used by the government.

[Kirke182]

@john91722 I would have been classified as Japanese-American then. I'm classified as that now according to the Census. The earliest legal challenge by a Japanese-American was in 1894 where the court decided Japanese are not white. In 1909, 1/4 Japanese is not white. In 1912, half-Japanese is not white. In 1910 and 1922, the courts reaffirmed that Japanese is not white. I fall within those parameters and would be classifed as Japanese and not white despite being half-white.

[AppleSouffle]

Kirke182, you could have just told the Americans that you were Chinese and very thankful that the brave American soldiers and pilots were driving the evil Japanese out of your Chinese homeland. Even today, nearly all Americans can't tell the difference between a Chinese person and a Japanese. Always wear an American flag pin or a red, white and blue tie, you'd be all set.

[Kirke182]

@AppleSouffle Errr, there's such a thing as a surname as well as records and documentation. They wouldn't take my word for anything--they'd do a background search and confirm I had a parent who was a Japanese national and if I changed my name legally, they'd know that too. Otherwise, every Japanese-American could have lied their way out of internment. I don't know of any that did.

[poppinfresh79]

This is just crazy!!!

[patchesmissy]

wow i want to see this whole movie now were can i find it please?

[hep2jive]

what the?! SEVERE!

[RockReynolds]

Awesome!

That's how dancin's supposed to be.

Rock

[hep2jive]

if art deco could dance, it would dance like 2:07.

[PsychoHellKat]

is it just me or does the singer looks like a brunet version of Uma Thurman?

[richardpacyisgod]

I was actually just about the say the exact same thing!

[OnceUponAWedding]

Did you check out the zoot suits with the reet pleats?

[Demeterloves42]

Hahaha! Far out! They swing danced the ghosts out of the house....adorable XD!

[jmm1000]

perfect comment!

[powerkor]

that chick's eyes are too far apart

[tholu67]

Who cares if the eyes are too far apart when one can sing and swing like Ella Mae!

[MachizTV]

Well!

[Yellow2004Mustang]

Cool video

[yoshi3329]

at 2:11 - 2:14 their doing the shorty george, love it!!

[steeltag]

thanks for posting this great vintage swing dancing!!

[HermanStancill]

Go cats, Go

[mjpc1951]

Thankyou for Ella Mae

[tholu67]

Ella Mae Morse was one of the best but underrated singers of all time! I love her! Thanks for posting this!