1937 Jitterbug: Benny Goodman & His Orch. - "Peckin' "

Benny Goodman & His Orch. - Peckin' (H.James /B.Pollack), Victor 1937
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The term "jitterbug" comes from an early 20th century slang used to describe alcoholics who suffered from the "jitters" (delirium tremens). During the early 1900s, the term became associated with dancers who danced without any control or knowledge of the dance. In the Swing era, the term was adopted by band leader Cab Calloway to describe the swing dancers who, as he put it „look like a bunch of jitterbugs out there on the floor", due to their fast often bouncy movements. Calloway's 1935 recording of "Call of the Jitter Bug" and the film "Cab Calloway's Jitterbug Party" popularized use of the word "jitterbug". Lyrics to "Call of the Jitter Jug" clearly demonstrate the association between the word jitterbug, and the consumption of alcohol. "If you'd like to be a jitter bug, First thing you must do is get a jug, Put whiskey, wine and gin within, And shake it all up and then begin. Grab a cup and start to toss, You are drinking jitter sauce! Don't you worry, you just mug, And then you'll be a jitter bug!"
World War II facilitated the spread of jitterbug to Europe. For instance, by May 1944 in preparation for D-Day, there were nearly 2 million American troops stationed throughout Britain. Time Magazine reported that American troops stationed in France in 1945 „jitterbugged", and by 1946 jitterbug had become a craze in England.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 1930s
• 1940s
• jitterbug
• American
• dance
• orchestra
• swing
• jazz
• age

[afgkrafty]

Oh God, cannot believe what I am reading, people showered in the forties, both my flolks were in this era and they were immaculate people. My dad fought in WW2, there will never be another generation like them!!

[beeswaxer]

thses guy's were wilder than rock and roll

[ASeasonedWitch]

Dad would be 17 when this 'wild' music was out. I imagine my grandparents shaking their heads and wondering what the world was coming to and how any teenagers would live through the wild days of jitterbug.

Cheers and well wishes for a good 2012 to all!

[thecubanism]

Born in the forties, unfortunately in Britain, not Great Britain any longer, was a teenager in Britain in the fifties and longed to be a teenager in America, you had Elvis, Buddy, Eddie, Carl and who did we have, that lisping phoney Cliff Richards, been to America since, visiting most of the states but I think my most vivid memories are of the deep south, Gracelands, Sun Studios, Beale St, meeting Mr Lansky, going to New York for my 70th but determined to re-visit he hospitable South.

[ChopsForBohemians]

...That " JITTERBUG " magazine pictured , I think S.J. Perelman wrote about that one once...

[thecubanism]

Sheer pleasure, thanks pal.

[AceShot01]

Beautiful era of time and music, may this never be forgotton.

[DisneyMissieMouse]

@tobrunive i luv that era too!! :D

[tobrunive]

I love that Era, when computer and xbox and all that shit didnt existed, when toy could go to the street with your bike and play some baseball in the town field, ahhhhhhhhh

[everybodylovesmybaby]

Great tune and great pics! Really evocative of jitterbuggin'!

[alliecat1941]

We had no inside bathrooms here in this small city in Michigan untll at least early 50s....i remember big medal tubs and heating our water on the stove then for everything from doing dishes to bathing. and No didnt take bathes every day...we heated water and washed up at the sink and had baths only once or twice a week and showers??all didnt get showers installed until at least the 60s.

[Mcoov]

@rayodelsol80 It takes A LOT of effort to dance like that. I should know. But it sure as hell is FUN!