Lindy Hop and Jivers at the 1939 New York World's Fair

Glenn Gray and his orchestra at the 1939 World's Fair in New York. This is taken by an amateur and is without sound. The person behind the camera gives us the blow by blow though as "Glenn Gray opens a grove for the Jivers." We see swing and charleston dancing with some fun transitions between, a few pair of stylish saddle shoes ahead of their time, quite a few people swinging out, a couple or two ballroom dancing, and at least one pair doing what looks like a bit of ballroomin' too! And I'm not sure what it is, but some of them do what looks like an 8-count east coast when there's no space (rock step, step, step-step, step).

And my favorite part is all the ladies leading! And those swivels!

It didn't come with sound, sorry about that, it disappointed me too.

You can find and download (digitalizations of) the original here (under a Creative Commons Public Domain License):
http://www.archive.org/details/Medicusc1939_8
And wiki it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1939_New_York_World's_Fair

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• lindy hop
• swing
• dance
• world fair
• jive
• jivers
• dancers
• female leads
• ballroomin'
• Glenn Gray
• lindy
• hop

[Barndancer61]

I don't get the posters comment on saddle shoes being ahead of their time in 1939 when there are several pairs evident in this clip alone! This was exactly the time they became popular and would have been worn by many kids. I have seen footage from 1935 with teens wearing them, so the comment make little sense.

[ilovesidneypoitier]

Love this. Wish I was alive back then. Life before Pearl Harbor. War was only 2 years away.

[2reeler]

These are great 1939 home color movies! Seems like there are swing and fox trots mixed that they dance to.. Glenn Grey had such an exciting band back then, it must have been a blast! Thanks for sharing these!

[MsOldjazz]

thanks so much for posting.

[OonaCanute]

Thank you for posting this--I love all the girls dancing together (probably mostly) for lack of boys willing to dance. It's so much like today!

[robzrob]

Sad too - they had no idea what was coming.

[takpeh]

context:

Sep 1939 - Germany attacks Poland

Sep 1940 - US enacts DRAFT

Dec 1941 - Pearl Harbor attacked

[missapril1956]

Queens, the epicenter of style! Now I want some saddle shoes.

[USRoute66]

I so wish this had sound to it. Nonetheless, this one great film clip. Glen Gray always had a very solid orchestra, which could take off an swing with the best of them.

[bettiep]

this is so cool! Thank you for posting!