Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
So here’s one that’s been doing the rounds lately, and with good reason! Max Pitruzzella & Annie Trudeau in the International Lindy Hop Championships 2010 ILHC Showcase. I guarantee you’ll want to watch this more than once…
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
Zoot Suits…they’re a bit like Marmite – either you love them or (like me) you don’t. But ever wondered where they came from? Well this post doesn’t tell you. But if you’re interested in finding out more about the mob, Mexicans and this strange Swing fashion then this amazing post on Queens Of Vintage is well worth a read…
“During the Forties, American teens were at odds with the adults. They went to clubs that served over sized menus and soda and would listen to music by Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, and Louis Armstrong. They would go dancing in ballrooms, for walks with their sweethearts and took advantage of their time as youths. They danced the jitterbug, wore saddle shoes, over sized skirts, and Zoot Suits along with wide brimmed hats. Our LA correspondent and Zoot Suit lover Vanessa Sandoval takes a look back in time.” Read more…
Thursday, August 19th, 2010
We were dancing in some pretty wierd costumes at the Secret Garden Party but nothing as strange as this 1942 Soundie….Jewel McGowan and Dean Collins swinging out in wierd white wigs to a nonsense song by the Kingsmen. You got to love it.
Monday, August 2nd, 2010
It’s fair to say that the Andrew’s Sisters can do no wrong in my eyes, which is probably why this clip from the 1941 movie Buck Privates is one of my favourites. The Andrews Sisters perform four songs in this film: You’re a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, [I'll Be With You When It's] Apple Blossom Time and this one – Bounce Me Brother with a Solid Four. The Lindy hop sequence features Dean Collins, Jewel McGowan, Ray Hirsch and Patty Lacey – which is amazing in itself…but not as amazing as the super daggy Shim Sham by the Andrew Sisters in the middle, I just love those flippy legs and the wierd sideways shuffles! My Shim Sham suddenly feels less comic…. next Swing Pit anyone? See you in the middle 
Thursday, July 29th, 2010
If you love your vintage style then I have a new friend for you. Allow me to introduce Jessica…who likes to think of herself as a bit of a curator of vintage images.
I am sure you’ll get as lost as I did in this great collection of Vintage Vogue photos on FLickr. The fashion photos are from 1920 through to 1965. Her collections on Flickr – which include magazines, models, accessories and vintage stars. You could literally lose hours in there! You can also search by decade on her website. Genius.
Something tells me I’ll be spending a lot of time with Jessica….
My Vintage Vogue on Flickr
My Vintage Vogue on Twitter
My Vintage Vouge on Facebook
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
Take a peek at this amazing video of Mable Lee, the sassy chanteuse and jazz dancer with the million-dollar legs! Mable is often called ‘Queen of the Soundies’ – an early version of music videos three-minute musical films, produced in New York, Chicago, and Hollywood between 1940 and 1946. If you’ve never seen a soundies have a hunt for them. There’s some great ones with Fats Waller, my personal favourites !
Anyway, after you’ve seen ‘the legs’ speed through the wooden looking white folks and straight to the jams at the end. There’s some pearlers!
I love clips like this…they remind you that dancing is just fun, done rhythmically
Tuesday, July 13th, 2010
Missy Fatale presents……
The Swinging Burlesque Boudoir
Burlesque beauties and hot rhythms from the golden age of jazz!
Friday 16th July, 2010 at Proud Cabaret
Luxury supperclub & Jazz piano from 7.30pm
Showtime! 8.30pm
Social dancing and late-night floor show 11pm – 3am
Prize for best dressed (and best-undressed)….
Sponsored by Kiss Me Deadly lingerie
Join Missy Fatale, London’s most formidable red-head, for a night of decadent jazz, vintage strip-tease and wild swing dancing.
July’s revue presents …gin-soaked strumpets, eye-popping Lindy Hopping, Marilyn Monroe and her fabulous cake, steamy -solo Charleston, flaming LP’s and fire tassels, singing sirens, champagne showgirls, French Mannequins, and a banana-shaking finale!
Miss Fatale
**Missy Fatale**
Missy is one of London’s most sought after burlesque stars. Devoted to 1930’s swing dance, audiences across the world have been captivated by her hypnotic performances, including the red carpet opening of London Burlesque Week and the launch of Kiss Me Deadly lingerie.
This sassy burlesque siren has her five-inch heels firmly rooted in the formidable era of the Femme Fatale. With a passionate love of all things swing and an addiction to shimmying, she intoxicates her victims with her dark mysterious eyes and bewitches with her hips.
Banbury Cross
**Miss Banbury Cross**
Banbury Cross is a true vintage beauty, oozing the sex appeal and glamour of Hollywood’s Golden age. “She is a real show stopper” and a figure that will make any man weak at the knees. Debuting at the infamous Madam Jojo’s in 2008, Miss Banbury Cross is has quickly become the shinging star of British Burlesque, and show no sign of slowing down.
This Blonde Bombshell, Pin-Up and Sex Goddess draws her inspiration from The greats of Classic Burlesque and the timeless style of Marilyn Monroe.
Laurie Hagen
**Laurie Hagen**
A burlesque performer, actress and star of the screen, Laurie Hagen was also one of Miss Polly Rae’s original Hurly Burly girls. Her cabaret mentor is the sensational Dusty Limits who took her under his tarnished wings at an early age, leading this drunken strumpet to the glittering heights of London Town’s cabaret scene. The lesson you will learn is not to cross this dazzling lady – especially when she’s been at the gin…
Ivy Paige
**Ivy Paige**
Ivy Paige is a modern day diva who’ll break your heart and rock your world. With her trademark red hair, her lyrics, music and stage presence, it is no wonder she has been dubbed “A singing sensation and burlesque star.” As a presenter, Ivy has a sassy and witty rapport and has entertained audiences across the globe. She has presented and hosted shows on The West End Stages, including Cabaret Nights, London Burlesque Week and supported John Waters (The creator of Hairspray) on his UK Tour. One thing is guaranteed – this “Burlesque Rockstar” will continue to break your heart and rock your world!
Swingcopation
**Swingcopation**
Sensations of the London swing scene, Swingcopation have set the town on fire with their show-stopping lindy hop and solo Charleston routines! Authentic swing dance evoking the feel of 1930’s Harlem and the Savoy ballroom – they make the crowds cheer the hardest, and they don’t even take off their clothes….now that’s talent.
Tallulah Tonic
**Tallulah Tonic**
The gorgeous Tallulah Tonic is one half of the sensational singing duo Twin and Tonic, and our sultry stage kitten for the evening. This multi-talented songbird is inspired by the glamorous and sophisticated stars of the silver screen’s 30s and 40s hey day, and will blow your mind with her show-stopping legs!
Riddum ‘n’ Blue, and Boogie ‘n’ Woo with Fingers Wolfenstein on the 88’s (AKA the piano, for the uninitiated…)
Swing DJ Benjamin Cook will be hotting up the social dancefloor from 11pm – 3am. Bring your dancing shoes for some Lindy Hop, Charleston, shag, balboa, cakewalk, blackbottom or slow-drag!
Tickets
Advance show tickets £8 (More on the door)
Social dancing only (after 11pm) £5
3 course Supperclub & show £25 with Missy discount (email HQ@missyfatale.com for reservations)
24/7 Ticket Hotline: 01224 443377
For info call 07771 393 347
www.proudcabaret.com Tower Hill
Proud Cabaret No.1 Mark Lane (Corner of Dunster Court and Mark Lane) London EC3R 7AH
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
If you thought the Shim Sham was hard…try it underwater. OK, dont, but witness the mildly eccentric London Swing Festival instructor Dax Hock and Doug Silton doing it in Thailand. This is exactly 2 minutes and 36 seconds of madness but it’s really quite funny. Doug, we are just loving your underwater swivels, no really we are.
Friday, March 26th, 2010
A couple a Janes
It’s Friday, we’re hittin on all sixes, time to get a wiggle on, head down to the juice joint and shake a leg with the other hoofers!…ahem, in other words, it’s the weekend, why don’t you grap some dancers and head out to some of Londons great events this weekend? We’ll mostly be shaking it down at Club Thunderbird, The Big Ten Inch or maybe the Last Days of Decadence.
Don’t forget to go prepared with some more essential twenties slang
Hair of the Dog – a shot of alcohol
Handcuff - an engagement ring
Hard Boiled – a tough, strong guy
Hayburner - (1) a gas guzzling car (2) a horse one loses money on
Heebie-Jeebies – The jitters
High-Hat – To snub
Hit on all sixes - to perform 100 per cent; as “hitting on all six cyclinders”
Hooch - Bootleg liquor
Hood - hoodlum
Hoofer - Dancer
Horsefeathers - an expletive ; same usage as applesauce
Hotsy – Totsy – Pleasing
It – Sex appeal
Iron - a motorcycle
Jack - money
Jake - OK, as in , “Everything is Jake.”
Jalopy - Old car
Jane - any female
Java – coffee
Jitney - a car employed as a private bus. Fare was usually five cents; also called a “nickel”
Joe - coffee
John - a toilet
Juice Joint – a speakeasy
Friday, March 12th, 2010
So we’re all off to Stokey! Are you donning your glad rags and heading out to the gin mill this weekend? Perhaps you’re off to get an edge off some giggle water or get goofy with some fish or who knows…maybe you’re heading for a real flat tire? Whatever you’re doing, get swotting up on this new installment of essential twenties slang – if only so you can find out what all of that actually meant 
Edge - intoxication, a buzz. i.e. “I’ve got an edge.”
Egg - a person who lives the big life
Fall Guy – Victim of a frame
Fire extinguisher – a chaperone
Fish -(1) a college freshman (2) a first timer in prison
Flat Tire – A dull witted, insipid, disappointing date. Same as pill, pickle, drag, rag, oilcan
Flivver - a Model T; after 1928, could mean any old broken down car
Flapper - A stylish, brash, hedonistic young woman with short skirts & shorter hair
Fly boy – a glamorous term for an aviator
Frame - To give false evidence , to set up someone
Gams - A woman’s legs
Get a wiggle on – get a move on, get going
Giggle Water – An intoxicating beverage; alcohol
Gin Mill – An establishment where hard liquor is sold; bar
Glad rags – “going out on the town” clothes
Gold Digger – A woman who associates with or marries a man for his wealth
Goofy - in love