Gallery: People Looking Unimpressed in Jam Circles

February 7, 2024

Venmo: @bobbyswungover

When we see Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers perform, their jam circle support tends to look like this 1939 promo photo:

Original caption reads: “A couple do the ‘Out the Window’ part of the Lindy Hop, a dance by devotees of swing. 1939 The Savoy Club, Harlem, New York, USA.” This is the first time I’ve ever heard this name for this air step, which Frankie Manning called Over the Head. News reporters had often come up with zany names to describe swing moves and even instruments, though it’s annoying and can be pretty disrespectful, it was probably at it’s heart just a way for writers to step outside of the dry journalism box they often lived in. I experienced this first hand as a journalist myself.
Sadly, I cannot divulge my secrets and tell you at what website you can find this photograph online. But for you true cyber-detectives out there, I will say there is a small clue in the photo.

Smiling faces, enthusiastic clapping, enough positive energy to open a yoga studio for influencers.

But sadly, there is little evidence to suggest that our heroes had this enthusiasm around their jam circles at their home ballroom. What follows may be shocking to many, but as part of our ongoing responsibility to show the harsh reality of swing dance history, we present to you: A gallery of people looking unimpressed in jam circles.

The Savoy, Harlem

Strong “We’re supposed to be impressed by this?” energy on the left. Take note of the crossed arms in that one onlooker. And the person more interested in the camera than the dancing. And not a soul is clapping. These will be themes.

The Savoy, Harlem, 1947

Original caption: “A man lifts a woman into the air as they dance the ‘Lindy Hop’ on the dancefloor at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, circa 1947. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)” Also, she’s either doing this air step with barefeet or the worlds most minimalistic shoes. Get it!

“But wait a sec,” you’re saying. “Harlem had notoriously hard-to-please crowds, like the Apollo Amateur night contests. Maybe it was just a Harlem thing.”

Salvation Army Benefit, 1939, Los Angeles.

UPDATE: Rather than being Club Alabam in Central Avenue, this is most likely a Salvation Army Benefit dance done at A Shriner’s Auditorium. Thank you reader RavingDesignz for this detective work!

In L.A.’s “Little Harlem” of Central Avenue, Black Americans danced Lindy, Bal-Swing, Balboa, Shag, and other dances. Despite this entertaining diversity of movement, this audience seems to be saying, “We’re waiting for something to happen.”

“Okay,” You’re saying. “Well, these are both Black meccas for entertainment. Maybe other spaces were different?”

Los Angeles social dance, late 1930s.

Roy Damron, one of the era’s most styling dancers, dips his partner at a jam at a Socal social dance. Three parts boredom, one part “Oh, isn’t that nice,” from the crowd. “Well, maybe it wasn’t as impressive as we thought.”

Well, how about this LA contest from 1939:

The person on the far right is the most engaged person in the audience, and even they seem to be more pensive than encouraging.

And this contribution showcasing Freda Wyckoff and George Christopherson is courtesy of Morgan Day, scanned from Ray Hirsch’s personal photo album:

“Fine,” you’re saying. “Maybe it’s just an American thing.”

Sweden, 1950s

Original caption: “Stockholm: Monica and Lasse, the two Jitterbug fans depicted, were giving a display at the youth dancing centre, the Nalen, in Stockholm. They are trying to introduce youngster to Jitterbugging, which is now “Old Hat” since Rock took over. 27 October 1959.”

Almost every single person in the front row has their arms crossed.

Britain, Jitterbug Contest, 1939

It’s strange to see British crowds more enthusiastic than Americans, but don’t be fooled, the two men on the right have enough apathy for the entire room.

“Okay,” you’re saying. “So none of thes crowds aren’t easily impressed. Dare we say it, maybe these dancers all need to do something a little more exciting.”

Lee Moates, Savoy Ballroom, 1950s.

We hope you have enjoyed this gallery. Please know, this is all good fun, it’s a biased sample set. For instance, there are pictures of Jam Circles that also look like this:

Original Caption: “A woman swings her jitterbug partner by the legs during a Salvation Army benefit dance marathon in Los Angeles.” Reader RavingDesignz below offered this couple could be Ernstid Davidson & Hermon Harirson, who won the 1939 “International Jitterbug Convention,” which appeared to be a mostly-SoCal area contest and dance weekend.

And, following the publication of this post, a lot of interesting comments were made online (On my Facebook page where it was shared) asking lots of interesting questions about the nature of this— especially if these people are indeed unenthused, or merely look that way because people sometimes scream loudly in their heads and are excited without expressing it obviously. We will discuss more in some form in the future, and let you know where to find it, right here in this post.

Otherwise, perhaps a good take away is this: regardless of how the audience is looking, go out there and dance for yourself, not for them.

[Colorized photos were colorized by A.I. software, it is not the original coloring.]