Located in the center of Harlem on 140th and 141st street from 1926-1959, the Savoy Ballroom was one of the first social clubs where both black and white youth could come together. Manager Charles Buchanan made sure of that. He tried everyone the same and if someone came in thinking that they were better, he would ask them leave. The building was two-stories high and the length of the entire block. It was known for its highly talented dancers and the swing bands that performed there every night.
Every night held some kind of event. From Sunday night when the local dancers would came to show off their new moves to Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights when the high class clubs like the “Ladies Club” had the place reserved. The busiest night was Saturday other wise known as “Squares Night.” It received this nick name from the dancers because there were too many people on the dance floor for anyone to move. So Thursday was saved for the 400 Club or dancers only.
It was in 1928 when Snowden and George selected the northeast corner of the Savoy and called it the Cats’ Corner. Only the “elect” were aloud to dance or hang out in this corner. And only if you were a regular trying to show off for their date could they stand in the Cat’s Corner.
Out of the Savoy’s top dancers came the Lindy Hoppers who came up with dances such as: The Lindy Hop, The Flying Charleston, The Stomp, The Big Apple, Jitterbug Jive, and Rhumboogie. But we all know that dancing wouldn’t be the same without music. Every night there was a band playing the Savoy. And not just one, but two so when one band took a break the other would jump right in. They would play all the top music and try to keep up with the dancers. If the didn’t its most likely they didn’t play there again until they had some newer and faster pieces to play.
The Savoy Ballroom was a well known place
and people from all over would come just to have one night in that atmosphere.
Although it was the only rational mixed institution in New York City, it was
the only one that played music originating from the African background, however,
in 1943 that all began to change. On March 1 a sting operation took place in
the Savoy Ballroom busting them for prostitution and on March 24 the Judge revoked
the Savoy’s license soon followed with the pad-locking of the doors. It
has never been cleared if this charge was true or not, but it is the reason
for the Savoy being closed for so long. After the Savoy’s reopening on
October 22 business was never the same and had to close its doors in 1958.
For more information go to the link: http://www.swingdanceshop.com
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Bibiography
http:/www.savoyplaque.org/about_savoy.htm
http://www.streetswing.com
Garafola, Lynn."Of, By, and For the People: Dancing on the Left in the 1930's"
Stearns, Marshall and Jean. "Jazz Dance: the story of American vernacular dance"
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