HOME    ABOUT    HISTORY    PHOTOS    MOVIES    DANCERS    INSTRUCTION    COMMUNITY    CONTACT

Photos of Collegiate Shag

LIFE Magazine - Life Goes To A Party

An Arthur Murray troupe pair performing "shag break" while dancing to the music of Benny Goodman's Band in the Madhattan Room in the Hotel Pennsylvania.

Location: New York, NY, USA
Date taken: November 1937
Photographer: Rex Hardy Jr.

LIFE Magazine - Life Goes To A Party

Couple doing "Peckin and Posin'" move as they show off their style in dance called the Big Apple to the music of Benny Goodman's Band in the Manhattan Room at the Hotel Pennsylvania.

Location: New York, NY, USA
Date taken: November 1937
Photographer: Rex Hardy Jr.

Jitterbugging on Venice Beach, 1938

Swinging in the sandtime...on the sandy beach of Venice, CA, the jitterbugs have foregathered to put on one of the world's greatest swing jamborees. Some of the best in the country have entered in the California championships for all classes of jittery jitterbugs.

Location: Venice, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Date taken: September 8, 1938
Photographer: Bettmann Collection

Chicago Tribune - With saddle shoes

A version of the jitterbug known as the collegiate shag, 1938.

Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Date taken: 1938
Photographer: Chicago Tribune Archive

Life Magazine - March 7, 1938 - Page 16

AN INTERCLUB SHAG CONTEST PRODUCES SOME NEW DANCE FORMS: The Big Grapple was one of the maneuvers exhibited at the city-wide shag contest staged by the Madison Square Boys Club in New York on Feb. 23. Dance teams representing churches and clubs from all parts of the city competed for a silver cup and cash prizes.

Location: New York, NY, USA
Date taken: Febuary 23, 1938

Life Magazine - March 7, 1938 - Page 16

AN INTERCLUB SHAG CONTEST PRODUCES SOME NEW DANCE FORMS: Winners of the contest were Peggy Keating and Leonard Rowan of the Bronx, shown briskly bumping knees at right. they won the cup, $5, and glory. In a typical trucking evolution at left are Runners-up Leon Doremus and Frank Conlon of Manhattan. They won $4.

Location: New York, NY, USA
Date taken: Febuary 23, 1938

Life Magazine - June 7, 1937 - Page 16

THE CLASS OF 1937: Dancing is eccentric at Oberlin (Ohio), where an orchestra or radio plays in "Rec Hall" every evening from 7 to 8.

Location: Oberlin, OH, USA
Date taken: 1937

Life Magazine - June 7, 1937 - Page 16

THE CLASS OF 1937: Dancing is strenuous at Ann Arbor. University of Michigan has informal dances every weekend, plus formal proms.

Location: Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Date taken: 1937

Life Magazine - December 1, 1937 - Page 32

THE SHAG, which was popular before and during the Big Apple vogue, seems destined to survive it. Above is shown the basic Time Step. 1) hop on left, 2) hop on right, 3) down left and right. Rhythm for all shag steps is slow, slow, quick, quick.

Location: New York, USA
Date taken: 1937

Life Magazine - December 1, 1937 - Page 32

Princess Brinda of Kapurthala, went to Arthur Murray's to learn the Big Apple and Stayed to do the shag. Michael Bartlett, tenor, now starring in the musical "Three Waltzes" takes lessons with Princess Brinda. Silver Beach and Side Break. The steps are so numerous, Mr. Murray is running out of names.

Location: New York, USA
Date taken: 1937


Photos of The Big Apple


Couple Doing The "Big Apple" Dance

Photo shows Babs MacDowell and Stewart Barnes of South Carolina, the place where the "Big Apple" originated as they were going through their dance at one of Washingtons leading Hotels where they are showing the fashionable crowds just how its done. Closeup of the couple.

Location: New York, NY, USA
Date taken: November 10, 1937
Photographer: Bettmann Collection

Couple Doing The "Big Apple" Dance

Photo shows Babs MacDowell and Stewart Barnes of South Carolina, the place where the "Big Apple" originated as they were going through their dance at one of Washingtons leading Hotels where they are showing the fashionable crowds just how its done. Photo shows the entrance, "pecking."

Location: New York, NY, USA
Date taken: November 10, 1937
Photographer: Bettmann Collection

LIFE Magazine - The Big Apple

Youth dancing to Benny Goodman and his orchestra in Manhattan Room at Hotel Pennsylvania.

Location: New York, NY, USA
Date taken: November 1937
Photographer: Rex Hardy Jr.

LIFE Magazine - The Big Apple

Youth dancing to Benny Goodman and his orchestra in Manhattan Room at Hotel Pennsylvania.

Location: New York, NY, USA
Date taken: November 1937
Photographer: Rex Hardy Jr.

Life Magazine - December 1, 1937 - Page 29

1937 CLOSES WITH BIG APPLE: New version of old square dance dominates holiday parties. Rise and Shine. Faith Clarke, buxom Sarah Lawrence student, "shines" with a professional. "Shining" is showing off individual step improvisations in the centre of a circle.

Location: New York, USA
Date taken: 1937





Life Magazine - December 1, 1937 - Page 30

CHARLESTON SWING: One of the three main steps in the Big Apple, this is a violent version of the strenuous Charleston in vogue twelve years ago. Main difference is that in the 1937 adaptation the steps forward and back are taken without the typical Charleston heel turning. First three pictures above show the beginning of the step, i.e., forward on left, kick right foot forward. Last picture shows dancer completing figure by steping back with right and kicking back with left.

TRUCKIN: This step consists of a forward and sideways shuffling movement. Step sequence: start with feet in position shown in first picture; step forward on the left foot toeing in; on second beat turn the toes out. Repeat with the right foot; toes in on the first beat, out on second. Throughout the truckin' one arm is up, bent at elbow, with index finder raised in admonishing gesture, beating time. Truckin' is a popular step frequently done by couples as a separate dance routine.

SUZY-Q: A hip-wiggling, shoulder-swaying, hand-wringing, sideways shove of which the chief feature is that arms and feet move in opposite directions. Dancer above si going from arms right, feet and body left position, to arms left, feet and body right position. Step sequence: dancer above is moving sideways to the left, she steps on the heel of right foot, toeing in; as she turns right toes out, here clasped hands move toward left. In the Suzy-Q, body should be bent slightly at waist.


Location: New York, USA
Date taken: 1937





Life Magazine - December 1, 1937 - Page 31

PRAISE ALLAH/SWING HIGH, SWING LOW: (left) Dancers rush forward with arms upraised, hands quivering. When they come together they bend low, yell "Praise Allah." Then they break away, arms up, form circle again. (right) Arthur Murray stands on chair at back calling out the formations. Dancers do a Charleston Swing, with a high kick forward on right and low kick back with left.

LEAPFROG/ORGAN GRINDER: (left) The boy jumps over partner in leapfrog fashion, then he bends over in front of her. The girl rises and finishes the step by giving her partner a swift kick. (right) Boy goes down on one knee while his partner trucks, holding one hand on his head as she goes 'round and 'round him in a circle. Next, girls kneel, boys circle and truck.

BACK TO CIRCLE SWING/PEELIN' THE APPLE: (left) A Charleston Swing done to the right or left, with backs to center of circle. This is one of the hazardous formations driving the Big Apple from crowded dance floors. (right) Dancers shuffle in a circle right. With fists clenched and together (boy, rear), they lift elbows, open arms, then bring arms forward and sideways (boy, centre front).


Location: New York, USA
Date taken: 1937

Life Magazine - December 1, 1937 - Page 32

BIG APPLE PRINTS, made by Marshall Field & Co. in silk and rayon, are sold at retail counters of department stores over the country. New York manufacturers made Big Apple party dresses (above). Others made Big Apple purses and housecoats.

Location: New York, USA
Date taken: 1937

ARTHUR MURRAY'S
HOW TO BECOME A
GOOD DANCER (1938)



Cover



Title Page



Page 182



Page 183: Lets Swing It



Page 184



Page 185: The Shag



Page 186: Shag Dip



Page 187: Side Break



Page 188



Page 189: Truckin'



Page 190: Suzie-Q



Page 191



Page 192: The Big Apple



Page 193



Page 194



Page 195



Page 196



Page 197



Page 198


HOME    ABOUT    HISTORY    PHOTOS    MOVIES    DANCERS    INSTRUCTION    COMMUNITY    CONTACT