Mike Feher wrote us to tell us that PBS is running a special on the zoot suit riots that happened in Los Angeles in the early 1940′s. The PBS web site has a really good online presentation about the “zoot culture”. I think this is an area of history that is greatly misunderstood in the mainstream today. Mention the term nowadays and most people conjure up stereotyped images of swing dancing. In reality, there is a lot more to it than that and the suit stood for much more. Some zoot suiters danced, some didn’t. Some jitterbugs wore zoots (or more toned-down spin-off styles), and some didn’t. The web site has some interesting interviews with former zoot suiters about the love of big band music, dancing, and nightlife. It even has a short bit on the zoot suiters own spin on the jitterbug… the “pachuco hop”.

Thanks for the link Mike!