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!

If you were in Orlando in the early 1940′s and wanted to dance to the big band sounds, the place to go was The Esplanade. This outdoor venue was located at the Army Air Force Base (which later became the Naval Training Center and is now Baldwin Park). The Thursday night “wolf dance” occasionally featured known acts such as Bob Hope and Sammy Kaye. From what we understand, the concrete dance floor (originally painted with Air Force symbols, and later repainted to reflect Navy ownership) still exists today.

Who says dancing is something you do above water? Check out the Orlando Sentinel’s special section on Weeki Wachee. Awesome! I grew up near the roadside attraction and use to spend hot summer days swimming at Bucaneer Bay. Definitely a cool bit of history worth saving!

Singer and star of Hollywood musicals, Betty Hutton, died today at the age of 86. (News Article) For those of you who were out Saturday, I played her version of “Stuff Like That There” (by request from Adam). If you have been dancing a while, you have probably also heard her songs on a number of occasions. Titles like “Murder, He Says”, “Orange Colored Sky”, “Doctor, Lawyer Indian Chief”, and “It’s Oh So Quiet” are all played from time to time. She will be remembered for her distinctive voice with tons of energy!