Date |
Information |
| 1538 |
Because of the sexual nature of the dance, the singing
or reciting of the Sarabande
(a dance), in whatsoever place, was punishable with two hundred
lashes; in addition, men were given six years in the galleys, and
women were exiled from the kingdom. |
| 1638 |
Mrs. Lawrence Water and a friend (Puritans)
were brought up on charges by the court for "Mixed
Dancing" (dancing as a couple.) |
| 1651 |
Samuel Eaton
and goodwife of New Plymouth were admonished by the court for "mixed
dancing" (dancing as a couple.) In the same year mixed
or unmixed dancing was outlawed in the local Inns (taverns)
and a five shilling fine would be imposed. Dancing was only allowed
at the proper place and time. |
| 1860 |
October 13. 1860: at the Grand
Ball held at the Academy of Music in honor of the
Royal visit by the Prince of Wales in New York. Five
hundred people descended on the house, more than it could hold had
been "Invited" to the affair, the new York Times (Oct. 13th,
1860) reported "there was a loud crash and a large portion of
the floor caved in, directly in
front of the prince". |
| 1862 |
Ballerina Emma Livry
(1842-1862), during a rehearsal of La Muette de Portici, Livry's Ballet
skirt caught fire from a gas jet, that was hanging from a piece of
scenery. Although the burn had appeared superficial, she died a few
days after the accident from the burns in November, 1862. |
| 1899 |
Frankie and Johnnie:
reported in Saint Louis, Missouri on October 18, 1899, when well known
black dancer Frankie Baker stabbed her young seventeen year-old black
lover Allen Britt in her Saint Louis residence [St. Louis Dispatch,
10/20/1899]. Frankie was eventually executed for committing this crime,
but the circumstances of when and how were unclear during my research.
When the stabbing was changed to shooting is also unclear, Albert
became Johnny, and both he and Frankie soon became legendary (Courtesy
Bill_Edwards.) |
| 1908 |
Fred
Astaire was "ruled off" the vaudeville stage
while dancing with his older sister - Adele
for being "Under Age" (Stage Mag 1938.) |
| 1910 |
Sophie Tucker
was arrested for singing the Grizzly
Bear and the Wiggle Worm dance songs
in a night club (stage magazine-1938.) |
| 1910s |
A Paterson, New Jersey court imposed a fifty day prison
sentence on a young woman for dancing the Turkey-Trot.
|
| 1916 |
Aurora, Ill., Jan. 24: Joseph E. Bishop, 22, and his
bride, aged 21, were seriously hurt, and twenty guests at their wedding
injured late today when a portion of the house in which the nuptial
celebration was being held collapsed while the guests were dancing
the tango. Bishop suffered a broken arm, sprained ankle and probable
internal injuries, while his bride, who was Miss Florence Vargman,
suffered severe internal injuries. Physicians say she may die.The
marriage ceremony was performed in St. Michael's Church, and afterwards
100 guests assembled at a residence at 214 North Broadway for the
wedding feast and dance. While twenty couples were dancing the tango
on the second floor, the stairway and the portion of the floor collapsed,
hurling many men, women and children to the floor below. Police removed
the injured and the bride and groom were hurried in ambulances to
a hospital. |
| 1916 |
ASHVILLE. N. C., Nov. 13.--For the pleasure of dancing
the tango, Brent Latimer
of Greenville, S. C. paid the price of one eye, the sight being destroyed
by a quill in the hat of the young woman with whom he was dancing.
Latimer and the girl essayed the tango. In making a turn the quill
swept in behind his glasses, cutting the ball of the right eye. |
| 1920 |
On July fourth in the a.m., Fifty people were killed
when 200 Charleston
dancers at the popular Pickwick
Club in Boston, Ma. during the the 1920's got so enthusiastic
that the vibrations made the whole dance floor collapse!. |
| 1920s |
Prohibition:
In Brooklyn, twelve people died from drinking wood alcohol
during prohibition. |
| 1925 |
Rudolph
Valentino's wife Natascha
Rambova was banned from the set of The Eagle
in 1925, for causing problems while Valentino was filming. (jealousy
I think?). |
| 1927 |
A Dance
Marathon was shut down due to 60 dancers collapsing in
a dance marathon after only 20 hours. Los Angeles Herald - 4/22/1927
|
| 1930s |
Bonnie and Clyde
were first spotted at a "swing dance." Bonnie and Clyde
were dancing a very good Jitterbug
and were noticed by fellow dancers, one individual had the police
called on them. That night marked the start of them running from the
law. |
| 1930s |
During the filming of "Shall
We Dance" with Fred
Astaire at RKO Pictures Corp. The expensive set that
was to be used in over half the movie caught fire. George, Astaire's
valet went to the fire chief to be allowed to enter the charred remains,
as it was imperative he enter the ruins. As the chief and George
argued vigorously, George persuaded the chief to allow him to enter
the burnt ruins... he returned within his possession ... none other
than,... Fred Astaire's tap shoes...:) |
| 1930s |
Judy
Garland was fired from the film "Annie Get
your Gun". |
| 1936 |
At the Paramount Theater in New York,
The Fire department was called in to check the safety of the balcony,
because many of the high school kids were dancing the Jitterbug
in the aisles of the balcony to Benny Goodman and
his Orchestra. |
| 1938 |
The famous Dalcroze
Dance Institute near Dresden, Germany was closed down in
1938 when Hitler invaded Austria. |
| 1942 |
A devastating fire killed over 500 dancers at the Cocoanut
Grove Ballroom in Boston, MA. on November 27th. A
patron had unscrewed a lightbulb to become more cozy with his date
and a waiter, who couldn't see lit a match to redo the bulb, this
action caused the fire. It was unknown for many years as to why it
spread so quickly, but was later found out a Methyl Chloride gas (highly
flammable) was used to fill the air conditioner freon tank. This
was due to the shortage of freon during the war. |
| 1953 |
Actress Sheree
North broke her foot doing the Shimmy
in the Jitterbug scene
in the movie "Living It Up!" with Jerry
Lewis. |
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