Donald Tomkins and Ruth Mayon dance the Varsity Drag
The Varsity Drag

   "Down on your heels and up on your toes" was the thing to do in the hit song for the Varsity Drag. Donald Tomkins (left) is credited with introducing the Varsity Drag in the 1920s. The danced is based around the Collegiate dances of that era. It was also a featured dance in the play""Good News" in 1927, which is probably where it was introduced to the general public.

   Tomkins danced with Ruth Mayon in the 1947 movie Good News. June Allyson and Peter Lawford also danced the Varsity Drag in this movie. Zelma O'Neil is credited with the popularity of this dance as well.

 

Birth Place

Creation Date

Creator

Dance Type
USA 1927 "#A8D3FF">Donald Tomkins Collegiate
 

Posters, Lobby Cards etc.

Sheet Music Covers

Music Titles
n/a 1927-Varsity Drag The Varsity Drag
            $ 1995 Good News Musical Sndtrk
            ... See all Drag Type songs
 

Various "Drag Dance" Titles

A Minor Drag Jig Drag Slow Drag
A Real Slow Drag Saratoga Drag Varsity Drag (1927)
Dizzy Drag Shoe Shiners Drag Viper's Drag
     

Night Clubs

Theaters

Locations
n/a 1928 - Equity Ball - NY n/a
             

Films / Movies

Television

Ballets / Stage
College Swing n/a Good News (1927)
$ Good News [DVD] (1947)       Good News (1995)
$ Good News (Audio Described) (1947)
       
The Varsity Drag        
1947 -- Good News DVD      

Publications
      1/1928 - Dance Magazine
      11/5/1939 - Fresno Bee (Zelma O'Neil)
           
 
 
 

NOTE: The 1947 DVD above also contains Musical excerpts from the 1930 version of Good News: "Good News" and "The Varsity Drag".

Other Related Dances of the time...

Aeroplane Waltz

Charleston

Hippohop

LuLu Fado

Shiver Shake

Apache Dance

Chicken Flip

Honey Bug

Maxixe

Slow Drag

Argentine Ardor

Collegiate

Hooche Cooche

Mooch and Sugar

Syncopated Canter

Arizona Anguish

Collegiate Foxtrot

Horsetrot

Necktie Waltz

Tango

Bacchanalian waltz

Collegiate Shag

Hug-Me-Tight

One Step

Terripan Toddle

Boll Weevil Wiggle

Dewey Dip

Innovation

Ostrich Stretch

Texas Tommy

Boston Dip

Dizzy Drag

Jazzarimba

Pavlova Gavotte

Toddle

Break away

Fado Foxtrot

Kangaroo Canter

Peabody

Turkey Trot

Bunny Hug

Foxtrot

Kangaroo Waltz

Pickaninny Dandle

Two-Step

Buzzard Lope

Fuzzy-Wuzzy

Kitchen Sink

Pollywog Wiggle

Varsity Drag

Cabbage Clutch

Gaby Glide

Lambeth Walk

Puppy Snuggle

Walkin' The Dog

Camel Walk

Gilda Glide

Lame Duck

Quickstep

Waltz

Cantor Waltz

Grizzly Bear

Lemon Squeeze

Salome dance

Wiggle-de-Wiggle

Cartel Waltz

Grizzly Glide

Lindy Hop

Shadow Dance

 

Castle Walk

Hesitation Waltz

Love Dance

Shimmy

 

Dancers, Choreographers etc.

Political

Albert Ludwig & Jean Morris

Ruth Mayon

 n/a

Bee Jackson

Zelma O'Neal

  

Donald Tomkins

June Allyson and Peter Lawford in Movie

  

Ewing Kennedy

    

Books, Magazine Articles on the dance...

Title

Author

Date Published

Publisher

Down Memory Lane Murray, Arthur 1954 Greenberg
$ Jazz Dance: The Story of American Stearns, Marshal 1964 De Capo Press
                       

Musicians / Bands

Other

Poets / Writers

Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau

 n/a n/a

Desylva, Brown

      

Fran Frey & George Olson

       

Misc. Research Words that may be related ... to help your searches

Bobbed cuts

Flapper

Raccoon Coates

 -

Collegiate

Knickers

Roaring Twenties

   

Other...

Sheet Music Words:
"This is the drag,
See how it goes,
Down on your heels,
And up on your toes,
That's the way to do the Varsity Drag."
August 29, 2006 http://www.Streetswing.com/histmain/d5index.htm
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