Transported, courtesy Scott and Zelda ...

I saw Midnight in Paris last night. It's a lovely film, especially for a semi-Francophile and 1920s-lover like myself. I was surprised how big a role F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald played. I am fascinated by this couple, despite their sad story, and have researched them for years. One of Zelda's biographies has been sitting on my shelf for a few months, and next week I will finally get around to reading it. In the meantime, here is a fun video of her and Scott.



By the way, Paris is my favorite place I've never been to. After watching this movie, I decided if I ever visit, I need to find a flea market and go record-hunting.

Dancing in the 1920s: Charleston

Gotta love the Charleston. I actually learned how to do it at one point, not nearly as well as the people in this clip, but well enough! Here are some flappers and gents dancing the Charleston and others.



~F.

Transported, courtesy Annette Hanshaw

Annette Hanshaw was a popular Jazz Age-era singer. I imagine she is little-remembered today (I came across some of her songs completely by chance), which seems too bad. I love listening to vintage music that transports me to its recording time. Annette does that. When I listen to her sing, I imagine being a flapper who falls in love, experiences a broken heart, and then falls in love again. It may sound weird, but I cannot help but feel she takes me away for awhile.





I believe much popular music today tends to be a little over-the-top, so it's refreshing to listen to something more simple and romantic. However, who knows? Some people in the 1920s may have thought Annette was a little much.

~F.

Dancing in the 1920s: The Waltz and The Baltimore

It has been awhile since I have shared 1920s dance videos. I love dancing, especially from this era. It seems so romantic. These prove no exception.

The Waltz:


The Baltimore:


What do you think? Any favorites from the two? I had a hard time picking between these dances, so I had to post both.

~F.

"Oh why, why, why be good?"

Last night I received the documentary, Why be Good? Sexuality and Censorship in Early Cinema from NetFlix. Just over an hour long, it covers conflicts between filmmakers and censors from the 1890s to the implementation of the Hays Code in the 1930s. Mary Pickford, Louise Brooks, Fatty Arbuckle, Gloria Swanson, Rudolph Valentino, Mae West, and Clara Bow are a few of the stars it follows under this focus.

This film did not tell me much I did not already know, but I loved the selection of film clips (Many were from the 1890s and 1910s!!), rare interviews with Mary Pickford, Louise Brooks, and Gloria Swanson, and the 1920s-inspired soundtrack. Not to mention, no matter the depth, this subject remains interesting to me. I think it's so typical to treat sex in such a taboo, hypocritical way.  It's worth checking out if you like film history.

In other news, has anyone kept up with TCM's annual 31 Days of Oscar? I am excited to watch Father of the Bride tonight, and Viva Zapata! and Sunrise tomorrow.

The Black Bottom

A couple years ago, I bought a 1920s album that featured the Johnny Hamp's Kentucky Serenaders' version of the "The Black Bottom" dance. It's one of my favorite tracks. Every time I listen to it, it stays in my head the rest of the day, and makes my obligations a little bit easier and happier. Anyway, I found this video with a couple other versions of the song, plus footage of a cute couple and woman dancing. These people blow my mind, because I dislike most popular modern dancing (with the exception of maybe salsa, but even that has been around for quite awhile), and I doubt many women today would dance the way the 1919 woman does. I think it relates back to the discussion from the previous Winnie Lightner post, that most entertainers today are too contrived, and less likely to convey the sort of "free spirit" quality I see in this era.

If Gaga and Britney think they can dance, I'd like to see them try this!



Isn't it cute?