A clip of Gene Kelly from Singin’ in the Rain. Classics 101.

Lindy Hoppers Al Minns and Leon James have been seen dancing to the Charleston in a viral Daft Punk version, but this is the original that shows what it would have been like to watch them perform on television in the 1950s.

Minns and James were a well known for their performances at Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom in the 1930s and 40s. You can watch them break down the Shim Sham here and the Shimmy, Snakehips, and the Lindy Hop here on the DuPont Show of the Week in 1961: 

Noreen Corcoran sings “Life Has Its Funny Little Ups And Downs” to Donald O’Connor from the 1953 movie, I Love Melvin. Not only does it feature this catchy little song, but it includes Donald tap dancing on his roller skates, which starts up and ends… perhaps not down, but definitely with a smash.

Some of the best dancing from the archives: phenomenal swing and lindy hopping, the Haka Dance and, of course, the not-to-be-missed Nicholas Brothers.

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds operated the F-100C from 1956 until 1964. After briefly converting to the F-105 Thunderchief, the team flew F-100Ds from July 1964 until November 1968.

In this film from 1959 we see the Thunderbirds flying in formation, low level passes, in cockpit views and much more. The original source footage had no audio so I have added a generic jet engine sound for some background ambiance.

From the wdtvlive42 archives.

Featuring the music of Bill Haley and the Comets, this phenomenal dance clip from the 1950s movie Don’t Knock the Rock features some serious swing and lindy hopping done right. The kid should definitely see this. And then try and do it!