Amazingly, this movie short was made during the Great Depression. Besides the inimitable dancer and singer Rubberlegs Williams, there are many famous jazz musicians featured in the band, who are obviously miming their performances. Musicians included are iconic trumpeter Roy Eldridge, seminal drummer Big Sid Catlett, trombonist Dicky Wells, and a couple of musicians associated with Duke Ellington such as saxophonist Al Sears, clarinetist/saxophonist/bassist Otto Hardwick and banjoist/guitarist Elmer Snowden (he might be the conductor with the baton in this movie). Snowden led a band called The Washingtonians which included Duke Ellington, who eventually took over the band when Snowden left around 1923. The singer is Mabel Scott who was only 17 at the time of this film. 17 years later she married singer/pianist Charles Brown of "Merry Christmas, Baby" and "Driftin' Blues" fame. Mr. Brown was one of Ray Charles' biggest influences, which is obvious when you listen to Ray Charles very earliest records.
TRIVA: AT 5:30 a very young Mabel Scott singing a torch song "My man gone. She was famous for her hit Boogie Woogie Santa Claus (1948) Also was the wife of R&B singer Charles Brown who recorded Merry Christmas Baby a year earlier (1947). They was married from 1948-1951.
Stop the Sun, Stop the Moon (My Man Has Gone) was a big hit in 1932 in US and UK for a variety of artists.However, none really belted it out as a blues lament like the 17 year old Mabel Scott, in this piece. Its basically WH Auden's poem, Funeral Blues (Stop the Clocks), 4 years before he wrote it.
Amazingly, this movie short was made during the Great Depression. Besides the inimitable dancer and singer Rubberlegs Williams, there are many famous jazz musicians featured in the band, who are obviously miming their performances. Musicians included are iconic trumpeter Roy Eldridge, seminal drummer Big Sid Catlett, trombonist Dicky Wells, and a couple of musicians associated with Duke Ellington such as saxophonist Al Sears, clarinetist/saxophonist/bassist Otto Hardwick and banjoist/guitarist Elmer Snowden (he might be the conductor with the baton in this movie). Snowden led a band called The Washingtonians which included Duke Ellington, who eventually took over the band when Snowden left around 1923. The singer is Mabel Scott who was only 17 at the time of this film. 17 years later she married singer/pianist Charles Brown of "Merry Christmas, Baby" and "Driftin' Blues" fame. Mr. Brown was one of Ray Charles' biggest influences, which is obvious when you listen to Ray Charles very earliest records.
I'm curious as to who you think the dancer is at the 3 minute mark?
The sax section of Otto Hardwicke, Wayman Carver and Al Sears is obviously one of the best of that era, if not the best.
I just saw this on TCM. OMG! Those dancers are amazing athletes!
TRIVA: AT 5:30 a very young Mabel Scott singing a torch song "My man gone. She was famous for her hit Boogie Woogie Santa Claus (1948) Also was the wife of R&B singer Charles Brown who recorded Merry Christmas Baby a year earlier (1947). They was married from 1948-1951.
Who is the dancer at the 3 minute mark?
These old clips are awesome! Those dancers are amazing! Wish to watch the whole movies...
Stop the Sun, Stop the Moon (My Man Has Gone) was a big hit in 1932 in US and UK for a variety of artists.However, none really belted it out as a blues lament like the 17 year old Mabel Scott, in this piece. Its basically WH Auden's poem, Funeral Blues (Stop the Clocks), 4 years before he wrote it.
I'm curious as to who you think the dancer is at the 3 minute mark?
I think the guy is Henry "Rubberlegs" Williams. The girl, looks like Mabel Scott.@@mabelscottbluessinger3704
Thanks for presenting Smash Your Baggage from '32. Those dancers were pretty athletic, weren't they? This was so entertaining.
Holy toledo. Came here to see Edward Snowden, and saw some insane dancing. Wow.
AWESOME , Thanks for the wonderful upload pal !
I love this film! Can you guess why?
very nice, can you tell me exactly where, ....minute mark...Rubberlegs Williams appears?
That's what I came here for, too. To me, the guy at 0:59 looks the most like him in the face.
Who was that jump rope dancer,? Great tap dancing with a jump rope. I couldn't believe my eyes.
I'm gonna say 8:06
@@burttrattner2067 Jump-roping tap dancer: Danny Alexander.