The Only Footage of Ken “Snakehips” Johnson Dancing
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- čas přidán 16. 08. 2021
- This is a clip from the 1935 movie “Oh, Daddy!”, you can watch the full length movie for free on CZcams here, and this scene starts at 21:31. Here’s the link to the movie: • Oh, Daddy! [1935]
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Fred Astaire took dance lessons from this young man in London.
Really, thanks for the info! Glad to learn more about Ken.
You can so tell|! I was going to say he dances like Fred!
London
He may have taken some lessons from him, but it was John William Sublett known by his stage name John W. Bubbles who, in 1920, gave tap dance lessons to Fred Astaire, who considered Sublett the finest tap dancer of his generation.
@MrCrowebobby thanks for the info!
Spectacular dancing. Too bad the movie didn't value it as much as i did. I would have been happier just watching him.
I tend to agree with you. It was my first time seeing the man dance, and I certainly would have appreciated it if he had more screen time.
what a fuqqin cry baby
HAHAHA This man was jamming ! Really "HOOFING" his @SS off with some the BEST tap WIZARDRY and magic in the world and camaras WAISTED TIME on four jack-wagons changing seats ?!? 😎
They liked him enough to have him perform.
Correct?
@@user-re9ui1ji1byou were half way there and then you cracked up. Shame.
Imagine being a genius and performing for people who wouldn’t let you sit at their table smh
If that's all you can focus on, then you're sick in the head.
You do realize there were also clubs where white people weren’t allowed. As a matter of fact there as still clubs and organizations operating today where whites are not permitted, but no white only ones 🤔
@@DerWutendeMetzger I focus on his genius being admired by people who wouldn’t let him walk through the front door. But yea, let’s just skip over the blatant racism and watch him dance right? Give me a break 🙄 I’m not here to make you comfortable. You can try your unification by avoidance all you want but I’ve been black for far too long for that.
Nowadays they even take part in the raping, torturing and various abuse of black women to impress their masters and I am including black women as well in it. How do I know? Because it's happening to me in France.
@@anncarter82 you do realize artists don't enter through the front, right? You don't see the big picture. They were brought here cause the powers that be want to create the New World Order... And they're the least marketable of all, so they did everything they could to promote them and make you feel sorry, so you'd mix with them. Also, the powers that be realized they themselves would never migrate in the amounts they wished to, so this fit into their plan. Meanwhile the whites are blamed when it was the Turkic-Jews who were the most prominent slave traders and owners.
At least we have this small glimpse of genius. I am grateful for anything.
As am I.
Correct. A little is better than nothing. Also, considering how many pre-1950? movies we lost to fires, accidents, poor storage practices, and film degredation
Dancing is not genius. Stop being hyperbolic.
@@answerman9933 Have you tried not being pedantic?
@@answerman9933 I know, "genius" is only born from the likes of Einstein, Picasso even if he borrowed much of his "genius" from Africa,,.
Thank you. Every time an artist is revealed to the world it is enriched.
Agreed!
Hes a delight! He looks as if he's floating and just touching down to make the tap noise. What a shame we dont have more from such a skillful dancer.
Right?! It's as if he's gliding and dancing on jello. Wondrous.
Thank you for posting Mr. Snakehips Johnson....must be remembered.
Right before the end as he exits, the birth of the ‘moonwalk’
The Moonwalk is older than that ,saw a very old film of a French Vaudevillian doing the Moonwalk and the background was being scrolled behind him ,to give the impression he was walking along. As for Snakehips ,absolute mastery ,I would have liked to see more of his dancing in the flick.
Fred Astair could do a masterful moonwalk; Jackson picked it up from him
That wasn’t a moon walk…..great dancer but don’t gas it up
@@DGill48Fred Astaire didn't do anything CLOSE to a moonwalk. I swear the things some people say to give White people credit for things Black people did first is absolutely ridiculous. BILL BAILEY did the first recorded ACTUAL moonwalk.🙄
@@mefirst2576 I think they were just joking.
It doesn't even look like his feet are touching the floor.
I know! He is so light on his feet!
Yes was thinking the same.... and he should have been called Floating Feet or similar.
Weightless. He looks flippin' weightless. I am so grateful we have any footage at all, but what would I give for more...
Man that is some goodass old timey dancing. And don’t forget that swing band holding down a TIGHT groove. Capitol I say, quite
Most definitely "Capitol"
The Nicholas Brothers were brilliant too.
Stunningly exceptional and his fluidity is sensational 💙💙💙
yes. The poise and the flow. He fills the room, no need for any of those actors. Real grace.
At least we have a bit of footage. I’m thankful for that.
Indeed.
That man was great.He was one of the best tap dancers alive during his time.❤❤
Never heard of him. Thanks for posting!
Zaouli Dancers from the West Coast of Africa perform impossible dancing feats - it may be that Mr. Ken Johnson has been blessed with those skills.
Was he from West Africa? NO.
@@somniumisdreaming Perhaps his mom/dad/or other un-chained arrivers who would have taught,,,.
Aspects of being human can be passed on through genetics and through human association.
Beautiful clear, strong beats. Love his style. Not too much superfluous heel work.
Wow! He danced effortlessly to what I perceive as complicated and fast. Thank you!
WOW! Look at what this gentleman does, and I can barely walk straight.
I wish the whole clip was about the dancing brother....What grace, and so much Elegance....❤❤❤
We can see here where Fred Astaire got his inspiration for his style. His first movie, Dancing Lady, was released less than two years before Oh, Daddy! here. Ken Johnson was well-known and admired in the hoofers' world for years, but did not have the deserved visibility. That was because of the same reasons the lady in the clip cannot stay in that restaurant for another minute. He was black, and his "Snakehip" dancing was indecent. He is amazing!
Well, actually, it was because she wasn’t supposed to be there to her husband’s knowledge, and her husband was unexpectedly in the crowd. Ken’s dancing was hot though, too bad he died so young. He may yet have made a decent career for himself, but now he’s widely forgotten. A real shame indeed.
Don't race-bait, it makes you part of the problem and impedes healing. Your narrative is untrue and ridiculous.
looked to me like she was leaving cuz of the two white guys starting an argument!!
@@JamesIrwins78s - OMG! He was only 26 years old when he died and by a German bomb during the war. That is so very young. Had he lived, he would have been amoung the Great Hoofers.
I would SO liked to have seen all of his performance and left out all the actors! We're lucky to have been able to see this though! Thankyou for posting! ❤ XXX
A time period when people sat at tables and watched talented dancers. And that was the highlight of the evening, and even the next days.
A different world
Now people would be looking at their phone.
@@hensonlaura Very true!!
Back when people had class and appreciated talent .
@@hensonlaura what if they look at dancers on their phone
That man danced so effortlessly for so long as if he could never get tired.
It is soooo frustrating when the camera pans away from this magnificent dancer!!! 🕺
It’s a movie, that’s why they do that!
@@peabody634 I know. I’m just expressing my opinion.
Part of the reason was so the movie could be shown in the south. They would cut out the "specialty numbers" with Black performers so they could show it in the south.
@@PecanSandees23 Thanks, didn’t realize,not from your dreadful country!
@@PecanSandees23 Ohh I never thought of that ☹️ , but I now I can imagine.
He is so good!
He was really talented. Wish we could have seen more of him and less of people wandering around.
He was just scenery as far as the plot of the film was concerned. I have to assume it was because he was popular at the time, having been recruited for a residency as the house band at the 'Old Florida club' in Mayfair.
This is why I want a time machine. Bro had multiple entries to drop to the floor and execute some power moves, but breakin was just before his time.
My late father loved this.
Incredible that synchro,timing in the foot work all natural,blessed not taught....👏🏽👏🏽🙏🏽👏🏽👏🏽😉
So smooth and stylish!
Have you ever thought of how MANY remarkable people have existed, but ....nobody even knew of them? Incredible voices, amazing ingenuity, the first person who figured out the wheel, or how to recreate and use fire, the person who painted the Lascaux caves. It's possible that the greatest military strategist who ever lived was a potato farmer. (Mark Twain.)
Believe me I’ve thought of that all too well. The main era of music I listen to and like is plump full of completely forgotten and very talented artists. It’s quite sad when I actually stop to think about it.
Don't be sad, be grateful for even the smallest experience !
@@lindasvartman3466 I suppose.
Many talented people loudly lauded ,have but one real talent and that is butt kissing ,today yesterday and maybe beyond ,how many are lost due to a careless remark ,wrong politics and sadly their roots. I feel some tears developing at the thought.
Wow, he is a beautiful man.
I'm glad I could see this was real. I hope he never gets forgotten... Not a comfortable scene to view, though, seeing how disinterested the audience are.
Thank you for uploading this, a d Oh Daddy's!
Any musician who's played at a dining venue knows that audiences are NEVER interested!
It is part of a movie. They are just actors playing a part.
Those are called extras and they are to be background, not stealing the scene.
The blonde at 1:10 looks plenty interested.
They seem pretty interested. They're entirely focused on the dancer, except for the ones who are part of the story and have to do lines for the movie.
Awesome footage!!! Thank you so much for sharing this!!!🥰💙👏🏼👏🏼
It thrills me to watch a true master !!!
That was cool James. I'm almost 60 and I probably wouldn't have ever seen this. I appreciate it brother.
No problem!
That talent should have been the focus of the camera operator
This clip is 95% people when didn’t come to see
Thanks for posting! It's things like this that can make CZcams be outstanding. What a thrill to discover a new artist (new to me) and at least be able to get a glimpse of their talent. ❤☮🌎
He was the 🐐 GOAT
Did I see a little Moon Dance there at the end?
I just learned about Snakehips from The Splendid and the Vile
Me too
I learned about him via Moon Over Soho, second book in the Rivers of London series.
I found his music via Peaky Blinders.
Not sure why hes called snake hips tho cos its all in his legs and feet!! What a tap dancer!!
His dancing was quite similar to the 1929 dance called the “Snake Hips”
Before youtube you had to put on a tuxedo and go to a place like this to drunk watch music, dancing and comedy
What a wonderful and spectacular dancer. Too bad the camera doesn't just focus on the entainer. It took away from this man's talent. And this is the only clipping of him dancing.
Don't forget he was just a part of the scenery as f ar as this movie goes. Just as all those other people sitting at the variouos tables in that club were.
He’s got moves like Jagger.
AND HE MOONWALKED!
Magnificent talent!!!
You can certainly see how he got the 'snakehips' moniker!
Skill, excellence
Genius in a natural born dancer!
Absolutely wonderful.
He is AMAZING! ❤❤❤
Thanks a bundle!
I want to watch the movie now! But, I wish I could have seen him do the whole dance!
This isn't the only footage of Ken Johnson's amazing dancing.
Please link more. I haven’t been able to find any other footage. Also, if you’re referring to the interview with Joe Deniz that’s actors playing Ken’s part and not real footage of him.
a fantastic dancer.
Yeah, this was the profession he was best at, rather than bandleader which was not his thing up until he had to take the place of bandleader when the previous bandleader left.
@@JamesIrwins78s he made a good bandleader
I’m not sure people with long legs are better dancer by default but they look more elegant
My parents and uncle were kids when his movie was made in 1935.
It all makes sense now!
Love this, thanks for posting it. I'm unsure where that tapping noise is coming from though; his feet never touched that floor! ;)
He was awesome 👍👍👍👍👍
A grandiose joy to see!! ❤❤❤
Its like he floats! 😮,
Can you imagine his skeleton emerging from the grave dancing like this?
With a name like that, no wonder he's amazing!
Ha ha! People called him "Snake Hips" because he could dance--not the other way around.
😂😂😂
I wish I had words to express my frustration. Soooooo many talented, top of their game actors/dancers, were left out/ignored, because POC. It saddens me to know just how much greatness, has been lost
That was bigotry, not pc.
He wasn't "left out or ignored" because he was "POC"...he didn't get a chance to be famous because he died when the club he was dancing in got hit in an air raid.
@@user-ks4hp5bg9s He said POC, not PC, so you agree with him.
@@user-ks4hp5bg9s He didn't mean political correctness "pc" but POC for "person of color". That's a good example of why people should not rely on abbreviations of phrases to convey meaning.
@@roringusanda2837 ooohh..aww..terrible terrible
They should have called him snake ankles.
He was awesome. How come we never heard of him until this video?
I’ve been wondering why this video has been gaining so many views, was it just recommended to you?
@@JamesIrwins78s no it came into my stream. Just caught my eye. I never liked Fred Astaire but I could have watched this guy for hours! Thanks for sharing. I’ll spread it around. ❤️
@@Beachy1955 Thanks.
@@JamesIrwins78s my pleasure. 👍🏼❤️
@@JamesIrwins78s It just appeared in mine as well, but I recognised the name as a great band-leader of the late 1930s. I just assumed the dancing was a sideline. That's what I came for - the music, NOT the dancing. And the band (whosoever's it was) is not seen.
Wow! I wished the camera had stayed on him the whole time
His C WALK would be unmatched
Band leader and dancer greatest along with mr bojangles
Fantastic dancer 🥰
Hit every beat & note. Incredible
Great dancing
The guy was killing it, and they kept cutting away to other stuff. What a shame.
Indeed!
Uh oh. The exit move, the final move, looks a bit like the Moonwalk. Bill bailey did this in another CZcams clip. Maybe that backslide is a standard exit for tap dancers back then.
Most likely borrowed the name "Snakehips" from Harlem's Earl "Snakehips" Tucker - a 1920's Cotton Club and Connie's Inn dancer who performed with Duke Ellington at the Cotton Club and in the 1935 Ellington film, 'Symphony in Black' - who originally popularized the snakeships dance.
I keep waiting for Groucho to show up
It was the ladies that gave him his nickname...
Yeah, all except for that woman at 46: seconds in. She didn't appear impressed at all.
@@CharlesSmith-io9fp When she frowned it was from looking at the three WHITE dudes talking across the room!!!!! Snake was entertaining, and THAT was ok.
@@garyloftin5602 Not sure how that works. When the woman and guy leave, the one guy tells the maître d' you can have my table. the maître d' moves three tables to the right and tells the two guys he talked to earlier they can move over to the better seats. Whoever she was looking at was across the room. I watched it 4 times to make sure it was the same guys.
You haven’t seen Caitlin dance yet; she’s good at everything 🏀🏀
Apparently, he died in 1941 at the age of 26.
All the Great Ones are under the radar! Lucky those who can spot them! 😉
Ken culturally appropriated tap dancing from the Irish
Ah, finally a glimpse of the legendary Snakehips! What a treasure, brief as it is. Check out the Nicholas Brothers, Eleanor Powell, and Bill Baily. As well, at the end of Cab Calloway's old movie Hi De Ho there is some exceptional tap at the end. And if you search out the documentary That's Dancing! you'll see a lot of fantastic tap, including what looks to me like a big cut out of a major production number that was in the original production of 42nd Street; I suspect it was taken out to make the show shorter and easier to mount, and the reduced version became the movie.
Good ole days
We had everything we needed within that others wanted. We were complete, just needed to be left alone.
This talented young man was also leading the 1930s Black British jazz scene, conducting his band KEN 'SNAKEHIPS' JOHNSON & HIS WEST INDIAN DANCE BAND.
He is well represented on the Topic CD 'Black British Swing 1931-46'.
He was murdered by Nazi bombs in 1941.
Another leading light in Britain at the time was singer Al Bowlly. With much more style and diverse range than the likes of Americans Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole, he could have been bigger than them in later years.
He was also murdered by a Nazi bomb, in 1941.
Yeah I always thought it was interesting how they died so closely to eachother. I listen to both of them, and actually I consider them both “later-end” artists as I mainly listen to 1910s/20s era music, with a 78 collection to boot. But I haven’t been able to attain either Bowlly or Johnson on 78.
Murdered is such a harsh, trigger word. A tragic casualty. I don't think the Nazis targeted him specifically.
@@JamesIrwins78s Bowlly sang with Johnson's band on two recordings of jazzed-up versions of Shakespeare songs recorded not long before both men were killed: "It was a Lover and his Lass" and "Blow, Blow thou Winter Wind".
@@postscript67 I was aware of “It Was a Lover and His Lass” but not of the other one, I’ll have to give it a listen, thanks!
I want a cool nickname like snake hips
the pain those black performers endured in those days. all smiles for a bunch of people who hate your guts.
Well at least he got to perform, a lot of them never had that privilege then.
@@JamesIrwins78s i think you're referring to "opportunity." even today the performance you see is not necessarily a privilege. many performers of all races are coerced or deceived into agreeing to arrangements or contracts that are abusive. but for black performers at that time, it was worse because there was no real way to voice an objection. there are horror stories of performers who were forced to perform because of the expectation of the audience-- even though the performer was ill or had a pressing family matter. some were even physically abused to force them to perform. we hear of the cotton club, but white people going to see black performers in harlem were thinking in terms of a carnival show.
@@newbengraham4775 I so celebrate being born in 1959 as a Black man, not perfect times are but man they were brutal for my forefathers.
@@newbengraham4775
Thank you for these necessary -to-know details of information.😢
“Let’s pan back again to the supporting actors doing almost no supporting. Adds nothing but at least they make us comfortable because they are untalented and look like us!”
You have to remember the times, sad times to say the least.
dumb as hell. everyone danced back then
Looks like Michael Jackson stole some of his moves.
I'd rather see Mr.Johnson tapping than everything else 😢🙏🏿❤️👼🏿🐘🤯
Not only Ken's band swung; he did, both ways. For a few months before his death he lived with Gerald Hamilton, who was twice his age and a notorious conman, the original of the title character in Isherwood's 'Mr Norris Changes Trains'. Johnson and Hamilton had a cottage at Bray, later renowned for its colony of showbiz celebrities.
Thanks for the information!
I wonder if he ever danced with Shirley Temple. She was 7 when this movie was and she got into films in 1931 at three and started learning how to dance at three. I bet he and Temple would’ve made a great tap team.
He was British and spent most of his life in London. He was in the US, mostly Harlem, for 1935 and part of 1936.
@@ISIO-George Interesting! Thanks for the trivia. I love trivia.
Stupesssss, cutting away from the dance to see what,?? Stupesssss!
He did the dance Fred Astaire copy and got all the credit
LOL!! Jimmy, she must go and get that Alabama snake that she's been longing for". You already know Jimmy.
I like how the guys who replaced the bigoted woman were so much happier to be closer to the action.