The small clubs and dancehalls of the times were mecca's for the artists to get together and "Jam". The dancehalls would fill up with people who were out for a good time. They were places were everyday woes and the state of the world could be forgotten for just a little while.
Some of these places are still remembered today even though they are no longer there. The great "Waldorf Astoria" used to stand where the Empire State Building is today.
Some of these places were: Copacabana, Brown Derby, Starlight Roof, Cafe Society, Eddie Condons, Club Troubadour, The Booster Club, Friars Club, Three Deues, Roseland, Hurricane Club, Savoy Ballroom (battle of the bands happened here), Coconut Grove, Appolo, Cotton Club, Minton's Playhouse ( Bebop was born here) and the Dinner Club. Each club has a history and more than a few star rhythm players made their names in these clubs.
"JIVE TALK"
Blues, Ragtime, Jazz, Big Band and Bebop also came with it's own colloquialisms. Below see if you remember a few of those.
"ALLIGATOR" slang term for musicians---"See ya later alligator"--
"BAD" means good---"Man that cat can play a bad horn"
"BARN BURNER" Frank Sinatra's meaning for classy broad.---"She's a real barn burner."
"THE BOMB" Means real cool.---"That car is a real bomb."
"COP A SLAVE" Means go get a job---"That dude copped a slave."
"CRIB" Means a small apartment sparsely furnished.---"Come up and bring your babes to my crib."
"DADDY-O" one dude talking to another dude.---"Hey, daddy-o where ya been."
"DIG" understand---"Do you dig it daddy-o?"
"CATS" jazz lovers---"Hey dude, just listen to those cats."
"FINGER ZINGER" fast in tempo.---"Man that is a real finger zinger"
"FLY" ---"Hey dude, that babe is fly"
"GET DOWN"--- "Means that dude can play"
"HAND ME SOME SKIN" shake hands.---"Hey cat, hand me some skin"
"IN THE POCKET" band is playing it's best.---"That group was really in the pocket tonight."
"JACKSON" male friend---"Hey jackson, what's up."
"JAKE" okay---"That's jake with me."
"JIVE" untruth--"Hey dude, don't jive me."
"KING KONG" cheap whiskey---"Hey dude, hand over the king kong."
"LICORICE STICK" clarinet---"Hey dude, Goodman knew what to do with his licorice stick"
"RUG CUTTER" swing dancer---"Hey dude, those cats are rug cutters."
"SCAT" sounds that have no meaning--"That Ella, she can really scat"
"SMOKIN" doing wonderful---"He sure is smokin' tonight"
"TRAIN WRECK" a musician gets lost in a tune
"TUBS" drums---"Krupa sure has a set of tubs"
"WIG" go nuts---"Hey dude, that cat is really wigging out"
"WITCH DOCTOR" a member of the clergy
"WOODEN KIMONO" coffin
"ZOOT" over the top clothing.
How about some of the dances that were done then? I can remember my dad saying, "What crazy dances and songs you kids have today." Sure dad, like Tisket a Tasket was normal or the Black Bottom or Charleston dances were low key.
Bossa Nova Samba Flamenco Rumba Slide Charleston
LindyHop (Jitterbug) Tango Conga Black Bottom Waltz???
