Vintage Swing Dancing and 1950s Teen History
(1950's teen culture history, 1950s rock n' roll, 1950s juvenile delinquency, teen idols, 1950s teen fashions,hot rod culture, rock n' roll dance styles, teen movies of the 1950s.)
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Rockinswing's New Videos Page
Vintage Swing Dancing and 1950s Teen History
(1950s rock n' roll, 1950s juvenile delinquency, teen idols, 1950s teen fashions,
hot rod culture, rock n' roll dance styles, teen movies of the 1950s.)
Above is the flyer for the latest documentary on You Tube. Click on it to view the documentary in the You Tube browser or view the docuementary here via the video box below, also by clicking on it.
This is a beginner-friendly instructional video in 1950's style "double-time" jitterbug, the type of swing dancing that was done by actual teenagers in 1950's after-school tv dance shows.
It isn't Smooth Lindy as seen in 1950's rock n' roll drive-in movies, but it is the type of simplified swing dancing that was done on shows like "American Bandstand."
Unlike lindy, this style can be learned completely on-line
When the subject of 1950's "juvenile-delinquency" is brought up, it's usually done with derisive laughter, which was the unintended result of the 1970's "Fifties Nostalgia Craze," as well as the result of inaccurate "recollections" by some individuals who feel the need to paint the 1950's in a "goody goody," and as a result, unrelatable time.
However, the video shows that what we struggle with "today," we certainly struggled with back then, in the "good old days."
This video documentary, the first in a three-part series, separates the "sugar coated" myth of nostalgia, in regards to "harmless" and "laughable" greaser gangs, from the historic reality of youth gangs in impoverished, inner-city neighborhoods of the 1950's that dealt with street crime, gun violence, drugs, racial intolerance, but with the hope of a better life off of the streets.
The video does not seek to paint the 1950's in a negative light, either. Rather, by showing that 1950's society struggled with much of the same issues that we do today, the lessons learned during that time make 1950's historical youth culture relevant, and more worthy of respect...with "street cred," so to speak.
The video is the result of years of research, and is backed with historical documentation.
"The Young Savages," which starred Hollywood legend Burt Lancaster, with supporting roles by Dina Merrill, Telly Savalas, and Shelly Winters, and directed by John Frankenheimer (who would later helm the well-remembered Cold War thriller "The Manchurian Candidate") is a classic of the "JD" or juvenile-delinquent dramas of the late 1950's and early 1960's. "The Young Savages" is on a par with 1955's "Rebel Without A Cause" and "Blackboard Jungle" and was actually a "test" by United Artists for their upcoming adaptation of "West Side Story."
This full-length documentary on You Tube is a behind-the-scenes retrospective for this socially conscious early 1960's teen crime thriller. As there are no behind-the-scenes extras for "The Young Savages" in either the DVD or Blu-Ray releases, our fan made documentary is the only video out there that will give '50's and early '60's youth culture fans insight into the movie, behind the scenes.
In addition, this documentary touches upon the real-life youth gang incidents that inspired the film's narrative, as well as the fate of one gang member who participated in the movie itself.
Shared from one of our two You Tube channels, you can watch it for free above.
1950s juvenile delinquency and the history of 1950s street gangs are the interrelated subjects of Rockinswing's first "major" blog.
This blog is actually the size of a free e-book, and is accompanied with 100's of vintage photographs and newpaper accounts, as well interviews with former gang members and surviving court documents.
Below is the video trailer of the blog. Check it out.
To access the blog itself, click on the "View More" button.
* As we took a temporary break from live events due to the pandemic, we continue providing video content for our fellow vintage lifestyle enthusiasts. Stay tuned and check back in, because in June of 2021, we will be back with our rockin' n' swingin' live events (following safety protocols, of course.)
In the meantime, consider becoming a Patreon patron. Patrons will get access to exlusive video content, and your support will help in continuing these video projects for you, our fellow vintage culture fans. (The button below will take you to the Patreon page.)