by Alain Wong

Last week’s answer

Shorty Snowden and his partner Big Bea had a signature step where he would go back-to-back with her, lift her up and carry her off the floor. Sometimes she would carry him off. Frankie Manning and Frieda Washington were inspired by this move when they created the “Over the Back”. He described it as “she’s back to back with me and I flip her over my back and she lands on her feet in front of me. So we call it over-the-back because that’s the trajectory she takes. She comes over my back and lands in the front” (City Arts, “The Uncut Interview with Frankie Manning”). They perfomed this airstep for the first time in public during a competition at the Savoy.

Congratulations to Thane Walkup and Mike Roberts for finding last week’s answer. And for those of you who haven’t read Frankie’s autobiography, I highly recommend purchasing it: Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop. There are many hidden historical gems, including the chapter where he describes how they came up with the first airstep, and what happened that night when they pulled it off at the Savoy.

This Week’s Tuesday Trivia Question: Top dance band of 1940 on Billboard magazine

The Billboard Advertising magazine, most well known today for its music charts, originally covered bill posting. In subsequent years, it added outdoor entertainment, and then motion pictures and radio, before dedicating itself to the music industry.

Who topped the Billboard magazine top ten dance bands for 1940? As a bonus, name the top 3.

Know the answer? Let everyone know and comment.

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