Savoy Ballroom

The Savoy opened three years before the climax of the Great Depression. Even with Prohibition still the law, in 1926, the ballroom still was a catalyst in uptown society. The opening rocked the ideals of America of that time. Harlem was said to belong to the blacks during the a.m. hours, but to the whites at night. The Savoy, however, wasn’t a black club that entertained the white crowd who were "slummin’ it,"

The night club circuit had it’s lingo. Anyone who’s anyone knew what to say. It was imperative to know at least these terms when venturing uptown:

Bolido – the gambling game on the New York clearing house numbers

Dicty – describes a high class man or woman

Sweet man / Honey man – a man who is kept by a woman

Passing / Passer – the act of passing/ a person who can pass for w

As Powell’s political success grew, so did the hopes of Harlem. Although there is no longer separate entranceways for whites and blacks, any more separate schools or drinking fountains, no more unwelcoming signs in soda shop windows; there is still a lack in equality among the races. As long as this inequality remains, there will be protest and there will be social movement.

The only power blacks had in this community were their numbers. If he could gather enough of them for one protest, Powell thought that the black community would finally get enough attention, and some changes would soon start to take place.

The glory days of the Savoy packed crowds to listen to the likes of Duke Ellington, Chick Webb, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, among others. Every big band at the time played the Savoy. At any time you can find, not only African American musicians, but also famous white patrons such as, Carl Van Vechten, Greta Garbo, Orson Welles, and Lana Turner.

In 1944, two years after the closing of the Savoy, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. became the first African-American congressman in New York. He was elected in the primaries without the necessity of an election contest in November. He was the Democratic and American labor party candidate and was also seeking nomination in the Republican primary.

Powell thought that the closing of the Savoy, for any length of time, would cause serious detriment to the community. A meeting between the Moe Gale, Charles Buchanan, and Herbert White was underway to discuss the damaged ballroom and the tattered morale of Harlem.

They decided that, in order to boost the spirits of the community, the Daily News would sponsor a dance contest; pitting dancers from different boroughs against each other. With the popularity of the Lindy Hop, the Savoy was a must an active participant. The contest would be city wide, not local.

Some topics in this essay:
Harlem Hospital, Lindy Hoppers, America Harlem, Savoy Ballroom, II Gold, Charles Buchanan, Savoy Savoy, Clayton Powell, Analysis Depression, Investigation Prostitution, lindy hoppers, savoy ballroom, charles buchanan, adam clayton powell, adam clayton, clayton powell, black community, african american, blacks whites, closing savoy, dance hall, city police department, clayton powell jr, york city police, whitey's lindy hoppers,