Part 2: From Jazz to Swing
The second of three Omnibus films about the transatlantic take-over of our popular song and dance.
Spell it Jass, Jas, Jaz, or Jazz-nothing can spoil a Jass band.
So ran the promotion material for the first record ever to sell a million copies: 'Livery Stable Blues,' by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.
In 1919, the band crossed the Atlantic and took Britain by storm. British imitations were soon stalking the country.
Then came the process of anglicisation. An English style of modern ballroom dancing was refined from its American antecedents. Radio turned our dance-band leaders into national heroes. A British song factory on American lines was built up around the Charing Cross Road.
But the rise of the Hollywood musical made things tough for British composers: America could now dump its songs and dances in the same film can.
By the late 30s the Americans had thundered into their swing era. Would Britain follow suit? Those filmed in America:
Eubie Blake , Irving Caesar Harry Warren
Those filmed in England:
Tolchard Evans , Victor Silvester
From the archives come AMBROSE, DUKE ELLINGTON, GRACIE FIELDS, ROY FOX , HENRY HALL , JACK HYLTON , AL JOLSON, RUBY KEELER, JACK PAYNE , HARRY ROY , PAUL WHITEMAN and many more.
Narrator RONALD PICKUP
Film editor PETER WEST
Executive producer mike WOOLLER
Written and produced by GEOFFREY HAYDON