Nightlighters Dance: Celebrating Seventy Years

If a June night could talk, it would probably boast it invented romance.  ~Bern Williams

Dancing Gets Serious (Page Three)

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Elegance on the floor

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
The music of the 1940's is always good to dance to!

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
The band gets applauded

Did You Know? - The 1940's had great humor!

On May 29, 1947, the armed forces radio station in Tokyo, WVTR, interrupted its evening broadcast of dance music with a disturbing news bulletin: a 20-foot sea monster had emerged from the waters of Tokyo Bay and was making its way inland. The entire region was said to have been thrown into chaos.

For the next hour, a series of bulletins updated listeners on the progress of the "dragon" as it proceeded downtown, derailing trains and smashing buildings.

Troops were said to be battling it, although bullets were useless against it. So instead soldiers were using flamethrowers, grenades, teargas, and phosphorous bombs.

Listeners were advised to barricade themselves indoors and to keep phone lines clear for emergency calls.

One listener later recalled that the reports "continued at a frantic pace, included harrowing rescues and escapes, remote radio links, movement of Heavy Weapons and Tanks and all of the stuff of which the truly epic stories are made. Accompanied by the terrifying screams, roars and shrieks of both the beast and the panic stricken populace. As well as the gun fire and bullhorns of the protectors."

Finally, the monster reached downtown Tokyo. An announcer, identified as Cpl. Jim Carnahan of Chicago, who was providing a play-by-play account of the battle, then told listeners he would "draw nearer the beast."

He did so, at which point the monster stopped, turned, and addressed the listeners in a soprano voice. It said that it wished to congratulate the Armed Forces Radio Station on its fifth anniversary.

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016

In 1954, the film Godzilla debuted in Japan. The storyline of the movie had close parallels to the 1947 broadcast. Both described a gigantic dragon-like monster rising from Tokyo Bay and wreaking havoc on the city. The similarities between the two have led some to suggest that the 1947 broadcast inspired the Godzilla movie. This is possible. However no one involved in the production of Godzilla ever credited the WVTR broadcast as an inspiration.

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Great music this evening

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
The music never stops

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Movin' movin' movin'

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
All smiles Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
!940's music mixed with Beetles?

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Calories are flying off the dance floor... Twirling is a requirement

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Wyatt studied for this evening...and passed with flying colors

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
The photographer escaped

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Thank you management and staff at the Airport Sheraton Hotel!!!

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Two fisted walker...

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Thank you gentlemen!

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Slurp... Gurgle...

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016 Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016 Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016 Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016 Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Hear Ye... Hear Ye

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016

 

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
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Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
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Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
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Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
"Let's all do this again in another seventy years"

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Time to dance

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
New members! Yeah!

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
"OK, time to dance"

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Isn't it wonderful... We get to dance in full color! Yeah 21st Century!

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Wonder what was it like almost three generations ago?

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Only a few of us remember 1946...

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
What would the original members think of our dance these days?

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Dinner and dancing was probably $3.00 with a drink!

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
We may have arrived in our new car!

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Moving about the dance floor with the greatest of ease....

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Roberta and Bob put on quite a show

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
We look pretty good for being 70 years old! ... The club that is!

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
The circle dance is about to commence

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016

Did You Know? - Paul Jones is the name used for a number of mixer dances that were popular in the first quarter of the 20th century but continue to be used in traditional dance settings to the present day.

One common variation is as follows. At the signal of the caller (who may also be called by other names, such as "prompter", "cuer", or "Master of Ceremonies"), all dancers join their hands to form a circle (or several concentric ones, if crowded), with ladies being to the right of their partners.

At the second signal of the caller, the dancers repeatedly do the Grand Right and Left move, well known in square dancing. As a result, the ladies move to the left (clockwise) along the circle, while gentlemen move to the right.

At the third signal, dancers dance with the partner whose hand they are holding at the moment. This "third signal" is traditionally the shouted words "Paul Jones", but a whistle or other device can be substituted. This procedure may be repeated "as the master deems it advisable".

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Around and around they go.....

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Stop Stop

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
They start again... Out of control!

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
We saw a guy... He was dancing with his wife!

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Polishing the floor...

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
When you close our eyes, all you hear is the swooosh of people passing bye!

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Keeping the beat!

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Telling a story

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Tickling the keys...

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
"1946 was right after 1945 and before 1947

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016 Put on you hat and let's dance

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Super large dance floor

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Nightlighter's have a limitless energy level....
Oxygen is available for a slight fee behind the bar

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Cha cha time

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Having fun is the name of the game

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Dancing keeps on going....

Did You Know? - These sayings came along in the 1940's...

Take a powder – to leave

Fuddy-Duddy – old-fashioned person

Gobbledygook – double talk, long speech

Fat-head – stupid or foolish person

Chrome-dome – word for a bald headed man

Eager beaver – enthusiastic helper

Armored heifer – canned milk

In cahoots with – conspiring with

Snap your cap – get angry

Active duty – sexually promiscuous boy

Share crop – sexually promiscuous girl

Doll dizzy – girl crazy

Ducky shincracker – a good dancer

Above my pay grade – don’t ask me

Cook with gas – to do something right

Killer-diller – good stuff

Hi sugar, are you rationed? – are you going steady?

Stompers – shoes

Flip your wig – to lose control of yourself

Dead hoofer – poor dancer

Bathtub – motorcycle sidecar

Pennies from heaven – easy money

Ameche – to telephone

Gone with the wind – run off (with the money)

Lettuce – money

Gas – either a good time or something that was really funny

Grandstand – to show off

Brainchild – someone’s creative idea

What’s buzzin’, cousin? – how’s it going?

Khaki wacky – boy crazy

Hen fruit – eggs

Hi-de-ho – hello

Pass the buck – pass responsibility for

Motorized freckles – insects

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Floating across the floor

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Tom and Kathy looking fantastic

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Anybody sitting down?

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
The band hears all...

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016
Driving home in style

Nightlighters 70th Anniversary Celebration Dance 4/9/2016

Sound: "American Patrol"

"American Patrol" is a popular march written by Frank White (F.W.) Meacham in 1885. It incorporates both original musical themes by Meacham and melodies from American patriotic songs of the era such as "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean" and "Dixie."

Composed for piano, it was then arranged for wind band and published by Carl Fischer in 1891. Copyright was assigned to Meacham's widow, Cora, in 1912 and renewed in 1919. Jerry Gray arranged a swing version of the march for Glenn Miller's orchestra in 1941, and Morton Gould later composed his own unusual and often dissonant "American Patrol for 3 Bands."

The "patrol" format was popular in the second half of the 19th century, and other compositions bear titles such as "Turkish Patrol," "Ethiopian Patrol," "Owl's Patrol," "Welsh Patrol" and "Arab Patrol."

The format was intended to represent a military band approaching, passing, and fading into the distance. It typically included an introduction played p or pp, in imitation of bugle calls or drums, then themes played progressively louder until a recapitulation of the first theme(s), gradually dying away and finishing pp, ppp, or even pppp. The original piano version of "American Patrol" follows this scheme.