These videos and movie clips are individually shown on various pages of the Big Bands Database Plus website. They are gathered together here for the convenience of our visitors.

   VIDEO: "I'm For You"   sung by Frances Faye, with Carrol Gibbons leading the Savoy Orpheans - 1934 edition. (film clip: jozefsterkens )

   VIDEO: "It Had To Be You"  . Sung br Barbra Streissand in some of her purest and most minimalistic work. Live and like always-at her very best! (film clip: yeyoli )

   VIDEO: "I've Got Rhythm"   with George Gershwin at the piano. 1943. (film clip: bobby4000 )

   VIDEO: "Gitta Alpar"   (Film Clip: jozefsterkens ) . Gitta Alpar was an opera singer before she made a career in movies, married to Gustav Froelich untill 1933 when he divorced here while she was pregnant,

As a jewish woman she fled to Austria where she appeared in the 1935 film 'Ball im Savoy' ('Ball at the Savoy' ) went to England and than to US where she did some radiowork but her career was over. At the Metrolitan Opera, where she did an audition, there was marked on her file: "Old fashioned way of singing". She married a millionaire and spent the rest of her life in Beverly Hills, California, living in a world of souvenirs, looking at her old movies.
Here's an audio file of Gitta Alpar singing the Tango from the 1935 film 'Ball im Savoy' ('Ball at the Savoy' )
    "Tango from the Operetta "Ball At The Savoy" (UK Hotel)". (573 kb) , sung by Gitta Alpar ("La bella Tangolita") with the Odeon artist orchestra under personal. direction of the.composer, Paul Abraham,. Recorded: Odeon O-11785 b MX. [10172] Berlin, 1933

Gitta Alpár b. (February 5, 1903, Budapest, Hungary, d. February 17, 1991, Los Angeles, California, USA) was a Hungary-born actress, opera, and operetta singer. In 1931, Alpar married actor Gustav Fröhlich, but the marriage had to be dissolved four years later, as the Nazis came to power,

   VIDEO: "Eugene von Grona & Leni Bouvier dancing. "   (Film Clip: nedsparks ) "As a child Eugene von Grona (born in ... As a child Eugene von Grona (born in Berlin, 1908) was fascinated with "cakewalk" music (ragtime) and dreamed about traveling to the country that spawned the new music. In the 1920s von Grona and his wife, Leni, came to the U.S. with a very open mind for modern music. He and his wife, also a dancer, were especially fascinated by the music heard in Harlem, such as the compositions of Duke Ellington."

"Some critics remarked that his style of dance composition relied heavily on German modernism, but that he had acquired for himself a remarkable, physical suppleness that he conveyed to his twelve girls. Their contortions proved to be extremely difficult feats of balance and strength, including back bends."

"It was in 1934 that von Grona and his wife (billed as Leni Bouvier) appeared as themselves in a film short for the V i t aphone Company in Brooklyn. The film starred Lillian Roth and was released April 7, 1934 as "Story Conference." Since von Grona's career was focused on the stage and recital hall, it is fortunate that this film exists of him and his wife. Had the times been different, his Negro troupe might have made an appearance in films."

"In 1934 he placed an advertisement in a Harlem newspaper offering scholarships. 150 people responded. After many days of auditions, he selected 22 dancers to train. He resisted offers from Hollywood, preferring his exciting life full of discovery. Three years later, on November 21, 1937, they gave their first public performance at the Lafayette Theatre in Harlem. Dances were choreographed to the music as W.C. Handy, Reginald Forsythe, J.S. Bach, Ellington and Stravinsky. The first night audience was more enthusiastic than the downtown newspaper reviewers. Their applause convinced Leni and Eugene that their Negro ballet had a future."

"Von Grona accepted an offer to help Erwin Piscator form a dance school in Houston, Texas. This led to the staging of dance numbers in early American television. His life and career are quite hazy after his first work in Harlem. Although it is known that The Negro Art Theatre Dance Group was founded in the 1920s by Helmsley Winfield, von Grona's attempt at mixing ballet and Harlem blazed a trail for others who would become more successful."

"Evidently von Grona returned to Berlin in 1965 to work on a film with Erwin Piscator. Sadly, Piscator died before his project could begin. von Grona subsequently created a jazz school, wrote a musical show and faded into obscurity in a Berlin sanitarium. If any reader has more information, I would be most pleased to hear it. "

   VIDEO: "Auf Wiedersehen"   sung by Greta Keller in 1932 (film clip: jozefsterkens)

   VIDEO: "Isle of Capri"   (film clip: jozefsterkens )

Greta Keller (b. 8 February 1903 in Vienna, Austria, d. 4 February 1977 in New York, NY, USA.) was an international singing star of Austrian origin.

Early on, Greta Keller received dance and acting instruction. She made her Career first primarily as broadcast and a recording star. In 1929, she closed a contract with the Ultraphon label, and soon the BBC also became interested in her.

In Berlin, Greta worked with both Peter Igelhoff and Peter Kreuder. During the Second World War she moved to New York city; and after 1945, when the war in Europe was over, she returned to Europe, and was soon working in the St. Moritzer Palace hotel, where she was successful with their show "Chez Greta".

1960/61 brought appearances in the Waldorf-Astoria in New York large fame. Greta Keller stood to short before her death in Europe and America on the stage.

In the filming of the musical "Cabaret" with Liza Minnelli, Greta (from the off stage) sings the song "Marriage". As one of the first artists Greta Keller exhausted the possibilities of the microphone for the artistic organization of chansons. Her darkly timbered voice created an Intimate ambiance, and was capable of the finest nuances between passion, nostalgia and irony. Greta Keller sang many hundreds of songs, and sang in in numerous languages on her recordings. Much of it is again available on CD. Her grave is on the Central Cemetery in Vienna.

   VIDEO: " ich weiss es wird einmal ein wunder geschehn "  Zarah Leander singing in 1942. Zarah in the movie "Die Grosse Liebe" ('The Great Love'), of 1942. its a wonderful lovesong, written by Michael Jary and Bruno Balz. The song was not by any means meant as propaganda from both. The songwriter Balz was arrested for some weeks from gestapo and Jary helped him become released. (film clip: zarahlilawen )

   VIDEO: "Falling In Love Again"   Marlene Dietrich in the scene that made her a star.

   VIDEO: "Tiger Rag"  The Jack Payne Orchestra in Paris, France, (film clip: furlight )

   VIDEO: "Cielito Lindo"  sung by The Mills Brothers, from the 1943 Columbia Pictures movie, "Reveille With Beverly", which starred Ann Miller. (film clip: tonypanzarella )

   VIDEO: "Anything Goes"  sung by Ann Miller, appearing on the Merv Griffin TV show,

   VIDEO: "Twilight In Turkey"   (film clip: NILBOGisBACK ). Raymond Scott's Quintet performed in a dance number from Eddie Cantor's 1937 comedy "Ali Baba Goes To Town"

   VIDEO: "War Dance For A Pack of Wooden Indians"   (film clip: nudnick ). The Raymond Scott Quintet performs "War Dance For Wooden Indians", then backs up two amazing tap dancers, from the film "Happy Landings".

BASIC STEPS
   VIDEO: "All The Basic Tap Steps"   (film clip: Eskndalo ). Tap Class... lesson 1, to easy begin. Visit us in www.eskndalo.com

SHUFFLE
   VIDEO: "Tap Dance - Learn To Shuffle"   (Film Clip: www.tapdancemadeeasy.com ) Sample from the DVD "Tap Dance Made Easy". How to do a proper 'shuffle'.

Like the sample? Learn lots more at www.tapdancemadeeasy.com---on sale now! Tap Dance Made Easy gives you the chance to learn tap dancing the easy way by hoofing it in the comfort of your own home, garage, classroom, or anywhere else you want to practice! Professional tap dancer Eli Newsom has created an instructional DVD that is perfect for everyone, whether you have previous dance training or not. Teaching is complete and slowly broken down with emphasis on correct technique and body placement, explained in accurate musical counts, and repeated several times with equal attention to both the right and left feet. The DVD can be used over and over again. You will improve with each viewing. All for the cost of two tap classes!

SINGLE TIME STEP
   VIDEO: "Tap Single Time Step"   hop step flap ballchange (Film Clip: rhanan )

DOUBLE TIME STEP
   VIDEO: "Double Time Step"   (Film Clip:taptease ). This is an instructional video showing how to do a double time step.

The counts/steps are:
(8 &) Shuffle
(1) Hop on the left
(& 2) Flap the right foot
(& 3) Flap the left foot
(&) Step on the right foot
(4 &) Shuffle w/ the left
(5) Hop on the right leg
(& 6) Flap the left foot
(& 7) Flap the right foot
(&) Step on the left
(8 &) .....you would repeat by starting with the shuffle again.
When I wear high heels to tap dance I occasionally substitute a heel drop for a hop...especially if I have to dance slow or talk while I'm dancing.

TRIPLE TIME STEP
   VIDEO: "Triple Time Step"   (film clip: rhanan ), hop shuffle step flap ballchange

DOUBLE TRIPLE TIME STEP
   VIDEO: "Standard Double Triple Time Step"   (Film Clip: taptease ). Instructional video - how to do a Standard Double Triple Time Step.
(8 &) Shuffle with the right
(1) Hop on the left leg
(& a) Shuffle with the right
(2) Step on the right foot
(& a) Shuffle with the left foot
(3) Leap/jump onto the left leg
(&) Step on the right
(4 &) Shuffle with the left
(5) Hop on the right leg
(& a) Shuffle with the left
(6) Step on the left
(& a) Shuffle with the right
(7) Leap/jump on to the right leg
(&) Step on the left
Repeat....

In the video I may occasionally substitute a heel drop for a hop (because it is difficult to hop in heels slowly). Also, the leap/jump is not a large leap, just a transfer of weight.

Try to keep the pick-up shuffle even(the one on counts 8&, 4&) - think "brush, pull".
Good luck.

CRAMP ROLL - MILITARY CRAMP ROLL
   VIDEO: "Cramp Roll"   (film clip: rhanan ).
(4 sounds) Toe toe heel heel,
Toe stand cramproll: (6sounds) tip tip toe toe heel heel

BUFFALO
   VIDEO: "Buffalo"   (film clip: rhanan ). Tap: Jump shuffle jump make a 4

   VIDEO: ""   (film clip: GoodOldDays ). Eddie Elkins Orch. with Thelma White singing and dancing in 1930.

   VIDEO: "There's Danger In Your Eyes Cherie"   Harry Richman singing in 1930. (film clip: GoodOldDays )

   VIDEO: "Cuban Love Song"   Lawrence Tibbett and Lupe Velez in 1931. (film clip: GoodOldDays )

   VIDEO: "I'm Just A Man About Town"   Dorothy MacHaill - singing and dancing in 1930. (film clip: GoodOldDays )

   VIDEO: "1929 Vaudeville"  (film clip: GoodOldDays ): May 19, 2007.. Blossom Sealey and Benny Fields on stage.

   VIDEO: "The Varsity Drag"  (film clip: GoodOldDays ). Dorothy McNulty and gang doing the Varsity Drag in 1930

   VIDEO: "Puttin' On The Ritz"   (film clip: GoodOldDays ). Harry Richman singing. (the tune he made famous.)

   VIDEO: "Puttin' On The Ritz"   (film clip: GoodOldDays ). Harry Richman singing. (the tune he made famous.)

   VIDEO: "Yes Yes, My Baby Said Yes Yes"  (film clip: GoodOldDays ): Eddie Cantor singing in 1931

   VIDEO: "Bend Down Sister"   (film clip: GoodOldDays ). Charlotte Greenwood and The Goldwyn Girls in 1931. The first part music is "Yes Yes, My Baby Said Yes Yes"

   VIDEO: "Medley"   (film clip: nedsparks ) . A popular feature of Broadway shows and vaudeville of the early 1930s, Miss Mayfair made few films. Here she is glorified in a short from 1934. Fans of Donald Novis will also enjoy this

   VIDEO: "1935 Black Vaudeville Show "   (film clip: ziegfeldgrrl ) . All black performers featuring the amazing young Nicholas Brothers, the lovely Adelaide Hall, and The 3 Whippets. Sorry, I had to cut out the last performer, Eunice Wilson, as the short ran just over 11 minutes... too long for "YouTube" and not long enough to make a Part 2

   VIDEO: "Makin' Whoopee"   (film clip: voglesque89 ). From the 1930 movie, "Whoopee". Yes, nobody's really heard of Eddie Cantor anymore. But I think he's fantastic, so, Enjoy!

   VIDEO: "I Want To Be Bad"   (film clip: GoodOldDays ). Thelma O'Neal in 1930.

   VIDEO: "Medley"   (film clip: GoodOldDays ). From 1929..."Red Nichols and His Five Pennies". Terrific early Vitaphone short film. In 1930, Red's "Five Pennies" were actually 12 "pennies", and included Red, Benny Goodman on clarinet, Glenn Miller and Jack Teagarden on trombones, and Gene Krupa on the drums.

   VIDEO: "St. Louis Blues"   (film clip: arie51 ). 1935 Red Nichols

   VIDEO: "Story of the Dixieland Band"   (film clip: arie51 ). 1935 Red Nichols

   VIDEO: "Everybody Loves My Baby"   (film clip: arie51 ). 1935 Red Nichols

3 videos from an early 'talkie' about Minstrels
   VIDEO: "Minstrel Intro - Mona and Minstrel Memories.flv"   (film clip: perfectjazz78 ): . From 1929: "Mona" - Played by "George Olsen and his Music" - Also contains the song "Minstrel Memories" (more) (less)

   VIDEO: "Mona"  (film clip: perfectjazz78 ): Frank Richardson sings a great tune from 1929, "Mona", accomapanied by "George Olsen and his Music"

   VIDEO: "Drink a Toast To The Girl I Love"   (film clip: perfectjazz78 ): J. Harold Murray sings a great tune from 1929, accomapanied by "George Olsen and his Music"

   VIDEO: "An Hour Of Love"   (film clip: perfectjazz78 ): From 1929: The famed French stage and cabaret singer, Irene Bordoni, performs "Just An Hour of Love" in only one of her two surviving Jazz Age film appearances. Not only did she sing Cole Porter songs, but Cole even put her name into one of his tunes, "You're The Top": -- "You're the top, you're a night in Coney, you're the eyes of Irene Bordoni."

   VIDEO: "Ted Lewis Orchestra"  (film clip: perfectjazz78 ): . Ted Lewis and his Orchestra perform "Jazz Pirates" and "Lady Luck" with Noah Beery. From 1929. " I wish we'd seen and heard more of what his band could do -- he had some great musicians in it at that time! I spotted a brief bit of Muggsy Spanier, and heard some Harry Raderman trombone breaks.". Although it is farily clear why Lewis was more of an actor rather than a musician.

   VIDEO: "Ziegfeld Midnite Frolic-Part 1. 1929"   (film clip: perfectjazz78 ): Eddie Cantor stars, backed by the Eddie Elkins Orchestra,, in a filmed recreation of a show in the 'roof theatre' of New York's famed 'New Amsterdam Theatre" on 42nd Street. (Today, the New Amsterdam is the New York home of the Disney Organization.) This is NOT the real upstairs cabaret of the 'New Amsterdam Theatre" - the real upstairs cabaret had theatre seats - but rather Paramount's conception of the cabaret. This was actually filmed in the Kaufman-Astoria studios in Queens borough (long Island) section of New York city. A bevy of Ziefgeld beauties are seen in this first part, after which Cantor sings ."I Faw Down and Go Boom"

   VIDEO: "Ziegfeld Midnite Frolic-Part 2, 1929"  (film clip: perfectjazz78 )

   VIDEO: "Who's Your Little Who-Zis"   (film clip: perfectjazz78 ): A bevy of beautiful chorines, led by Mae Clarke, dance to this tune which was a huge 1931 hit, composed by bandleader Ben Bernie. (Among Bernie's other songs were "Sweet Georgia Brown" (1925), and "I Can't Believe It's True" (1932) )

   VIDEO: "Titina"   (film clip: TryAgain02): Ben Bernie and All The Lads - This clip is dated 1925 so I can't imagine there are any copyrights left.

   VIDEO: "Craving"   (film clip: TryAgain02 ): Ben Bernie and All The Lads - This clip is dated 1925 so I can't imagine there are any copyrights left.

   VIDEO: "Who's Your Little Who-Zis"   (film clip: jackszz ): Ben Bernie and All The Little Lads (1925). "Who's Your Little Who-Zis" was Bernie's own hit composition.

   VIDEO: "Sweet Georgia Brown"   (film clip: jozefsterkens ): Bernie is playing his own composition, which was - and still is - a huge hit.