I know eight minutes is a lot of time to commit to anything from the Internet, but for those who like an odd little window on the past, I've got one for you that I especially enjoyed.
A couple of things that jumped out at me from this old movie short. In addition to my affection for the look of the animated scenes of the brothel-cum-nightclub featured here, where sinful elephants, bears, and cows sway in time to the music with their rubbery limbs, I was taken with how they cleared the dance floor so Betty Boop could present the evening's entertainment. (I have a similar scene in the book set in the fictional London nightclub, The Ginger Jar- dancing ends, floor show starts, there's sin at the back of the house). I liked the odd little confirmation of my research. So hard to imagine the young people of today in tuxes and gowns out for a debauch...
Also of particular interest to me is the way this urged the audience to sing along to "Just a Gigolo." This sing-along business has a long history (which I also mined for the book) and is not altogether dead. Adele's concerts feature them, which is one reason I view her, in part as a modern day iteration of the grand girl singer of the music hall. The DNA, at least, is there...
So, for your viewing pleasure:
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