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Mass-Observation Archive: Topic Collections

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MUSIC, DANCING AND JAZZ 1938-41

This Topic Collection will be unavailable January - March 2005

TC 38: 9 boxes

Notes

The first six boxes of this group contain files of material with an original Mass-Observation number indicated in Roman numerals in this handlist. These categories have been retained although the order does not seem to have had any special significance.

Most of the files contain a mixture of items including general notes, accounts of interviews, detailed descriptions of events and incidents, samples of printed materials and so on. These papers have not been itemised separately in this handlist.

The work for this particular Mass-Observation study seems to have been the responsibility of Alec Hughes with directions from Tom Harrisson and assistance from other Observers including JA and HAC.

Further material on attitudes to jazz can be found in the 1939 Directive Replies from the panel of voluntary Observers.

Additional observations made in Bolton dance halls is filed with the Worktown Papers , Box 48/C-D

DW 1979

BOX 1: OBSERVATIONS IN DANCE HALLS 1938-1939

Each file contains a collection of Observers' reports on different dance halls. Descriptions include details of the types of events, appearance of the hall, entertainment facilities, the behaviour of both staff and patrons, costumes, types of dances, music, notices and regulations

Samples of advertising material, programmes and tickets are also included

38/1/A:

The Streatham Locarno, London (I)

38/1/B:

The Paramount Dance Hall, Tottenham Court Road (II)

38/1/C:

The Royal Dance Hall, Tottenham.(III)

38/1/D:

The Peckham Pavilion: administration and staff (IV)

38/1/E:

The Peckham Pavilion: programmes, patrons etc (V)

38/1/F:

The Peckham Pavilion: literature (VI)

38/1/G:

The Peckham Pavilion: questionnaire on Old Time Dancing (VII)

38/1/H:

Old Time Dancing: general notes and observations (VIII)

38/1/I:

Rye Lane Private Dance Club (IX)

38/1/J:

Other dance halls including those in London, Bolton, Liverpool, Brighton, Ipswich and Canterbury (X)

38/1/K:

Dance Halls: locations, exteriors, posters, newspaper cuttings (XI)

BOX 2: DANCES 1938-40

Further observations, descriptions of the music business, description of dances, their origins, popularity, versions

38/2/A:

Dance Promotion and the Promoters (XII)

38/2/B:

Dancing-general: includes notes of various dances: The Tuscana, Knees up Mother Brown, The Cakewalk etc (XIII)

38/2/C:

The Lambeth Walk (XIV)

38/2/D:

The Lambeth Walk (XIV)

38/2/E:

The Lambeth Walk: newspaper cuttings (XIV)

BOX 3: DANCES, PROFESSIONAL DANCERS AND THE MUSIC BUSINESS

38/3/A:

The Chestnut Tree (includes photographs) (XV)

38/3/B:

The Chestnut Tree: Picture Post article by Tom Harrisson, January 1939 (XVI)

38/3/C:

The Park Parade: interviews on the promotion of a new dance (XVII)

38/3/D:

The Park Parade: literature (XVIII)

38/3/E:

Mecca Agency-World's Band Centre (XIX)

38/3/F:

Mecca Managers (XX)

38/3/G:

Professional Dancers (XXI)

BOX 4: MUSICIANS, BANDS, CLUBS AND INSTRUMENT MAKERS

38/4/A:

Mecca Bands, cuttings on dance bands, military bands (XXII)

38/4/B:

Musicians' Union (XXIII)

38/4/C:

Musicians: miscellaneous notes including material on barrel organists (XXIV)

38/4/D:

Archer Street (XXV)

38/4/E:

Instrument Makers (includes catalogues) (XXVI)

38/4/F:

Swing (XXVII)

38/4/G:

Rhythm in clubs (XXVIII)

38/4/H:

Night Clubs (XXIX)

BOX 5: ADVERTISING MATERIAL, DANCE SCHOOLS, SONG WRITERS, MUSIC PUBLICATIONS AND MUSIC BUSINESSES

38/5/A:

Melody Maker and other music publications (See also Danceland, 38/6/F) (XXX)

38/5/B:

Denmark Street (XXXI)

38/5/C:

Peter Maurice Music Publishing Company (XXXII)

38/5/D:

Song writers (XXXIII)

38/5/E:

Performing Rights Society (XXXIV)

38/5/F:

Non-Mecca Managers (XXXV)

38/5/G:

Dance Teachers (XXXVI)

38/5/H:

Dance Schools and learners (XXXVII)

38/5/I:

Printers of entertainment material (XXXVIII)

38/5/J:

Public opinion on dancing: tabulation of results of survey carried out at the Stork Margarine Works at Purfleet, 1938 (XXXIX)

38/5/K:

Broadcasting scenarios-observations at J Walter Thompson Studios, Bush House (XL)

BOX 6: HISTORY AND THEORY OF JAZZ; DANCE TEACHERS' SOCIETIES; OPEN AIR DANCING

38/6/A:

History of jazz and dancing: notes (XLI)

38/6/B:

Politics and dancing: dances held by political organisations as recruiting or fund raising events (XLII)

38/6/C:

Bibliography, book plan, file index , for jazz and dancing investigation (XLIII)

38/6/D:

Voluntary observers' reports on the Chestnut Tree and on jazz (Jan 1939) (XLIV)

38/6/E:

Articles, broadcasts etc., on jazz and dancing including 'Music While You Work', by Tom Harrisson in New Writing, Oct/Nov 1938, published by Hogarth Press (XLV)

38/6/F:

Danceland: replies to questionnaire in Danceland magazine on various dances and on attitudes to jazz (XLVI)

38/6/G:

Dance Teachers' Societies (XLVII)

38/6/H:

Jazz: theoretical notes; music as propaganda (XLVIII)

38/6/I:

Open Air Dancing (XLIX)

38/6/J:

Notes by Tom Harrisson on dancing and jazz

38/6/K:

Classical music events, including programmes

BOX 7: SONGS

38/7/A:

Sheet music 1940-41: samples of song sheets and sheet music

38/7/B:

Ephemera: dance tickets, advertising material, programmes, record sales advertisements etc

38/7/C:

Song hits: lists of popular songs

38/7/D:

Lyrics: notes of the words and meanings of songs (see also TH's article filed in 38/6/E)

38/7/E:

Retail Trade: gramophone records and sheet music (includes promotional material and posters)

BOX 8: JAZZ SURVEYS 1939-41

38/8/A:

Jazz Survey 1939: trial survey carried out in Streatham. Questions on musical preferences, attitudes to dancing and dances, radio programmes etc. (HAC, JA and AH)

38/8/B:

Jazz Survey 1939: larger survey in Wandsworth by HAC and AH. Questionnaire replies with analysis

38/8/C:

Correspondence relating to the Jazz Survey, 1939

38/8/D:

Dance Music Questionnaire 1941: questionnaire replies and tabulations

38/8/E:

Dancing in wartimes: miscellaneous notes

BOX 9: DUPLICATES ONLY

Not sorted

Mass-Observation Studies 1937-55

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