CONTEXT

Pepsi Bethel of Whiteys Lindy Hoppers with the Jiving Lindy Hoppers

The Savoy Ballroom didn't exist in a vacuum or as a kind of walled off institution that had nothing to do with its environment. It was situated at the centre of the original black Harlem community and sustained the function of being a major local social meeting point for its duration. It became a drop in centre for musicians from everywhere and a focal point for tourists and celebrity visitors from round the world. In fact it meant many different things to many different types of people, whilst always remaining an integral part of the heartbeat of Harlem in its heyday. This section of the site will explore various background influences on the Savoy and the general Swing culture it was a part of. In particular this section reproduces the main history of the Savoy as written to celebrate the Ballroom's 25th anniversary in 1951.

  
   
   
   
Copyright 2001. The contents of the Savoyballroom website may not be reproduced without the written permission of Terry Monaghan and the contributing author of a particular article.