Exactly my era, to the year. I feel I should know each of them by name. I do think we showed more variety of dance moves, though. The weird introduction does seem to be a standard local TV sort of performance.
Never having seen it in writing I always thought it was 'Stacker" Lee – a ballad about a grocery shelf stacker. (I couldn't understand the lyrics.) An unrelated point: How poignant to see black and white children dancing together!
"The historical Stagger Lee was Lee Shelton, a black pimp living in St. Louis, Missouri in the late 19th century... Shelton was well known locally as one of the Macks, a group of pimps who demanded attention through their flashy clothing and appearance. In addition to these activities, he was the captain of a black Four Hundred Club, a social club with a dubious reputation."
I had no idea that the "Mack" language, or the American black pimps with flashy clothes, were of such vintage. I thought the Mack language was 1930s at the oldest, and the super-flashy pimp thing was a product of the late 60s or early 70s.
"Eventually, the two men got into a dispute, during which Lyons took Shelton's Stetson hat. Subsequently, Shelton shot Lyons, recovered his hat, and left."
Well, that's just right and proper. You don't mess with a man's Stetson.
Which reminds me of a story: https://grimbeorn.blogspot.com/2006/04/cowboy-story.html
Great story. Without the least threat being uttered, you let the man know that you just might be willing to be difficult about any harm coming to the hat, for a reason he had a better than 90% chance of respecting. Well played.
Never having seen it in writing I always thought it was 'Stacker" Lee – a ballad about a grocery shelf stacker. (I couldn't understand the lyrics.)
ReplyDeleteAn unrelated point: How poignant to see black and white children dancing together!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stagger_Lee
ReplyDeleteThat's a fascinating story.
ReplyDelete"The historical Stagger Lee was Lee Shelton, a black pimp living in St. Louis, Missouri in the late 19th century... Shelton was well known locally as one of the Macks, a group of pimps who demanded attention through their flashy clothing and appearance. In addition to these activities, he was the captain of a black Four Hundred Club, a social club with a dubious reputation."
I had no idea that the "Mack" language, or the American black pimps with flashy clothes, were of such vintage. I thought the Mack language was 1930s at the oldest, and the super-flashy pimp thing was a product of the late 60s or early 70s.
"Eventually, the two men got into a dispute, during which Lyons took Shelton's Stetson hat. Subsequently, Shelton shot Lyons, recovered his hat, and left."
Well, that's just right and proper. You don't mess with a man's Stetson.
Which reminds me of a story:
https://grimbeorn.blogspot.com/2006/04/cowboy-story.html
Great story. Without the least threat being uttered, you let the man know that you just might be willing to be difficult about any harm coming to the hat, for a reason he had a better than 90% chance of respecting. Well played.
ReplyDelete