Soul Train Line O'Jays Love Train.flv, jimmieskaggs, Nov 12, 2010
Soul Train Line to the O'Jays Love Train -snip- I don't know what year this was filmed. If you know, please share it in the comment section below. Thanks!
**** Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents seven YouTube videos of 1970s episodes of the Soul Train television series.
I arbitrarily selected all of these videos and the ones whose filming dates have been identified are from 1971 to 1974.
I'm particularly interested in showcasing the types of afro hair styles and other hair styles that were worn by that show's producer/host Don Cornelius, its teenage dancers, and some of its guest artists.
These videos also focus on the dances that were performed by those teenagers and the clothes that they and some of Soul Train's guest artists wore.
The summary for Showcase video #2 presents some information about Soul Train.
The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Don Cornelius, and all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks to the artists whose music is featured in these showcase videos and thanks to all the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
**** ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE VIDEOS These videos and showcase video #1 aren't given in chronological order. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Soul Train Line 1974 (Earth, Wind & Fire - Mighty Mighty)
MyRhythmNSoul TV, Jun 6, 2014
A "Soul Train Line," takes place when all the
dancers form two lines with a space in the middle for dancers to strut down and
dance in consecutive order. Originally, this consisted of a couple—with men on
one side and women on the other. In later years, men and women had their own
individual lineups. Sometimes, new dance styles or moves were featured or
introduced by particular dancers. In addition, there was an in-studio group of
dancers who danced along to the music as it was being performed. Rosie Perez,
Damita Jo Freeman, Darnell Williams, Carmen Electra, Nick Cannon, MC Hammer,
Jermaine Stewart, Fred "Rerun" Berry, Laurieann Gibson, Pebbles, and
NFL legend Walter Payton were among those who got noticed dancing on the
program over the years. Two former dancers, Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel,
enjoyed years of success as members of the R&B group Shalamar after they
were chosen by Soul Train talent booker/record promoter Dick Griffey and
Cornelius to replace the group's original session singers in 1978.
Soul Train is an American musical variety television
program, which aired in syndication from 1971 until 2006. In its 35-year
history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop
artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared. The
series was created by Don Cornelius, who also served as its first host and
executive producer.
Production was suspended following the 2005--06 season, with
a rerun package (known as The Best of Soul Train) airing for two years
subsequently. As a nod to Soul Train's longevity, the show's opening sequence
(during later seasons) contained a claim that it was the "longest-running
first-run, nationally syndicated program in television history," with over
1,100 episodes produced from the show's debut through the 2005-06 season.
Despite the production hiatus, Soul Train will continue to hold this honor until
at least 2016, if and when its nearest competitor, Entertainment Tonight,
completes its 35th season. (If ET does not complete a 35th season, Wheel of
Fortune would pass in 2018 if it continues to air.) -snip- From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_Train "Soul Train is an American musical variety television
show. After airing locally on WCIU-TV in Chicago, Illinois, for a year, the
popular series then aired nationally in syndication from October 2, 1971, to
March 25, 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured
performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists. The series was created by
Don Cornelius, who also served as its first and longest-serving host and
executive producer."...
A number of YouTube comments wrote that the Jennifer Hudson Show's Spirit Tunnels are modern day Soul Train lines.
This pancocojams post showcases one video of the Soul Train television series "Soul Train line", and one video of the Jennifer Hudson Show's Spirit Tunnel.
This post also lists the differences between the Soul Train Line and the Spirit Tunnel.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
Thanks to Don Cornelius for his conceptualization and promotion of The Soul Train Line and thanks to the Soul Train dancers for their performances of Soul Train Lines. Thanks to Jennifer Hudson's staff for the concept of the Jennifer Hudson Show's Spirit Tunnels and thanks to that staff and celebrities for their Spirit Tunnels performances. In addition, thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these embedded videos on YouTube. -snip- Clickhttps://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/01/jennifer-hudson-talk-shows-spirit.html for the first post in this pancocojams series on The Jennifer Hudson Show's "Spirit Tunnels".
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’ Spirit Tunnels
Jennifer Hudson Show, Jan 1, 2025
Michelle Obama, Halle Bailey, Naturi Naughton-Lewis, and
more — oh, my! Don’t miss the latest stars stepping into the “Jennifer Hudson
Show” Spirit Tunnels. Watch D-Nice, Smokey Robinson, the cast of “No Good
Deed,” and Lucky Daye. Plus, see Kerry Washington and the cast of “The Six
Triple Eight” bring their moves to the hallway!
**** SIMILARITIES BETWEEN SOUL TRAIN LINES AND SPIRIT TUNNELS
1.Both the Soul Train Lines and the Spirit Tunnels were conceptualized by and are largely associated with African Americans.
2. Both the Soul Train Lines and the Spirit Tunnels are two types of line formations for group dancing and/or rhythmical performances.
3. The Soul Train Line and The Spirit Tunnel are variants of the 1950s Rhythm & Blues dance "The Stroll". Soul Train Lines and Spirit Tunnels have the same formation of two lines of people facing each other with a space in the middle (that creates a center row).
In Soul Train Lines the top person in their rows take their turns dancing down the center row.
In Spirit Tunnels a designated person or designated people (the guest celebrity/celebrities) dance/s down or strut/s down that center row.
**** DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SOUL TRAIN LINES AND THE SPIRIT TUNNELS
1. The purpose of Soul Train Lines is to showcase the participants' dancing ability and to showcase the specific music that the participants dance to.
In contrast, the purpose of the Spirit Tunnels is to welcome and hype up a specific celebrity/celebrities who is/are the guest/guests that day on that Jennifer Hudson television show.
In addition, secondary purposes of the Spirit Tunnels are to showcase the dance moves of the honored celebrity/celebrities and to showcase the creativity of the Jennifer Hudson staff who create and perform a personalized song or chant for each honored celebrity/celebrities who dances (moves) down the Spirit Tunnel. The staff repeats that song or chant for each person or persons while those guest/s move down the center row.
2. Soul Train lines can occur within any specific large space, either indoor or outdoor.
In contrast, Spirit Tunnels (as they are originally performed on the Jennifer Hudson television show) are only performed within the hallway that directly leads to that show's studio.
3. In Soul Train lines, everyone dances to a specific record (almost always from the R&B genre or Hip- Hop genre).
In contrast, in Spirit Tunnels, there's no recorded music and there are no live instruments.. Instead, people stand in the two lines that are facing each other and sing or chant specific pre-determined lyrics or words. They accompany their personalized shirt song or short chant for the guest/s celebrity/celebrities by rhythmically clapping their hands. In addition, they usually make percussive foot stomps along with their hand claps. These hand claps and foot stomps have their source in historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities stepping.
4. In Soul Train lines the people forming the two vertical lines move while they dance, traveling in their lines until they get to the top of the line. When they reach that spot, they take their turn moving down the center row.
In contrast, for Spirit Tunnels, the people forming the two vertical lines don't move from their place in their line. Instead, they remain where they are standing while they sing (or chant), clap their hands, and perform syncopated, percussive foot stomps.
5. In Soul Train lines, the two people who are at the top of the line dance down that center row to the bottom of the line and may then rejoin that line.
In contrast, in Spirit Tunnels, a specific person or specific persons (celebrity/celebrities) who isn't/aren't part of those two vertical lines dances (moves) down the center row. Usually, that person or persons is/are silent while they are moving down that line and usually their movements are continual (i.e. they don't stop while they are moving, but they may switch up what movements they are making).
It has become somewhat traditional for the celebrity/celebrities to face the two rows of people and silently, or verbally with or without gestures thank them for their creation of their Spirit Tunnel.
6. Soul Train Lines can continue for an open ended amount of time.
In contrast, Spirit Tunnels end when the specific person/persons reaches the end of that line (the end of the hallway) and enters the show's studio.
**** For the historical and cultural record, please add to or correct these statements about the similarities and differences between Soul Train Lines and Spirit Tunnels. Thanks!
**** Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube film clip of a 1976 (?) Soul Train line dancing to Stevie Wonder's 1976 song entitled "I Wish".
Information about Soul Train is included in this post along with selected comments from that video's discussion thread are included in this pancocojams post. Most of these comments refer to those Soul Train dancers' clothing or hair fashions.
A few commenters wrote about how people became dancers on the syndicated Soul Train television series.
The content of this post in presented for historical, socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Don Cornelius, the developer of and usual host of the Soul Train television series. Thanks also to Stevie Wonder for his musical legacy and thanks to all of the Soul Train line dancers that are featured in this film clip. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/01/fly-fashions-worn-by-soul-train-line.html for a 2016 pancocojams post on this subject. The title of that post is "Fly Fashions Worn By Soul Train Line Dancers (1970s)" includes comments from another YouTube video of a 1970s Soul Train Line.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT SOUL TRAIN TELEVISION SERIES
Except #1
From https://www.britannica.com/topic/Soul-Train
"Soul Train, American music variety television show, the
first to prominently feature African American musical acts and dancers.
Broadcast nationally from 1971 to 2006, it was one of the longest-running
syndicated programs in American television history.
Soul Train was the brainchild of Chicago radio announcer Don
Cornelius. It initially aired in 1970 on Chicago television station WCIU-TV.
The show was produced in hour-long segments five afternoons a week and became a
local television hit. It duplicated the environment of a dance club and
featured a variety of noted musical performers as well as both professional and
amateur dancers.
Soon Soul Train drew the interest of George Johnson, founder
and president of Johnson Products Company (a Black-owned hair-product
manufacturer), whose support enabled the program to move into national
syndication in 1971. The success of Soul Train reflected the rise and
popularity of soul music and funk artists on recordings and radio programs.
By presenting an image of Black culture as upbeat, exciting,
and vibrant, Soul Train attracted many viewers of other ethnicities and
contributed to the growing prestige of African Americans and Black culture in
mainstream America. Cornelius maintained control of the Soul Train brand until
his death and produced several successful annual specials, including the
ongoing Soul Train Music Awards.
Conceived and hosted by Chicago newscaster Don Cornelius,
the 60-minute show was both a showcase and a trend setter for black music,
fashion and dance for generations of black youth. As such, the show's main
focus was on black artists; non-black performers did appear as early as 1972,
many of whom (including David Bowie, Tom Tom Club, and a pre-breakthrough Robin
Thicke, among others) were strongly influenced by and/or paid homage to black
music, but these were comparatively rare.
Along with this were its signature
elements, the Soul Train Scrambleboard (where a man and woman had 60 seconds to
arrange letters on a magnetic board to spell out the name of a current
celebrity) and the Soul Train Line (where dancers show off their best moves
while moving down two columns of fellow dancers), the show is a pop cultural
icon to this day. Along the way, it spawned its own record label (Soul Train
Records ) and its own awards show (which actually survives the show
itself)."...
There was also the popular "Soul Train Line" (a
variant of the 1950s fad then known as The Stroll), in which all the dancers
form two lines with a space in the middle for dancers to strut down and dance
in consecutive order. Originally, this consisted of a couple—with men on one
side and women on the other. In later years, men and women had their own
individual lineups. Sometimes, new dance styles or moves were featured or
introduced by particular dancers.”….
****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
** Reply 4. naviv wilkins, 2020 "It’s been back though"
** Reply 5. Enrique Santos,2021 "Ikr I don't understand why they went out
of fashion"
****
2016
1. Curtis McElroy "I love the way how they dressed back then"
** Reply 2. Raymond Oflaherty "Real talk especially the Woman them"
** Reply 3. J Jones, 2018 "Curtis McElroy The style back then was absolutely better
than today."
** Reply 4. Derail07, 2018 "@1:38 won't find a clean brother like that these days lol
except Andre 3000" -snip- "Clean" here means dressed in a "GQ" (Gentlemen's Quarterly magazine) classy style that Hip Hop/R&B singer Andre 3000 (part of the duo Outkast) is known for.
** Reply 5 Jem Pros, 2019 "The attire, smooth dance moves, classy and proud."
** Reply 6. Ray Baca, 2020 "U can get this at goodwill"
** Reply 7. Dawn Mawhirter, 2020 "Agreed. Pretty cool the men wore shoes.... with heels!"
**
8. Hacked By Bentey "Not only could these folks dance, they really knew how to
throw an outfit together. Too bad
people don't take pride on how they look, especially on television"
**** 2017
****
2018
9. Big MB "I’m in love with her at 1:27, love her look, swag, shape,
hair, color. Her dance was so cool and fun!"
** Reply 10. Aisisha Kennedy Who?
** Reply 11, Big MB "The redbone with the Beige pants and reddish
brown boots" -snip- "Redbone" = informal referent for a person with some Black ancestry whose skin tone has reddish hues.
**** 2019
12. mssolo78 "I promise the fashions were EVERYTHING❤❤...I
still get my fashion inspiration from old Soul Train shows..."
** 13. behindthethrone "Back then lingerie was worn BENEATH your clothing, and belts
kept slacks snug at the waistline."
** Reply 14. Valerie Vanden Bosch, 2020 "Everyones replies are so jaded, I honestly just think it's a
lack of fashion sense nowadays. Not all 70s
clothes, but I feel for men especially, it was form fitting and
accentuated the better qualities of your body...plus people were more fit lol."
**
15. rebecca | レベッカ "0:30 Aww! I can't describe how cute her
outfit is to me!"
**
Reply 16. Pamela Johnson, 2021 "GAUCHOS AND 👢"
**
17. rebecca | レベッカ "So much natural beauty and charm... I'd wear any of these
ladies' outfits today (though I doubt I could pull it off with the same
finesse)"
**
18. Mike Brown "I so amazed how young people back in the
day use to dress classy"
** 19. David B "People in these comments don't seem to
understand that Soul Train had an ensemble cast. Meaning, this isn't
some random sample of the population at the time; it's a group of people who
have taken up dance as a profession. Of course they are fit!
And their look/dance was regulated. Don
Cornelius meticulously controlled every aspect of Soul Train and he did his
best to exclude Hip Hop on the show despite its rising popularity from the late
70's to the 80's and 90's." -snip- That word was written in bold font in that discussion thread.
** 20. Jeffrey Hancock "Brothers dressed to the nines! Fros'
looking primped and good....and what is most amazing is the fact that not one
is wearing sagging pants! Those WERE the GOOD days!"
** 21. Kymberlyn Reed "I loved the clothes and the music back
then, but let's not put on rose-tinted glasses and act like everything was
hunky dory while shaming other Black folks. Respectability politics never saved
us then or now. Nixon was in still in office with his "law and order"
crackdowns on protests, a lot of young Black men back from Vietnam were hooked
on heroin and we still had ghettoes. What we need to remember is no matter the
era, Black people were and are resilient and have always created art and have been
cultural touchstones for ages. By the way, I'm 53 years old so I know what I'm
talking about."
****
2020
22. SabersGrrl Channel "I love how each couple is so co-ordinated in clothing style,
dance style, while still having mad rhythm.
Each couple shown are meant to be in every sense."
** 23. R. Frolic "Their outfits are INSPIRATIONAL! I love how well their
clothes complement their moves."
** 24. Katie Osborn "I love their hair!! No fake wigs and extensions. No braids
and fancy barbershop artistry. Just natural and beautiful!! 💘
** Reply 25. dreamweaver1603 "These people look like they fell out of a fall catalog for a
department store. I wonder if they were
allowed to wear clothes for advertising.
There was such a variety of styles."
** Reply 26. Ice Bird, 2021 " @YM Troncoso 100% agree! Style in those decades was
impeccable and so sharp. Everyone looked great.
** Reply 27. SBella, 2021 "@dreamweaver1603 right! And name brand clothes were unheard
of, people created their own style"
** 29. Beth Bartlett "🏆 @ 1:11 Stellar Outfit she has on, Timeless!" -snip- This comment is written in bold font in that discussion thread.
** 30. Katie Brown "Love the guy with the sweater tied
around his neck with the black pants and white shirt he was getting down.
Reminds me of my Uncle Leroy during family functions. He was always up dancing."
**
31. Nancy Arellano "Our clothes were the bomb back then!
We had it goin on for sure! Glad to be a
Babyboomer"
**
32. Ms. Jae "Wow! back then everyone was dressed so
nice!!look at the guys Fros!. The
ladies didn't wear all those long fake weaves, some wore their Beautiful
Naturals too!Yaaassss!!thanks for sharing Steve"
** 33. 𝓓𝓲𝓷𝓪𝓓𝓪𝓻𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 "So nice to see the pants all pulled up.
The good old days."
**
34. C A "Wow! Decked out and
looking sharp! 👍🏻😊.
And fros!"
** 35. sarahdown4JC "Love the outfits!!! Both men and women👏🏻"
** 36. michael byrne "Not only did Soul Train, hip you to the new steps! It also educated you
to the new look! A body shirt, baggies and a pair of nice kicks! Gave you the
Lenny the hip dude look! Loved Soul Train! Don, the Artist and all the dancers!
Beside what other show could you see Al Green sing Stay in a Maroon pimp hat
fedora, wife beater t shirt, hot pants, purse and a pair of kicks! And Don
coming out after song and telling Al only you Brother could wear that outfit!
SOUL TRAIN WAS THE BOMB!"
** 37. Walter Pewen "This is really how people looked and
dressed in Los Angeles, 1976.Not just
for the show.To work, everywhere."
** 38. Marcos Ricardo Santos "70s new York fashion Club. Pure people
happy. No stress no coronavirus. I was there. Time to think about Friends and
be happy."
** 39. The-Dark-Lord-Hussie "Just bought a 70s parasuit from a thrift shop, you can find some good vintage stuff if you look. Start dressing like you just stepped out of time machine man live your best life" -snip- "parasuit" = typo for "pantsuit"
** 40. IMBwildrd "Wow, even the men are wearing wedge
heeled shoes!Gotta love the fashion of
the early 70's."
** Reply 41. Stormy Hayes, 2021 "Its funny how that whole style is Popular again!"
** 42. elsa blue "I know bell bottom jumpsuits I had a few!"
**
43. Stiff Peeter "BEAUTIFUL women! No weaves, wigs or
those ridiculous looking eye lashes. The guys wore their pants on their
waistline. Why did those days have to go, cause I loved them so."
** Reply 44. Dena Alabama-girl,2021 "Eyelashes was very popular in the 70s
with the fro"
** Reply 45. Stiff Peeter, 2021 "@Dena Alabama-girlDo you see that on this video?"
** Reply 46. Fortuna Major, 2021 "@Stiff Peeterthis video doesn't represent the entire 1970s though which is what you
were implying lol. it's great to look back on the unique parts of the past but
it's silly to act like weaves wigs and heavy makeup weren't popular until the
21st century. diana ross and all the greats wore dramatic makeup and wigs."
**
47. CCS, 2021 "Fake eyelashes were very popular in the 1970s fool."
**
48. eering Kendrick "I wish I had a pair of those silver
platform shoes that brother is sporting at 1:23."
** 49. Dano Noveh "You gotta love dem big naturals 👍😊" -snip- "naturals"= afros ('fros")
** 50. wolverine Baller "Everyone asking why everyone was so fit.
However it was known if you didn’t wear a size 1 men and women you didn’t get
in the show PERIOD."
** 51. futureisyours "Only the good looking were allowed in
such dance 💃 groups. These were the few selected individuals. The
ugly,fat and poor were kept out.One can't just have a linear perception"
** 52. curli-lettey "I want some of those outfits, they dont
make them like that anymore and if they do it's cheaper quality."
** 53. Ify M "The women's dressing is on point. You
can wear most if not all the outfits that they are wearing now.They did not come to play."
** 54. Traslen Patterson "When you take in the style of dress, the fashion, the bell bottoms, along with the
dance moves, that's made soul train what it was. PURE GOLD!"
** 55. ozbdguy "So many great dancers here. I think my favourite is the lady
grooving out at 0:54 and her outfit is just the best. This is what a real dance
floor looks, and feels like"
**
56. T Hyslop "Look at the grooves on those Soul Sistas
when wearing flammable polyester was all the rage." ****
2021
57. tr54 Natural "This is my favorite Soul Train line video. Between the
outfits and the dance steps—it’s awesome 😃"
** 58. ovalbeach "You could wear every one of those outfits...even
today...timeless. Love watching these
old ST clips...reminds me of how wonderfully alive this world used to be."
** 59. John Nix "Aah yes,... The mid 70s! Huge afros, and platform
shoes. Everything said in comments
are right. I was 17
when this cut ( album ) came out, and we couldn't stop having fun!!
I wish those things would come back once more! 😎"
** 60. Oualid Trabelsi "So much style, so much swag, so much
fun..."
** 61. carolyn thompson "Watching this, you notice the fashion of the 70s. The ladies are wearing "gaucho"
pants and boots and rocking the look.
The gentlemen are wearing coordinating slacks and dress shirts. It's a classy and dressy look. Also, I love how these Soul Train dancers had
their own unique choreographed style of dance.
This is special."
**
62. huascar66 "Elegance, grace and class personified!"
**
63. D Griffin "Everyone was slim and well dressed.
Great to watch!"
** 64. Babe van "I watched American bandstand but I switch to see best
dancers soul train and outfits too! Best part of my teen years Saturday mornings!"
**
65. gemini rose "look at that bro with the suit and
carnationwowwwwi love itclass 🥰everyone looked
SO GOODAND DANCE PHENOMENAL !"
** 66. Laurel B "1:24 orange sherbet pants and gold boots
I’m in love 😻"
** 67.Chanel Griffith "Okay if this isn't proof that there is NOTHINGnew in fashion..."
** 68. gemini rose "beautifuloh man the lady in the black sheer dress and
flower in her hair✨💫✨💛😘"
** 69. Fortuna Major "i love the fact that all these old soul
train videos are archived but i hate how brain dead so many of y'all get in the
comments. the weird revisionist history some of you like to create ... there
were fat people in the 70s, there were weaves and wigs in the 70s, there was
racism in the 70s. just because you don't see those things represented on a
curated music tv show doesnt meant they didn't exist 💀 soul train def
needs to be revived because it's iconic but society isn't gonna magically heal
itself if the show comes backLol"
** 70. Edith Piaf "Pants.tucked.into.boots."
****
2022
71. wdym100 "The clothes are so immaculately tailored
❤️"
** Reply 72. SBella "A lot of the clothes were homemade. Lots
of young women sewed their own clothes"
****
2023
73. 80s guy "When Americans had a fashion sense beyond tees, shorts and
denim that we see today."
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
To celebrate AB's 11th anniversary, the kids in 1968 try to
do The Stroll to a clip of the kids in Philadelphia from 1957.
Airdate: Aug. 17, 1968
****
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest update - August 30, 2026
This is Part III of a three part pancocojams series on the Stroll, a late 1950s/early 1960s Rock & Roll line dance.
This post showcases YouTube videos (film clips) of The 1958 [Original] Stroll dance.
This pancocojams post also showcases several videos of the Soul Train line. The Soul Train Line was modeled after the 1950s/1960s Stroll line dance. I showcased Soul Train Line videos from the 1970s because I prefer that decade to the 1980s Soul Train Line videos.
This pancocojams post also includes a bonus film clip of Black teens or young adults performing a somewhat related 1957 Rock & Roll dance called "The Walk". That film clip is from the 1957 movie entitled Let's Rock.
The videos in this post are mostly given without my editorial notes. However, Part I of this pancocojams series includes my notes about the film clip that is given as Video #2 below and Part II of this pancocojams series provides some background to Video #1 in this post.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/04/which-teen-dance-show-first-televised.htmlfor Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II presents excerpts from the 2012 book byMatthew F. Delmont entitled "The Nicest Kids In Town, American Bandstand, Rock 'n' Roll, and the Struggle for Civil Rights in 1950s Philadelphia"*. Mathew F. Delmont's book focuses on The Mitch Thomas Show, a 1950s Wilmington, Delaware Black teen dance show. That book quotes various sources which document that White dancers on American Bandstand watched The Mitch Thomas Show to learn the latest Rock & Roll dances, including "the Stroll".
The content of this post is presented for historical and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all of the publishers of these videos on YouTube. -snip- This post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series on 1950s and 1960s Rock and Roll dances. Click the tags below for previous pancocojams post and for subsequent pancocojams posts on this subject.
**** ADDITIONAL VIDEO EXAMPLES OF THE STROLL
VIDEO #2: The Original Stroll - February 1958
MrMemories, Feb 4, 2011
On a local television dance show in Idaho in February 1958,
local teens dance to one of the biggest dance crazes out of the late-1950's
called The Stroll, which originated from American Bandstand. This dance was
performed in a line formed with boys on one side and girls on the other,
creating an isle between them. The boy and girl in the front of the line would
meet up in the middle, grab hands and stroll their way down the line, as the
other kids in the line would move their way up to the front using the same
dance steps that the couple moving down the line would use, but move from side
to side instead. When the first couple made their way down the line, another
couple would meet in the middle and stroll down the isle. -snip- Corrections: "The Stroll" didn't originate on American Bandstand and this 1958 film clip was from Ames, Iowa and not Idaho.
**** VIDEO #3: The Stroll - The Diamonds - (Strolling) American Graffiti
(Blu-ray 1080p)
**** TWO 1970s VIDEOS OF THE SOUL TRAIN LINE (which was modeled after "The Stroll"
VIDEO #1: Soul Train Line Dance to The O Jays Love Train
MultiMaestro77, Nov 30, 2010 -snip- I'm not sure when this Soul Train Line was filmed, but https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Soul_Train_episodes indicates that the O'Jays appeared on anepisode of Soul Train on April 21, 1973.
**** VIDEO #2
steve3, Feb
18, 2014 -snip- I'm not sure when this Soul Train Line was filmed, but https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Soul_Train_episodes indicates that Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes appeared on an episode of Soul Train on Feb. 23, 1974.
**** BONUS FILM CLIP: The Stroll dance origin - film + Patsy by The Diamonds
GeoSilverWay, August 13, 2021
The late 1950s US dance fad was created by blacks and the Stroll hit record was by the Diamonds in 1958. I believe Chuck Willis and his group used to do the step in his stage performances, creating the dance.
This 1957 movie "Let's Rock" with Julius Larosa showed this gem film of blacks doing the dance in a park...
-snip- "Chuck Willis (January 31, 1926[1] – April 10, 1958) was known as the King Of Strolls. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Willis
I'm not sure if he and his group did Stroll steps during his stage performances, but it would make sense that he did. However, that doesn't mean that Chuck Willis created the Stroll line dance.
"Cool Daddy" wrote a comment in that video's discussion thread in 2022 that, among other things, indicated that "the dance in this clip with the black dancers is NOT the Stroll...it is a slightly faster dance called The walk".
**** This concludes Part III of this pancocojams series.
This pancocojams post showcase a 1973 video clip of the Soul Train television series and the Soul train line to the O Jays' R&B song "Love Train". That Soul Train video clip features Fred Berry, who later starred in the television series What's Happening.
Wikipedia excerpts about Don Cornelius, Fred Berry, the O Jays, Soul Train & the Soul Train line, and What's Happening are included in this post.
This post also includes a YouTube video compilation of clips of "Rerun" in the What's Happening television series. The YouTube video is entitled "The Best Of Rerun".
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are featured in this television clip and special props to Don Conelius and Fred Berry RIP. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
**** EXCERPTS ABOUT DON CORNELIUS, THE O JAYS, FRED BERRY, SOUL TRAIN, AND WHAT'S HAPPENING Excerpt #1 From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Cornelius "Donald Cortez Cornelius (September 27, 1936 – February 1,
2012) was an American television show host and producer who was best known as
the creator of the nationally syndicated dance and music show Soul Train, which
he hosted from 1971 until 1993. Cornelius sold the show to MadVision
Entertainment in 2008.
Early life and career
Cornelius was born on Chicago's South Side on September 27,
1936,[1] and raised in the Bronzeville neighborhood. After graduating from
DuSable High School in 1954,[2] he joined the United States Marine Corps and
served 18 months in Korea. He worked at various jobs following his stint in the
military, including selling tires, automobiles, and insurance, and as an
officer with the Chicago Police Department.[3] He quit his day job to take a
three-month broadcasting course in 1966, despite being married with two sons
and having only $400 in his bank account.[1] In 1966, he landed a job as an
announcer, news reporter and disc jockey on Chicago radio station WVON.
Cornelius joined Chicago television station WCIU-TV in 1967
and hosted a news program called A Black's View of the News. In 1970, he
launched Soul Train on WCIU-TV as a daily local show. The program entered
national syndication and moved to Los Angeles the following year.[4][5][6]
Eddie Kendricks, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Bobby Hutton and Honey Cone were
featured on the national debut episode.
Originally a journalist and inspired by the civil rights
movement, Cornelius recognized that in the late 1960s there were very few
television venues in the United States for soul music (at the time, only one
series, the public television show Soul!, was focused on the genre). He
introduced many African-American musicians to a larger audience as a result of
their appearances on Soul Train, a program that was both influential among
African Americans and popular with a wider audience.[7][8] As writer, producer,
and host of Soul Train, Cornelius was instrumental in offering wider exposure
to black musicians such as James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and
Michael Jackson, as well as creating opportunities for talented dancers,
setting a precedent for popular television dance programs.[9] Cornelius said,
"We had a show that kids gravitated to," and Spike Lee described the
program as an "urban music time capsule".[9]"...
**** Excerpt #2 From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_O%27Jays "The O'Jays are an American R&B group from Canton, Ohio,
formed in 1958 and originally consisting of Eddie Levert (born June 16, 1942),
Walter Lee Williams (born August 25, 1943), William Powell (January 20, 1942 –
May 26, 1977), Bobby Massey (born 1942, Canton) and Bill Isles (January 4, 1941
– March 28, 2019).[3] The O'Jays made their first chart appearance with the
minor hit "Lonely Drifter" in 1963, but reached their greatest level
of success once Gamble & Huff, a team of producers and songwriters, signed
them to their Philadelphia International label in 1972. With Gamble & Huff,
the O'Jays (now a trio after the departure of Isles and Massey) emerged at the
forefront of Philadelphia soul with "Back Stabbers" (1972), and
topped the US Billboard Hot 100 the following year with "Love Train."
Several other US R&B hits followed, and The O'Jays were inducted into the
Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005,
and in 2013 they were inducted into National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame."...
**** Excerpt #3 From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Berry "Fred Allen Berry (March 19, 1951 – October 21, 2003) was an American actor and street dancer. He was best known for his role as Freddie "Rerun" Stubbs on the 1970s television show What's Happening!![1][2
Career
Berry was born on March 19, 1951, in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in an inner-city housing estate. He had aspirations of becoming a successful dancer and actor as a child. Early in his career, Berry was a member of the Los Angeles-based dance troupe The Lockers, with whom he appeared on the third episode of Saturday Night Live in 1975. He additionally appeared on the dance music show Soul Train, and was featured in the program's signature line dance segment doing the memorable early 1970s dance step "the slo-mo".[3]
Berry achieved more widespread fame playing the character Freddie "Rerun" Stubbs on the ABC sitcom What's Happening!!, which aired from 1976 to 1979 as he was in his mid 20s. The role was originally going to be given by that of a skinny and white actor. His earned Rerun sobriquet was chosen because the character had to continuously repeat all of his classes during summer school. He became one of the show's top characters with a trademark red beret, suspenders, and the dance moves he previously used during his time with The Lockers. In 1985, Berry returned to reprise his role as Rerun in the series What's Happening Now!!. He was fired before the first season ended due to a salary dispute…
**** Excerpt #4 From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_Train Soul Train is an American music-dance television program
which aired in syndication from October 2, 1971, to March 27, 2006. In its
35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul,
dance/pop, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists
also appeared. The series was created by Don Cornelius, who also served as its
first host and executive producer.[1]
Production was suspended following the 2005–2006 season,
with a rerun package (known as The Best of Soul Train) airing for two years
subsequently. As a nod to Soul Train's longevity, the show's opening sequence
during later seasons contained a claim that it was the "longest-running
first-run, nationally syndicated program in American television history,"
with over 1,100 episodes produced from the show's debut through the 2005–2006
season. Despite the production hiatus, Soul Train held that superlative until
2016,"...
Soul Train line
There was also the popular "Soul Train
Line" (a variant of the 1950s fad then known as The Stroll), in which all
the dancers form two lines with a space in the middle for dancers to strut down
and dance in consecutive order. Originally, this consisted of a couple—with men
on one side and women on the other. In later years, men and women had their own
individual lineups. Sometimes, new dance styles or moves were featured or
introduced by particular dancers. In addition, there was an in-studio group of
dancers who danced along to the music as it was being performed. Rosie Perez,
Damita Jo Freeman, Darnell Williams, Cheryl Song, Louie "Ski" Carr,
Alfie Lewis, Pat Davis ("Madam Butterfly"), Alise Mekhail, Andrea N.
Miles, Carmen Electra, Nick Cannon, Vivica A. Fox, MC Hammer, Jermaine Stewart,
Heather Hunter, Fred Berry, Laurieann Gibson, Pebbles, and NFL legend Walter
Payton were among those who got noticed dancing on the program over the
years.[20] Two former dancers, Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel, enjoyed years of
success as members of the R&B group Shalamar after they were chosen by Soul
Train talent booker/record promoter Dick Griffey and Cornelius to replace the
group's original session singers in 1978.[21
**** Excerpt #5 From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What%27s_Happening!! " "What's Happening!! is an American sitcom television series
that aired on ABC from August 5, 1976, to April 28, 1979, premiering as a
summer series. With good ratings and reviews, and after the failure of several
other series on the network, What's Happening!! returned as a weekly series
from November 1976 until its April 1979 conclusion; ratings were modest. What's
Happening!! was loosely based on the Eric Monte-penned film Cooley High.[2]
From 1985 to 1988, a sequel series titled What's Happening Now!! aired in
first-run syndication, with most of the major cast members reprising their
roles."
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #2: Best of Rerun!
DBow2011, Mar 10, 2011
This is the best of Rerun's dancing...truly a legend.
****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS SOUL TRAIN VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
1. Orlando Henry, 2014 "REST IN PEACE FRED "MR.PENGUIN/RERUN" BERRY &
GREG "CAMPBELLOCK JR" POPE.... LOCKIN' PIONEERS AND LEGENDS WHICH GOT
THEIR START ON SOUL TRAIN AND ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE LOCKERS!!!!!"
** 2. Valentino Icon, 2014 "I cant even front , seeing RERUn dance made me tear up..he
may not mean much to others , but he do too me...This is the first time im
seeing this . Didn't know he was on soul train , and still had those dope moves
..RIP FRED STUBS"
** Reply 3. LaSweetable, 2015 "IKR? I had to say it outloud ..."There go Rerun!!" RIP"
** Reply 4. Adam B. Smith, 2015 "Fred Berry from "What's Happening" is seen at 1:08 doing a slow motion dance."
** 5. Yoga With Dee, 2014 "I hate the fashion and dancing that was
the 70s but the music was so tight. :)"
** Reply 6. mario toyplay duncan, 2014 "@Dede Broussard See told ya , ur just a baby, awww only 21,
when u grow up we can talk, hehe"
** Reply 7. Nick Perez, 2014 "MAN.... WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT SOUL
TRAIN!?!"
** Reply 8. jrmetmoi, 2015 "What? The clothes, the hair and the
dancing were good. They were the best!"
** Reply 7. Yoga With Dee, 2015 "@mario toyplay duncan I'm not really a baby anymore but ok."
** Reply 9. Yoga With Dee, 2015 " @Nick Perez
I watched it when I was a kid in the late 90s. They played alot of
reruns."
** 10. shortstackJMD96, 2015 "Is that Thelma from Good Times, and ReRun from What's Happening? 1:08"
** Reply 11. Meela234, 2016 "That's Rerun, but not Thelma."
** Reply 12. Lisa A., 2018 "The lady was ReRun's wife and she also appeared on What's Happening at Roger's birthday party at the time they was dance partners from Soul Train....."
** Reply 13. Last Days, 2018 "No Thelma wanted to Dance on Soul Train,but the Producers from Goodtimes said no. Because she had a Contract with that show from 74-79. No that is not RERUN wife his wife was a darker skinned woman. The lady dancer was probably just a dancer to go down that line with him at that time. RIP to RERUN Berry, Don Cornelius and Soul Train they are truly missed."
** Reply 14. kaycinoriko, 2020 " @Lisa A. That actually was not ReRun's wife, but was his dance partner and best friend. Together, they came up with the Slow Motion dance. Her name is Sheila K. and she is my lovely mother :)"
** 15. alkebulan anthos, 2015 "Valo smoke I grow up watching Whats Happening? that was good wholesome fun, bother Re Run was my favorite from that show"
** 16. Ito Roots, 2016 "Looks like Rerun.. If I'm mistaken he was discovered during his soul train dancing"
** 17. Be Gi, 2016 "Re run !! Thought he Would dance more , they cut him off "
** 18. Laurylie Polito, 2016 "At 1:15 this guy is incredibly smooth in slo-mo... Wow He is so cool!"
** Reply 19. Shawn Mulberry, 2017 "This guy is none other than Freddy "Rerun" Berry.
You might remember him as Rerun on the show "What's Happening"."
** 20. Mr. CJ, 2017 "There's Fred "Rerun" Berry @1:07...St. Louis boy!!!"
** 21. Supa Kent, 2017 "Rerunnnnnnnn!"
** 22. Ceiling Fan, 2017 "at 1:10 if u read Rerun's lips he say "slowmoshuuun" "
** Reply 23. Captain Knapton Vlogs, 2017 "Ceiling Fan oh wow he is"
** 24. Junkman2000, 2016 "The AFROS! Ahhh... those were the times!"
** 25. Jim Coleman, 2016 "Just wish I had some stock in "Afro Sheen" back then!"
** 26. Rex Spencer, 2016 "Hey, was that rerun?"
** Reply 27. Sutelc, 2016 "Yes that was him, RIP."
** Reply 28. Snoopdoggydog, 2016 "yep he had to be different so funny!"
** 29. Brittney Douglas, 2016 "So did I just seen Rerun from Whats Happening?"
** Reply 30. Crabby Old Gamer, 2016 "Hey hey hey!"
** Reply 31. M Schwab, 2017 "How funny! I was wondering the exact same thing! I think it really was him! Where's Dee?!"
** Reply 32. Lavern Merriweather, 2017 "he used to dance on the show"
** Reply 33. A.K.A. The Rugged Manchild, 2017 "what's happening!!"
** 34. brayshay, 2016 "1:18 Big guy couldn't fight gravity no more!"
** Reply 35. Snoopdoggydog, 2016 "You leave rerun alone! That was his style"
** 36. Mark France, 2017 "IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY You can see that Mr Cornelius amazing polka dot shirt is the same lining as his jacket...That is Style!"
** 37. gbkny1, 2017 "i swear this is my fav ST video. Especially the couple at :18 to :24. Rerun killin it! And the girl from 1:28 to 1:38.!"
** 39. jd ps, 2017 "My favorite Soul Train Line Dance vid. Everyone looks like they're having fun. Great music for it. The woman at 0:25 is just FIERCE. Stalking that line. Rerun was so smooth and got a joke in too. Ahh, the Saturday afternoons of Soul Train and Kaijū. Fond memories. Thanks for posting MulitMaestro77"
** 40. AYNAMAOK, 2017 "Always brings a smile to my face!!!!!!"
** 41. Carlos Jones, 2017 "Brings back such good memories and feelings... Saturdays glued to the TV, trying to cop the latest moves and style and get my 'fro together - lol! Can I get a witness?
Somebody get on this Soul Train line with me!
:-D"
** 42. fivefivevirgo, 2017 "Rerun had to get smooth with it huh, Lol."
** 43. old mike, 2017 "Style awhile. So many great moments here. Rerun gets all the attention but his partner's slow-mo is even better. The greatest is the couple at 1:56 - they aren't really even dancing and I am mezmerized."
** 44. micjakes1, 2018 "RERUN IN DA HOUSE!!!"
** 45. joseph reese, 2018 "Unfortunately the piece of technology that we need is the one we can't have......a TIME MACHINE."
** 47. Lisa Anderson, 2018 "There was a lot of soul train dancers that I notice was back ground actors from the what's happening show like the dancer of 0:33-he was the school news paper writer."
** Reply 48. 820SOUTH, 2018 "They're all baby sitting their grandkids now...sigh......"
** Reply 49. Sunny Island, 2018 "820SOUTH
And jammin all da while doin dat, Yay
Cause We all da Perpetually Young Generation
YAY"
** Reply 50. 820SOUTH, 2018 "Amen to that!"
** 51. Sunny Island, 2018 "Reruns partner, She so doin it!!"
** Reply 52. kaycinoriko, 2020 "Yes she is! And that's my mama ;)"
** Reply 53. Sunny Island, 2020 "@kaycinoriko
She is COOL!"
** 54. LuvTadnDixie, 2019 "I LOVE THIS SLO-MO DANCE!!"
** Reply 55. winebox, 2019 "Omg, was that really him. I was just kinda joking to myself, "Rerun is really getting into it." I watch this stuff not too often cause it seems you just get a lonesome sad feeling for all those times past when we were young and family was still alive. But damn, the music was awesome."
** Reply 56. Bernardine Carter, 2020 "I was finna Google rerun on soul train thanks I know it's him now...I love him too"
** 57. Matt McCoy, 2019 "Re 🏃 getting down"
** 58. Adolfo Hernandez, 2019 "Go Rerun!"
** 59. Sharon Harden, 2019 "Look at Rerun do his thang!"
** 60. Sara Heart, 2019 "Rerun being cool."
** 61. Sara Heart, 2019 "Love this song and the 70s fashion."
** 62. Stanley Wright, 2020 "The Soul Train Line was 1 of the best part of the Show.R.I.P Rerun😥"
** 63. Ms V, 2020 "Miss Don Cornelius & this Saturday mornin show ! Lovin the memories of wearin the Afro & the Afropuffs 😍"
** 64. Coach D, 2020 "Just when I thought the ‘fros were going to carry this vid, Rerun shows up in slo mo!!! Righteous man."
** 65. Black, 2020 "1:14 😂 ReRun?
Breaking it all the way dooown.."
** 66. kaycinoriko, 2020 "SHOUT OUT to my beautiful Mama at 1:07, with her dance partner Re Run! Her name is Sheila K. and she let Fred stay with her when he was homeless, made sure that he had enough food to eat so he could maintain his signature "image" and helped him through the times he was too strung out to function. Just clarifying that it was people like Sheila that helped him attain his fame. FYI- at almost 69, she's still smoother than butter when she dances and can still make her elbows touch!"
** Reply 67. Low Level Content, 2020 "That scene was used in Crooklyn too, if I recall.. this whole Soul Train line was used in it.
That’s you’re mother? Wow! Beautiful piece of history.
She’s forever gonna be known.."
** Reply 68. kaycinoriko, 2020 "@Low Level Content Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your knowledge!!!"
** Reply 69. bigdaddyshane, 2019 "That is so dope! You’re mother is gorgeous."
** 70. Rebecca Hopkins, 2021 "Rerun!!!!! I loved him and that show so much."
** 71. Doobie Woman, 2021 "Damn! I forgot about my man Rerun until just now."
** 72. Lindsey Baker, 2021 "Omg the memories just come flooding back! What a wonderful
video. I can't stop watching it. It makes you want to dance, dance, dance!!!
Loved it. ❣️🤩"
** 73. LovingAtlanta, 2021 "👍😂The way they
are poppin it and bending their backs is cracking me up...they are truly having
a good time. 💝😂"
** 74. Russ S, 2021 "1:10 Rerun getting
his groove on. Awesome!!"
** 75. DeuceB 2, 2021 "Fred Rerun Berry!!! That also looks like the same girl who
was dancing with him at the Wattstax concert when Rufus Thomas was playing."
** 76. j.denino57, 2021 "Fred Berry died young, RIP."
** 77. Fanny Price, 2021 "Best dancing in the world - no one has ever surpassed 70s
Soul Train dancers! No one knows how to
dance today - twerking is not dancing. I
was a little white girl who wanted to be on Soul Train - I could dance too."
