I phoned Cab Calloway many years ago when I was a teenager to tell him how wonderful I thought he was. He was very polite although I could hear I was interrupting his TV watching. Bless him!
It was the vast amounts of heroin coursing through his bloodstream. If you look very carefully at 0:50, you can even make out the cold, empty "heroin stare" typical of many late-stage addicts. The "dance" is the result of a particularly heady whiff of the opiate. It's tragic, heartbreaking, really.
I saw Cab perform at the Royal George Theater in Chicago in the 1980s and loved every minute of his performance. Later I learned that my late mother in law, when she was young, snuck into one of Cab's shows (they held them in the 1930s in the South in tents) and never forgot the experience.
My grandmother was a young girl when this came out. She was MAD for Cab Calloway. She was drafted when she was 19 (In Britain, they drafted the girls too, lol), but she did manage to see him live during the war. Cab Calloway was to the 30s and 40s what Prince was to the 80s and 90s. If you don't have a grandma in your life, you might not have known that, lol...
@Jesus Christ Yes, they were conscripted here in the UK during WW2. Even The Queen cheerfully took on her service in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. They weren't sent abroad to fight, but they took over all the jobs that the drafted men had done, plus all the war work necessary, the nursing, working the land, working in factories, many for the first time. Just because they weren't sent to the front lines doesn't mean they weren't obligated by law, after being called up, to do the work they were ordered to do.
@@anthonyturton8091 From 1941 it was compulsory for British women 18 - 60 to register for war work. If accepted they could join the services otherwise it was the land army, factory work, medical services etc.
Cab Calloway was possibly the most influential artist in the music business. The way his dancing flows with the music, like he's part of it, often reminds me of Dubstep Dancing. And how specifically in this song, how his he makes up words/sounds, effectively becoming almost an instrument himself, is just like beat-boxing! Fascinating, huh!
Got to talk to Cab Calloway years ago at the Seatac Radisson Hotel. What a truly nice guy. He got out of a taxi and was walking up the front walk and I said wow it's Cab Calloway and none on the youngsters I was working with knew him. One of my best celebrity meets ever.
@Jesus Christ all kinds of ppl met him, he only died in 94, you think we all old and dont use the interweb? I played at the 96 Olympics and im only 44 bro, i met all kinds of famous ppl thats dead now. Just sayn time flies and you will find out
@@shable1436 where you in that band at the opening? I play the harmonica brother so I've played some nice spots hell I'm 39 ive met and have friends who are gone I've played in venues that are gone time fly's when your having fun
I saw this when they renovated the Shea's theater in Buffalo in 1976 - they played it, then Cab Calloway came out and performed. I was twelve, and wow, did I develop a crush!
Groundbreaker, trendsetter, writer of the Hip Cat's Dictionary, ace performer, bandleader, arranger, writer, and an Icon of his age. There are few talents so great that I struggle just to emerge from their shadow . . . Cab is one.
A guy from Cab's original band here, said he was a perfectionist and he cared very much about his band's image to the point where, if a guy showed up to rehearsal with a hole in his shirt, Can would stick his finger in the hole and rip the shirt saying "Ain't that a shame. Looks like you need a new shirt." He knew the importance of image. He also held the band mates responsible and accountable for their attendance to practice and shows. He told them he didn't care where they went afterwards but they better be back on time for meetings and soforth.
Amie Fortman I know what you mean. I was brought up by Southern parents. When a lady approaches my table, I stand, or help with a chair, they have no idea what I am doing. As father always said, "always assume a woman is a lady until she proves you wrong."
ZeroCitizen wow --- i, too, view'd the video of that old [black] man in the nursing home, and hear'd him say that CAB CALLOWAY was his favorite singer ... Calloway was from WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, where i went to high-school, but i never knew that until after he died .....
I saw - and met - Calloway around '79 or '80. He put on a great show, definitely an audience participation performance. The dance floor was jammed. The best recording can't surpass the energy and joy of a live show.
In the 30's my uncle went to hear Calloway in Old Orchard Beach (Maine.) My mother was only 12 or so whereas my uncle was 22 or so so she spent the evening hiding in the back of his car as he went to the show and had a few drinks.
Incredible! A video clip from the 30', with an engaging plot, cool shooting angles, product advertisement, sex, humour, and a genius artist dancing and singing in the front. Every thing we know today has already existed 90 years ago. 😍
My parents made the questionable choice of taking 8 year old me with them to see the Blue Brothers.I fell madly in love with Cab Calloway and 1930's jazz. I guess I was a weird kid. I'm still a fan to this day.
The sleeping car scene kills me! The bass player in the upper bunk wearing Chinese-style PJ's, the baritone sax player and Cab having a music/dance duet, and all to the beat of the train rhythm. And the bit from 4:55-5:03 -- Who today is that cool and edgy?
Gosh this guy....i really wanted a dance with him, it would be so animated! He's so full of energy, i really love him, i can't stop hearing songs that old and thinking "wow....i just born in the wrong time"
John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd did us all a great favor, having Cab Calloway play such a prominent role in The Blues Brothers. He deserved a Best Supporting Actor award....then man was light years of coolness ahead of them all !!!
It's crazy back in1934, nobody could view these films, lack of TVs, and I'm sure these where showed at theatres, that where not widely available all over the place, radio was big I'm sure everyone herd the songs, but not many people ever seen this film back in the 1930s I am sure the people that where in this film never seen it as well.84 years later it's for everyone to see 🤔👍👍👍👍
So amazing! I met Cab at the Bellview in Philla. Pa. I was on the 22nd floor, He was on the 18th, I went down to see him before the show and he was so gracious to me and my friend. He was a big guy with big hands.
I looked up Cab Calloway after watching a video a friend shared online. A man with Alzheimer’s was pretty much nonverbal, didn’t emote, etc, but when he listened to music he had enjoyed since his youth, it was like he came back to life. When they asked him about what he liked, he said “Cab Calloway”. Having watched and listened to this, I gotta say, that man has great taste.
Cab Calloway was the complete package-handsome, talented, suave and debonair. Also, a gentleman!
so cool he'll steal your woman
....yessssss he was Norma....dreamy 😗.
redundant department of redundancy
Cab Calloway RIP was the Original cool Cat. He was "Prince" before Prince was Prince,.. The man had style...
communistjesus I literally just realized that and read this comment 😂
@@Similo and I did too!
Cab Callaway was a song and dance man. Prince was a revolutionary musician.
But Cab gave revolutionary musicians exposure in his band. Chu Berry, Cozy Cole, Dizzy Gillespie...
@@joeplaneta905 You're an asshole.
I phoned Cab Calloway many years ago when I was a teenager to tell him how wonderful I thought he was. He was very polite although I could hear I was interrupting his TV watching. Bless him!
Woahhh. Was this back in the 90's?? I would love to hear more about this!
that is amazing! i honestly wish i could’ve meet that wonderful and talented man!
Love how he uses his hair. He was so ahead of his time
Fried, dyed &, layed to the side
It was the vast amounts of heroin coursing through his bloodstream. If you look very carefully at 0:50, you can even make out the cold, empty "heroin stare" typical of many late-stage addicts. The "dance" is the result of a particularly heady whiff of the opiate. It's tragic, heartbreaking, really.
Cab was big into the Cuban look
wrestlingconnoisseur uhhh what?
@@wrestlingconnoisseur weirdly enough he lived through the 70's up to the late 80's despite this? That's interesting...
He was quintessentially BRILLIANT.
Cab Calloway was a national treasure.
Cab Calloway was no joke.
But he did know how to act silly!
This was so ahead of its time. Cab is one of those artists I wish was alive today!
If memory serves, he was still going in the 80's and maybe into the early 90's. what a talented entertainer.
I saw Cab perform at the Royal George Theater in Chicago in the 1980s and loved every minute of his performance. Later I learned that my late mother in law, when she was young, snuck into one of Cab's shows (they held them in the 1930s in the South in tents) and never forgot the experience.
retired very rich!!
WOW! A 26-27 year old Cab Calloway! Doesn't get any finer than this. :-)
Still one of the coolest cats in history, Hi-de-ho and Amen.
These men were all master musicians.....and entertainers
My grandmother was a young girl when this came out. She was MAD for Cab Calloway. She was drafted when she was 19 (In Britain, they drafted the girls too, lol), but she did manage to see him live during the war. Cab Calloway was to the 30s and 40s what Prince was to the 80s and 90s. If you don't have a grandma in your life, you might not have known that, lol...
@Jesus Christ Yes, they were conscripted here in the UK during WW2. Even The Queen cheerfully took on her service in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. They weren't sent abroad to fight, but they took over all the jobs that the drafted men had done, plus all the war work necessary, the nursing, working the land, working in factories, many for the first time. Just because they weren't sent to the front lines doesn't mean they weren't obligated by law, after being called up, to do the work they were ordered to do.
@@MsCherade9 not conscripted/drafted . volunteers
@@anthonyturton8091 national service act of 1941 made British women eligible legally for conscription. US women had no draft.
@@anthonyturton8091 From 1941 it was compulsory for British women 18 - 60 to register for war work. If accepted they could join the services otherwise it was the land army, factory work, medical services etc.
Never hit your grandma with a shovel!
Cab Calloway was simply wonderful! He was truly ahead of his time! His singing and dancing is unreal.
I've never seen a man with so much energy yet so chill
Cab was handsome, talented, and boy did he have a way with women. Props to the first King.
Cab had the best energy
Yes he did
Listening to this, you can understand why Jazz captured the world.
Cab Calloway was possibly the most influential artist in the music business. The way his dancing flows with the music, like he's part of it, often reminds me of Dubstep Dancing. And how specifically in this song, how his he makes up words/sounds, effectively becoming almost an instrument himself, is just like beat-boxing! Fascinating, huh!
I didn't realize how good looking Cab was!
Shannon Lee right lol💖
When he was a lot younger!! But that floppy hair!! On of his signatures.
what about me!
Look good to me!
Shannon Lee thank you
From a drum and bass DJ's perspective, this shit goes hard. They must have rocked the fuck out of every show
170bpm = tempo of life
Cab Calloway was truly a National Treasure!
He was around 27 here. Lived til 86..died in 1994 rip.
Got to talk to Cab Calloway years ago at the Seatac Radisson Hotel. What a truly nice guy. He got out of a taxi and was walking up the front walk and I said wow it's Cab Calloway and none on the youngsters I was working with knew him. One of my best celebrity meets ever.
Ratcity5 what were you talking about
@@steve.doubleuwagner545 if you get an answer tag me please. Thank you in advance
MrRighteousfish of course
@Jesus Christ all kinds of ppl met him, he only died in 94, you think we all old and dont use the interweb? I played at the 96 Olympics and im only 44 bro, i met all kinds of famous ppl thats dead now. Just sayn time flies and you will find out
@@shable1436 where you in that band at the opening? I play the harmonica brother so I've played some nice spots hell I'm 39 ive met and have friends who are gone I've played in venues that are gone time fly's when your having fun
Minnie the Moocher is one of his most famous songs. I love it.
Cab Calloway was so cute as a young person, and his singing was so incredible.
Cab Calloway sung this song in the "Blues Brother" film decades later and a few years before he died. Great entertainer.
Wow, Cab and his band members were dangerously fine!!!
Great music. He was amazing and so handsome!
I saw this when they renovated the Shea's theater in Buffalo in 1976 - they played it, then Cab Calloway came out and performed. I was twelve, and wow, did I develop a crush!
DrSuperMonky she said "crush" and 12 years old. Learn to read moron.
I wish this type of music was still popular
Almost 80 years old, and still SUPERB!
I love how he moves, dances and gets into the music!
And now ladies and gentleman, please welcome... the king of Hi De Ho !!!
Groundbreaker, trendsetter, writer of the Hip Cat's Dictionary, ace performer, bandleader, arranger, writer, and an Icon of his age. There are few talents so great that I struggle just to emerge from their shadow . . . Cab is one.
Well said!
A guy from Cab's original band here, said he was a perfectionist and he cared very much about his band's image to the point where, if a guy showed up to rehearsal with a hole in his shirt, Can would stick his finger in the hole and rip the shirt saying "Ain't that a shame. Looks like you need a new shirt." He knew the importance of image. He also held the band mates responsible and accountable for their attendance to practice and shows. He told them he didn't care where they went afterwards but they better be back on time for meetings and soforth.
Sir Cab Calloway - pure talent. pure classic man.
Look at Cab Calloway making music videos in 1934! This was thoroughly entertaining, great band!
I love the way he pays homage to his band😘
The lady with the fan....is ABOUT THAT LIFE !!!!
From what I understand, Cab was very popular with the ladies.
I can totally see that. He did cut quite a fine figure in a suit. :)
Amie Fortman True that, he also treated every woman he met like a lady.
Scott Ferrell A rare occurrence these days.
Amie Fortman I know what you mean. I was brought up by Southern parents. When a lady approaches my table, I stand, or help with a chair, they have no idea what I am doing. As father always said, "always assume a woman is a lady until she proves you wrong."
Scott Ferrell Your father was a smart man--it sounds like he raised you right. :)
its amazing what youtube has done.. i can relive those days...and i was born 50 yrs after. thnks for the upload
Why do I feel goose bump levels of pride when watching Cab? Amazing class and what a PURE entertainer!
I'll ALWAYS love Cab Calloway!
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MIX STUNNING BEAUTIFUL YOUTH WITH INCREDIBLE VIBRANT TALENT ! MAGNIFICENT !
What an awesome era of music.
My grandpa said he was 10 when this came out and already smoking cigarettes. Wow, grandpa!
dithompson99 😂🌹👋
Betty Boop "Old Man of The Mountain" theme brought me here and made me a fan of Cab Calloway and his band.
The king of scat, awesome
luckily for me my dad grew up in the 30's and 40's so i got to learn about all the great music from back then.
Is there any doubt, it Calloway was alive today(and still in his youth.) that he would rock today's music industry.
Lmao at that radio product placement right in the middle. Guess they did that back then too.
Such talent
I did on NYE in SF with my dad in the late 70s...
Classic Jazz, Cab Calloway had his own Language
I just saw you on the video of that old man in the nursing home... recognized your profile picture. Never heard Cab before. He's pretty good!
ZeroCitizen yes he was
ZeroCitizen wow --- i, too, view'd the video of that old [black] man in the nursing home, and hear'd him say that CAB CALLOWAY was his favorite singer ... Calloway was from WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, where i went to high-school, but i never knew that until after he died .....
i just think how old this is...my mother wasn't even born yet! SO FABULOUS!!!!!
Now whom would ever dislike this???come on now!!!
never heard of this guy in 20 years and this has brought tears to my eyes, this is magical.. music can't do this to me these days...
Today, Dec 5, 2016, Turner Classic Movies is playing only Musical Shorts, including Cab
i love how he calls back to other characters like smokey joe and minnie the moocher, also he one of the reasons i started listening to jazz
Legend. No shortage of energy.
I was lucky growing up in 60s and 70s, my father played all the great jazz & big bands from 20s 30s 40s every day in our house
This is great!! Love Cab Calloway! Handsome and talented!!
REAL TALENT AND REAL MUSIC!!! AWESOME!!!
Cab Calloway was incredibly handsome and charismatic.
It's incredible yet quite sad to watch this video in this day & age, knowing that all these people have passed away, it's almost like watching ghosts!
Ijh 2002 spoopy
how time passes.
Exploring Abandoned Buildings u are watching ghosts..lol
Isaiah Vlogs I look at it as a gift from the previous generation. They gave us something we could hold onto and still enjoy years later.
why is it sad to watch a video from almost a century ago? No shit they are all dead. Humans aren't immortal
Mr Calloway always flopping his hair , what a time he must've been . Every one of his dancers was drop dead gorgeous 😉👍👍🇺🇸
I was born in Dec 1945, and I'm white but this song is something will remember at the mere sound of one bar. Cab Calloway was a tremendous person.
I saw - and met - Calloway around '79 or '80. He put on a great show, definitely an audience participation performance. The dance floor was jammed. The best recording can't surpass the energy and joy of a live show.
Wish I could see him and the band live. Love this kinda music and energy!
This man was 27 years old at the time. I just hope I am this productive and accomplished at 27 years old in the next 4 years. Just genius!
+Dev “Sydster316” B It's been 10 months - what have you accomplished so far?
One year.
Ludwig van Beethoven it has been a year. 😊
Bungle I started my own youtube channel a month ago. More new beginnings to come soon.
Are you there yet?
Brilliant! Love Cab Calloway and the musicians playing with him... timeless class! such joy this brings!
Breathing achieving way above the expectations
In the 30's my uncle went to hear Calloway in Old Orchard Beach (Maine.) My mother was only 12 or so whereas my uncle was 22 or so so she spent the evening hiding in the back of his car as he went to the show and had a few drinks.
Incredible! A video clip from the 30', with an engaging plot, cool shooting angles, product advertisement, sex, humour, and a genius artist dancing and singing in the front. Every thing we know today has already existed 90 years ago. 😍
This was definitely filmed before the Hayes Production Code clamped down. Early code films were still fairly racy.
first time I ever saw Cab Calloway was on the Blues Brothers. I have been a fan ever since.
Missy Rabbit 🐇
My parents made the questionable choice of taking 8 year old me with them to see the Blue Brothers.I fell madly in love with Cab Calloway and 1930's jazz. I guess I was a weird kid. I'm still a fan to this day.
So gifted. I hope his music continues to make us proud and rock out to.
They should do a life story of Cab Calloway....this man deserves recognition.
Elvis and Prince owe alot to him and his moves.
Not Elvis but certainly Prince, and every cat who ever thought he was cool from 1930 until today.
and what elvis didn't take from black man?
That kissing scene got me all fluttery and flitzy. 💖
A classical shorty, Bravo Mister Cab Calloway! We love you from France! Emmanuel from Paris
The sleeping car scene kills me! The bass player in the upper bunk wearing Chinese-style PJ's, the baritone sax player and Cab having a music/dance duet, and all to the beat of the train rhythm. And the bit from 4:55-5:03 -- Who today is that cool and edgy?
If I could go back in time THIS is one of the things I’d like to witness. An amazing showman!
Hell of a voice, hell of a show and presence and!! hell of a band!!!
I first new about Cab From The Blues Brothers , But I never knew he was as a big of a star as he was back in the day
Was there ever a "cooler cat" than Cab Calloway?!! I don't think so!!
Mr.Sinatra then Wilson Pickett then whoever maybe me
Never in the world
He was so smooth!
Gosh this guy....i really wanted a dance with him, it would be so animated! He's so full of energy, i really love him, i can't stop hearing songs that old and thinking "wow....i just born in the wrong time"
John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd did us all a great favor, having Cab Calloway play such a prominent role in The Blues Brothers. He deserved a Best Supporting Actor award....then man was light years of coolness ahead of them all !!!
This is the coolest thing I've ever thing... Can't get enough of it!!
Now I know why Prince was so cool..... He was imitating Cab!!!!!
Cab Calloway = G.O.A.T.!!!
He sure was fine.❤
Wow, one of the earliest examples of product placement.
Sometimes I dream I was alive in the 20s or the 40s.
Painful dreams those are...
His energy is contagious wow he must of been prettu cool in the 30's
It's crazy back in1934, nobody could view these films, lack of TVs, and I'm sure these where showed at theatres, that where not widely available all over the place, radio was big I'm sure everyone herd the songs, but not many people ever seen this film back in the 1930s I am sure the people that where in this film never seen it as well.84 years later it's for everyone to see 🤔👍👍👍👍
This was actually off a projector.
That ending where Cab leaves with his band was legendary!
Excellent. Really a perfect classic of the day.
So amazing! I met Cab at the Bellview in Philla. Pa. I was on the 22nd floor, He was on the 18th, I went down to see him before the show and he was so gracious to me and my friend. He was a big guy with big hands.
David St. James wow your old, and that's good
I looked up Cab Calloway after watching a video a friend shared online. A man with Alzheimer’s was pretty much nonverbal, didn’t emote, etc, but when he listened to music he had enjoyed since his youth, it was like he came back to life. When they asked him about what he liked, he said “Cab Calloway”. Having watched and listened to this, I gotta say, that man has great taste.
facebook.com/uniladmag/videos/2467941129895598/
If anyone's interested :)
My parents loved Cab Calloway and would go to his shows at the Starlight north of Boston to dance. Now I see why.