East and West Coast Swing, and Lindy Hop: Freddie James:  The unknown force in swing dance during the 1950s and 60s was Arthur Murray Dance Studios.  The leading factor which brought AM's dominace to the swing dance scene during this time was two fold:    One:  It was the Vietnam War in which several young emerging dance swing and Lindy Hopper social personalities went, mostly to join up, in the various military branches. "For the love we had to stand up for America. " People in this cultural dance genre where in love in what America stood for. Dick Clark of American Bandstand, leter on lamented , as a result of knowing the list those who died in this war, on this fact, as he became the first to acknowledged this efffect on the swing Lindy Hop dance world. Moreover, as the war got more of this group of American swing dance - Lindy Hop youth, it left a vacume on the social dance floor, and as result ushered in the era of disco-following the new dance craze of Lindy Hopper ( yes he is a " Lindy Hopper " ) Chubby Checker's innovative dance " The Twist ". There was very, very few who could pass on the dance moves in swing - Lindy Hop, as a result of the War during this generation.    Two.  Freddie James star appearance and emergance with  " his " Lindy Hop styles started to electric'fied the whole studio system of Arthur Murray Dance Studios, Inc.  Arthur Murray's Dance Board through his efforts as the leading influence among others had taken the national lead in developing a popular dance curricula to teach the swing - Lindy Hop, and thus dominated the dance genre itself during this era. They got most of the money too, and they well earned it too!    The interesting fascet about his styles, as result of the power and force of his very physical style of swing and Lindy Hop dance,  from time to time he would split his pants. Everyone knew of this.  " So during every given performance, his wife would bring at least two more pants." As it was commented to me.   He almost earned the name " Splits " as a result.  The energy he employed and the movements he threw in were all dynamic and awsome, and kept alive some of the stuff which could have disappeared if it was not for his dedications to this American Folk Dance. Ya ! Swing and Lindy Hop are American Folk dances.    What may surprise the present " Lindy World " is that he was also responsiable for encouraging the artisitic and personal rescue of Frankie Manning: this is the behind the scene scoop of the present dance Lindy World. That proponents, students, and alumni of Arthur Murray, and then later on Fred Astaire Dance Studios in New York City region had the available student base which further triggered and then supported this urgent artistic rescue. So if you ever wonder were his first core of students  and support after the initial Televised broadcast - which reported his living conditions came from, and those who supplied the initial capital to restorate his career, then you have some idea....    April 14th, 2004