Did you, young ladies and gentlemen, take a Saturday dance class held in the York Room of the Lakewood Terrace restaurant in the late 1950s or early 1960s?
Class leader was Russ Saltmarsh. His wife and dance partner was Jean Saltmarsh. They lived with their family in Lakewood.
There was a lad who played records on an electric record player. Each record had a number. Russ knew all the dance tunes on records by number by heart. He asked the lad to play a tune and it was done.
There was classic (not classical) dances taught/ learned. But there were also those more contemporary, too. For example, the twist and “The Madison.”
Wikipedia says:
--The Twist is an American pop song written and originally released in early 1959 (having been recorded on November 11, 1958) by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters.”
--“The Madison is a novelty dance that was popular in the late 1950s to mid-1960s. ... Its popularity inspired dance teams and competitions, as well as various ... The jazz pianist Ray Bryant recorded "Madison Time" for Columbia Records in 1959.”
Here are some of the steps in the Madison line dance:
IT'S MADISON TIME
2:03 "Now, when I said 'hit it!' I want the big strong basketball with the Wilt Chamberlain hook. (pause) Hit it! Two points!"
2:17 "Now this time, when I say 'hit it!' I want the big strong Jackie Gleason and back to the Madison. (pause) Hit it! (pause). And, a-w-w-w-way we go!"
"You're looking good!"
https://www.songfacts.com/facts/ray-bryant-combo/the-madison-time
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Instructors Russ and Jean Saltmarsh announced the opening of a series of lessons on Latin American and ballroom dancing will begin Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. The classes are for Elks members and their guests. Reservations must be made.
… TNT/Tacoma News Tribune Sept 24, 1960
Eating their cake and keeping it too are Mr. and Mrs. Russ Saltmarsh.
Long interested in ballroom dancing and often teaching, they are on a six-week cruise on the SS Mariposa in the South Pacific as dance instructors.
When they arrive back in San Francisco on July 13 after traveling as far as Australia with stopovers in fascinating cities of the world, they will be joined by their children to journey down to Disneyland
At present, the youngsters are being cared for by their paternal grandparents, the G. H. Saltmarshes of Seattle.
Also on board the ship is another Tacoman, Mrs. Charles Lund.
… TNT/Tacoma News Tribune July 3, 1960
