LIFE Magazine
December 20, 1954
Uncle Sambo, Mad for Mambo
Most everyone loves the Christmas holiday season. Good food, close friends and family, and sing-a-longs are only a few characteristics that can be used to describe the joyful season. The addition of the upbeat and popular dance, the Mambo, was added to this list of holiday activities in the mid 1950s. Luring many Americans to dance halls for some months before the Christmas holiday, the mambo erupted in the holiday frenzy. Enjoyed by all ages, the mambo served as an easy to learn dance for housewives, teenagers, and the elderly. Dance palaces began to emerge throughout the nation popping up in big cities such as Chicago and New York. Offering both lessons and prizes to the many clients of the studios, the dance halls found 80 to 100% of their customers enrolling to learn the mambo for the holiday season. Mambo songwriters quickly produced seasonal numbers like Santa Clause Mambo, Jingle Bells Mambo, and the salute to Mommy mambo for clients to enjoy.
One of the reasons for the rapid increase in the popularity of the new dance was the fact that the mambo provided for a less strict and structured dance. Allowing its practitioners to go “hog-wild” while dancing, the mambo permitted improvised solo moves and out of routine dance steps. The mambo is described as a simple dance, whose basic back-and-forward steps are easily mastered. The basic step is done to eight counts with the man leading the women for the majority of the dance. Allowing for both the man and the women to have moments of personal expression, the mambo is a lively dance. Accompanied by saxophones, a drum section, rattles, clappers and cowbells, the dance is seen as “a crazy thing”. Surrounded by the excitement of the holiday season and all of the festivities that accompany it, the mambo served as a popular dance.
I was originally attracted to this article by its connection to the Christmas season. Intentionally selecting an article around the Christmas holiday, the Christmas season is my favorite time of the year. Understanding my personal holiday traditions and routine activities, I was interested to understand the activities that defined the Christmas season of the 1950s. Focused on the idea of the emerging and popular holiday dance of the mambo, this article provided insight into the holiday season of the 1950s. While times are quite different, holiday parties of the 1950s exhibit the same characteristics holiday parties of today do. One of the main differences however, is that dancing, particularly the mambo, was the main entertainment of 1950 holiday parties. Centered on the main event of dancing, these holiday parties would be filled with eager guests waiting to dance the night away.
Another aspect of this article that really stood out, was the way people presented themselves. The article included various pictures of guests at holiday parties as well as clients of the dance studios. By reviewing these pictures, I was able to better understand the dress of the time period. Wearing much less revealing clothing and more uniform outfits, the women appeared to hold a much higher standard for presenting themselves. The women in these photos also rarely are holding any type of drink and for the most part only the men are found holding drinks in their hands. With these two observations, it appears that women of the time were held at a more controlled and monitored standard. Covered in long dressed with heavy sweaters and rather short high heels, women appeared much more conservative.
The advertisements surrounding this article also grabbed my attention and provided insight into the holiday season. The Christmas season always means cards, cards, and more cards. Each year millions of holiday cards are passed through the postal system sending love and blessings to friends and family. The same is true of the 1950s, however in an advertisement for “Santagrams”, it becomes obvious that the telegram replaces the present day holiday card. This advertisement highlights the importance of sending a telegram to loved ones near and far and emphasizes the simplicity of doing so. Capturing the holiday spirit of Santa Clause, the advertisement includes the option of the “Santagram” which provides youngsters communication with Santa Clause and his many elves. The language of this advertisement also caught my eye. Described as “gay and colorful”, the language used in this 1950s advertisement is almost nonexistent today. Another advertisement for “TUMS” indigestion relief caught my attention. I was unaware that TUMS were available in the 1950s and found it interesting that the same brand used for indigestion in the 1950s is used today. Available for ten cents a roll, the advertisement worked to persuade the reader that TUMS would be the perfect “stocking stuffer”. Smiling as I read this, I could only think how disappointed I would be if I found a roll of TUMS in my stocking on Christmas day.
Overall I enjoyed this article and found it fascinating to look into the holiday season of the 1950s. While different in many ways, the holiday gatherings of the 1950s demonstrate similar activities as seen in holiday parties today. With the addition of the mambo, the holiday season of the 1950s saw the emergence of a new and less structured dance. Enabling participates to let loose, the mambo was attractive to many holiday goers and provided for a good time to all ages.
David Belpedio
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