HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE! GENZ FRIST TIME REACTION TO JUMPING JIVE EVER!!

[@lisal6121]

Because this is ACTUAL TALENT. No auto tune, no computer boards, no over production. Real people being excellent. Real original content!

[@LA_HA]

And top tier professionals. Unless they were singing a sad song, they smiled because (1) they were doing what they loved and were the best at, and (2) they were there to get the place hopping. No one was trying to look at some sad sack or angry mug while they're at a club trying to dance, drink, and have fun. No matter what was going on off stage, while on stage, they were always consummate professionals

[@berlinskysmith4782]

yoo have summed it up exactly ...

[@davidtorres4645]

And, they had whats been lacking with many performers of today, Real Showmanship.

[@jeffreymontgomery7516]

No CGI at all... All natural talent!

[@eddiemeeks7133]

Fact

[@d.kyrstede3556]

A lot of people considered Fred Astaire the greatest dancer, however Fred would tell people the Nicholas Brothers were the greatest dancers.

[@PeterWhite-q1k]

True story! Fred Astaire appreciated dancing and knew when he was with people who could so what he could not. Rather than be critical he applauded others' talent.

[@bobblowhard8823]

Actually, Fred Astaire, in an interview later in life, said that Eleanore Powell was the greatest tap dancer.

[@karengarrow5579]

Do you realise that this is a movie scene

[@edgarcia4794]

The Nicholas Brothers were two of the best dancers in show business. Their energy and athleticism was seldom matched. And they had the respect of the industry.

[@vaseline69]

unfortunately because of society at the time they never got the success they deserved

[@edgarcia4794]

@@vaseline69 They were a name but lesser dancers fared just as well financially.

[@RosaGarcia-vr8oc]

2 greatest dancers.I saw this video not too long ago and I was so amazed.Looks like it might have been at the cotton club

[@edgarcia4794]

@@RosaGarcia-vr8oc Yes it was. iThis scene was from a movie In another longer colorized version of it here on youtube. The scene goes beyond the dance as the band starts playing people many who are WWII soldiers in uniform get up to dance as end credits start to roll and it does mention that it was filmed at The Cotton Club.

[@wordforger]

They danced with Gene Kelley in The Pirate and made him look heavy and clumsy by comparison.

[@cdnrednek1027]

Ain't no fake crap back then. No computers,no auto tune, all pure talent.

[@TerryL421]

This clip is from the 1943 film "Stormy Weather" starring Lena Horne, Cab Calloway, and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. Cab Calloway was a singer and band leader with a career that spanned over 65 years. He was scatting in this song. Fred Astaire told the Nicholas Brothers that this was the greatest dance number he had ever seen on film.

[@melenatorr]

To say nothing of Fats Waller and Ada Brown: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWW9d6ajbtKmrJY

[@unexplainedintelligence4977]

In other words, he showed them the greatest respect by recognizing their talent.

[@TheKyrix82]

No small praise for sure

[@redf7209]

I thought there was a colour version of this?

[@TerryL421]

@@redf7209 There is a colorized version under the title Stormy Weather in color - The Nicholas Brothers and Cab Calloway.

[@karenrosales6970]

Fake? How dare you call the great Nicholas Brothers fake! They were admired and applauded by all the greatest dancers of their time. NOBODY could do what they did. They were masters of their craft.

[@debrameyer1125]

This is what happens when you don't know your history. You don't believe that they are capable of anything as amazing as this.

[@stevedavis5704]

And today there’s a kid or two and grandkids carrying on the tradition.

[@rtypepe]

not fake..... no CGI back then

[@brynneholt1990]

Why don’t you watch the video? 💛 He said he knows it’s not fake, and it looks like it was all done in one take.

[@StacyMoore241]

They were amazing

[@Reba-123]

Cab is Scat Singing. ..he was one of the best ..

[@thehandifanwith9386]

Yep...Just remembered that his song "Minnie the Moocher" gained him the nickname "The Hi De Ho Man"....LOL...He was also very athletic, and turn down a spot as a Harlem Globetrotter to be a singer instead...

[@nac.mac.feegle]

Goodness, I _love_ scat. I'm still mad that _The Shining_ did Scatman Crothers dirty.

[@Trebor74]

​@@nac.mac.feeglePreferred him in Hong Kong phooey.

[@edh.9839]

Ella Fitzgerald was also a wonderful scat singer. JayFlex, you should check her out. She's amazing.

[@andywatts8654]

Scat is where hip hop came from - or Hippedy - hop

[@pharaoh2537]

These guys were not just dancers.. these are what dancers strive to be... Legends!!

[@janealexander1378]

Harold had a beautiful singing voice as well!

[@bobblowhard8823]

Dancers AND athletes.

[@laurencaulton103]

Black history matters. The Nicholas Brothers, and this piece in particular, were super-talented.

[@DeAnne1233]

Absolutely. My Granny was born in 1919 and I’ve been able to enjoy entertainment through her lifetime, my parent’s life and my own (54). I’ve always been color blind when it comes to meritorious talent. The work ethic of the musicians and dancers was inspiring. Shirley Temple and Sammy Davis Jr. are two of the reasons I took Tap & Ballet during grade school for one year, to teach me the basics and appreciate how difficult it is.

[@GonRogue-85]

History matters.

[@tonyhaynes9080]

All history matters, as long as it hasn't been changed to suit people's agendas.

[@williamjones3534]

Ordinarily I'd agree with you but I think this guy is British black not African American. So where matters...

[@shannonherbert4987]

​@williamjones3534 Wrong. You have that completely backwards... This man is most likely an African Brit - his family being from Africa. Black Americans are just that! We are the descendants of our ancestors, the Black Americans who are from the country they helped to build... America!!!

[@geraldoarnoldo6440]

Everything Cab Calloway did was intentional. He was a master of choreography and a perfectionist. The work ethic of these entertainers is almost unknown in the modern time.

[@Diegokid]

The brothers were amazing. They did that dance in 1 take. Truely amazing.

[@firbank212]

Peerless dancers! There are actually 12 shots in this, but so carefully planned you might not notice the edits. We had a passing acquaintance with Harold (the younger, shorter brother) in his last years as we lived in the same Manhattan neighborhood. I was too in awe to speak with him, but my actor partner and he had a few supermarket chats. Harold also had a great singing voice which he gets to display in a few movies.

[@karenrosales6970]

@firbank212 I would be awestruck too.

[@athlonen]

@@firbank212 What happened for this was that they used multiple cameras, and all were recording the same single take. They then took that single take from all of the cameras, and put them together in the editing room. So while there were multiple shots in this, it was all one fluid take. The key to it was that there was no change in the music the orchestra was playing. They never stopped playing and picked up if there was an issue. That's why this is all in one take. To top it off, even Fayard Nicholas himself said that this was all done in one take.

[@firbank212]

@@athlonen I think what Fayard says is that they did the Big Stairs jumps/splits in one take, not the whole dance. The orchestra and vocals would have been prerecorded and the taps dubbed last.

[@athlonen]

@@firbank212 wasn't pre-recorded, because the track was different than the tracks released both before and after the movie. If you listen to the original recording of Jumpin' Jive, it is completely different to the one recorded during the scene. And as there are no interrupts or cuts in the audio track for that, you can tell that it is also an original recording. The only thing about the entire routine that makes people think that this was recorded multiple times were the different camera shots, but this was one of the first scenes ever to use multiple cameras at multiple angles.

[@bvscfanatic]

The Nicholas Brothers began dancing when they were still young children. For them, it was natural. And they were, without question, the best ever. The most famous dancers of the day agreed.

[@janealexander1378]

Harold was still in knee pants in 'The Big Broadcast of 1936

[@danawinsor1380]

They would have had to begin dancing as young children to have that kind of flexibility. The way they jump and land in splits, over and over again, I for one had never seen anything like it. Most guys wince in sympathetic pain when watching that part!

[@johnterpack3940]

When us old folks say things today suck... this is why. People were on a different level back then.

[@loubelle7139]

Nicholas Brother never did fake stunts. Just pure real talent.

[@EricBrunoBorgman]

Sadly, they both needed hip replacements in later life.

[@marymichael1211]

​@@EricBrunoBorgman Oh, is that so . . . Thank you for the information.

[@aliceludlow9558]

Nicholas Brothers was dancers of the 1940's. And no they are the real thing.

[@amaradominique]

They started in the 30 s

[@amaradominique]

He is scatting dude go look it up.

[@amaradominique]

Dude please

[@amaradominique]

They did not French because they practiced and the mills brother were well known for their dancing skills

[@billolsen4360]

The Nicholas Brothers practiced their dance routines about 7 hours per day, so they never put one foot wrong.

[@kimlovett1320]

That was a taste of the Greatest Generation. The Nicholas Brothers did not receive the recognition that they deserved.

[@patwalker5133]

What people don't realize is that Harlem was not the place to be fears as it is now. It was "the" place to go to hear all the best jazz music. People could walk safely down the street and have a great night on the town.

[@raygunsforronnie847]

Harlem? Take the A Train.

[@patwalker5133]

@@raygunsforronnie847 The Cotton Club. 😆

[@katyas-mom]

Harlem is gentrified now. The culture is all but gone from there.

[@patwalker5133]

@@katyas-mom Sad but true.

[@triciaess]

This tells me you don't know a thing about Harlem.

[@pampietro8980]

Cab Calloway is a legend. You can't beat this era.

[@MrDavidElmore]

Nicholas brothers were probably the greatest dancers ever. They blow me away me still.

[@proudamerican9438]

That young man is what Black Excellence in entertainment USED to look like.

[@jeffreymontgomery7516]

That is what EXCELLENCE in entertainment used to look like... Regardless of color, creed, nationality or origin. You won't see this talent anymore... it's all computerized, stiched-together from several takes, overprocessed, CGI, tuned, and overdubbed.

[@zabarang1]

What people don't get was it was enjoyed people from all backgrounds. Talent is recognized.

[@Reba-123]

The brothers taught themselves to tap dance which is nothing short of amazing

[@Roberto_79]

When I started clubbing in the mid-80s 90% of my dance moves were based on the dancing I'd seen of the Nichols Bros watching movies with my parents. The closest you'll get to seeing anything like this nowadays would be to catch postmodern jukebox on the UK tour. Also check out their video of Wayne Brady singing thriller.

[@cindysimpson1046]

Loved your reaction! I'm a 66 year old white woman and this is even older than I am and I could watch this all day long! ❤

[@Kepi_Kei]

I am so glad I grew up in a time where there was no AI, no photoshop, no autotune. It's very sad to me that young people nowadays have grown up with so much trickery that they question *everything*.

[@lindaharrell3916]

KepiGal … and often they see no real need to push themselves to their limits because “auto tune” will cover up the missed notes or the “prerecorded canned music can be adjusted”. They don’t even have to play instruments or read music to “be a star!” There’s no incentive to strive for perfection. That’s why I love Old School talent. Like the Olympics. You have to practice and seriously work at it to be the best.

[@Dolores-mu9vo]

Sad...

[@jackburtom6077]

The Nicholas Brothers were the greatest dance team in the history of show business...

[@ScottWiecenski]

Well, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers might be in that category. I realize it's a different style of dance, but give credit where it's due.

[@marymichael1211]

​@@ScottWiecenski While I was reading that comment I was thinking the exact words which I then read that you wrote. I try to say that my favorites in any field are my favorites rather than The Best. Our culture is so unhealthfully competitive that we do yearn for the one best. Though The Nicholas Brothers are among the greatest dancing teams in the history of show business, and do deserve more recognition. A comment said that they weren't listed on the movie credits -- ?! If that is true then it is criminal!!

[@ScottWiecenski]

@@marymichael1211 The Nicholas brothers were probably the greatest in THEIR style of dance, but Maybe Mikhail Baryshnikov was the greatest in HIS style of dance, and maybe Bill "Bojangles" Robinson was the greatest in HIS style of dance, and Fred and Ginger were the greatest in THEIR style of dance.

[@susanworkman529]

"Jumpin' Jive" is from the 1943 movie, "Stormy Weather" Its an all Black cast, featuring the great Lena Horne. Check out the video of her singing her signature song "Stormy Weather", from this movie. The part where Cab Calloway sings 'nonsense' words is called *Scatting* Check out this video from *The Ed Sullivan Show* with Ella Fitzgerald and Sammy Davis Jr. singing " S'Wonderful..It includes scatting. Check out the video ( from Germany in the 1980's) of Sammy Davis Jr. performing "Mr. Bojangles". (Bojangles was a real tap dancer named Bill " Bojangles" Robinson .....(check him out in a video of him and Shirley Temple dancing on the stairs...from 1935 movie, The Little Colonel). Also check out Sammy's video ( from the movie, " Robin and the 7 Hoods") performing the song, "Bang Bang"

[@michaelle8384]

Bojangle was in a nursing home in New York he told my mom he dance with Shirley temple my mom from the CARIBEAN she don’t know him but she know Shirley temple

[@kathleenmayhorne3183]

Nobody since has tried to replicate this sequence, they were just too good.

[@JeanW-d5i]

I’m so glad you watched this, Jay! The Nicholas Brothers were just the best, they were amazing 💛

[@spudsmccatfish]

Professional athletes masquerading as dancers🤠👍

[@lademoiselleketoret6958]

🤣🤣🤣

[@CTX700girl]

Nobody can dance like they did , today. People don’t really do this style of dancing anymore, which is a shame. 💃

[@KatBats333]

This is one of the best dance routines ever filmed.....brilliantly talented.

[@gary17509]

I agree about the happiness in music from the 40s, 50s, 60s and even 70s. Today, not much happiness in music.

[@wayland76]

80s too

[@ellarweegadsden8483]

Not much is produced for public consumption. We have no idea how much is being created.

[@LA_HA]

​@@wayland76Yes. Prior decades were about optimism and finding happiness in the every day, little things. That's why the music was so good. It started to change in the 90s, and definitely by the double aughts. And now, sheesh. I'm so grateful that my older family members and friends showed me the eras they grew up in. Turns out, I prefer their music for the most part

[@jeffreymontgomery7516]

What's to be happy about these days?

[@janealexander1378]

@@jeffreymontgomery7516 Find something! You can do better than that.

[@JenDGenXer]

I met one of the Nicholas Brothers when I was younger, he came to watch one of the musicals I was in at the time. Our choreographer had been one of his students. They choreographed all of their routines and usually recorded them in one take, and many of these dance moves they created. All dancers today, especially break dancers and modern dance, can trace their roots back to these guys. Amazing!

[@harpergras]

Everything the brother's did was outstanding. Even when they were way up in age, they were still great dancers. And Cab is an all-time legend.

[@daveberg3911]

The Nicholas brothers could do what they do because of their natural talent, and a lifetime of performing and dancing together since they were young boys. They were legendary.

[@bethchaisson2375]

A person can learn tap dancing today, but to this level...it's a lost art.

[@edwardofgreene]

It was a 'lost' art then too. Unless you were Fayard and Harold Nicholas. There was no one like them at the time. Before their time there was nothing like it. Every since then there has been no one that comes close They are unique treasures to the history of planet Earth.

[@cffrizzell6479]

Look at Gregory Hines and his influences. Talk about talent and art!

[@jeffreymontgomery7516]

it's not "lost" exactly.... When was the last time a movie was made with tap dancing as a main part, performed by the top artists? Fred Aistaire could act, dance, sing. Cab Calloway could act, dance, sing, and was a choreographer. The Nicholas Brothers could dance and sing. Dancing was one of the talents looked for in the movie industry. Don't forget - at the time this was made (1953), we were still passing everything by a review board before a movie could be made, and if it didn't get that stamp of approval... it didn'[t get made. We were also at the beginning of the "Cold War" and would soon be in Korea. This was a way people coped with the ills of the world... They'd come to the theater, wtach "News of the World", a cartoon, watch the movie - possibly a double feature - and enjoy themselves for the day. (The air conditioner was invented in 1902, but still wasn't available for the average home yet... so the theaters were also a place to go on a very hot day.)

[@NelsonStJames]

Naw, they passed it on. They weren’t stingy with their talents like this generation.

[@marymichael1211]

And entertainment was important during The Great Depression of the 1930s and World War II of the 1940s.

[@biggmaqq]

I love seeing you young folks being amazed by this!

[@theblackbear211]

Strength, power, flexibility, coordination. Tremendous talents - and years of hard work.

[@toodlescae]

The talent of the Nicholas Brothers always astounds me.

[@harrypalmer7169]

Cab Calloway, a legend. Don't forget "Minnie the Moocher" from the Blues Brothers. He is skatting, it is vocal improvisation with wordless vocables. The Nicholas brothers were mesmerising.

[@Royce-fw1du]

"Saint James Infirmary" is one of a kind.

[@Bill_H]

The Nicholas Brothers had more talent in their little fingers than many of today's "artists " that Genz idolize have dreams of!

[@SD-mw1hz]

Talent! Talent! Talent! the singing, the musicians, the dancers, the beautiful club, the joy. Please bring this elegance back.

[@xg6hpyk]

If the Nicholas Brothers showed up at the modern day Olympics they would walk away with absolutely every gold medal in gymnastics💛

[@JonS0107]

This has been named as the greatest dance routine ever filmed, by some pretty famous dancers. There are also only two cut a ways (to closeups) during the entire routine, and the routine was done in one take.

[@ftc22]

Baby, this is what you call REAL talent. This is how we did it!

[@paulpurpi9069]

Good to see that channels like yours are exposing to newer generations the greatness that went before,and should not be forgotten.

[@sen5i]

In the days before social media, artists actually had skills and talent. Definitely not fake

[@benjaminrupe5930]

Three words: practice, practice, practice.

[@tjrivers]

Cab Calloway was well loved…he was a scat singer, and the dancing of the Nicholas Brothers always amazed…both in a lot of movies in the day. Not twins, brothers. They were known for those elegant movements along with those acrobatic splits! I think there was a THIRD dancing brother…

[@JeshuaSquirrel]

Cab was well known enough that he was a key part in The Blues Brothers.

[@carameldiva5131]

No there was no third brother. Just those two

[@queenreg7]

They had a sister who danced with them briefly as the Nicholas Kids until she decided not to dance anymore.

[@tjrivers]

@@queenreg7 thanks!

[@tjrivers]

@@carameldiva5131 thanks!

[@careyh827]

These guys were professionals, dancers, singers, musicians. They put on a SHOW!

[@jennlee7929]

That is pure and simple talent from the big band era

[@MaryDalton64]

The brothers are deservedly worthy of being called one of the most amazing and talented dance duos in history. Their talent, stage presence, and the athletic ability and stamina needed to perform this routine and make it look effortless and perfectly synchronized shows the level of dedication, determination and pride they put into their dancing. One of my all time favorite dance scenes.

[@PRGidaro]

This is what having real skill sounds like. No fixing with computers no fixing the levels just pure talent musically and with dance. They are all professionals and they probably did this in one take.

[@hazmania]

They don’t kick anyone ‘cos they practise, for hours every day, and so all the players in the band know they’re quite safe, no need to duck or move. The Nicholas Brothers were INCRECIBLE!

[@TowardtheUnknown-w3h]

Thanks for watching things that might be out of your comfort zone 💛

[@witheandstone7267]

The Nicholas Brothers danced at the Cotten Club as kids. At that time, it was black performers and a white audience, and the two never mixed. The kids, however, had other ideas and were young enough that no one would stop them from going out and sitting at tables with the patrons and pouring on the charm. They broke the barrier forever. We owe a debt of gratitude to possibly the greatest dance team ever. I have immense respect for them.

[@wickedmirage]

As a professional dancer of many decades - it's practice, practice and then practice some more. You do a routine so many times it's second nature. You can do it awake, asleep, sick, with pulled muscles/sprains and you smile the whole time like you are having the time of your life (because 9 times out of 10 you are). Cab, the Band and the Nickolas Brothers are true professional entrainers on top of being masters of their craft. You won't see the likes of them very often anymore if at all. Culture, music, people, life changes. The beauty of what the human body (musically and physically) can do is forgotten by many. I've very glad you enjoyed them. ❤‍🔥

[@freda9809]

And there were no strings. I enjoy the artistry of dancers and as a child sat staring at the TV watching these performances. I'm in my 60's and I still enjoy these performances.

[@debi7227]

I think the only dance team that got close to this level was Gregory and Maurice Hines. And they were influenced and mentored by the Nicholas brothers. Sadly, both the Hines brothers are gone now, too.

[@Alan-x7t]

Thank you for giving them a standing ovation!!!!

[@headache1959]

6 to 8 hours of the day of practice, practice, practice!

[@SKIP-yj3xp]

Many of the Black performers of the time appear in a movie called "Tap" from 1989, starring Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis Jr. Truly legendary performers still at the top of their game.

[@sarablack2547]

An older cab calloway is in the blues brothers movie where he performs minnie the moocher. The Nicholas brothers have a dance number in the pirate starring judy garland and gene kelly. They dance with gene dressed as clowns. I'm sure you can get both clips on here.

[@AP-gb3eh]

They were dancing from the time they were toddlers, this film is a jam packed with astonishing performances. I was lucky to see them dance in 85 ish with Gregory Hynes and about a dozen other greats from the 40-50s in a star studded jamboree of Tap. The young teenage Savion Glover was also in that theater performance, the audience were screaming and pounding their approval at the end of the show. The brothers were honored at Kennedy Center by all the best dancers and there are some amazing performances. I think they are on film .

[@janegardener1662]

@@AP-gb3eh If you like tap dancing, the movie Tap (1989) is well worth a watch!

[@amykolterman3744]

Love that movie - I have it too. Gene looks REALLY good in that movie. Girls fan yourself!!!!. This movie was very tame for them, but Gene did most or all the chorography and did it to match their skill level.

[@sarablack2547]

@@amykolterman3744 if i had been a teen in the 50's and there had been posters gene would be all over my wall!

[@staciquinton2794]

Cab Calloway and the Nicholas Brothers were legends and many people admired their work. I remember Cab Calloway did a cameo in Janet Jackson's video. 8-15-2024(Thurs)

[@eraysererayser]

You will NEVER see the likes of this kind of "magic" again!!!❤🔥🔥🔥

[@noemitariche2485]

No special effects, just pure talent and artistry!

[@ElusvOptmst1]

This is from a movie, Stormy Weather, a musical. All authentic performers, no fakeness. Popular performers. Iconic movie and presenters.

[@P-M-869]

This is what entertainment is, by talented people.

[@robertcampopiano6001]

The Nicholas Brothers were the best. For them, this was just another day at the office. Cab Calloway was one of the great band leaders.

[@325Bertie]

I showed this movie clip about 8 months ago. I want my grandkids to experience this tremendous talent. Man, it just blows my mind still and I am a senior. I remember my dad introducing it to me. He was a professional dancer

[@rimasmuliolis1136]

Your appreciation of the talent is completely appropriate... not only are the splits incredible but picking back up to standing after each one... WOAH!

[@deebarlow]

This is the kind of stuff that just makes your heart tingle!😊

[@douglasmcneil8413]

The Nicholas Brothers were 2 of the finest tap dancers in the world. Ever! Yes, they did do that in one take. Those two were nearly supper human.

[@sharoninglima1217]

The Nicholas Brothers were my Dads favorite- incredible! ❤

[@katherinebaxter6870]

The strength, flexibility, and stamina to do that routine! They were so amazing. Also Cab is so much fun, I love his music!

[@doloresschultz6804]

cab is orchestra leader, singer, dancer. Very popular . Nicholas Bros phenomenal.

[@cindyv1401]

NOW THIS IS WHAT COOL SHOULD BE 🤗 😍 🤗

[@GummyBearWA]

You're watching 20,000 hours of practice paying off. Actual talent!

[@karenminyard517]

What an era! You could dress up, have a great meal, and be entertained by such talent! Where did those days go? 🎺🎷🎶❤

[@ShadiyahOfMaryland]

💛💛💛 What a joy to watch you discover the legendary Cab Calloway and the iconic Nicholas Brothers! There was nothing like these maestros and nothing like them today. They were pure talent and entertainment and absolutely timeless! 😊

[@mizzcarla7191]

I thoroughly enjoyed your reaction. I loved the fact that you are seeing and hearing history. Yours smile and the excitement in your eyes are everything 💛

[@sharonglover7221]

Yes they were that happy. You can feel it.

[@aannddrryyaa]

And they were encouraged to smile as it is entertainment. ❣

[@JeshuaSquirrel]

Moving pictures were also still relatively new, so they were used to having to perform for the back of the room.

[@sharonglover7221]

These guys are absolutely fantastic. Magical. Love them.

[@Fiona2254]

They were awesome!

[@jeffjohnson9911]

From the 1943 movie Stormy Weather, Not only was this filmed in one take, it was also unrehearsed. Fun fact: They later taught master classes in tap at Harvard University & Radcliffe, Janet and Michael Jackson were students.

[@johnwatson2887]

I don't believe it was unrehearsed. Could they just wake up one day and magically know exactly what moves to do IN UNISON while the cameras were rolling?

[@jeffjohnson9911]

@@johnwatson2887 As unbelievable as that sounds, the Nicholas Brothers confirmed it in an interview shortly before their recognition at the 14th annual Kennedy Center awards. The films Choreographer said "Just do it, don't rehearse it, just do it!" And so it was done unrehearsed and in one take, which relieved Harold Nicholas because he didn't want to do the rigorous routine over and over all night.

[@sadfaery]

💛 Pure talent and hard work on display here, not just with Cab Calloway and the Nicholas Brothers, but the band as well!!! Definitely an incredible performance by everyone here.

[@emmurrenauthor]

The Nicholas Brothers were highly prized by dancers like Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly who brought them into their movies to expand their exposure. Cab Calloway worked into his 80s. He was in many movies the last of which was the Blues Brothers. I was fortunate enough to see him perform in West Hollywood in the late 1970s.

[@jodiedennis9936]

The dancers absolutely fantastic. The musicians absolutely fantastic.

[@NateEdwardsSitawi]

I’m glad you played that because that’s our lineage here in the United States and you can see the athleticism and the attention to details. You can see the same in our athletes to this present day!

[@maruka1716]

They're the best of the best. Later in life they became dance teachers, and Michael Jackson was one of their students.

[@veldamarcum1554]

People from that time were not afraid of hard work and the practice it took to get the routine down.

[@32720mjp]

They started dancing together as very little boys in the 1930’s

[@AnnQlder]

I had a very similar reaction the first time I saw this, the Nichols brothers, and all the musicians, just incredible

[@Adria63]

Wooooow!! Talent! Real talent! 💛 My mouth gaped and I was as shocked as you! Love to watch you watching!

[@CPACK1]

They were in Movies. And really great dancers.

[@bryanCJC2105]

Honestly, I don't think male gymnasts in the Olympics today could do this routine. My Grandpa talked about Cab Calloway and other big band groups all the time. He said they were "keen". I sometimes wish that going out was more like it was back in the 40s where you could go out all dressed up, have a great meal, then see a great show with a band, a singer, and dancers, then go on the dancefloor and dance to live band music, all in one place. That is a night out! This is how people went out in the 20s 30s 40s and 50s. The closest thing we had in my Gen X lifetime is the Las Vegas shows at various hotels but they didn't have a dance floor, it was just dinner and a show, but you have to go all the way to Las Vegas. Going out is nowhere near as fun as it used to be.

[@wickedmirage]

I could not agree more. I've always wanted a night out like it was the 1940s. My god that looks like it would be a grand night out.

[@ellarweegadsden8483]

That club scene could be recreated. It simply needs to be produced and protected from those who don't want blacks to do this and make money. It can be prevented simply by sending a black fool into the club and shooting someone. Then, no one will go back. It's one of the ways blacks' wealth is controlled. Like rappers who were always followed by the cops in an attempt to impoverish blacks.

[@johnwatson2887]

I agree that today's Olympic gymnasts couldn't do this routine. The Nicholas Brothers were exceptional in their day, and even more exceptional now. Nevertheless, I'm sure they wouldn't be able to do gymnastic vaults, high bar routines, pommel horse, etc. While they all have superb physical conditioning, flexibility, strength, etc., the brothers had an entirely different skill sets from gymnasts!!

[@RKsOnceLovedVintage]

The Brothers dance routines in movies were amazingly done in one take. Cab performed for decades including Michael Jackson video. He was such a cool dresser.

[@beegee1960]

This is still considered to this day, the best dance segment ever filmed. And I have heard they did this in one take. And while the splits were spectacular, the really amazing thing was their ability to come to their feet wirhout using their hands. That is almost impossible to do.

[@powellmountainmike8853]

HOW ? The Nicholas Brothers were the greatest dancers of their age. It's fun to see a new generation introduced to this. The movie was made in the 1930s

[@tapduff]

The Nicholas Brothers are legendary! As a tap dancer, I was lucky to have met them! They were not twins. Fayard was slightly older than Harold, (the shorter one). There is a documentary on them here on youtube.

[@stevestarr3160]

from Wikipedia, "Fayard (1914-2006) and Harold (1921-2000), who excelled in a variety of dance techniques, primarily between the 1930s and 1950s. Best known for their unique interpretation of a highly acrobatic technique known as "flash dancing", they were also considered by many to be the greatest tap dancers of their day, if not all time. Their virtuoso performance in the musical number "Jumpin' Jive" (with Cab Calloway and his orchestra) featured in the 1943 movie Stormy Weather has been praised as one of the greatest dance routines ever captured on film."

[@dbn52]

40's is when my parents danced to them.

[@conniead5206]

In America they still made a fair number of movies with great dancing regularly into the early 60s. Very few after. I grew up watching most if them on tv in the 50s and 60s. Stuff from the 30s on-word. There used to be performances of at least 50 dancers dancing in unison.

[@ReleaseTheQuackers]

The Nicholas Brothers didn't even plan this choreography! This was done in one take as they improvised the moves. They danced into their very senior years, though not so many splits

[@johnwatson2887]

As superb as the Nicholas Brothers were -- the best! -- I'd like to know why you say they didn't plan this choreography. Done in one take on camera, yes. But that doesn't mean they didn't have to practice it a gazillion times to get it just right. They'd rehearse first on their own, then on that specific set (they'd have to get used to the specific height and breadth of the steps, for example) and then with the musicians in place (as the video pointed out, people would get kicked otherwise). And who's to say they didn't do many takes with an error or two before they got a single take that was perfect all the way through.

[@debi7227]

@@johnwatson2887Exactly this!