The Only Footage of Ken “Snakehips” Johnson Dancing

This is a clip from the 1935 movie “Oh, Daddy!”, you can watch the full length movie for free on KZbin here, and this scene starts at 21:31. Here’s the link to the movie: • Oh, Daddy! [1935]

[@shangodoll8289]

Fred Astaire took dance lessons from this young man in London.

[@JamesIrwins78s]

Really, thanks for the info! Glad to learn more about Ken.

[@JulesCreativityPersonified]

You can so tell|! I was going to say he dances like Fred!

[@LHVMleodragonlamb]

London

[@MrCrowebobby]

He may have taken some lessons from him, but it was John William Sublett known by his stage name John W. Bubbles who, in 1920, gave tap dance lessons to Fred Astaire, who considered Sublett the finest tap dancer of his generation.

[@FartCroissant]

​@MrCrowebobby thanks for the info!

[@ElizabethStMarie]

Spectacular dancing. Too bad the movie didn't value it as much as i did. I would have been happier just watching him.

[@Frombie_01]

I tend to agree with you. It was my first time seeing the man dance, and I certainly would have appreciated it if he had more screen time.

[@MG-fn9xw]

what a fuqqin cry baby

[@user-re9ui1ji1b]

HAHAHA This man was jamming ! Really "HOOFING" his @SS off with some the BEST tap WIZARDRY and magic in the world and camaras WAISTED TIME on four jack-wagons changing seats ?!? 😎

[@john-brady]

They liked him enough to have him perform. Correct?

[@john-brady]

@@user-re9ui1ji1byou were half way there and then you cracked up. Shame.

[@gxruiz1]

Right before the end as he exits, the birth of the ‘moonwalk’

[@ronaldrayner5049]

The Moonwalk is older than that ,saw a very old film of a French Vaudevillian doing the Moonwalk and the background was being scrolled behind him ,to give the impression he was walking along. As for Snakehips ,absolute mastery ,I would have liked to see more of his dancing in the flick.

[@DGill48]

Fred Astair could do a masterful moonwalk; Jackson picked it up from him

[@franzitaduz]

Thank you. Every time an artist is revealed to the world it is enriched.

[@JamesIrwins78s]

Agreed!

[@DAMusic-qu2ec]

Man that is some goodass old timey dancing. And don’t forget that swing band holding down a TIGHT groove. Capitol I say, quite

[@harlemcattux7997]

Thank you for posting Mr. Snakehips Johnson....must be remembered.

[@alidabaxter5849]

At least we have this small glimpse of genius. I am grateful for anything.

[@JamesIrwins78s]

As am I.

[@JayYoung-ro3vu]

Correct. A little is better than nothing. Also, considering how many pre-1950? movies we lost to fires, accidents, poor storage practices, and film degredation

[@answerman9933]

Dancing is not genius. Stop being hyperbolic.

[@alidabaxter5849]

@@answerman9933 Have you tried not being pedantic?

[@user-qu4ey5yy3f]

@@answerman9933 I know, "genius" is only born from the likes of Einstein, Picasso even if he borrowed much of his "genius" from Africa,,.

[@Daiseehead]

It is soooo frustrating when the camera pans away from this magnificent dancer!!! 🕺

[@peabody634]

It’s a movie, that’s why they do that!

[@Daiseehead]

@@peabody634 I know. I’m just expressing my opinion.

[@PecanSandees23]

Part of the reason was so the movie could be shown in the south. They would cut out the "specialty numbers" with Black performers so they could show it in the south.

[@peabody634]

@@PecanSandees23 Thanks, didn’t realize,not from your dreadful country!

[@Daiseehead]

@@PecanSandees23 Ohh I never thought of that ☹️ , but I now I can imagine.

[@kerrypearce4264]

Stunningly exceptional and his fluidity is sensational 💙💙💙

[@elinannestad5320]

yes. The poise and the flow. He fills the room, no need for any of those actors. Real grace.

[@nicholasturner5146]

The Nicholas Brothers were brilliant too.

[@rachaelwhelchel8176]

Hes a delight! He looks as if he's floating and just touching down to make the tap noise. What a shame we dont have more from such a skillful dancer.

[@vbickford]

Right?! It's as if he's gliding and dancing on jello. Wondrous.

[@vickilindberg6336]

It doesn't even look like his feet are touching the floor.

[@MalindaVogel]

I know! He is so light on his feet!

[@oliviastar3812]

Yes was thinking the same.... and he should have been called Floating Feet or similar.

[@jenn976]

At least we have a bit of footage. I’m thankful for that.

[@JamesIrwins78s]

Indeed.

[@morrislyons5435]

That man was great.He was one of the best tap dancers alive during his time.❤❤

[@Maisiewuppp]

Beautiful clear, strong beats. Love his style. Not too much superfluous heel work.

[@greenbyrd3665]

Never heard of him. Thanks for posting!

[@marielucier7982]

Wow! He danced effortlessly to what I perceive as complicated and fast. Thank you!

[@marthavillanueva5505]

WOW! Look at what this gentleman does, and I can barely walk straight.

[@bumblebee5990]

He is so good!

[@elliottbradley6302]

Incredible that synchro,timing in the foot work all natural,blessed not taught....👏🏽👏🏽🙏🏽👏🏽👏🏽😉

[@fatimaahmed7249]

I wish the whole clip was about the dancing brother....What grace, and so much Elegance....❤❤❤

[@sharongillesp]

Zaouli Dancers from the West Coast of Africa perform impossible dancing feats - it may be that Mr. Ken Johnson has been blessed with those skills.

[@somniumisdreaming]

Was he from West Africa? NO.

[@user-qu4ey5yy3f]

@@somniumisdreaming Perhaps his mom/dad/or other un-chained arrivers who would have taught,,,.

[@juanitahardy8583]

My late father loved this.

[@sorellman]

We can see here where Fred Astaire got his inspiration for his style. His first movie, Dancing Lady, was released less than two years before Oh, Daddy! here. Ken Johnson was well-known and admired in the hoofers' world for years, but did not have the deserved visibility. That was because of the same reasons the lady in the clip cannot stay in that restaurant for another minute. He was black, and his "Snakehip" dancing was indecent. He is amazing!

[@JamesIrwins78s]

Well, actually, it was because she wasn’t supposed to be there to her husband’s knowledge, and her husband was unexpectedly in the crowd. Ken’s dancing was hot though, too bad he died so young. He may yet have made a decent career for himself, but now he’s widely forgotten. A real shame indeed.

[@gaurangatrades7847]

Don't race-bait, it makes you part of the problem and impedes healing. Your narrative is untrue and ridiculous.

[@carolanndenton5933]

looked to me like she was leaving cuz of the two white guys starting an argument!!

[@paanne1013]

@@JamesIrwins78s - OMG! He was only 26 years old when he died and by a German bomb during the war. That is so very young. Had he lived, he would have been amoung the Great Hoofers.

[@annabellelee4535]

Wow, he is a beautiful man.

[@donnatate458]

He was really talented. Wish we could have seen more of him and less of people wandering around.

[@roboftherock]

He was just scenery as far as the plot of the film was concerned. I have to assume it was because he was popular at the time, having been recruited for a residency as the house band at the 'Old Florida club' in Mayfair.

[@lindaanderson7077]

A time period when people sat at tables and watched talented dancers. And that was the highlight of the evening, and even the next days. A different world

[@hensonlaura]

Now people would be looking at their phone.

[@lindaanderson7077]

@@hensonlaura Very true!!

[@TomSpeaks-vw1zp]

Back when people had class and appreciated talent .

[@Azmania3000]

This is why I want a time machine. Bro had multiple entries to drop to the floor and execute some power moves, but breakin was just before his time.

[@davidsauls9542]

It thrills me to watch a true master !!!

[@lolnamelollastname9788]

I'm glad I could see this was real. I hope he never gets forgotten... Not a comfortable scene to view, though, seeing how disinterested the audience are. Thank you for uploading this, a d Oh Daddy's!

[@jongarvey8487]

Any musician who's played at a dining venue knows that audiences are NEVER interested!

[@cherylwilkinson3228]

It is part of a movie. They are just actors playing a part.

[@hoobeydoobey1267]

Those are called extras and they are to be background, not stealing the scene.

[@esmeephillips5888]

The blonde at 1:10 looks plenty interested.

[@mynameisworld]

They seem pretty interested. They're entirely focused on the dancer, except for the ones who are part of the story and have to do lines for the movie.

[@cajsheen2594]

I would SO liked to have seen all of his performance and left out all the actors! We're lucky to have been able to see this though! Thankyou for posting! ❤ XXX

[@rosemarykennedy5430]

He was the 🐐 GOAT

[@farvista]

Have you ever thought of how MANY remarkable people have existed, but ....nobody even knew of them? Incredible voices, amazing ingenuity, the first person who figured out the wheel, or how to recreate and use fire, the person who painted the Lascaux caves. It's possible that the greatest military strategist who ever lived was a potato farmer. (Mark Twain.)

[@JamesIrwins78s]

Believe me I’ve thought of that all too well. The main era of music I listen to and like is plump full of completely forgotten and very talented artists. It’s quite sad when I actually stop to think about it.

[@lindasvartman3466]

Don't be sad, be grateful for even the smallest experience !

[@JamesIrwins78s]

@@lindasvartman3466 I suppose.

[@ronaldrayner5049]

Many talented people loudly lauded ,have but one real talent and that is butt kissing ,today yesterday and maybe beyond ,how many are lost due to a careless remark ,wrong politics and sadly their roots. I feel some tears developing at the thought.

[@DonZestell3]

Hit every beat & note. Incredible

[@shelleyfromyard]

I just learned about Snakehips from The Splendid and the Vile

[@glenngallo7118]

Me too

[@Adnaerel]

I learned about him via Moon Over Soho, second book in the Rivers of London series.

[@JamesIrwins78s]

I found his music via Peaky Blinders.

[@catchison8671]

Awesome footage!!! Thank you so much for sharing this!!!🥰💙👏🏼👏🏼

[@DSmith-ix1xf]

Genius in a natural born dancer!

[@sashasabbeth6836]

Magnificent talent!!!

[@Daisnap]

Did I see a little Moon Dance there at the end?

[@invetegon4596]

a fantastic dancer.

[@JamesIrwins78s]

Yeah, this was the profession he was best at, rather than bandleader which was not his thing up until he had to take the place of bandleader when the previous bandleader left.

[@vincentv7159]

@@JamesIrwins78s he made a good bandleader

[@katrinas8128]

So smooth and stylish!

[@AhJodie]

I want to watch the movie now! But, I wish I could have seen him do the whole dance!

[@judes1948]

He is AMAZING! ❤❤❤

[@vancouverterry9142]

Ah, finally a glimpse of the legendary Snakehips! What a treasure, brief as it is. Check out the Nicholas Brothers, Eleanor Powell, and Bill Baily. As well, at the end of Cab Calloway's old movie Hi De Ho there is some exceptional tap at the end. And if you search out the documentary That's Dancing! you'll see a lot of fantastic tap, including what looks to me like a big cut out of a major production number that was in the original production of 42nd Street; I suspect it was taken out to make the show shorter and easier to mount, and the reduced version became the movie.

[@jm7578]

That talent should have been the focus of the camera operator

[@suzannezoubeck5216]

Thanks for posting! It's things like this that can make KZbin be outstanding. What a thrill to discover a new artist (new to me) and at least be able to get a glimpse of their talent. ❤☮🌎

[@josvandencamp8441]

Absolutely wonderful.

[@nicem8746]

Skill, excellence

[@lisanidog8178]

My parents and uncle were kids when his movie was made in 1935.

[@kenjohnson8751]

With a name like that, no wonder he's amazing!

[@emilerose1424]

Ha ha! People called him "Snake Hips" because he could dance--not the other way around.

[@bkitteh6295]

😂😂😂

[@ulalaFrugilega]

Thanks a bundle!

[@macjones9376]

AND HE MOONWALKED!

[@THEBIGC-ey6ms]

All the Great Ones are under the radar! Lucky those who can spot them! 😉

[@newbengraham4775]

the pain those black performers endured in those days. all smiles for a bunch of people who hate your guts.

[@JamesIrwins78s]

Well at least he got to perform, a lot of them never had that privilege then.

[@newbengraham4775]

@@JamesIrwins78s i think you're referring to "opportunity." even today the performance you see is not necessarily a privilege. many performers of all races are coerced or deceived into agreeing to arrangements or contracts that are abusive. but for black performers at that time, it was worse because there was no real way to voice an objection. there are horror stories of performers who were forced to perform because of the expectation of the audience-- even though the performer was ill or had a pressing family matter. some were even physically abused to force them to perform. we hear of the cotton club, but white people going to see black performers in harlem were thinking in terms of a carnival show.

[@user-qu4ey5yy3f]

@@newbengraham4775 I so celebrate being born in 1959 as a Black man, not perfect times are but man they were brutal for my forefathers.

[@sarahboardman1337]

Not sure why hes called snake hips tho cos its all in his legs and feet!! What a tap dancer!!

[@JamesIrwins78s]

His dancing was quite similar to the 1929 dance called the “Snake Hips”

[@VeracityLH]

Love this, thanks for posting it. I'm unsure where that tapping noise is coming from though; his feet never touched that floor! ;)

[@itzakpoelzig330]

They should have called him snake ankles.

[@jeanheard4615]

Band leader and dancer greatest along with mr bojangles

[@shawnblackhawk6718]

I wish I had words to express my frustration. Soooooo many talented, top of their game actors/dancers, were left out/ignored, because POC. It saddens me to know just how much greatness, has been lost

[@user-ks4hp5bg9s]

That was bigotry, not pc.

[@roringusanda2837]

He wasn't "left out or ignored" because he was "POC"...he didn't get a chance to be famous because he died when the club he was dancing in got hit in an air raid.

[@dolores2716]

@@user-ks4hp5bg9s He said POC, not PC, so you agree with him.

[@Hypatia52]

@@user-ks4hp5bg9s He didn't mean political correctness "pc" but POC for "person of color". That's a good example of why people should not rely on abbreviations of phrases to convey meaning.

[@carolanndenton5933]

@@roringusanda2837 ooohh..aww..terrible terrible

[@22lr_plinking]

He was awesome 👍👍👍👍👍

[@DeanPatterson-j9q]

Good ole days

[@eversway7540]

That was cool James. I'm almost 60 and I probably wouldn't have ever seen this. I appreciate it brother.

[@JamesIrwins78s]

No problem!

[@M_SC]

I’m not sure people with long legs are better dancer by default but they look more elegant

[@B0bChorba]

This talented young man was also leading the 1930s Black British jazz scene, conducting his band KEN 'SNAKEHIPS' JOHNSON & HIS WEST INDIAN DANCE BAND. He is well represented on the Topic CD 'Black British Swing 1931-46'. He was murdered by Nazi bombs in 1941. Another leading light in Britain at the time was singer Al Bowlly. With much more style and diverse range than the likes of Americans Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole, he could have been bigger than them in later years. He was also murdered by a Nazi bomb, in 1941.

[@JamesIrwins78s]

Yeah I always thought it was interesting how they died so closely to eachother. I listen to both of them, and actually I consider them both “later-end” artists as I mainly listen to 1910s/20s era music, with a 78 collection to boot. But I haven’t been able to attain either Bowlly or Johnson on 78.

[@barrygrant2907]

Murdered is such a harsh, trigger word. A tragic casualty. I don't think the Nazis targeted him specifically.

[@richarddrum6311]

I keep waiting for Groucho to show up

[@lilliankeane5731]

Its like he floats! 😮,

[@patriciaadams-rl4iz]

What a wonderful and spectacular dancer. Too bad the camera doesn't just focus on the entainer. It took away from this man's talent. And this is the only clipping of him dancing.

[@roboftherock]

Don't forget he was just a part of the scenery as f ar as this movie goes. Just as all those other people sitting at the variouos tables in that club were.

[@PeaceIfYouCanFindIt]

We had everything we needed within that others wanted. We were complete, just needed to be left alone.

[@parkermudsen1063]

They sure ain’t call him Snakehips for nothing.

[@JuMiMi86]

Fantastic dancer 🥰

[@tomp8871]

Tap Dancing a lost art.

[@adb888]

It was the ladies that gave him his nickname...

[@CharlesSmith-io9fp]

Yeah, all except for that woman at 46: seconds in. She didn't appear impressed at all.

[@garyloftin5602]

@@CharlesSmith-io9fp When she frowned it was from looking at the three WHITE dudes talking across the room!!!!! Snake was entertaining, and THAT was ok.

[@CharlesSmith-io9fp]

@@garyloftin5602 Not sure how that works. When the woman and guy leave, the one guy tells the maître d' you can have my table. the maître d' moves three tables to the right and tells the two guys he talked to earlier they can move over to the better seats. Whoever she was looking at was across the room. I watched it 4 times to make sure it was the same guys.

[@tomlord4469]

Hes got dancekin scibillities

[@JSTNtheWZRD]

I want a cool nickname like snake hips

[@daniadejonghe4980]

Damn that guy is good.... !!!

[@nikolatovar9884]

“Let’s pan back again to the supporting actors doing almost no supporting. Adds nothing but at least they make us comfortable because they are untalented and look like us!”

[@paanne1013]

You have to remember the times, sad times to say the least.

[@MG-fn9xw]

dumb as hell. everyone danced back then

[@banditkitty2743]

God bless him

[@charlescossel7948]

Can you imagine his skeleton emerging from the grave dancing like this?

[@drakewauters2109]

Perfection

[@janicerobinson4969]

I'd rather see Mr.Johnson tapping than everything else 😢🙏🏿❤️👼🏿🐘🤯

[@esmeephillips5888]

Not only Ken's band swung; he did, both ways. For a few months before his death he lived with Gerald Hamilton, who was twice his age and a notorious conman, the original of the title character in Isherwood's 'Mr Norris Changes Trains'. Johnson and Hamilton had a cottage at Bray, later renowned for its colony of showbiz celebrities.

[@JamesIrwins78s]

Thanks for the information!

[@vincentdesapio]

Apparently, he died in 1941 at the age of 26.

[@garyb6219]

The audience being paid to almost care.

[@lisanidog8178]

I wonder if he ever danced with Shirley Temple. She was 7 when this movie was and she got into films in 1931 at three and started learning how to dance at three. I bet he and Temple would’ve made a great tap team.

[@ISIO-George]

He was British and spent most of his life in London. He was in the US, mostly Harlem, for 1935 and part of 1936.

[@lisanidog8178]

@@ISIO-George Interesting! Thanks for the trivia. I love trivia.

[@Patkircher2552]

He was awesome. How come we never heard of him until this video?

[@JamesIrwins78s]

I’ve been wondering why this video has been gaining so many views, was it just recommended to you?

[@Patkircher2552]

@@JamesIrwins78s no it came into my stream. Just caught my eye. I never liked Fred Astaire but I could have watched this guy for hours! Thanks for sharing. I’ll spread it around. ❤️

[@JamesIrwins78s]

@@Patkircher2552 Thanks.

[@Patkircher2552]

@@JamesIrwins78s my pleasure. 👍🏼❤️

[@roboftherock]

@@JamesIrwins78s It just appeared in mine as well, but I recognised the name as a great band-leader of the late 1930s. I just assumed the dancing was a sideline. That's what I came for - the music, NOT the dancing. And the band (whosoever's it was) is not seen.

[@Sagacious3237]

I only knew about Bill " Bojamgles " Robinson and later the Hines Btother, Sammy Davis Jr. and a few others

[@Nirky]

IMDB says he was in 3 movies, so unless he was not dancing in the other two, definitely NOT the only footage as claimed!

[@JamesIrwins78s]

To my knowledge, this is the only footage, if you find other footage, send it to me!

[@roboftherock]

@@JamesIrwins78s The three entries referred to are from 2017 onwards. One is 'Snakehead fishing & kayak fishing with Cilla Johnson' so this can be discounted. A second is an episode of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' in which another entertainer known as 'Snakehips' was appearing. The third is an episode of a podcast series 'Murder Mile' titled '150 - The Day the Music Died (Ken 'Snakehips' Johnson)' and probably contains this footage. So you can rest easy, this is it! I didn't know he was a dancer as well as a bandleader. All I have are a couple of his recordings on an LP covering that time. It was (and still is) great music.

[@moyrawoodward2291]

Brilliant

[@1aikane]

Wow! I wished the camera had stayed on him the whole time

[@lolnamelollastname9788]

Did anyone else hear about this via Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers Of London series?

[@JamesIrwins78s]

Not how I found it but I’m sure there’s someone else on here.

[@Binyamite]

Me 😂 And I think it’s great that this artist seems to get a lot of recognition here thanks to Moon over Soho. Pioneers like Snakehips should always be remembered!

[@professionaltaxevader4638]

Great chronics of the second world war from reader´s digest volume I page 228 when 2 50kg bombs hit café paris in mid of his band perfomance, killing him and another one of his muscial crew.

[@ardotte]

yes!

[@simoom58]

Me too!

[@rosebear1175]

He did the dance Fred Astaire copy and got all the credit

[@terrenceburton7903]

Sammy Davis stole his shoes

[@bernadettemurray8260]

Incredible! Looks like early 30s

[@JamesIrwins78s]

Right you are! 1934

[@bernadettemurray8260]

@@JamesIrwins78s Yay thanks from across the pond 🇬🇧

[@dowpman1]

He has arms like slender man 🫥

[@reyleno926]

About a month and a half after his death Al Bowly died from a German rocket attack in London. He had been given the choice of staying in London or going out into the countryside. He chose staying in the city. When they found him, he looked asleep in bed, but was dead, apparently from the shock of the rocket blast out front.

[@JamesIrwins78s]

I always thought it was interesting that they both died in the same year.

[@roboftherock]

Please, get your time periods in order before making remarks like this. Al Bowly died in 1941. German rockets didn't come into use until 1944.

[@reyleno926]

@@roboftherock Thank you for your answer. I certainly am not a historian. Do you know what kind of explosion that was that killed Bowlly?

[@tomkent4656]

@reyleno926 It was probably the pressure blast that killed him. Some say his bedroom door was blown off its hinges and struck him while he was lying in bed. If he had gone down to the bomb shelter in the basement of his block of apartments he would have been safe.

[@kaybuckner-seal2126]

Unfortunate that we are unable to view his BEST moves.

[@lisanidog8178]

I’m going to look him up in Wikipedia.

[@gmanette188]

Wow

[@CeciliaReinheimer]

Wow!

[@bobbytheblade2550]

I want one for my yard.