My local swing scene is mostly 50 something white people who like to be in bed before midnight. Some wear 40s style gear. Afaik there has been no attempt by the authorities to crack down on local events.
Perhaps you should petition authorities for crackdown on polka dot skirts!
I'd sooner petition against cropped tops on women with a spare tyre.
There are many reasons these regimes have been afraid of swing and jazz music: its black and jewish origins, its democratic and American nature. Mussolini also banned it, but it didn't stop his son, Romano becoming a wonderful jazz pianist.
But interestingly, the Soviet relationship with jazz music was different, you had Shostokovich exploring jazz music in classical forms in the 1920s and the State Department tours of Ellington, Brubeck and Armstrong went down a treat. Indeed, Armstrong quite rightly bailed out of one tour to Russia over the Little Rock incident.
The Soviets perceived it as coming from the subjugated proletariat, it was respected more than in other totatlitarian regimes that regarded it as a real threat.
Well, it doesn't matter which way they swing does it? They all share the same mission for control over the individual for their better good.
Of course.
Must investigate that one.
The commies were at this type of thing too - Castro's government banned the Saxophone in bands because it was invented by a Belgian 'and just look what the Belgians did in the Congo'! Of course, the real reason there was to bugger-up the dance bands in the top night spots.
^That was a great film that, the book was a bit iffy. I've the soundtrack somewhere.
Although the Nazis were explicitly against jazz, they did make an exception in gay Paris, with a gypsy no less. Despite a number of attempts to escape Paris, Django Reinhardt had high ranking German protectors, but this was not all. Paris was viewed as an R&R city, where the rules were relaxed to allow servicemen enjoy the wine, women and music.
I heard he was great at the Time Warp
They could dance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHtEKSg-ycQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0mSvc4UagM
In Italy was much tollerance for jazz and swing.
Italian swing ("musica sincopata") was the most popular form of music in 30s and 40s,and the national radio (EIAR) aired it.
Also American music was permitted,but from WW-II needed italianize the names,and Benny Goodman became "Beniamino Buonuomo",and Louis Armstrong became "Luigi Braccioforte",and so.
Today Italian swing is absolutly linked with Italy in fascist time..and this is very ironic.
Enjoy some examples of this great music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaJdjDOzL9w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCQj7vlxtN8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXc3Lh9R6Nc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP-VPX-qsg4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f41jEXgj8LY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdlKWJWhOqs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXElyJUF3xo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X74_SS9MxI
Thanks for posting these wonderful glimpses of jazz in Italy in the 30s and 40s, Carpu.