Turkey trot & other dances

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 13:13:37 -0500, Mullins, Bill wrote:

>The Washington Post (1877-1954); Jan 8, 1911;pg. MS7 col 6.
>"Mrs. Herman Oelrichs, who is herself a very graceful dancer, is passing
>critical judgement on "the Turkey Trot," "the Texas Tommy," "the Bunny
>Hug," "the Grizzly Bear," and the other "inspirational" dances to be
>seen at the beach resorts out in Frisco.  These lovin' twosteps, or
>muscle dances, or whatever you want to call it, require very little
>knowledge of the art terpsichore.  A short time ago the "the Grizzly
>Bear" was caged, and "the Texas Tommy" run out of town. "

The "bunny hug" was about a decade older...

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"State Snapshots", Los Angeles Times, Jan 26, 1901, p. 8/4
The "bunny hug" is the latest innovation in round dances at San Francisco.
If it is the "Belgian bunny" the craze ought to have a decided run,
although anxious mammas are said to frown upon the new position.
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And apropos of previous discussions of "Little Joe/Joe Schmo/Joe Blow from
Kokomo", here's "Kokomo Joe" from the same column...

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"Kokomo Joe," a Santa Barbara hobo, states that 2000 hobos are stringing
along from the East, all bound for Los Angeles. File up the bulldog's
teeth and ram a double charge down the old fuzee!
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--Ben Zimmer