Jeanne Bayer
- Actress
Doll-like beauty Jeanne Bayer was one of the first African-American
soundies dancer. Though not as well-known of a dancer, in the soundies
she displayed immaculate dancing, charm, and a beautiful face for which
she received many close-ups. Jeanne possibly was discovered dancing the
Lindy Hop at the legendary Savoy Ballroom, where many soundies dancers
were discovered. The unknowns were given 3 minutes of fame through the
soundies. The soundies took advantage of Jeanne's dancing talents and
beauty in numerous soundies, where she appeared with legendary dancers,
singers, and bands. Jeanne in a way made history when she and veteran
jazz dancer Jazzlips Richardson were the first to appear in an
interracial soundie, "Let Me Off Uptown" with singer Anita O'Day and
the Gene Krupa Orchestra, in which Jeanne and Jaxzlips danced
excellently while Anita singed about the hot spots and hot dancing in
Harlem. Jeanne also appeared in soundies with legendary Bill
'Bojangles' Robinson, Jazz legend Maxine Sullivan, and danced with
legendary Count Basie and his Orchestra in "Air Mail Special" where
Jeanne and many other couples, possibly from the Savoy, danced a fast
Lindy Hop then collapsed. Jeanne appeared in these short music videos
that are now legendary and collectibles. She appeared in a film genre
that gave women of color a chance to show their dancing skills which
was rare in other film genres. Jeanne contributed her talent to the
soundies that helped highlight African- American music and dancing
styles of the era for her generations enjoyment and for future
generations to see and study and for that Jeanne is a pioneer and
legend, and it didn't hurt that her beauty and charm lit up the screen
as well.