UPDATE JANUARY 2023at the time when I wrote this article there was a question about the timeline of the strike. My original blog post said 1949. That was not correct.

Some time around 1947 (not 1949 ) according to the LIFE archives, Arthur Murray dance teachers went on strike. Thanks to a friend of mine with access to the NY Times archives I now know that the strike was INDEED in 1947 and here is the news story….

1947 news article about the Dance Teacher Strike from Arthur Murray Dance Studio in New York City as seen in the New York Times.
1947 news article about the Dance Teacher Strike from Arthur Murray Dance Studio in New York City as seen in the New York Times.

Today’s Vintage Photo Tuesday is going to take you through that day.

But before we begin I would like to start off by saying that it was a slightly odd picket line. Yes there was your standard strike signs, but there was also women in swimsuits, a shirtless barefooted man, people dressed in different time period fashions, face masks, conga lines and of course lots of dancing.

Gosh, sounds like a fun strike to me!

1940s Vintage Image of the Dancing Teachers Strike 1947
Source: Google/LIFE

“Working at Arthur Murrays isn’t just a song and dance. We want job security!”

1940s Vintage Image of the Dancing Teachers Strike 1947. Image showcases strikers holding signs in the background while a woman in a swimsuit partner dances with a man.
Source: Google/LIFE

“My master leads a dog’s life at Arthur Murrays studio”

1940s Vintage Image of the Dancing Teachers Strike 1947. The image shows a man with a dog and the dog has a picket sign on him.
Source: Google/LIFE

“An Arthur Murray Teacher on Arthur Murray wages”. This seems to mean she can only afford a sweater, shorts and dance shoes. MAYBE that is why the women are wandering around in their swimsuits, to show that they can’t even afford a shirt on their back?

1940s Vintage Image of the Dancing Teachers Strike Sept 9th, 1947- Image showcases women on the picket line.
Source: Google/LIFE
1940s Vintage Image of the Dancing Teachers Strike 1947
Source: Google/LIFE
1940s Vintage Image of the Dancing Teachers Strike 1947
Source: Google/LIFE
1940s Vintage Image of the Dancing Teachers Strike 1947
Source: Google/LIFE
1940s Vintage Image of the Dancing Teachers Strike 1947
Source: Google/LIFE

Early 1900’s Fashion made an appearance at the strike.

1940s Vintage Image of the Dancing Teachers Strike 1947
Source: Google/LIFE

Charleston and 1920’s women’s fashion.

1940s Vintage Image of the Dancing Teachers Strike 1947
Source: Google/LIFE
1940s Vintage Image of the Dancing Teachers Strike 1947
Source: Google/LIFE
1940s Vintage Image of the Dancing Teachers Strike 1947
Source: Google/LIFE

There are no descriptions to any of the images but this does look like the negotiation table. Or at least the place where all the demands were being collected.

1940s Vintage Image of the Dancing Teachers Strike 1947
Source: Google/LIFE
1940s Vintage Image of the Dancing Teachers Strike 1947
Source: Google/LIFE

That is the end of our dancing/striking teachers photos. I do hope their demands were met and dance was once again enjoyed by all that stepped into their studios.

UPDATE (Nov 30th): Thank you to Jeff Kellem (@composerjk) for shedding some light on the strike for us. It seems that there might of been multiple strikes in 1947 (as of January 2023 I can 100% confirm the strike was 1947). The image below is from New York city and the caption states 1947 as the year (Source).

Dancers Picket Arthur Murray Studio
Source: Huffington Post

As for the demands that the dance teachers were looking for, thanks to the civil suit Jeff found entitled ‘Gomez v United Office and Professional Workers’ we now have some insight.

Here is what they wanted:

Defendants and the dance studios of Arthur Murray in New York are engaged in a controversy concerning the terms and conditions of employment of Arthur Murray’s dancing instructors in New York. This controversy concerns minimum wages, union recognition, job security, grievance procedure and an alleged lockout of dancing instructors employed in the New York studio (Source).

Lastly Jeff also believes that the images in my post are from a Chicago because the Cable Building (57 East Jackson Building), on 57 E. Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL is in the image (GREAT EYE Jeff!)

Now dear readers, if any of you know anything more about the strike please share in the comments below. Thanks!

FURTHER READING:

Liz