Jeanne Bayer

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.