Today’s “Way Back When” pays tribute to the unsung and forgotten jazz vocalist Ivie Anderson, performing the musical number “All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm” in the 1937 Marx Brothers film A Day at the Races.
Alongside the pioneering comedic mastery of Harpo Marx, watch as he follows Miss Ivie, comically playing a penny whistle in a whimsical chase that blends music and slapstick.
Gander at the 1937 film clip featuring the electrifying performance by Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, a legendary swing dance troupe whose choreography in this number earned choreographer Dave Gould an Academy Award nomination. The scene, though disconnected from the main plot, was a cultural milestone—featuring African-American performers in a high-energy, joyful showcase that was often cut from screenings in the segregated South2.
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Ivie Anderson, best known as the first full-time vocalist for Duke Ellington’s orchestra, brought warmth and clarity to every note. Her rendition of “All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm”—written specifically for her by Walter Jurmann, Gus Kahn, and Bronisław Kaper—remains a standout moment in jazz film history
