The (Club) Imperial, located in North St. Louis (Goodfellow and West Florissant), was one of the most famed clubs in the city. It was a jumping point for names like Ike and Tina Turner, Stan Kenton, Fifth Dimension, and Chuck Berry. An influential club of the day where people could go listen to the hip music and learn the new dance moves.
The club was an iconic music venue, but it was also the the club in which a national dance craze known as the “St. Louis Imperial Swing” would begin. It is a traditional swing, though the steps are quicker allowing for faster and more movement. This scene depicts the swing club, during a night where young people would have gathered to enjoy music and dancing amidst a war-torn world.
