Ten Cents A Dance

[unsub2O17]

In the 1930's, some women "had to" work in dance halls to support themselves. They would dance with any man who gave them a ticket (purchased for 10 cents). Sometimes I wonder if some escorts feel the way this woman does in this song by Rodgers and Hart:

 

Ten Cents a Dance

 

 

From Simple Simon

Lyrics by Lorenz Hart, music by Richard Rodgers

Lyrics published on The Complete Lyrics of Lorenz Hart

 

VERSE

 

I work at the Palace Ballroom,

but, gee that Palace is cheap;

when I get back to my chilly hall room

I'm much to tired to sleep.

I'm one of those lady teachers,

a beautiful hostess, you know,

the kind the Palace features

for only a dime a throw.

 

REFRAIN

 

Ten cents a dance

that's what they pay me,

gosh, how they weigh me down!

Ten cents a dance

pansies and rough guys

tough guys who tear my gown!

Seven to midnight I hear drums.

Loudly the saxophone blows.

Trumpets are tearing my eardrums.

Customers crush my toes.

Sometime I think

I've found my hero,

but it's a queer romance.

All that you need is a ticket

Come on, big boy, ten cents a dance.

 

PATTER

 

Fighters and sailors and bowlegged tailors

can pay for their ticket and rent me!

Butchers and barbers and rats from the harbors

are sweethearts my good luck has send me.

Though I've a chorus of elderly beaux ,

stockings are porous with hole at the toes.

I'm here till closing time.

Dance and be merry, it's only a dime.

 

TAG

 

Sometime I think

I've found my hero,

but it's a queer romance.

All that you need is a ticket

Come on, big boy, ten cents a dance.

[+ honcho]

Don your asbestos skivies and break out the pizza!

 

I'm sure we're going to hear from folks like Tyger and Juan who love their work.

[+ FreshFluff]

This calls for a video. The protagonist works in just such a dance hall. Best part is how they react when the sleazy client goes too far.

[video=youtube;IGVZOLV9SPo]

[+ Gar1eth]

Actually Fresh Fluff- with all due respect and as much as I love Pat Benatar- I have to suggest the 'originals'

 

Sung by Ruth Ettinger

 

http://youtu.be/PpU-mcgBJxE

 

As well as Doris Day in a biographic film on Ruth- I think this is the classic that most people remember. Doris is -if I were only straight- VA VA VA-VOOM in this number.

 

[video=youtube_share;rfUniuD-jsY]

 

As an interesting bit of trivia, these women were called Taxi Dancers.

 

Gman

[bigvalboy]

May I be so bold as to add a video also Fresh Fluff? One of my favorite ladies!

 

[+ purplekow]

"but its a queer romance" Is this a double entendre? Was queer being used as a synonym for gay in the 20's and 30's?

[+ Gar1eth]

"but its a queer romance" Is this a double entendre? Was queer being used as a synonym for gay in the 20's and 30's?

 

I think it's much more likely to only mean 'strange'. Wikipedia also makes note of a 'weird' rhyme- 'hero' and 'queer ro'-mance.

 

Gman