Frankie Manning 95th Birthday Festival 5 DVD Event Box Set is in the final stages of review. We plan to have the DVDs finalized in early February and sent for replication. We expect the DVDs will be shipped to all pre-orders by early March. The DVD set is still available for purchase at $85 USD + $10 USD shipping and handling.
July 19, 2009
Frankie 95 DVD Box Set Now on Sale! The Frankie's Birthday Festival DVD set is now on sale, with a special early bird rate until August 2. Fill out the online order form to reserve your own set today.
June 23, 2009
Yehoodi Video Talk Show : The Frankie 95 Show!! Watch this video of Spuds and Rik recapping the event of the decade: The Frankie 95 Birthday Festival in New York City. The guys share memories and video from this amazing event where over 2,000 lindy hoppers showed their love for our ambassador for Lindy Hop, Frankie Manning.
Catch the show on Yehoodi or subscribe to the podcast.
June 9, 2009
PBS Documentary about Frankie Manning Online! PBS channel 13 in New York has put online a sweet 30 minute documentary about Frankie Manning called "Never Stop Swinging." Click here to check it out!
June 1, 2009
Global Shim Sham Video Online! Many of you told us that one of your favorite moments at Frankie 95 was the showing of the Global Shim Sham compilation video. Well here is the link to the online version. Produced by Akemi Kinukawa, with assistance by Leslie Lee and Stuart Math, and the participation of nearly 5,000 dancers in 22 countries from around the world. See the 137 submitted videos also in the YouTube group.
May 28, 2009
Important Health Notice: It was brought to our attention today that one of the Frankie 95th Birthday Festival participants has contracted influenza and may have come down with a case of H1N1 influenza, also known as the "Swine Flu." Based upon the information we've received, he appears to be recovering quickly and seems to have exhibited only mild symptoms.
We have been in touch with the New York City Department of Health who have told us that very few cases of H1N1 influenza have been severe, and that the fact that one of our festival participants may have contracted H1N1 should not be cause for great concern. The Department recommended that if anyone who attended the Festival develops flu-like symptoms that they should call their healthcare provider. We wanted all participants to be aware of the situation.
Note that a professionally produced series of DVDs of the Frankie 95 festival is available for pre-sale. Details soon!
May 25, 2009
Final Dance Concert of Frankie 95 Tonight! Tonight from 9pm to 2am is the final dance concert of the Festival. Come dance to the Houston Person Quartet and the Wycliffe Gordon Quartet, plus witness "the Battle of the 'Bones" and special performances. That's all at the Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center, 311 West 34th Street. If you don't have tickets, they can be purchased at the door for $50 / $30 after 1am.
Late Night / Early AM Blues Party! For those of you looking to get your blues on, JookJoint Shimmy and Jelly Roll Productions are hosting an after hours event on Monday night / Tue morning after the Monday night dance is over. Kim Nalley will be performing at Dancesport Studios, at 22 W 34th Street, from 2am - 6am. Admission is $10 at the door. See www.jookjointshimmyblues.com for more info.
May 24, 2009
Frankie Tribute Show Tonight at 7pm! The special Frankie Tribute Show will take place tonight in the Grand Ballroom, starting at 7pm. Early weekend pass-holders and VIP pass holders attending the Show should line up outside of the 8th Avenue side of the Manhattan Center. Doors open at 6pm. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, and it can take up to an hour to get up to the Grand Ballroom. If you arrive after 7pm, you will have to watch the simulcast from the Hammerstein Ballroom.
Didn't get a pass in time to get admission to The Show? Watch the live simulcast from the Hammerstein Ballroom! Admission is $10 for full pass holders and $15 for the public and single-event ticket holders to cover the cost of transmission. Look for the line on the 9th Avenue side of the Manhattan Center.
No photos or video taking of any kind is allowed during the show in either ballroom.
May 24, 2009
Frankie Festival Day Three Video Snippets: Here are a couple of video snippets from Day three of the Festival for your viewing pleasure:
Note that a professionally produced DVD of the Frankie 95 festival is available for pre-sale at the merchandise table at the entrance to the Manhattan Center.
May 23, 2009
Frankie Festival Day Two Video Snippets: Here are some video snippets from Day Two of the Festival for your viewing pleasure:
Note that a professionally produced DVD of the Frankie 95 festival is available for pre-sale at the merchandise table at the entrance to the Manhattan Center.
May 23, 2009
Merchandise at the Festival: With the blessings of Frankie's son Chazz and his longtime partner Judy, we are pleased to be provide a number of items for you to remember the event when you go home. We have multiple t-shirts for sale, as well as posters (of both Frankie and of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers), shoe bags, and a Frankie 95 event dvd (pre-sales). In addition to the official Frankie95 goodies, the SavoyStyle Shop at Frankie 95 features a wonderful assortment of DVDs, vintage style posters and even some hot vintage swim suits!
Frankie Quilt Auction: In late 2008, Frankie Manning donated his collection of lindy hop t-shirts from around the world to be crafted into a quilt. It was his desire that the quilt be auctioned off at the Frankie 95 event to support the lindy community. The Frankie Quilt is on display in the lounge downstairs from the Hammerstein Ballroom over the course of the festival. Bidding may be done in person in the lounge, by phone, fax or email. Phone, fax and email bidding is available from Thursday at 3pm through Monday night at midnight. Updates with the current highest bid will be made as often as possible at the venue, online and on the phone line. Phone & Fax Number: 1-866-857-0417 / Email: frankiequilt@gmail.com.
Frankie Photo Greetings Book: During Frankie Week in March, a number of scenes around the world submitted photo birthday cards for Frankie. A book has been produced, containing all those photos. To preview the first 15 pages, and order your own copy, click here. (Note: if you're overseas, the book can be printed in your area, so the shipping charge is local, and you can pay in pounds/euros.) Orders of more than one book shipped to the same address substantially reduces the per-book shipping cost. Also, orders of more than 10 books (to the same address) get 10% discount on the book cost! Proceeds from the book go toward the Frankie Manning Fund.
May 23, 2009
New York Times Article about Frankie Manning and Festival! There's a lovely article in the New York Times today about the memorial for Frankie Manning and the Festival, including a couple of great pictures of the service and the second line procession to Central Park. Read it all here.
May 22, 2009
Sirius XM Satellite Radio to Broadcast Saturday Night Gala! We are excited to announce that SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio will broadcast the Saturday black tie gala live from the Hammerstein Ballroom on it's 40s decade music channel (channel 4 on SIRIUS and XM radios) also known as the 'Savoy Express'. All three Saturday orchestra sets will air live, and pre-recorded music from Saturday will be highlighted. You can listen free, by signing up for a free three day internet radio trial at http://www.siriusxm.com/freetrial and at http://www.sirius.com/freetrial. The concert will be rebroadcast on Monday at 1pm ET. More information can be found at sirius.com/40s and xmradio.com/40s.
May 22, 2009
Amazing First Day of the Festival! Day 1 highlights:
a very moving documentary film about Frankie called "Frankie Manning: Never Stop Swinging."
Norma Miller in an intimate Q&A about her life as a dancer and performer
the Jazz Vipers of New Orleans and the Gordon Webster band playing in the beautiful Grand Ballroom
the Hellzapoppin Wildcard Round dance contest
performances by the Cleveland jitterbug kids, the Harlem Hotshots of Sweden, Vicenzo and Isabella of Italy, and The One-2-Swing Jitterbugs from LA
A killer jam circle to the Jazz Vipers - check the video here!
An astounding kick-off to the festival!
May 21, 2009
Tonights Dance: Tonight is the first dance of Frankie 95, and it's going to be a great kick-off! In the Grand Ballroom of the Manhattan Center we've got The New Orleans Jazz Vipers and Gordon Webster performing from 9pm to 3am! Get there early to catch a Special screening of the documentary Frankie Manning: Never Stop Swinging at 6:45pm, and a talk by Norma Miller at 7:30pm. Note that if you do not have a ticket at this point, we are totally sold out for the Thursday night dance. Also be advised that it may take up to 30 minutes to get up the elevators to the Grand Ballroom once you arrive at the Manhattan Center.
May 21, 2009
Video recording and photography policy: Still photography and video recording is allowed in general at Frankie 95 Festival, under the following conditions:
No large rigs, tripods, fixed lights or other equipment that might impede traffic
No filming of any kind at the Sunday Frankie Tribute Show
If Festival Staff ask you to not film, you must comply
May 20, 2009
New Late Night Dance Added on Monday! For those of you looking to get your blues on, JookJoint Shimmy and Jelly Roll Productions are hosting an after hours event on Monday night / Tue morning after the Monday night dance is over. Kim Nalley will be performing at Dancesport Studios, at 22 W 34th Street, from 2am - 6am. Admission is $10 at the door. See www.jookjointshimmyblues.com for more info.
May 20, 2009
Frankie Tribute Show on Sunday: The special Frankie Tribute Show will take place on Sunday in the Grand Ballroom. Early weekend pass-holders and VIP pass holders attending the Show should line up outside of the 8th Avenue side of the Manhattan Center. Doors open at 6PM. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, and it can take up to an hour to get up to the Grand Ballroom, so arrive early!
Didn't get a pass in time to get admission to The Show? Watch the live simulcast from the Hammerstein Ballroom! Admission is $10 for full pass holders and $15 for the public and single-event ticket holders to cover the cost of transmission. Look for the line on the 9th Avenue side of the Manhattan Center.
May 19, 2009
Registration /Check-in Information: Festival registration will take place at the Manhattan Center, 311 West 34th Street, in the Hammerstein Ballroom promenade. Registration will be open Thursday May 21 from 3pm to 2am, Friday May 22 from 4pm-2am, Saturday May 23 from 9AM-2AM, Sunday May 24 from 5PM-2AM, and Monday May 25 from 5PM-1AM. If you have not purchased a Day ticket, you must wait until the night of, to purchase as these are being sold on a space available basis. You must be present to receive your wristband. We will not allow the picking up of wristbands for other people.
Please make sure you register at the Manhattan Center before you attend any workshops. Individuals who haven't registered will not be let into the classes.
May 17, 2009
Competition Updates: There will be two separate Lindy contests during the Festival. You can still sign up for both during registration at the Festival.
There will be a "Jack and Jill" contest open to anyone who wants to participate. This contest will be for fun, where we hope to set a Guinness world's record for the World's Largest Jack and Jill contest! Winners take all with a prize of $500.
Second is the ever popular "Hellzapoppin" contest -- not for the faint of heart! Winners take all with a prize of $1000. The competitors meeting will be at 9pm on Thursday. There will be only one Open Wildcard Preliminary, which will take place Thursday night at approximately 11:30pm. The top 2-3 couples will move on to the Semi-Final round on Friday.
