Roaring 1920s: Paul Whiteman Oriental Fox Trot, 1922

Paul Whiteman His Orchestra Oriental FoxTrot (Introducing: My Heart At Thy Sweet Voice from Samson and Delilah; Arranged by Paul Whiteman and Ferdie Grofe) Victor 1922 (USA, accoustic recording) NOTE: Paul Whiteman recorded this outstanding tune also 6 years later yet in a more hot and jazzy version. I prefer the earlier one with the dusky notes of a belly dance and sophistication of a shimmy. Therefore, my selection of photos is trying to make up to such demands: Heddy Lamarr in Cecile B. de Mille s Samson and Delilah, Theda Bara in a silent version of Cleopatra as well as a couple of these enormously refined and decadent drawings by Romain de Tirtoff (Erté) and even one Rubens, who with his passionate cult of a semiveiled nude human body seems to be very much a propos such unusual company.