The zoot suit style was a unique look that had been popularized by the patrons of Harlem's jazz clubs in the 1930s. The typical zoot suit consisted of colorful tailored shirts, dramatically tapered coats, baggy pants that narrowed at the ankle, shiny shoes, widebrimmed porkpie hats, and ducktail haircuts. The zoot suiters intended to stand out, and they did. There were also practical reasons for the popularity of the zoot suit. Among other such reasons, the suit was comfortable for men who liked to dance. The tight cuffs around the ankles kept the dancer from becoming entangled in his pants while performing intricate dance floor moves; the wide shoulders and sleeves allowed freedom of arm movement; and the long, heavy shoes kept the dancer anchored to the floor as he spun his partner on the dance floor.
The Sleepy Lagoon murder. The so-called zoot suit incidents can be traced back to a peaceful Los Angeles swimming hole called the Sleepy Lagoon. On August 2, 1942, a young man named Jose Diaz, who had been intoxicated, was found dead there. The exact cause of death was never determined. He may have been beaten, or run over by a car.
This is a free page. This page contains 191 words. This
article contains 4,196 words (approx. 14 pages at 300
words per page).
Read the rest of this Article with our Zoot Suit Access Pass.
