Alex Mendham and His Orchestra: Vintage Music and Dance Aboard the Queen Mary

Recent vintage-style dances held aboard the famous ship docked in Long Beach, California, were so popular, additional events have been scheduled.
Alex Mendham and His Orchestra: Vintage Music and Dance Aboard the Queen Mary
The Queen Mary historic ocean liner docked in Long Beach, Calif., on Feb. 18, 2022. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
Tiffany Brannan
Updated:
0:00

Do you ever wish you could step back in time? Watching old movies is a wonderful way to travel to another era. Visiting a historic location, especially one which has been carefully restored and preserved, can transport you through its classic beauty. However, the mood is often spoiled by the trappings of modern life, like current music being piped through the speakers, screens attached to every wall, and people in styleless contemporary clothes.

Amazingly, there are events where old souls can gather to relive the glamour and beauty of past eras. Here in Southern California, a thriving culture of vintage fashion enthusiasts, Art Deco experts, swing dancers, and old movie afficionados has created the demand for specialized destinations and events. For instance, the historic Queen Mary is now hosting recurring vintage dances with live music.

Alex Mendham and His Orchestra

What’s a dance without music? The technology of recording sounds and preserving them on records, cassette tapes, CDs, and now digital files is a wondrous one. It’s amazing to listen to the music which was popular generations ago, but it’s not the same as experiencing live music as its being made. That’s why vintage culture enthusiasts flock to any event where Jazz Age, big band, or swing era music is being played live. Certain bands gain a terrific following because of their style, technique, and historic authenticity.
Tiffany Brannan
Tiffany Brannan
Author
Tiffany Brannan is a 23-year-old opera singer, Hollywood historian, vintage fashion enthusiast, and journalist. Her classic film journey started in 2016 when she and her sister started the Pure Entertainment Preservation Society to reform the arts by reinstating the Motion Picture Production Code. Tiffany launched Cinballera Entertainment in June 2023 to produce original performances which combine opera, ballet, and old films in historic SoCal venues. Having written for The Epoch Times since 2019, she became the host of a YouTube channel, The Epoch Insights, in June 2024.
facebook