Benny Goodman Swing Jacket

G

gelsomina

Registered Guest
I have a 1930s/40s swing jacket that has a big beautiful printed label in it "Benny Goodman Swing Jacket" that has a picture of his band as well. Do you know anyone who could tell me more about this jacket?
Thanks much,
Gelsomina
 
I just got a digital camera a couple of days ago. When I get home from Christmas vacation, I'll take a couple of pix and post them for you.
Thanks,
G
 
Great!

You can either attach them right to the forum - just hit "post reply" below the most recent post (not the "quick reply" box).

You will see a field that says "browse" to attach the file. OR if you have a internet picture service, you can type

< img src= then the web address >

and it will appear right on the forum

Chris
 
Oh my goodness, I would love to see that jacket!!!!:bouncing:
 
Well, I finally have 2 photos of my Benny Goodman Swing Jacket, 10 years later! That makes this post practically vintage as well. Still trying to find information about this jacket. I have a circa 1930s or 1940s woman's jacket that belonged to my grandmother. It's called a "Benny Goodman Swing Jacket", it's very cute with a really neat graphic label in it.

I took it to Antiques Roadshow a few years ago, but the "textiles" expert didn't have any idea about this item. (I stood for hours in line to get some information on it; perhaps I should have went to the "ephemeral items" rather than "textiles" expert.) I corresponded with the ephemeral items manager at Carnegie Hall a few years ago as well when they had a large Benny Goodman exhibit, he had never heard of one either. He encouraged me to contact the Benny Goodman estate about the item, but I never heard back from the estate (not sure if the email address to which I sent was actively managed.)

20150726_094745.jpg

20150726_093903.jpg
 
My mom said it was definitely my grandmother's jacket, and my grannie was a young adult by the time this would have been bought, so no way it was a high school band uniform. By the 1940's my grannie was raising kids, so it is highly unlikely she would have purchased such an item in the 1940's or during wartime. I'm pretty sure it would have been purchased in the mid to late 1930's. I'm thinking that based on Benny Goodman's popularity rising in 1935, being called "the King of Swing" by Hollywood media in 1937, and the Carnegie Hall concert in 1937, the jacket is most likely from 1937, 38, 39, or 40.

It seems to be a novelty type of item, something like an equivalent to a modern day rock band t-shirt.
 
Well, my googles didn't find much either, so I will ask some questions:
  • can you please show photos of any other labels (if there are any)
  • can you tell what fabric it is? Looks like cotton gabardine but confirmation/clarification would be great.
  • how are the seams and hem sewn?
  • can you show a close up of the buttons? What are they made of?
  • does it have any shoulder pads? If so, can you show a photo.
What my googles did find was the post you put over at Etsy, where VFG member Metro Retro Vintage says she found a newspaper article from 1938 - that's probably this one, which you need to pay to view.

Google tells me that the text reads in part:
" L BENNY GOODMAN SWING JACKET Daw* Pal. App. For IX SANFORIZED"

The style looks late '30s but the label is poor quality, more like a post-WW2 labels suggesting it might have been (as you suggest) a tour item, the equivalent of modern day band t-shirts.

Very surprised that google had nothing for "Rayfrock". Nothing at all. It must have been a small company.
 
In a fast look before bed I found a bit of information about Rayfrock. A 1923 publication reported: "The Rhea Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, maker of wash dresses, apron frocks, bloomers, etc. recently applied for trade-mark registration of the name 'Rayfrock.' 'The name 'Rayfrock' was invented with a definite purpose in mind,' O.C. Klaye, manager, sales promotion department, informs (us). 'Housedress and apron manufacturers are laboring under the difficulty of having no distinctive name...' (and that is all there is of the quote). The trade name was renewed in 1943.
 
...and a June 1938 article seems to describe your jacket: "...Priscilla Lane goes her one better with a swing jacket just like the Benny Goodman orchestra members wear. It is Copenhagen blue mercerized twill, has four patch pockets, action back and belt in front. She wears it with grey sheer wool culottes..."
 
lkranieri said:
...and a June 1938 article seems to describe your jacket: "...Priscilla Lane goes her one better with a swing jacket just like the Benny Goodman orchestra members wear. It is Copenhagen blue mercerized twill, has four patch pockets, action back and belt in front. She wears it with grey sheer wool culottes..."
Click to expand...

Ikranieri, where did you find the June 1938 article???
 
Priscilla Lane was an actress and the sister to Lola Lane and Rosemary Lane who were in a movie called "Hollywood Hotel" with Benny Goodman in 1937. Hmmm, sounds like the June 1938 article may be some Hollywood stars type of article?
 
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