T'Disco?

The origins and history of placenames, nicknames, local slang, etc.
Post Reply
Cardiarms
Posts: 2993
Joined: Tue 21 Oct, 2008 8:30 am

Post by Cardiarms »


User avatar
liits
Posts: 1153
Joined: Sun 25 Mar, 2007 11:24 am
Location: North London
Contact:

Post by liits »

Could we suggest the internet?Although, in saying that, almost every source cites the same single reference - a version of which is here;"Discotheques originated in occupied Paris during the Second World War. The Nazis banned jazz and closed many of the dance clubs, breaking up jazz groups and driving fans into illicit cellars to listen to recorded music.Descending on terrified Parisians, the Nazis wasted no time shutting down their vibrant cabaret society and nightlife- jazz was first on their list. As a collaboration of Black and Jewish musicians from America, jazz represented the most glaring offence to Hitler's vision of a "Pure Society". Because every revolution must have its soundtrack, jazz soon became the theme music of the French Resistance. New clubs and bars began to pop up literally underground. These late-night basement parties were run like the American speakeasy and included the use of passwords, memberships and rotating locations. The new form of nightclub was called "discotheque", the French word meaning "record library". Live acts and known venues were too dangerous to chance".Sounds plausible but has the ring of "Hitler was going to use Quarry Hill etc, etc".The next most "trustworthy" source, the Online Etymology Dictionary, contained a spelling mistake and a made-up word!Both of these should be about right for a reply to the YMP / YEP.    

Post Reply