No Touch Tango

From The Fort Wayne Sentinel - Jan 24, 1914:

New York, Jan 24 — Because she didn't like the tango, Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish hired its most noted exponents, the Castles, to invent a denaturized form of this dance. She calls it the "Innovation." The dancers take position 12 inches away from each other, look into each other's eyes, but never touch each other during the dance. Her guests on whom it was sprung were NOT madly crazy about it.

I found a picture on wikipedia of Vernon and Irene Castle demonstrating what appears to be this No Touch Tango developed by them at Mrs. Fish's request:

Who We Are
Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Alex - Thu Jan 30, 2014
Category: 1910s | Dance

Comments

Ya kind'a have'ta wonder just how in the name of all that's holy did that (those) generations procreate? They were either all the worst of hypocrites banging like bunnies behind closed doors or sat on too many befouled toilet seats.

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 01/30/14 at 09:20 AM

Q: Why don't Baptists participate in dancing?

A: Others might think they are having sex.

(Yes, I was raised in a Baptist church and that was the general attitude.)

Posted by KDP on 01/30/14 at 10:13 AM

1. That is NOT the Tango!
2. @KDP, I heard that joke the other way around.
Q: Why don't Baptists have sex standing up?
A: Someone might think they were dancing!
:lol: :coolsmile:

Posted by Tyrusguy on 01/30/14 at 11:07 AM

It really doesn't matter, both views seemed equally valid. :lol:

Posted by KDP on 01/30/14 at 12:19 PM

Expat, it's quite simple, really. The standard wedding night instructions to a Victorian daughter were to lay back, close your eyes, and think of England. As for instructions to one's son, apparently they were unnecessary, since, judging from such publications as "The Pearl", every male was busy humping anyone, of either gender, that was in their employ, or else didn't run away fast enough.

Posted by TheCannyScot in Atlanta, GA on 01/30/14 at 05:25 PM

Looks like Engrish.com meets Weirduniverse. And 100 years ago, at that.

Posted by Harvey on 02/01/14 at 12:58 PM

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.