Question about musical rhythm used in Hollywood pictures about Native Americans.

[fritzkep]

@drad_dog

This is the Wiki for “The Oriental Riff”

Oriental riff - Wikipedia

I had seen it when I was trying to find out who wrote the snakecharmer song. I think the article gives a good idea of how we get these memes, even if the indian theme isn’t addressed.

The idea may have come from prefilm entertainments or Hollywood. I suppose if you can date it before 1930 it would be pre-cinema.

The snake charmer theme is this one (also the “place in France”):

Arabian riff

[drad_dog]

@Johnny_L.A

Is that the one that goes There’s a place in France Where the naked ladies dance… ?

Yes. I remembered my cousins singing about girls in France. That was the first search. It took a couple.

The story is well worth the time to look up. It was Little Egypt’s theme song apparently, and composed by her manager.