Tales from throughout the southwestern United States and Northern Mexico tell of a stranger who appears at a dancehall, dancing well, but leaving fear in his wake. Is it all just tall tales? Is it exaggerations of a rakish man’s exploits? Or is the Devil actively looking for dance partners? Matt is again joined by James Tyner, whose family members were present for events in Fresno that seem to match the folklore of the Devil at the Dancehall.
This episode was written by Matthew Armstrong with music by Matthew Armstrong and production assistance from Kaylia Metcalfe. The graphic for this post was found on laptophub.net
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James Tyner
Special thanks to poet, librarian, and all-around cool dude James Tyner. who was the first poet laureate of Fresno.
Tyner’s poetry has appeared in multiple journals such as Avatar Review, Coal Hill Review, and Transcendence as well as anthologies such as New America and Best Contemporary American Poetry. He has worked in libraries for 20 years and has presented panels on his library work at CLA, ALA, and PLA. You can email him at fresnopoetlaureate@gmail.com.
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Show Notes and Sources
Weird Fresno: https://www.weirdfresno.com/2009/07/did-innocent-girl-share-dance-with.html
Snopes: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/satans-choice/
Recordnet.com: https://www.recordnet.com/article/19950726/a_news/307269991
University of Texas Student News (the Newsroom): https://www.utrgv.edu/newsroom/2019/10/31-the-devil-still-dances.htm
Sine Logicum blog: http://sinelogicum.blogspot.com/2009/08/dancing-devil.html
San Antonio Current: https://www.sacurrent.com/the-daily/archives/2011/10/31/san-antonios-dancing-devil-of-el-camaroncito
San Antonio Express-News: https://www.expressnews.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article/Artists-give-the-devil-at-the-dance-a-11281709.php
The Misadventures of a Reader blog: https://themisadventuresofareader.com/2019/04/04/folklore-thursday-the-man-with-the-chicken-feet/
Calumn McLean: http://calumimaclean.blogspot.com/2014/12/playing-cards-with-devil.html
Brunvand, Jan Harold. 1981. The Vanishing Hitchhiker – American Urban Legends & Their Meaning. W. W. Norton & Company, New York, NY.
Puhvel, Martin. 1965. The Legend of the Devil-Haunted Card Players in Northern Europe. Folklore Vol. 76, No. 1 (Spring, 1965), pp. 33-38 (6 pages)
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