I may have solved a mystery of history while conducting research for the final installment of The Secret of Their Midnight Tears trilogy, which will debut later this year. I just may have discovered the origin of a dance called, The Bump. The Bump was a very popular dance in the 1970s and one that is very easy to learn. There is the single bump and the double bump; Martha and I prefer the latter, usually to the Commodores, Brick House. (In fact, the Commodores did a song called, “The Bump,” which has a good single-bump beat.)I am amazed, however, by the number of people who can’t do the Bump or have never even seen it before, and so, we will sometimes get requests to demonstrate.

This 50-second Youtube video shows a classic, single bump, which involves bumping your butts on beats 1 & 3. The double-bump is simply bumping on beats 1 & 2. As you may notice, you can do all kinds of styling and bumping with various anatomical areas. Guys, remove wallets, keys, cell phones, etc. before beginning this dance, because ladies have tender hips. Nor is it a competition. You don’t win anything if you bump them all the way to the floor, so be gentle.

Anyway, back to our pursuit of history, the photo below, published in the Winchester Evening Star, September 9, 1944 edition, suggests that The Bump may have its origins in a Bob Hope USO show in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

“While other Leathernecks wait their turn, and unidentified Marine does some fancy jiving with Patty Thomas, dancer with the Bob Hope unit at a South Sea base. The winner of the dancing contest was rewarded with a kiss from Patty.”

(I have no other sources except this photo, which means my standard of proof is pretty much on a par with that set by many media outlets today.)

So, do the Bump! If it’s good enough for the Marine Corps, it’s good enough for all you civilians out there.