Australian Square Dancing
Jim Vickers-Willis Archive

On this page you can enjoy listening to, watching and reading some of Jim's unique square dance memorabilia from the 1950's BOOM years.

HERITAGE eBOOK FREE Download

Read the Jim & Beth Vickers-Willis square dancing story. Compiled in 2008 from original documents including newspaper clippings, this 30 page eBook tells many interesting stories of the 1950s square dance entertainment Boom! that occurred in Australia in the early 1950s, and the central role played in it by Jim & Beth Vickers-Willis. The book is in Pdf format, and is titled:

An Australian Square Dancing Story -
The Epicentre of a 1950's Entertainment BOOM! (Pdf)

HERITAGE FILM

Start the You Tube media player below to view a 5 minute heritage film clip about Jim's role in the 1950's Australian Square Dance BOOM!

Start the You Tube player below to view a 2 minute film of the 1952 visit to Australia of the great American 'Hall Of Fame' Square Dance Caller, Joe Lewis, on his arrival at Essendon airport, Melbourne.

HERITAGE AUDIO RECORDINGS
mp3 format

On the right bar are some samples of Jim calling square dances.

Also included are some other heritage recordings, including the call of a round up and a hoedown. Another recording is the very moving radio broadcast on Jim's 'come back' square dance following his fight back after polio in 1955 - plus a pre-recorded 'thank you' speech which Jim prepared in case he collapsed.......fortunately he didn't need to use it.

Jim's Square Dance Exhibition Set:

L to R - Peter Tidex, Moya Holden, Kevin Collins, Betty Tidex, Gerald Egan, Kathie Randle, Beth Vickers-Willis (front), Jim Vickers-Willis (back) , Peter Harrison, Teddy Preston.