[3] Sheet music from the mid-1920s identifies the composers as Gus Horsley and Perry Bradford and says the dance was introduced by the African-American dancer and choreographer Billy Pierce.

The dance was featured in the Harlem show Dinah in 1924 and was then performed by Ann Pennington and Tom Patricola in the musical comedy revue George White's Scandals of 1926 on Broadway, whereupon it became a national craze.

A different musical accompaniment, composed by Ray Henderson with new lyrics from Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown also briefly became a nationwide sensation and was widely recorded.

[7] A re-creation of that version by choreographer Rod Alexander was featured in the 1956 biopic, The Best Things in Life Are Free, performed by Sheree North and Jacques d’Amboise, leading a stage full of flappers and tuxedoed Johnnies.

[8] Bradford's version, printed with the sheet music, gave these instructions: Hop down front then doodle back [doodle means "slide"] Mooch to your left then mooch to the right Hands on your hips and do the mess around, Break a leg until you're near the ground [break a leg is a hobbling step]

[12] Judy Garland repeats vocal refrains from the song while hoofing in some chorus girl lines in a montage sequence from A Star Is Born (1954).