§ THE TEA · 2 MIN READ
The Soul Train Line Was an Audition for Joy
Don Cornelius built the coolest hour on television with 400 dollars and a promise: love, peace, and soul. He owned it too, which in 1971 was nearly unheard of.
By Culture
THE SHORT VERSION
Don Cornelius launched Soul Train as a local Chicago show in 1970, reportedly with about 400 dollars of his own money, and took it into national syndication from Los Angeles in 1971. He created, hosted and owned it, which was nearly unheard of for a Black man in television at the time, and it ran for thirty five years.
Here is some tea with history on it: the dance line at every cookout, wedding and family reunion you have ever attended, two rows of people, one dancer strutting down the middle, was beamed into America's living rooms by one impossibly smooth man from Chicago.
The $400 Television Empire
Don Cornelius launched Soul Train in 1970 as a local Chicago show, reportedly bankrolled with about 400 dollars of his own money. A year later it went into national syndication out of Los Angeles, created by, hosted by, and OWNED by a Black man, which in 1971 television was nearly unheard of. It ran for thirty five years.
That ownership is not a footnote, it is the reason the show could look the way it looked. Nobody above Cornelius could water down the fashion, soften the music, or explain the audience to itself. He was the note-giver. Everybody from Ray Charles in 1959 to a creator uploading tonight is arguing the same point he settled with 400 dollars.
Saturday mornings, the coolest hour on earth: the afros, the fashion risks that always landed, the artists everyone needed to see, and that voice, the deepest sign-off in broadcasting.
The Line
The Soul Train line worked because it was an invitation with stakes. Everybody claps for you, and everybody is also judging you, lovingly, at full volume. It was an audition for joy, and everyone who ever danced down one, on the show or at your auntie's birthday, passed.
“As always in parting, we wish you love, peace... and SOUL.”
It Is Still Running
The line outlived the show, which is the highest thing you can say about any piece of culture. Somebody will form one this weekend. Somebody's uncle is stretching for it right now.
If you want to stand in it rather than read about it: something is happening near you this weekend that will end in two rows and a middle. Get in it. That is the whole assignment.
- Who created Soul Train?
- Don Cornelius created Soul Train, launching it as a local Chicago show in 1970 with about 400 dollars of his own money. Cornelius created, hosted and owned the show, and it ran for thirty five years.
- When did Soul Train start?
- Soul Train started as a local Chicago show in 1970 and went into national syndication from Los Angeles in 1971. It ran for thirty five years.
- How much money did Don Cornelius use to start Soul Train?
- Don Cornelius reportedly started Soul Train with about 400 dollars of his own money. A year later the show was national.
- What is the Soul Train line?
- The Soul Train line is two rows of dancers facing each other with one person dancing down the middle at a time. The line came from the show, outlived it, and still happens at cookouts, weddings and family reunions.
- Why did it matter that Don Cornelius owned Soul Train?
- Because Don Cornelius owned Soul Train, nobody above him could water down the fashion, soften the music or explain the audience to itself. In 1971 a Black-owned national TV show was nearly unheard of.
- What was the Soul Train sign-off?
- Don Cornelius closed Soul Train by wishing viewers love, peace and soul. It was called the deepest sign-off in broadcasting.
