The Swing Shift Shuffle is a radio program of swing, big band, jazz, boogie woogie and other popular music from the 1930's and 40's that airs every Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (US Central Time) on WEVL 89.9 FM in Memphis, Tennessee, with a live webcast at wevl.org. In addition to the radio show, this blog is dedicated to all aspects of the Swing Era, including art, automobiles, cartoons, comics, history, movies, music, news, science, technology, and anything else that happened during that time. It also includes announcements about events in the Memphis/Mid-South area related to the Swing Era, such as classic movies, concerts, dances, lectures, etc. If you see something that fits the description, send it to me at tim@wevl.org. If you would like more information about the radio show, just go to the Radio Show FAQ page.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Fisk Safety-Flight Tire Short

Ah, the 1930s - when a company could create a short film with a basic storyline, use it as a 10 minute advertisement, and show it to a (more or less) captive audience in a theater.  I found this 1939 short, America's Safest Tire, on the Jalopy Journal.  Aside from all the obviously unbelievable stuff in this film, like the complete lack of any safety precautions or controlled testing, there are a few points in the storyline I find interesting.  First, the stuntman drives a Duesenberg SJ!  That was one of the most expensive cars of its day.  Granted, in 1939 this Duesy would necessarily have been a "used" car, since the company stopped production in 1936, but a 3 year old Duesenberg was still worth some serious dough.  Gary Cooper would have driven a Duesenberg.  Next, the stuntman gladly offers to let the older, tire company executive drive his Duesy in a wet pavement traction test, while he drives the standard Ford test sedan.  Remind me never to loan that stuntman my car.  Finally, I love the sophisticated syntax of the narrator at the end "Different from any tire heretofore offered to motorists . . . ."  Enjoy.

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