Happy New Year!

From everyone here at the SSS, have a very Happy New Year!

Playlist For December 28, 2016

The playlist for the December 28, 2016 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle - New Year's Special - has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Peace On Earth & Merry Christmas!

This particular holiday season has been busier than usual, and has thrown off my usual posting schedule a bit.  Nevertheless, everyone here at the SSS would like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!  I could not let the day go by without posting a favorite Christmas cartoon of mine.  Although some of the imagery in this film seems a bit dark for a holiday cartoon, the message is always relevant.  This short was released in 1939, when Europe was either on the brink of or already at war, many in the U.S. were not interested in reliving the horrors of World War I, and the Japanese had not yet attacked Pearl Harbor.  From the Internet Archive, here is Peace On Earth.

I'll be taking a break for a week, but I'll back in the new year. 

Sunrise Serenade: I Want You For Christmas

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "I Want You For Christmas" by Dick Robertson and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Playlist For December 21, 2016 - Christmas Special

The playlist for the December 21, 2016 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle - Christmas Special - has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Sunrise Serenade: Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" by Woody Herman and His Orchestra.  Enjoy the video below from YouTube.

Pre-Christmas Hop

The Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues at the Rumba Room this Friday night.  Free beginner lesson at 7:00 p.m.  Free admission before 7:00 and $5 thereafter.  Lesson by Ceasar and Joy, with music by DJ Joy.

Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

The Tiger Rag lessons and guided practice sessions are back at the Madison Dance Studio in Minglewood Plaza, 1555 Madison Ave Memphis, TN 38104.  Learn more and register here.

Learn about the University of Memphis RHLH chapter and events here. 

Sunrise Serenade: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

1938 French "Walkman"

Paleofuture posted this excerpt from an article in the May 1938 issue of Short Wave and Television, which featured the latest developments in radio from Paris.  Considering the limitations of technology at the time, the "portable" radio at left was pretty compact in its day. 

Sunrise Serenade: Walk With A Wiggle

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Walk With A Wiggle" by the Andrews Sisters.  Enjoy the video from YouTube. 

Christmas Comes But Once A Year

My little illness leaves me starting the Christmas cartoons a bit later than I would have preferred, but better late than never.  Today we revisit one of the Fleischer Studios' Color Classics in which Grampy uses a little innovation to bring Christmas joy to some orphans.  From the Internet Archive, here is the 1936 animated short, Christmas Comes But Once A Year. 

Sunrise Serenade: Winter Wonderland

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Winter Wonderland" by the Andrews Sisters.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Mr. Terrific, Plus The Case Of The Missing Blogger

This story, posted on Four Color Shadows, involves the first version of Mr. Terrific.  I was not very familiar with this character, much less that there were two versions, although I had heard him mentioned.  Mr. Terrific had a photographic memory, Olympian athletic skills, and a mastery of the martial arts.  He disguised these abilities in the form of Terry Sloane, a pampered, wealthy investor. 

Now for the case of the Missing Blogger.  I occasionally miss a day or two here and there without comment, but as you may have noticed, I was out for a week with no word as to why.  Simply put, I got really sick.  The miracle of modern medicine got me through it, and I'm back to production.

Sunrise Serenade: What Will Santa Claus Say?

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "What Will Santa Claus Say?" by Louis Prima and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Playlist For December 14, 2016

The playlist for the December 14, 2016 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Playlist For December 7, 2016

The playlist for the December 7, 2016 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

75th Anniversary Of Pearl Harbor Attack

Today, December 7, 2016, is the 75th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  The "date which will live in infamy" brought the United States into World War II, and began the nation's transformation from an isolationist country to a world superpower.

During the SSS tonight, I'll be playing a few news flashes from December 7 about the Pearl Harbor attack, all available on the News Reports pages of the Internet Archive's Old Time Radio collection.

Sunrise Serenade: Personality

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Personality" by Johnny Mercer.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

December On TCM

I am a bit late with it, but The Hollywood Revue's preview of Turner Classic Movies programming for December is out.  In addition to a lot of Christmas movies, one of my favorite actresses, Myrna Loy, is the Star of the Month. 

Sunrise Serenade: Be My Life's Companion

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Be My Life's Companion" by the Mills Brothers.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Playlist For November 30, 2016

The playlist for the November 30, 2016 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Happy Thanksgiving! 1940 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Footage

Happy Thanksgiving!  Vintage Everyday posted this color film of the 1940 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, featuring the first appearance of Superman in the parade.  We here at the SSS wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels. 

I'll be taking my usual post-Thanksgiving break, but I'll be back in December. 

Playlist For November 23, 2016

The playlist for the November 23, 2016 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Camouflage Paint For A PT Boat

The National World War II Museum is completing the restoration of PT-305, a Higgins built Patrol Torpedo Boat, and one of the final touches is a new coat of paint.  Contrary to movie portrayals, however, most naval vessels during WWII were not painted flat gray.  Instead, ships carried a variety of camouflage colors and patterns to help conceal their size, speed and course.  For PT-305, the pattern was "Measure 32 modified."   

“Measure 32 modified” was an experimental pattern intended specifically for making torpedo attacks. The “Thayer blue” on the forward part of the hull made the vessel more difficult to see from a distance at night when approaching a target head-on during the initial stages of a torpedo attack. The color transitions to a “deck blue” on the aft part of the boat to aid in the retreat from a torpedo attack.

Sunrise Serenade: Daddy

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Daddy" by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Black Friday Hop

The Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues at the Rumba Room this Friday night.  Free beginner lesson at 7:00 p.m.  Free admission before 7:00 and $5 thereafter.  Lesson by Todd and TBD, with music by DJ Danny.

Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

Live music next week with the Side Street Steppers.

The Tiger Rag lessons and guided practice sessions are back at the Madison Dance Studio in Minglewood Plaza, 1555 Madison Ave Memphis, TN 38104.  Learn more and register here.

Learn about the University of Memphis RHLH chapter and events here. 

Sunrise Serenade: Shoo-Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Shoo-Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy" by Dinah Shore.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Sunrise Serenade: Oh Buddy, I'm In Love

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Oh Buddy, I'm In Love" by Stella Moya with Nat Gonella.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Jerky Turkey

This Friday before Thanksgiving, we once again invite the great Tex Avery to tell the story of a simple Pilgrim looking for that first Thanksgiving Day meal, and throw in a pack of World War II era jokes to boot.  From the Internet Archive, the 1945 animated short, Jerky Turkey.

Sunrise Serenade: Texas And Pacific

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Texas And Pacific" by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

1930's Supercars

Vintage Everyday posted a set of photos featuring what it called the "Top 10 Most Beautiful Cars of the 1930s."  I cannot disagree with most of their choices, including the 1935 Delahaye above.  I've seen one of these cars up close, and it is a rolling work of art.  I am a little surprised, however, that the Cord 810/812 did not make the list. 

Sunrise Serenade: Till Then

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Till Then" by the Mills Brothers.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Playlist For November 16, 2016 - Fall Pledge Drive Special: It's A Memphis Swing!

The playlist for the November 16, 2016 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle - 2016 Fall Pledge Drive Special:  It's A Memphis Swing! - has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Pledge Drive Special Tonight: It's A Memphis Swing!

WEVL (home of the SSS) is in the middle of its Fall Pledge Drive, and tonight's SSS Pledge Drive Special is "It's A Memphis Swing!"  I'll be playing music by musicians from Memphis or with a Memphis connection, both from the Swing Era and a few contemporary artists; as well as bands who played in Memphis 75 years ago, in 1941.  In addition to Jimmie Lunceford and Kay Starr, I'll have a spotlight on the Swift Jewel Cowboys (above) and their unique Western-Swing style.  Tune in and make your pledge of support for WEVL!  The above photo of the SJC's shows them at the Mid-South Fair in 1938.  In the background, note the Zippin' Pippin roller coaster on the left, and the old Shelby County Building on the right. 

Sunrise Serenade: Ain't Nobody's Business But My Own

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was an unconscious preview of tonight's SSS Fall Pledge Drive Special:  It's A Memphis Swing.  Here is "Ain't Nobody's Business But My Own" by Kay Starr and Tennessee Ernie Ford.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Swing At Rhodes Thursday And Rumba Room Friday

The Red Hot Lindy Hop will be at the Rhodes College McCallum Ballroom, Bryan Campus Life Center for the school's annual Swing Night on Thursday, November 17.  The Friday night lesson and session continues at the Rumba Room the next night.  Free beginner lesson at 7:00 p.m.  Free admission before 7:00 and $5 thereafter.  Lesson by Martin and Josey, with music by DJ Josey.

Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

The Tiger Rag lessons and guided practice sessions are back at the Madison Dance Studio in Minglewood Plaza, 1555 Madison Ave Memphis, TN 38104.  Learn more and register here.

Learn about the University of Memphis RHLH chapter and events here. 

Sunrise Serenade: I'll Always Be In Love With You

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "I'll Always Be In Love With You" by Ella Fitzgerald.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Vintage Travel Slides

Retro Planet's Planet Retro Blog posted the first in a series of posts featuring color slides from travels around the U.S. in the late 1940's to early 1950's.  This photo is from the Greenbrier Hotel just outside Washington D.C.  This resort, which is still in business, has not only provided luxurious accommodations for many years, since the late 1950's it also was the home of a secret U.S. government underground bunker built to house Congress in the aftermath of a nuclear war.  It was decommissioned in the early 1990's after a media story exposing it.  At the time this photo was taken, the bunker had yet to be built.

Sunrise Serenade: Chattanooga Choo Choo

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Chattanooga Choo Choo" by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Gale Allen And Her All Girl Squadron

Nothing conjures up memories of the 1940's more than a crew of all girl space rangers wearing two-piece space bathing suits patrolling space and fighting space convicts, space aliens and space bats (yes, bats!) with space swords.  I posted another issue of Gale Allen about five years ago, and it seemed like a good time for another.  This edition, posted on Pappy's Golden Age Comics Blogzine, is from 1942. 

Sunrise Serenade: The Wedding Samba

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "The Wedding Samba" by the Andrews Sisters and Carmen Miranda.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Playlist For November 9, 2016

The playlist for the November 9, 2016 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Gary Cooper-Inspired Jacket

The Rivet Head blog posted this ad for a utility jacket "inspired" by Gary Cooper, star of the 1935 film The Wedding Night.

Sunrise Serenade: Fare You Well

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Fare You Well" by the Golden Gate Quartet.  Enjoy the video from YouTube. 

Get In The Swing State With The Red Hot Lindy Hop

The Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues at the Rumba Room this Friday night with live music from the Side Street Steppers.  Free beginner lesson at 7:00 p.m.  Band starts at 7:30, and admission is $7.  Lesson by Jim and Bethany, with music by DJ Bethany during band breaks.

Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

Live music next week with the Side Street Steppers.

The Tiger Rag lessons and guided practice sessions are back at the Madison Dance Studio in Minglewood Plaza, 1555 Madison Ave Memphis, TN 38104.  Learn more and register here.

Learn about the University of Memphis RHLH chapter and events here. 

VOTE TODAY!

If your jurisdiction does not have early voting, or if you missed the opportunity to vote early, now is your last chance to vote.  I don't get political on this blog or the radio show, and I do not intend to start now.  That being said, voting is a privilege for which citizens of the United States have fought from the War of Independence through the present day.  Seems a shame to waste all that effort by not voting, and I hate wasted effort.  Make the system work.  If you have already voted, congratulations!  Volunteer to take someone who hasn't voted to the polls.  If you have not already voted, what are you waiting for?  Go and take some other folks who have not voted with you.