Happy Halloween!

We join Ann Miller (posted on Film Noir Photos) in wishing you a Happy Halloween!  Be safe.

Sunrise Serenade: Dr. Heckle And Mr. Jibe

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Dr. Heckle And Mr. Jibe" by Johnny Mercer with the Dorsey Brother's Orchestra.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Sunrise Serenade: Doin' The Rumba

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Doin' The Rumba" by Cab Calloway and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Bold Venture

I can wholeheartedly agree with the decision of Comics, Old Time Radio & Other Cool Stuff to select a Bold Venture episode as one of its "Friday's Favorite OTR."  I just started listening to this series (available on the Internet Archive), and they are some of the best classic radio adventures I have ever heard.  The roles played by Bogey and Bacall in this series are very similar to their roles in the film To Have and Have Not.  Bogart (Slate Shannon) owns a boat and a hotel in Havana, Cuba, and Bacall (Sailor Duvall) is his romantic interest/foil.  Their dialogue is romantic, dark and sharp.  In one recent episode, Shannon pretends to dump Sailor for a beautiful, female criminal mastermind, only to use the opportunity to disarm said femme fatale so Sailor can get her gun.  Being unaware that Shannon is just pretending, Sailor grabs the gun and says "I've got the gun, Slate, who do I kill first?"  That line caused a definite LOL.  

Sunrise Serenade: Tico-Tico No Fuba

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Tico-Tico No Fuba" by the Brazilian Bombshell, Carmen Miranda.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Playlist For October 26, 2016

The playlist for the October 26, 2016 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

From Radar To Microwave Ovens

The National World War II Museum blog posted this item regarding the origin of the microwave oven.  From it we learn that while American scientist Percy Spencer was experimenting with magnetrons one day in 1940, he discovered that the candy bar in his pocket melted.  The next day, he placed a container of popcorn over the magnetron, and became the first person to make microwave popcorn.

Sunrise Serenade: You, You Darlin'

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "You, You Darlin'" by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Pre-Halloween 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 Phil and Anna, with music by DJ Anna.

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: Rose Room

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Rose Room" by the Benny Goodman Sextet.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Today In History: G. Washington Bridge, Air Race, 40 Hour Week & The U.N.

I have not posted a item about this day in history for a while, and I hope to get back in the habit.   According to The People History, some interesting events took place on today's date (October 24) during the Swing Era.  

  U.S. 1931 U.S.A. George Washington Bridge Opens: The upper level of the George Washington Bridge, able to carry six lanes of traffic, connecting New York and New Jersey, opened to traffic. Work on the bridge on behalf of the Port of New York Authority had begun in October 1927.

UK 1934 UK The MacRobertson Trophy Air Race: The MacRobertson Trophy Air Race with a prize of over $75,000 starts from RAF Mildenhall in East Anglia to Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, aircraft entered from all over the world including America, Holland, Argentina. New Zealand, Australia and more. The race was over 11,000 miles with stops at at Baghdad, Allahabad, Singapore, Darwin and Charleville, Queensland. A British built de Havilland DH.88 Comet piloted by C.W.A. Scott, T. Campbell Black won the race with an elapsed time of 71hr 0.  

U.S. 1940 U.S.A. 40hr Working Week:  Due to the passing of the Fair Labor Standards Act (29 U.S. Code Chapter 8) in 1938 (part of the New Deal) the 40-hour working week goes into effect.  

U.S. 1945 U.S.A. United Nations Oct. 24th, 1945 : The United Nations is formally established as a new international body to maintain peace in the postwar world when its charter was ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and a majority of other signatories. 

Sunrise Serenade: Lulu's Back In Town

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Lulu's Back In Town" by Fats Waller.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

The Big Snooze

This 2012 encore is a classic Warner Bros. Bugs Bunny cartoon, in which Bugs uses psychological warfare to convince Elmer Fudd not to break up their act.  There is some great Raymond Scott music in this short.  From the Internet Archive, here is the 1946 animated short, The Big Snooze.

Sunrise Serenade: After You've Gone

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "After You've Gone" by the Benny Goodman Trio.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Disney Animated Film Posters

Movie posters are cool in general, but posters for animated films, especially classic, full-length Disney features, are really cool.  Vintage Ads posted a half dozen such posters, including both full-length animated films and shorts.

Sunrise Serenade: If I Could Steal You From Somebody Else

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "If I Could Steal You From Somebody Else" by Anita O'Day.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Playlist For October 19, 2016

The playlist for the October 19, 2016 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Inspirational Music Of World War II

The National World War II Museum posted this interesting article on the role of music during WW2.  In addition to a discussion of how the themes of popular music changed after Pearl Harbor, there is a playlist of favorite wartime songs.

Sunrise Serenade: Rain

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Rain" by Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra.  Enjoy the video from YouTube. 

Fall Friday Hopping Continues

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 Erin, with music by DJ Alexis.

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: As Time Goes By

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "As Time Goes By" by Dooley Wilson (a/k/a "Sam" from Casablanca).  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

The Future Of Bicycles

Benjamin Bowden demonstrates the lightweight nature of his bicycle design in 1946.  The accompanying article, posted on Paleofuture, notes that the design was intended to represent what bicycles would look like 20 years in the future, at least from a 1946 perspective.  Although it did go into production, not until 1960, and by then it was outdated and expensive.  The few that were produced are very collectible.

Sunrise Serenade: Smoke Rings

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Smoke Rings" by Django Reinhardt and the Hot Club Quintet of France.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Off Duty Ride

I enjoy seeing what I can gather from the photos posted on Rivet Head.  For example, this photo features two young women, one with the uniform and insignia of an Army lieutenant, on a 1940's military motorcycle.  Note the "suicide" hand shifter, blackout headlight and holster for a submachine gun on the bike.  The cross painted on the door of the truck in the background supports the inference that these women were nurses in an Army field hospital during World War II. 

Sunrise Serenade: I'll Be Glad When You're Dead, You Rascal, You

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "I'll Be Glad When You're Dead, You Rascal, You" by Louis Armstrong and Louis Jordan.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Playlist For October 12, 2016

The playlist for the October 12, 2016 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Fight Comics: Super American

In the darkest days of 1941, a brilliant scientist reaches forward into the 24th century, and asks the "amazing race of future Americans" for help in battling the totalitarian dictators of the present.  In response, they send Super-American back through time!  This 1941 comic, which lasted only four issues, was posted on Pappy's Golden Age Comics Blogzine. 

Sunrise Serenade: Big Fat Mama

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Big Fat Mama" by Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Live Music At The Lindy Hop

The Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues at the Rumba Room this Friday night with live music from Elizabeth Wise.  Free beginner lesson at 7:00 p.m. and $7 admission.  Lesson by Mike and Monica, with music by DJ Monica during band breaks.

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: Life Is So Peculiar

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Life Is So Peculiar" by Louis Armstrong and Louis Jordan.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Sisters Of Swing At Circuit Playhouse

The Circuit Playhouse is presenting Sisters of Swing through October 30.  

Sisters of Swing brings to the stage the story of LaVerne, Maxene, and Patty Andrews, better known to the world as one of the first best-selling “girl groups,” The Andrews Sisters. From their meteoric rise to the top to their bittersweet demise, Sisters of Swing: The Story of the Andrews Sisters explores the fascinating lives of these American icons all set to the music of some of their biggest hits like “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree.”

Sunrise Serenade: Walkin' My Baby Back Home

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" by Louis Armstrong.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Tom Thumb

This 2012 encore is a fun little (pun intended) 1936 "ComiColor" cartoon from Ub Iwerks.  From the Internet Archive, here is Tom Thumb.

Sunrise Serenade: Walk In Jerusalem Just Like John

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Walk In Jerusalem Just Like John" by the Golden Gate Quartet.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Sunrise Serenade: You're Not The Only Oyster In The Stew

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "You're Not The Only Oyster In The Stew" by Fats Waller and His Rhythm.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Playlist For October 5, 2016

The playlist for the October 5, 2016 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

World War II Homefront Muffins

I have a milk bottle from World War II with the slogan "Food Fights Too!  Use It Wisely!" emblazoned on it.  During the war, rationing permeated practically every facet of daily life, including food.  Once a person ran out of their allotted ration book stamps, they could not obtain any more of that commodity (milk, sugar, flour, etc.) until they received their next monthly ration book.  This circumstance led to creativity on the home front, with meal plans and recipes designed to make the most out of available ingredients, and avoid waste.  The National World War II Museum posted this recipe for corn-meal muffins from a wartime cook book.

Sunrise Serenade: Shoo Shoo Baby

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Shoo Shoo Baby" by Ella Mae Morse.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Welcome To Hoptober!

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 Ben and Amanda, with music by DJ Ben.

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: Smoke Rings

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

TCM In October

The Hollywood Revue has again posted its monthly preview of programming on Turner Classic Movies.  It being October, there are a lot of horror films, and Christopher Lee is the Star of the Month, with his films - including many non-horror movies - airing every Monday.

Sunrise Serenade: It's A Sin To Tell A Lie

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "It's A Sin To Tell A Lie" by Fats Waller and His Rhythm.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.