Swing Shift Shuffle

Wartime Soho Shop Windows

2012-02-17T15:00:00.006-06:00

This collection of photographs, posted on Retronaut, is another example of the history most people do not think about. These pictures of shop London shop windows in 1939 epitomize the slogan from a British War Office poster of the time: "Keep Calm and Carry On." From the tailor made uniforms available for British military personnel, to blackout supplies, to a polite request from the management of a theater for patrons to carry their gas masks into the cinema; these photos show how the British kept a stiff upper lip. My personal favorite is this one from the music store.

Sunrise Serenade: Jeepers Creepers

2012-02-17T08:59:00.000-06:00

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

Incredible, Handmade, Working 1932 Duesenberg Model

2012-02-16T15:00:00.003-06:00

I first learned about this unbelievable modeling accomplishment on The Jalopy Journal, but it has apparently made the rounds to the Hemmings blog. Louis Chenot hand built a completely functional, 1/6 scale model of a 1932 Duesenberg SJ from mostly raw materials. The Jalopy Journal provided detail.

It took Louis six years to build, with over 15,000 hours invested to make every single hand-built detail 100% accurate and completely functional. The car has over 6,000 parts (966 just in the wheels and over 300 in the head, for example), and almost every part was built from raw materials like brass, wood and stainless steel. The supercharged motor runs on propane from it’s fuel tank, through the fuel pumps, and into it’s twin carburetor set up, turning 4100 rpm. Event the starter motor works. The clutch operates and the transmission shifts through all 3 gears and reverse.

It makes one wonder what he could do if you sent him enough materials for a 1/1 scale model. Hmmmm.

Sunrise Serenade: Willie

2012-02-16T09:01:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Willie" by Elliot Lawrence. Click on the song title for a sample from emusic, or click here for the album page.

Playlist For February 15, 2012

2012-02-15T20:05:00.003-06:00

The playlist for the February 15, 2012 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has just been added to the playlist filing cabinet.

Weekly Rags And Hops

2012-02-15T14:30:00.004-06:00

The Tiger Rag continues tonight at 8:00 p.m. at Rhitts on Rex with a $7 cover. You can sign up now for the next round of Progressive Lindy Hop Lessons starting in March on Wednesday nights at 7:00 before the Rag. Pre-register for a 4 week progressive lesson and get a discount on admission.

Rhitts on Rex

5683 Rex Road

Memphis, TN 38117

The Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues this Friday night at the Rumba Room with free admission and lesson before 7:00 p.m., and $5 cover at the door afterwards. The lesson will be by Kirk and Amanda with music by Amanda. Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

Sunrise Serenade: Big Chief De Sota

2012-02-15T08:58:00.000-06:00

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Big Chief De Sota" by Fats Waller and His Rhythm. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Happy Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T15:00:00.002-06:00

From the Library of Congress American Memory Collection: a newly married soldier and his bride with family in Chicago, February 1943.

Sunrise Serenade: It Had To Be You

2012-02-14T10:34:00.000-06:00

Appropriately enough for Valentine's Day, today's Sunrise Serenade was "It Had To Be You." This song has appeared in this space before, but this time it was by Helen Forrest and Dick Haymes. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Heavily Armed Flying Police Patrol

2012-02-13T15:00:00.001-06:00

After the gang wars of the depression, and before the advent of practical helicopters, a heavily armed gondola towed by a speeding aircraft may have seemed like a good idea. At least, that was the opinion of the author of this article from the February 1936 issue of Science and Mechanics, posted on Paleofuture. The gondola was supposed to have the ability to steer itself within the limits of the cable, but I still cannot help thinking that trees or tunnels would be problematic.

Sunrise Serenade: El Choclo

2012-02-13T08:48:00.002-06:00

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "El Choclo" by Stan Kenton and His Orchestra. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Gabby: Fire Cheese

2012-02-11T09:00:00.005-06:00

Gabby was the Lilliputian town crier in the 1939 animated feature film, Gulliver's Travels. Fleischer Studios made several shorts based on the character. In this cartoon, Gabby tries to help the local fire fighters, with unfortunate results. From the Internet Archive, here is Gabby in Fire Cheese.

Radiophonic Beauty

2012-02-10T15:00:00.005-06:00

Talk about iconic style. Dieselpunk posted this photo of a Pilot Radio from 1936. I have a couple of old radios, and the variety of styles from the 1930's is impressive. This particular set really has a classic look for the period.

Sunrise Serenade: Love Is Just Around The Corner

2012-02-10T09:40:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Love Is Just Around The Corner" by Johnny Mercer. Click on the song title for a sample from emusic, or click here for the album page.

Professor Pipp's Post-War Predictions (1944)

2012-02-09T15:00:00.003-06:00

Four Color Shadows has quickly become one of my favorite sources for little known (at least to me) comic books. In this issue from 1944, Prof. Pipp gives his predictions of how civilian life will be affected by the industrial changes wrought by World War II.

Sunrise Serenade: Moonglow

2012-02-09T09:15:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was - ironically for sunrise - "Moonglow" by Benny Goodman. Enjoy the video below from YouTube.

Playlist For February 8, 2012

2012-02-08T20:05:00.005-06:00

The playlist for the February 8, 2012 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has just been added to the playlist filing cabinet.

Jazz In Times Square 1947

2012-02-08T14:30:00.005-06:00

To promote a jazz concert in 1947, Art Hodes and some of his musicians played while being hauled around Times Square horse drawn wagon. Retronaut posted several interesting photos of the event. The backgrounds are as interesting as the band, with theater marquees displaying films of the period and automobile dealership signs.

Sunrise Serenade: You're A Lucky Guy

2012-02-08T09:15:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "You're A Lucky Guy" by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Regular Rag And Live Music Lindy Hop

2012-02-07T15:00:00.002-06:00

The Tiger Rag continues tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m. at Rhitts on Rex with a $7 cover. You can sign up now for the next round of Progressive Lindy Hop Lessons starting in March on Wednesday nights at 7:00 before the Rag.

Rhitts on Rex

5683 Rex Road

Memphis, TN 38117

The Red Hot Lindy Hop will have live music from J. Thomas and The Swinging Monkeys this Friday night at the Rumba Room with free admission and lesson before 7:00 p.m., and $7 band cover at the door afterwards. The lesson will be by Bekcy and Jaredan. Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

Sunrise Serenade: Begin The Beguine

2012-02-07T08:59:00.002-06:00

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Begin The Beguine" by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

High End Rubber Band Airplane

2012-02-06T15:00:00.002-06:00

According to the February 1930 issue of Modern Mechanics, posted on Modern Mechanix, this toy airplane had a "steering wheel, gauges, levers, in fact about everything that is found on a regular machine. The windows are of celluloid and the passenger department is luxuriously upholstered." The rubber band-powered airplanes that I enjoyed as a kid were never so fancy, nor did they have 150 rubber band power, which I suppose is for the best; since mine always ended up in splinters on the pavement or in a nearby tree. On that note, how did one keep this large and luxurious toy aircraft in one piece?

Sunrise Serenade: Ko Ko

2012-02-06T09:02:00.002-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Ko Ko" by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Nursery Scandal

2012-02-04T09:27:00.000-06:00

In this 1932 Van Beuren animated short, characters from fairy tales come out to frolic and put a damper on Mother Goose's night on the town with her beau, the scarecrow. From the Internet Archive, here is Nursery Scandal.

She Was In The Army Then

2012-02-03T15:00:00.003-06:00

There is a tradition among the British royal family of serving in the armed forces, and the current monarch was no exception. Retronaut posted two pictures of then 19 year old future Queen, then "Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth," in her uniform while she was serving with the British Army in April 1945. Bear in mind, the war was still ongoing, although close to its end in Europe.

Sunrise Serenade: At Least You Could Say Hello

2012-02-03T08:52:00.000-06:00

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "At Least You Could Say Hello" by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra with Helen O'Connell on vocals. Click on the song title for a sample from emusic, or click here for the album page.

The Doll Man

2012-02-02T16:55:00.000-06:00

The list of comic book heros previously unknown to me continues to grow. The latest addition is The Doll Man. Apparently, this hero had the gravitational-physics-defying power to shrink himself down to a doll-like size, yet still retain the strength, inertia and momentum of a full sized human being. In this issue from 1943, posted on Pappy's Golden Age Comics Blogzine, the Doll Man helps save a refuge from a relentless Nazi agent.

Sunrise Serenade: Benny's Coming Home On Saturday

2012-02-02T08:55:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Benny's Coming Home On Saturday" by Ella Fitzgerald. Click on the song title for a sample from emusic, or click here for the album page.

Playlist For February 1, 2012

2012-02-01T20:05:00.004-06:00

The playlist for the February 1, 2012 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has just been added to the playlist filing cabinet.

Fisk Safety-Flight Tire Short

2012-02-01T14:30:00.002-06:00

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.

Sunrise Serenade: Boy Meets Goy

2012-02-01T08:49:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Boy Meets Goy" by the Benny Goodman Sextet. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Rags, Hops And Live Music Next Week

2012-01-31T15:11:00.000-06:00

The Tiger Rag continues tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m. at Rhitts on Rex with a $7 cover. You can sign up now for the next round of Progressive Lindy Hop Lessons starting in February on Wednesday nights at 7:00.

Rhitts on Rex

5683 Rex Road

Memphis, TN 38117

The Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues this Friday night at the Rumba Room with free admission and lesson before 7:00 p.m., and $5 at the door afterwards. The lesson will be by Jaredan and Erin, with music by Jaredan. Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

Live music next Friday night with J. Thomas and the Swinging Monkeys!

Sunrise Serenade: Brazil

2012-01-31T10:57:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Brazil" by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra, featuring Bob Eberly and Helen O'Connell on vocals. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Turner Classic Movies In February

2012-01-30T15:00:00.003-06:00

The Hollywood Revue once again provides a preview of the Turner Classic Movies schedule for February. As it does every year, February starts TCM's "31 Days of Oscar," featuring academy award winners and nominees. This year's theme is "Around the World in 31 Days," with movies grouped together by location.

Sunrise Serenade: Route 66

2012-01-30T10:58:00.002-06:00

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Route 66" by the Nat King Cole Trio. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

The Playful Polar Bears

2012-01-28T09:00:00.001-06:00

Fleischer Studios pre-empted Coca Cola by a few years with this 1938 color animated short about a prodigal polar bear cub. From the Internet Archive, here is The Playful Polar Bears.

The Jazz Era In India

2012-01-27T15:00:00.006-06:00

The BBC posted a really interesting audio slideshow about Bombay's Jazz Age in the 1930s-40s, when American musicians came to India, and Indian musicians began playing jazz. It features some fascinating images and stories of the people and style during this "East meets West" era.

Sunrise Serenade: Kickin' The Gong Around

2012-01-27T08:56:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was inspired by the pair of feral cats we feed. They are a male and female that are very loyal to each other, so I named them Minnie the Moocher and Smokey Joe. Here is another episode in the continuing saga of Minnie and Joe by Cab Calloway and His Orchestra: "Kickin' The Gong Around." Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

How A (Large) Sign Was Painted In 1946

2012-01-26T15:00:00.004-06:00

Modern Mechanix posted this article from the October 1946 issue of Popular Science, which explained how artists would "scale up" advertising images for painting on the sides of buildings in the days before digital billboards or even the large scale, pre-printed sheets hung on billboards today.

Sunrise Serenade: Brotherly Jump

2012-01-26T10:21:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Brotherly Jump" by the combined orchestras of Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey. Click on the song title for a sample from emusic, or click here for the album page.

Playlist For January 25, 2012

2012-01-25T20:05:00.002-06:00

The playlist for the January 25, 2012 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has just been added to the playlist filing cabinet.

World War II Bomber Jacket Art

2012-01-25T14:30:00.003-06:00

Bomber crews during World War II not only decorated the nose of their aircraft ("nose art"), they also decorated their jackets. The Jalopy Journal posted a series of photos from late in the war documenting the jacket designs. As with some nose art, pretty girls feature prominently. Bear in mind that bomber crews were males mostly between the ages of 18 and 23, a long way from home, and risking their lives every mission. By today's standards, only one of the images is even the slightest bit risque, but no more than a PG rating. My personal favorite is this one. The design is a copy of a well known pin-up from one of the major artists whose name escapes me, but the name is the key. What better name for a plane that has to fly through enemy anti-aircraft and fighters than "Mister Completely?"

Sunrise Serenade: Stompin' At The Savoy

2012-01-25T10:45:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Stompin' At The Savoy" by Judy Garland. Enjoy the video below from YouTube.

Rags And Hops Abound

2012-01-24T15:00:00.003-06:00

Rhitts on Rex

5683 Rex Road

Memphis, TN 38117

The Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues this Friday night at the Rumba Room with free admission and lesson before 7:00 p.m., and $5 at the door afterwards. The lesson will be by Mike T. and Kimmie, with music by Bethany. Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

Sunrise Serenade: It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)

2012-01-24T10:39:00.000-06:00

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

The Eiffel Tower As An Automobile Advertisement

2012-01-23T15:00:00.003-06:00

I'll bet that if you picture the Eiffel Tower in your mind, it will not look like this photo. Retronaut posted several pictures of the Paris landmark when it served as an advertisement for Citroen motorcars. Apparently, the company rented the tower from 1925 to 1934, so for nearly nine years, the City of Light earned that name (at least in part) thanks to Citroen.

Way Down Yonder In New Orleans

2012-01-23T09:26:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans" by the Spirits of Rhythm. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Popeye The Sailor: Blow Me Down

2012-01-21T09:12:00.000-06:00

According to comments on the Internet Archive, this 1932 Popeye cartoon by Max Fleischer was one of the earliest made featuring the violent, spinach munching sailor. Here is Blow Me Down.

1940s Ancestor Of The B2

2012-01-20T15:00:00.002-06:00

Jack Northrop built a series of "Flying Wing" aircraft in the late '30s and early '40s. Although they never went into military or commercial service, they did provide much of the groundwork for what eventually became the B-2 stealth bomber. Modern Mechanix posted this article from the January 1942 issue of Mechanix Illustrated about one of Northrop Aircraft Company's prototypes.

Sunrise Serenade: Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!

2012-01-20T10:04:00.000-06:00

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!" by the Andrews Sisters. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Communist Cartoons By New Yorker Artist

2012-01-19T15:00:00.003-06:00

I originally saw a post about this topic on Boing Boing, but forgot about it until Retronaut posted about it as well. Syd Hoff did hundreds of cartoons for The New Yorker, and also illustrated childrens' books. In the mid-1930s, however, while his work was published in The New Yorker, he was also publishing as "A. Redfield" in The Daily Worker, a communist party newsletter. Talk about playing both sides of the fence. He did a series of cartoons called The Ruling Clawss with all of the wit of his New Yorker stuff, but coming from the other end of the political spectrum.

Sunrise Serenade: My Kinda Love

2012-01-19T08:45:00.000-06:00

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "My Kinda Love" by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra with Bing Crosby on vocals. Enjoy the video below from YouTube.

Playlist For January 18, 2012

2012-01-18T21:03:00.000-06:00

The playlist for the January 18, 2012 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has just been added to the playlist filing cabinet.

Dog Lifeguard

2012-01-18T14:29:00.000-06:00

And I do not mean a lifeguard that saves dogs. Modern Mechanix posted this article from the January 1942 issue of Mechanix Illustrated about Ace, a 5 1/2 year old Alsation shepherd that was trained to rescue distressed swimmers.

Sunrise Serenade: Cherry

2012-01-18T08:30:00.003-06:00

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Cherry" by Louis Armstrong and the Mills Brothers. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Tigers Ragging And Lindys Hopping

2012-01-17T15:00:00.006-06:00

The Tiger Rag continues tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m. at Rhitts on Rex with a $7 cover.

Rhitts on Rex

5683 Rex Road

Memphis, TN 38117

The Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues this Friday night at the Rumba Room with free admission before 7:00 p.m., and $5 at the door afterwards. The lesson will be by Meghan and Jaredan, with music by Jaredan. Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

Sunrise Serenade: It Had To Be You

2012-01-17T08:52:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "It Had To Be You" by Bing Crosby. Enjoy the video below from YouTube.

Superman: Volcano

2012-01-14T09:00:00.002-06:00

One sometimes wonders why, at least in the classic Superman cartoons, that the Man of Steel ever cared so much for Lois Lane. After all, she was always trying to steal stories from Clark Kent, and then she would get herself into dangerous situations from which only Superman could save her. Case in point, Supes has to save Lois and an entire island city from a volcano. From the Internet Archive, here is the 1942 animated short, Volcano.

Metallic Streamlining Extravaganza

2012-01-13T15:00:00.003-06:00

In the 1940s, the Bohn Aluminum and Brass Corporation produced a series of print advertisements that, based on the examples posted by Retronaut, were positively dripping with sophisticated streamlined design. Where is the future these ads promised us?

Beer Barrel Polka

2012-01-13T08:36:00.002-06:00

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

The Superman-Tim Club!

2012-01-12T15:00:00.005-06:00

Why doesn't somebody tell me these things? Four Color Shadows posted a scan of a Superman-Tim comic book from 1947, and linked to an article on Dial B For Blog which describes the origins of the "Tim" series of comics. This is a concept I can appreciate. It appears that my boyhood adventures with the Man of Steel were apparently erased from my memory, no doubt by some evil fiend bent on the destruction of truth, justice and the American way. As Dial B explained,

Way back in 1942, a company called Tim Publications, Inc. used to print small, 6" x 9" booklets in black with a single color. These booklets were issued monthly, and the stores that sold them created “clubs” for younger kids.

The club you belonged to depended on how old you were. Older children had the “Tim in Space” club and the "Gene Autry-Tim" club, while younger kids had the "Superman-Tim" club, and its companion comic book: Superman-Tim comics.

Sunrise Serenade: Let's Have Another One

2012-01-12T08:40:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Let's Have Another One" by the Andrews Sisters. Enjoy the video below from YouTube.

Playlist For January 11, 2012

2012-01-11T20:05:00.002-06:00

The playlist for the January 11, 2012 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has just been added to the playlist filing cabinet.

Color Footage Of Hollywood 1948

2012-01-11T14:30:00.004-06:00

I found this post and video on The Jalopy Journal, which features articles about vintage hot rods and associated culture. It is color footage of a drive around Hollywood in 1948. Aside from the great shots of the old cars, we pass several theaters and movie studios, as well as the famous Hollywood Hotel. My personal favorite, however, is the straight-outta-classic-cartoon stop light at 1:12, complete with the mechanical "stop" and "go" banners. Enjoy.

Sunrise Serenade: Sugar Blues

2012-01-11T08:41:00.002-06:00

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Sugar Blues" by Ella Fitzgerald. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Tiger Rag Wednesday And Lindy Hop Friday

2012-01-10T15:00:00.004-06:00

The swing dance opportunities have doubled for 2012. The Tiger Rag will be every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. at Rhitts on Rex with a $7 cover.

Rhitts on Rex

5683 Rex Road

Memphis, TN 38117

The weekly Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues this Friday night at the Rumba Room with free admission before 7:00 p.m., and $5 at the door afterwards. The lesson will be by Becky and Kirk, with music by Becky. Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

Sunrise Serenade: Stompin' At The Savoy

2012-01-10T08:40:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Stompin' At The Savoy" by the Benny Goodman Sextet. Click n the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Art Deco Motor Racing Posters

2012-01-09T15:00:00.006-06:00

Have you ever seen those classic, Art Deco style posters advertising mostly European motor races in the 1930s (Le Mans, Monaco, etc.)? The Jalopy Journal advises us that many of them were the work of Georges Hamel, a/k/a Geo. Ham, and posts several neat examples.

Sunrise Serenade: When A Prince Of Fella Meets A Cinderella

2012-01-09T08:44:00.000-06:00

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "When A Prince Of A Fella Meets A Cinderella" by the Andrews Sisters. Click on the song title for a sample from emusic, or click here for the album page.

Red Hot Riding Hood

2012-01-07T09:00:00.004-06:00

In this cartoon, Tex Avery once again brings a classic fairy tale to the sophisticated Swing Era in his own inimitable style. From the Internet Archive, here is the 1942 animated short, Red Hot Riding Hood.

Nashville Billboards From The 1940s

2012-01-06T15:00:00.003-06:00

Here are some neat color photographs of billboards and other advertising in the Nashville area from the 1940s on Retronaut. The subjects include soda, whiskey, hotels, laundry and pesticides.

Sunrise Serenade: So Soon

2012-01-06T08:50:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "So Soon" by Andy Kirk and His Orchestra. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Cindy Comics - Starring Tommy Dorsey

2012-01-05T15:00:00.001-06:00

I tend to prefer action comics over light humor, but this posting on Four Color Shadows caught my eye. Apparently, Cindy was a comics character in the late 1940s. In this issue, she is hit by a boy riding a bicycle as she walked out of a music store with her new Tommy Dorsey record. The record is broken, which upsets Cindy far more than the slight physical injury. When the story of her broken record makes the paper, Tommy Dorsey himself sends her a copy of every record he ever made. TD appears in the last two panels on this page.

Sunrise Serenade: Look Away Into Heaven

2012-01-05T08:45:00.000-06:00

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Look Away Into Heaven" by the Golden Gate Quartet. Click on the song title for a sample from emusic, or click here for the album page.

Playlist For January 4, 2012

2012-01-04T20:05:00.003-06:00

The playlist for the January 4, 2012 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has just been added to the playlist filing cabinet.

Tiger Rag With Live Music Tonight! Lindy Hop Friday

2012-01-04T14:30:00.003-06:00

Opening night of The Tiger Rag is tonight, featuring live music from Jeremy Shrader's Quintessentials. The Tiger Rag will continue every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. at Rhitts on Rex with a $7 cover. Top RHLH DJs will spin the tunes.

Rhitts on Rex

5683 Rex Road

Memphis, TN 38117

The first Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session of 2012 is this Friday night at the Rumba Room. The lesson will be taught by Michael Q and Michelle, with music by Michael Q. Free admission before 7:00 p.m., and $5 at the door afterwards.

Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

Sunrise Serenade: Let That Be A Lesson To You

2012-01-04T08:40:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Let That Be A Lesson To You" by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, featuring various vocalists, from the 1937 film Hollywood Hotel. Enjoy the video below from Daily Motion.

Let That be a lesson 2 U by NilbogLAND

Woody Guthrie's New Year's Resolutions For 1942

2012-01-03T15:00:00.000-06:00

Iconic American folksinger/songwriter Woody Guthrie had ambitious and noble New Year's resolutions for the year 1942. Boing Boing recently posted the list, and it seemed a timely item to repost. They are all good, but I think I like 18, 19 and 20 best: Stay glad, keep hoping maching running, and dream good.

Sunrise Serenade: Swing Down Chariot

2012-01-03T09:02:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Swing Down Chariot" by the Golden Gate Quartet. Enjoy the video below from YouTube.

Betty Boop In Snow White

2011-12-31T09:00:00.004-06:00

Nothing like a little Betty Boop and Cab Calloway to wrap up 2011. Max Fleischer did another great job of rotoscoping Cab's dance movements in "Saint James Infirmary." From the Internet Archive, here is the 1933 animated short, Snow White.

Turner Classic Movies January 2012

2011-12-30T15:00:00.003-06:00

Another monthly thanks is due to The Hollywood Revue for its preview of the January 2012 TCM schedule. Angela Lansbury is the star of the month.

Sunrise Serenade: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

2011-12-30T08:24:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. Yes, I know it is December 30, but tell that to my unconscious. Besides, there are twelve days of Christmas, which is why I keep my tree up until January 6. Enjoy the video below from YouTube.

Midget Motor Mania!

2011-12-29T15:00:00.002-06:00

I first saw this posting of Midget Motor Mania on the Hemmings blog, but there was not much information on the date. After a little research, I found more detail on The Jalopy Journal. Apparently, the newsreel was released in October 1940, and shows a "rail" type track in Reading, PA.

From The Jalopy Journal post:

What’s interesting to consider, is that by the late 50s, the tether car hobby was nearly extinct. It’s been said that this happened due to a shrinking amount of spectators, as the pint-sized cars had just become too fast and the fans could no longer view them in action very easily. The little racers also lost some of their appeal when they began to get too streamlined in appearance, and no longer represented the real midget race cars of their day.

Sunrise Serenade: The Wreck Of The Old 97

2011-12-29T08:35:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "The Wreck Of The Old 97" by Muggsy Spanier and His Orchestra. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Playlist For December 28, 2011 New Year's Eve Special

2011-12-28T20:05:00.004-06:00

The playlist for the December 28, 2011 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle New Year's Eve Special has just been added to the playlist filing cabinet.

R.I.P. Cheetah

2011-12-28T14:30:00.004-06:00

One of the chimpanzees who played "Cheetah" in some of the Tarzan movies of the 1930s died on Saturday at the unbelievable (for a chimp) age of 80. The Tampa Tribune reported that the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbor, Florida received Cheetah around 1960 from the estate of Johnny Weissmuller, who played the title role in the Tarzan franchise from 1932 well into the 1940s. There is little doubt that, throughout the run of those movies, the studios used more than one chimp to play the role of Cheetah. According to the article, this Cheetah starred in some of the earliest Tarzan movies like Tarzan The Ape Man and Tarzan and His Mate alongside Weissmuller and the original "Jane," Maureen O'Sullivan.

Sunrise Serenade: Fresh As A Daisy

2011-12-28T08:46:00.000-06:00

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Fresh As A Daisy" by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Have A Red Hot Lindy Hoppy New Year! Tiger Rag Starts Next Week

2011-12-27T15:00:00.004-06:00

The last Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session of 2011 is this Friday night at the Rumba Room. The lesson will be taught by Kirk and Kimmie, with music by Kimmie. Free admission before 7:00 p.m., and $5 at the door afterwards.

Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

The RHLH starts a new gig in January. The Tiger Rag will be every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. at Rhitts on Rex with a $7 cover. Top RHLH DJs will spin the tunes. Opening night will be January 4 with live music from Jeremy Shrader's Quintessentials.

Rhitts on Rex
5683 Rex Road
Memphis, TN 38117

You can register now for a four week course of Progressive Lindy Hop lessons from RHLH's Top Teachers starting in January. The lessons are every Wednesday before The Tiger Rag. Special Grand Opening Rates now until April!

Sunrise Serenade: Happy Holiday

2011-12-27T08:47:00.000-06:00

My unconscious is continuing the holiday spirit. This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Happy Holiday" by Ray Noble and His Orchestra with Cathy and Elliot Lewis. Click on the song title for a sample from emusic, or click here for the album page.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T09:00:00.002-06:00

Christmas Comes But Once A Year

2011-12-24T09:00:00.001-06:00

The Bijou Blog posted another holiday treat, Celluloid Christmas Cheer, which let us know about XmasFLICK's Vintage Christmas Film & Music Channel on YouTube. It is packed with vintage films and animated shorts. One such cartoon is this holiday greeting by Max Fleischer from the year 1936: Christmas Comes But Once A Year.

Captain Marvel As The Ghosts Of Christmas

2011-12-23T15:00:00.004-06:00

Yes, I admit that this 1944 issue of Captain Marvel and the Plot Against Christmas, posted on Four Color Shadows, is a pretty obvious and simple variation on Dicken's A Christmas Carol, and there is not even any time travelling involved. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading every frame as the Captain taught a miserly old toy company executive the true meaning of Christmas. It certainly put me in the Christmas spirit.

Sunrise Serenade: Christmas Candles

2011-12-23T08:48:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade continues the holiday classics with "Christmas Candles" by the Andrews Sisters. Enjoy the video below from YouTube.

Last Minute Christmas Gift Suggestions From 1936

2011-12-22T15:00:00.006-06:00

Just in case anyone needs any last minute gift ideas for yours truly, feel free to pick any of the suggestions from this article in the December 1936 issue of Modern Mechanix, posted on Modern Mechanix. Most of them would not be out of place under a 21st Century tree. The tool kit, radio and bicycle are my favorites.

Sunrise Serenade: Christmas Island

2011-12-22T08:57:00.000-06:00

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

Playlist For December 21, 2011 Christmas Special

2011-12-21T20:05:00.003-06:00

The playlist for the December 21, 2011 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle Christmas Special has just been added to the playlist filing cabinet.

Swiss Army Cigarette Case

2011-12-21T14:30:00.002-06:00

Here is a last minute gift idea from the 1930s. I am a fan of multitools, especially the original multitool: the Swiss Army knife. I've been able to fix many a minor problem with my trusty SA knife. This post from the June 1933 issue of Popular Science, posted on Modern Mechanix, gives the multitool a cosmopolitan vibe with a cigarette case, lighter, watch, pocket knife, pencil and writing pad.

Swing Shift Shuffle Christmas Special Tonight!

2011-12-21T08:55:00.000-06:00

Speaking of Louis Armstrong's version of "Winter Wonderland," you will be able to hear it and many other great Swing Era Christmas classics tonight on the Swing Shift Shuffle Christmas Special! Tune in from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (Central) on WEVL 89.9 FM in the Memphis area, or listen online at wevl.org.

Sunrise Serenade: Winter Wonderland

2011-12-21T08:50:00.000-06:00

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Winter Wonderland" by Louis Armstrong. Enjoy the video below from YouTube.

Only Four More Hopping Days 'Til Christmas! New Gig With Live Music In January

2011-12-20T15:00:00.005-06:00

Start your Christmas weekend right with the Red Hot Lindy Hop weekly lesson and session this Friday night at the Rumba Room. The lesson will be taught by Amanda and Matt, with music by Amanda. Free admission before 7:00 p.m., and $5 at the door afterwards. Hope to see you there!

Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main