Homeless Hare

I barely remember seeing this Bugs Bunny cartoon, and it is certainly not one of the oft-repeated shorts.  Bugs tangles with a construction worker about a skyscraper over his home.  Guess who wins.  From the Internet Archive, here is the 1950 animated short, Homeless Hare. 

Sunrise Serenade: Glen Island Special

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Glen Island Special" by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

April On Turner Classic Movies

It is time for the Hollywood Revue's monthly preview of movies on TCM.  Sir Laurence Olivier is the star of the month, with his films showing every Monday.

Sunrise Serenade: Lazy Bones

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Lazy Bones" by the Casa Loma Orchestra, featuring Louis Armstrong on vocals.  Click on the song title for a sample from emusic, or click here for the album page.

Playlist For March 27, 2013

The playlist for the March 27, 2013 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has been added to the playlist filing cabinet. 

Bikini Atomic Bomb Test

Boing Boing pointed me to a set of photos from the 1946 nuclear weapons tests on the Bikini Atoll.  The photographers who took some of these pictures were way too close.  Over 20 years ago, I saw photos very similar to the shot above taken at altitude, except they were in color, and were shown to me by the photographer who took them, using his personal Argus camera.  He was an Airman in the USAF at the time, assigned to ride in a B-29 circling the test site.  He told me he looked away from the window while pointing his camera at the window, and snapped the shutter. 

Sunrise Serenade: I'm Sorry For Myself

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "I'm Sorry For Myself" by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, featuring Marion Hutton and Tex Beneke on vocals.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Red Hot Lindy Easter Bunny Hop

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

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

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

Sunrise Serenade: A Dreamer's Holiday

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "A Dreamer's Holiday" by Bing Corsby and Ella Fitzgerald.  Click on the song title for a sample from emusic, or click here for the album page.

Captain X Of The RAF

The premise of Captain X of the RAF, posted on Four Color Shadows, suggests that its 1941 publication date was prior to Pearl Harbor.  Otherwise, this American hero would have been in the U.S. Army Air Corps, rather than the Royal Air Force.  That concept is based on fact, as there were many Americans who volunteered to fight and fly for the RAF.

Sunrise Serenade: That's A Plenty

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "That's A Plenty" by the Andrews Sisters.  Click on the song title for a sample from emusic, or click here for the album page.

Golden Yeggs

In this 1949 Warner Bros. cartoon, Daffy essentially gets set up, but he makes the best of it while having to deal with "Rocky" the gangster.  From the Internet Archive, here is Golden Yeggs. 

Sunrise Serenade: Benny's Coming Home On Saturday

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Benny's Coming Home On Saturday" by Ella Fitzgerald.  Enjoy the video from YouTube. 

"Doodlebug" Tanker Truck

Why did vehicles like this 1935 Diamond T Texaco tanker truck, several photos of which are posted on Dieselpunk, never catch on for larger production volume?  I mean this design gives a very utilitarian vehicle some seriously cool style. 

Sunrise Serenade: Straighten Up And Fly Right

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Straighten Up And Fly Right" by the Nat King Cole Trio.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Playlist For March 20, 2013

The playlist for the March 20, 2013 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has been added to the playlist filing cabinet. 

More Live Music And Dancing This Weekend!

In addition to the live music at the regular Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session this Friday night, the first of the Epicenter Vintage Swing Workshops will take place Saturday night, featuring J. Thomas & The Swingin' Monkeys.  Passes for the dance are included in the overall Epicenter price, or you can get a dance only pass for $10 in advance/$15 at the door.  More information available here. 

Sunrise Serenade: Along The Santa Fe Trail

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Along The Santa Fe Trail" by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Live Music Lindy Hop Friday Night

The Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues this Friday night at the Rumba Room with live music from Jeremy Shrader's Quintessentials.  Free lesson at 7:00 p.m., and $7 band cover.  Lesson by Jaredan and Erin.  Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

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

Sunrise Serenade: I Want A Little Doggie

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "I Want A Little Doggie" by Lena Horne.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Boardwalk Train

This "Boardwalk Train" mentioned in the October 1937 issue of Mechanics And Handicraft, posted on Modern Mechanix, is the predecessor to the trams that carry visitors around amusement parks, zoos, etc. today.

Sunrise Serenade: You Gotta Ho-De-Do (To Get Along With Me)

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "You Gotta Ho-De-Ho (To Get Along With Me)" by Cab Calloway and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

The Wearing Of The Grin

On this Friday before Saint Patrick's Day, this seemed an appropriate cartoon (despite its obvious ethnic stereotypes).  From the Internet Archive, here is the 1950 Warner Bros. animated short, The Wearing Of The Grin.

Sunrise Serenade: Swing Is The Thing

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Swing Is The Thing" by Valaida Snow.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Air Wave

I thought I had stopped marvelling at the diversity of long lost comic book heroes from the 1940's and their unusual powers, but this story about "Air Wave", posted on Four Color Shadows, made me marvel again.  Apparently, Air Wave used "wireless" and "radio magic" to gather intelligence and foil criminal plots.  He had a talking parrot sidekick named "Static."  I could really not make this stuff up.

Sunrise Serenade: Stompin' At The Savoy

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.

Playlist For March 13, 2013

The playlist for the March 13, 2013 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has been added to the playlist filing cabinet. 

Too Many Cars? Seriously?

Silly question.  Automotive enthusiasts and toy collecters alike are no doubt drooling over this photo, posted on Dieselpunk, used to promote the 1930 Berlin Auto Salon. 

Sunrise Serenade: My Guy's Come Back

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "My Guy's Come Back" by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra with Liza Morrow on vocals.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Hop, Spring And Jump - And Live Music Next Week

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

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

Live music next week with Jeremy Shrader's Quintessentials. 

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

Sunrise Sereande: Lambeth Walk

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

"I'm Shocked, Shocked To Learn That Chess Is Going On In There!"

Those words may have been running through Claude Rains' mind as he watched Humphrey Bogart and Paul Henreid play chess on the set of Casablanca.  Classic Movies Digest posted this shot and two other on the set candid shots, including one with Bogie, Lauren Bacall, Edward G. Robinson and Claire Trevor on the set of Key Largo. 

Sunrise Serenade: Git Along

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Git Along" by Cab Calloway and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Betty Boop: Ha! Ha! Ha!

When "Uncle Max" finishes a drawing of Betty and leaves for the day, Ko Ko pops out an inkwell, eats a candy bar and develops a toothache.  Betty then draws up a dentist's office to render assistance, laughing gas gets involved, and things get a little out of control, even beyond the scope of Betty's sketchpad.  From the Internet Archive, here is the 1934 animated short, Ha! Ha! Ha!

Sunrise Serenade: Saturday Night Fish Fry

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

Art Deco Automobile Exhibition In Nashville

Thanks to the Hemmings blog for letting me know about an exhibition opening this summer at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville.  "Sensuous Steel:  Art Deco Automobiles" will display about 20 cars that illustrate the influence of Art Deco on automotive design.  Included in the exhibition is this 1929 Cord L-29 Cabriolet.  For more information visit FristCenter.org.  I will be there sometime this summer. 

Sunrise Serenade: Rhythm Is Our Business

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Rhythm Is Our Business" by Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Playlist For March 6, 2013

The playlist for the March 6, 2013 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has been added to the playlist filing cabinet. 

Glass Houses

Granted, there is not much information in this very brief little item from the 1936 issue of Mechanics And Handicraft, posted on Modern Mechanix, but the picutre of the house is enough. 

Sunrise Sereande: Sleepy Head

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

Spring And Swing Forward With The Lindy Hop

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

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

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

Sunrise Serenade: Massachusetts

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Massachusetts" by Anita O'Day with Gene Krupa and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Liquid X

"Liquid X," posted on Four Color Shadows, has many of the necessary elements for a standard "B picture" propoganda movie during World War II:  Nazi spies, fifth columnists, secret weapons, mass destruction, watchful allied agents, etc.

Sunrise Serenade: Till Then

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

Curtain Razor

Here is another classic Warner Bros. cartoon I have not seen in some time, probably because of the "DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME (or anywhere else, for that matter)" ending.  From the Internet Archive, here is the 1948 animated short, Curtain Razor.   

Sunrise Serenade: Fairy Tales

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Fairy Tales" by Ella Fitzgeral and the Mills Brothers.  Click the song title for a sample from emusic, or click here for the album page.