As noted by The Hollywood Revue, there are all sorts of things going on in April on TCM. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, TCM will turn programming over viewer requests for a week. John Wayne is the star of the month, and birthday celebrations for Alec Guiness and Doris Day will feature 24 hour marathons of their films.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Preview Of April On TCM
As noted by The Hollywood Revue, there are all sorts of things going on in April on TCM. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, TCM will turn programming over viewer requests for a week. John Wayne is the star of the month, and birthday celebrations for Alec Guiness and Doris Day will feature 24 hour marathons of their films.
Sunrise Serenade: Tess' Torch Song
This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Tess' Torch Song" by Ella Mae Morse. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Swing Cleaning
This encore from 2011 features Gabby, who was the Lilliputian town crier in the 1939 animated movie, Gulliver's Travels, and who went on to star in some shorts. In this cartoon, Gabby helps the king with spring cleaning, with less than optimal results. From the Internet Archive, here is the 1941 cartoon, Swing Cleaning.
Sunrise Serenade: Perdido
This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Perdido" by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Atomic City Girls
This post on Boing Boing features a series of photos depicting the women who worked at the "Atomic City" in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, during World War II. Although their work was vital to the development of the atomic bomb, many had no actual idea of their specific role (see Calutron Girls). This post seemed an appropriate follow up to last week's film of the Nagasaki bombing.
Sunrise Serenade: Yep Roc Heresy
Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Yep Roc Heresy" by the Slim Gaillard Trio. Enjoy the video from YouTube.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Playlist For March 26, 2014
The playlist for the March 26, 2014 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle, has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet. House Of Tomorrow
Posted on Paleofuture, this postcard features the "House of Tomorrow," designed in conjunction with the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. I like the car on one side of the house, and the airplane on the other.
Sunrise Serenade: My Honey's Lovin' Arms
This morning's Sunrise Serenade featured a combination of the artists from the past two days: "My Honey's Lovin' Arms" by Bing Crosby and the Mills Brothers. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Swing Out March
The Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues this Friday night at the Rumba Room. Free beginner lesson at 7:00 p.m. Admission $5. Lesson by Justin and Becky with music by Justin.
303 South Main
Memphis, TN 38103
Sunrise Serenade: I'll Be Ready When The Great Day Comes
Today's Sunrise Serenade was "I'll Be Ready When The Great Day Comes" by the Spirits of Rhythm. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.
Monday, March 24, 2014
International Harvester Refrigerator?
As this advertisement posted on Vintage Ads reveals, in 1949, farm implement manufacturer International Harvester was making refrigerators. You could plow your field with an IH tractor, pick the crop with an IH picker, haul it to the house in an IH truck, and store it in an IH fridge.
Sunrise Serenade: Music Maestro, Please
This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Music Maestro, Please" by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.
Friday, March 21, 2014
The Sunshine Makers
This encore from 2011 seemed appropriate for a sunny Spring day. In what is essentially an ad for Borden's milk, a happy group of gnomes/elves make milk by distilling sunlight, which annoys another group of gnomes/elves who live in the dark of the forest and like being sad. The sad elves (all dressed appropriately in "blue") attack the glad elves, only to be conquered by the happy effects of milk. From the Internet Archive, here is the 1935 cartoon, The Sunshine Makers.
Sunrise Serenade: The Woodpecker Song
This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "The Woodpecker Song" by the Andrews Sisters. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Film Of Nagasaki Bombing
Boing Boing pointed me to this YouTube video with silent, but annotated footage of the preparation, loading, delivery and deployment of "Fat Man," the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan on August 9, 1945.
Playlist For March 19, 2014
Sorry for the delay, but the playlist for the March 19, 2014 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle, has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet. Sunrise Serenade: I'm Going Mad For A Pad
Today's Sunrise Serenade was "I'm Going Mad For A Pad" by Anita O'Day and Stan Kenton. Enjoy the video from YouTube.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Charlie McCarthy "Origin Story"
As noted by Four Color Shadows, it is a bit odd that a ventriloquist was one of the most popular acts on radio (think about it). In this "origin story," the shorter half of the famous Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy act tells all.
Sunrise Serenade: The Jumping Jive
This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "The Jumping Jive" by the Andrews Sisters. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Swing Into Spring With The Lindy Hop
The Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues this Friday night at the Rumba Room. Free beginner lesson at 7:00 p.m. Admission $5. Lesson by Phil and Amanda with music by Amanda.
303 South Main
Memphis, TN 38103
Free Swing Dance at the U of M UC on March 29. For information email umemphisswing@gmail.com.
Sunrise Serenade: It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
Today's Sunrise Serenade was "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" by the Mills Brothers. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
Here is Lucille Ball (originally posted on Film Noir Photos) to wish everyone a Happy Saint Patrick's Day! It also happens to be the birthday of Nathaniel Adams Coles, a/k/a Nat "King" Cole.
Sunrise Serenade: How D'ya Like To Love Me
This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "How D'Ya Like To Love Me" by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra. Click on the song title for a sample from emusic, or click here for the album page.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Neptune Nonsense
In this encore from 2011, Felix the Cat attempts to find a companion for his pet goldfish. From the Internet Archive, here is Felix the Cat in the 1936 animated short Neptune Nonsense.
Sunrise Serenade: No Name Jive
This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "No Name Jive" by Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Television In A Cab (In 1948)
Remember the days when a television anywhere other than a living room or den was a big deal? In 1948, having a television anywhere was a big deal. This post on Paleofuture tells the story of a promotional stunt that put a television in Chicago taxicab.
Sunrise Serenade: I'm Walkin' This Town
Today's Sunrise Serenade was "I'm Walkin' This Town" by the Spirits of Rhythm. Click on the song title for a sample from emusic, or click here for the album page.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Playlist For March 12, 2014
Tex Avery's Top Twelve Cartoons
A poster on MovieFanFare recently listed his twelve favorite Tex Avery cartoons, and it is a list worth reviewing. It includes both Warner Bros. and MGM shorts, and it certainly hits the highlights of the animation director's best work.Sunrise Serenade: Swing For Sale
This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Swing For Sale" by the Mills Brothers. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Live Music At The Lindy Hop
The Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues this Friday night at the Rumba Room with live music from Jayna Morgan and the Sazerac Sunrise Band. Free beginner lesson at 7:00 p.m. Admission $5 before 7:00 p.m, and $7 afterward. Lesson by Keenan and Josie. Dress like you are going out!
303 South Main
Memphis, TN 38103
Sunrise Serenade: Smoke Rings
Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Smoke Rings" by the Casa Loma Orchestra. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Building Liberty Ships
Retronaut recently posted some photos documenting the construction of Liberty Ships during World War II. According to the Wikipedia entry accompanying the post, American shipyards built over 2700 Liberty Ships between 1941 and 1944, making it the highest production of any single design of ship.
Friday, March 7, 2014
Pantry Panic
This encore from 2011 features an early (around 1940) Woody Woodpecker short, in which Woody scoffs at the other birds who fly south for the winter, and then finds himself in a fight to stave off starvation with a hungry cat. From Universal Studios and the Internet Archive, here is Pantry Panic.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
The Tax Man: A Real "Solid Bringer-Downer"
I wonder if the Beatles knew they were signing about the decline of the Swing Era in "Tax Man?" Like most folks, I just assumed the birth of Rock & Roll led to the demise of Swing. While there is no doubt it was a contributing factor, I found an article on TaxProf Blog (how I got there I do not remember) indicating that taxes also helped kill Swing. It seems that a 1944 cabaret tax imposed a 30% excise on all establishments that served food or drink and allowed dancing. Clubs that provided music to which no one danced were exempt. Ever wonder why jazz went from Swing, which is dance music, to Bebop, which is not? Blame (at least in part) Uncle Sam.
Sunrise Serenade: On The Road To Mandalay
Today's Sunrise Serenade was "On The Road To Mandalay" by Jan Savitt and His Top Hatters with Bon Bon on vocals. Click on the song title for a sample from emusic, or click here for the album page.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Playlist For March 5, 2014
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Post-Mardi Gras Hop And Live Music Next Week
The Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues this Friday night at the Rumba Room. Free beginner lesson at 7:00 p.m. Admission $5. Lesson by Mike and Erin with music by Mike.
303 South Main
Memphis, TN 38103
Live music next week with Jayna Morgan and the Sazerac Sunrise Band.
Sunrise Serenade: Memphis Blues
Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Memphis Blues" by Fletcher Henderson. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.
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