There's Good Boos Tonight

Since Halloween is tomorrow, I thought this cartoon featuring Casper the Friendly Ghost would be appropriate.  From the Internet Archive, here is the 1948 animated short, There's Good Boos Tonight.

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. 

Honor System Restaurant

Prior to reading this posting on Ask Vance, I did not realize that Toddle House had a Memphis connection.  Although the chain began in Houston, it moved to Memphis, where Fred Smith (father of FedEx founder Fred Smith) grew the business to national proportions in the 1940's.  One of the unique things about the Toddle House restaurants is that they worked on the honor system.  The waiter/waitress gave you a receipt, and you dropped your money into a steel and glass box like the one pictured above. 

Sunrise Serenade: Mood Hollywood

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Mood Hollywood" by the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra.  Enjoy the video below from YouTube.

Playlist For October 28, 2015

The playlist for the October 28, 2015 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Dick Tracy Museum

I saw an article in Hemmings Motor News (yes, the actual monthly magazine, not the blog) about some automotive parts ads that used a quick Dick Tracy adventure to sell the product.  The article also pointed me to the Chester Gould Dick Tracy Museum, where you can learn all about America's favorite square-jawed, yellow-fedora'd police detective.

Sunrise Serenade: Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief" by Hoagy Carmichael.  Click on the song title for a sample from emusic, or click here for the album page.

Calling All Guys And Ghouls For A Halloween Dance!

The Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues at the Rumba Room this Friday night with a special Halloween Dance!  Come in costume for a chance at winning a month for free Tiger Rag classes.  Free beginner lesson at 7:00 p.m.  Free admission before 7:00 and $5 thereafter.  Lesson by Todd & Monica with music by DJ Monica.  

Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

The University of Memphis RHLH chapter hosts a free beginner swing dance lesson every Monday (except school holidays) in Room 254 of the Roane Field House.  Beginner lesson from 7:00-8:00 p.m., and social dancing and practice until 9:30.  More information here. 

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. 

Sunrise Serenade: Rip Van Winkle

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Rip Van Winkle" by Ella Mae Morse.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Maureen O'Hara R.I.P.

Another of the brightest stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood has dimmed.  Maureen O'Hara (born FitzSimons) passed away October 24.  Her first film as Maureen O'Hara was Jamaica Inn (1939).  She was 19.  It was only her third film ever, and it costarred Robert Newton (later Long John Silver of Treasure Island fame), and the man who both picked her for the role and gave her the new name of O'Hara, British actor Charles Laughton.  Here she is The Black Swan (1942).

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.

Curtain Razor

This encore from 2013 features a classic Warner Bros. cartoon not seen very often, 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: Dirt Dishin' Daisy

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

A Sailor's Sweet Ride

There is a lot of history going on in this colorized photograph posted on Rivet Head.  Taken sometime in the 1940's, it shows an African-American sailor, sitting on a U.S. Navy motorcycle (probably a Harley) equipped with not only a rear seat, but also with what appears to be a sidecar, on a pier in front of a Navy ship flying the American flag.  A good picture all around.

Sunrise Serenade: Tain't A Fit Night Out

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Tain't A Fit Night Out" by the Four Vagabonds.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Playlist For October 21, 2015

The playlist for the October 21, 2015 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Flash Gordon Posters

Vintage Ads posted a series of four Flash Gordon serial posters from the late 1930's.  I love old serials, and Flash Gordon was one of the first I ever saw. 

Sunrise Serenade: Begin The Beguine

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

The Whole Town Is Hopping This Weekend

There are several opportunities to get your Lindy on this weekend.  The usual Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues at the Rumba Room this Friday night with live music from Candace Mache and the Swing and Sway.  Band starts at 7:30 p.m. with a $7 cover.  Lesson by Pip and Ruth, with band breaks music by DJ Ruth.  

Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103
On Saturday, join the Side Street Steppers and the Roy Brewer Trio at the Center for Southern Folklore at 8:00 p.m.  Admission $15.




Finally, there is another dance at Avenue Coffee starting at 7:00 p.m. with a $10 admission.


The University of Memphis RHLH chapter hosts a free beginner swing dance lesson every Monday (except school holidays) in Room 254 of the Roane Field House.  Beginner lesson from 7:00-8:00 p.m., and social dancing and practice until 9:30.  More information here. 

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. 

Sunrise Serenade: Posin'

Today's morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Posin'" by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

The Reckoner

Add this comic, posted on Four Color Shadows, onto the ever growing pile of comic book heroes with interesting names.  The "Reckoner" is in reality a cab driver who fights criminals in formal evening attire, including top hat.  He has no super powers, however, just a tendency to overdress for the occasion. 

Sunrise Serenade: London Rhythm

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "London Rhythm" by the Mills Brothers.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

There's A Bomb In My Chocolate

Boing Boing pointed me to a BBC story about some ingenious booby traps and sabotage devices the Germans created during World War II, and the drawings of these devices by a British artist.  The artist, Laurence Fish, was the son of Police Inspector Donald Fish.  The senior Fish had been assigned to MI5's counter-sabotage unit, which consisted of only two other members, Victor Rothschild and his secretary.  Rothschild came across the devices in his work, and he commissioned the junior Fish, a self-taught artist, to draw them so British military personnel would be better able to defuse them. 

Sunrise Serenade: I've Got No Strings

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "I've Got No Strings" by the Andrews Sisters with Glenn Miller and His Orchestra.  Enjoy the video from YouTube. 

Playlist For October 14, 2015

The playlist for the October 14, 2015 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Amelia Earhart?

Rivet Head posted this photograph of a group of young women in front of an airplane with another on the nose.  Although the posting did not indicate, I was able to confirm that the woman on the aircraft is none other than Amelia Earhart. 

Sunrise Serenade: Don't Get Around Much Anymore

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" by the Ink Spots.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Hopping Through Fall - Live Music Next Week

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  Jim & Meghan with music by DJ Jim.  

Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

Live music next week with Candace Mache and the Swing and Sway. 

The University of Memphis RHLH chapter hosts a free beginner swing dance lesson every Monday (except school holidays) in Room 254 of the Roane Field House.  Beginner lesson from 7:00-8:00 p.m., and social dancing and practice until 9:30.  More information here. 

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. 

Sunrise Serenade: The Chicks I Pick Are Slender, Tender And Tall

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "The Chicks I Pick Are Slender, Tender And Tall" by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

A Foreign Affair

The Hollywood Revue reviewed A Foreign Affair a few weeks back.  Directed by Billy Wilder, and starring Jean Arthur and Marlene Dietrich, it is a funny, but also historically interesting, look at life in occupied Germany right after World War II.  An American Congresswoman (Arthur) comes to Germany to investigate the rumors she has heard about American servicemen cavorting with German women.  She also delivers a birthday cake to an Army Captain (John Lund) from his girl back in the states.  It turns out, however, that the Captain is carrying on with a German night club singer (Dietrich), who was the girlfriend of a major Nazi bigwig.  Laughs, romance and intrigue ensue.

Sunrise Serenade: Bongo Boogie

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Bongo Boogie" by Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra.  Enjoy the video from YouTube. 

The Three Bears

In this encore from 2013, Ub Iwerks tells his version of the classic children's story.  Goldilocks looks a little like Bette Davis, and she basically does a breaking-and-entering job on the three bears house.  From the Internet Archive, here is the 1935 animated short, The Three Bears. 

Sunrise Serenade: Swing Is The Thing

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Swing Is The Thing" by the Mills Brothers.  Enjoy the video from YouTube. 

Memphis Shriners In 1937

Ask Vance posted another one of his estate sale finds:  this 1937 photo of the Al Chymia Temple "Oriental" Band, posing in some interesting costumes in front of the old Cossitt Library downtown. 

Sunrise Serenade: Are You Ready?

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Are You Ready?" by Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Playlist For October 7, 2015

The playlist for the October 7, 2015 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

1949 Studebakers

In 1947, Studebaker became the first American automobile manufacturer to introduce new designs after World War II.  Other companies were just updating the 1942 models that were last produced before the war.  The 1947 designs stayed in production through 1949, and the Hemmings blog posted a Studebaker brochure from that year.

Sunrise Serenade: Shorty's Got To Go

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Shorty's Got To Go" by Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Frisky Feet Friday At The Lindy 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 & Josey with music by DJ Josey.  

Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

The University of Memphis RHLH chapter hosts a free beginner swing dance lesson every Monday (except school holidays) in Room 254 of the Roane Field House.  Beginner lesson from 7:00-8:00 p.m., and social dancing and practice until 9:30.  More information here. 

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. 

Sunrise Serenade: Forty-Second Street

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Forty-Second Street" by the Boswell Sisters.  Enjoy the video from YouTube. 

DInah Shore In The Comics

Four Color Shadows provided us with another brief mini-biography comic; this time about Dinah Shore.  Published in 1950, this three page comic tells the story of her rise to fame during the Swing Era.

Sunrise Serenade: Runnin' Wild

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

Superman: Volcano

It has been some time since we played any Superman cartoons, so here you go.  This encore from 2012 makes one wonder why 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.

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

This morning'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.

TCM In October

Time flies, and so comes another monthly preview of programming on Turner Classic Movies by The Hollywood Revue.  On Tuesday and Thursday nights, the spotlight will fall on female filmmakers (like Ida Lupino, above).  David Niven will be the Star of the Month, with his movies every Monday, and Friday nights will feature horror films.

Sunrise Serenade: Limehouse Blues

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