The Swing Shift Shuffle is a radio program of swing, big band, jazz, boogie woogie and other popular music from the 1930's and 40's that airs every Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (US Central Time) on WEVL 89.9 FM in Memphis, Tennessee, with a live webcast at wevl.org. In addition to the radio show, this blog is dedicated to all aspects of the Swing Era, including art, automobiles, cartoons, comics, history, movies, music, news, science, technology, and anything else that happened during that time. It also includes announcements about events in the Memphis/Mid-South area related to the Swing Era, such as classic movies, concerts, dances, lectures, etc. If you see something that fits the description, send it to me at tim@wevl.org. If you would like more information about the radio show, just go to the Radio Show FAQ page.

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

First February Hop

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The Red Hot Lindy Hop lessons and sessions continue at the Rumba Room this Friday night.  Free beginner lesson at 7:00 p.m.  Free admission before 7:00 p.m. and $5 thereafter. 


303 South Main
Memphis, TN 38103

Sunrise Serenade: Downhearted Blues

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Downhearted Blues" by Mildred Bailey and Her Alley Cats.  Enjoy the video from YouTube

Monday, January 30, 2017

Greyhound Travel


I cannot really say why I like this 1947 Greyhound ad, posted on Vintage Ads, but I just do.  Maybe it is because the two bus passengers are so well dressed.



Sunrise Serenade: Sweet Heartache

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Sweet Heartache" by Valaida Snow.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Friday, January 27, 2017

All's Fair At The Fair

A rural couple visit the high tech World's Fair, and come away with some serious makeovers.  From Fleischer Studios and the Internet Archive, here is the 1938 short, All's Fair At The Fair.

Sunrise Serenade: The Frim Fram Sauce

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "The Frim Fram Sauce" by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Ella Fitzgerald Artifacts At The National World War II Museum


The National World War II Museum reported that the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation visited the museum recently, and donated several artifacts from its archives to the museum's collection.  Included in the donations was the above piece of sheet music for the popular wartime song, "Comin' In On A Wing And A Prayer."  Sheet music covers often featured the image of the artists who were performing the song at the time, and since many different artists often performed the same song, there were often many different versions of the sheet music covers.  I have a version of this sheet music in my collection, but featured by a different artist.

Sunrise Serenade: Bach Goes To Town

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Bach Goes To Town" by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Playlist For January 25, 2017

The playlist for the January 25, 2017 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Dazzle Camouflage


Dazzle camouflage was a painting technique applied mostly to ships.  Its purpose was not to completely hide or conceal, but instead to distort the ship's shape, making it more difficult to visually determine the vessel's course and speed.  It was used widely during World War I, and to a lesser extent during World War II.  Vintage Everyday posted a series of photographs from both World Wars showing various designs of dazzle camouflage.  The above is the HMAS Yarra in the Persian Gulf in August 1941.  Another point to remember is that, although it cannot be seen in these black & white photos, dazzle camouflage often used very bright colors, such as pink and white. 

Sunrise Serenade: I Gotta Have My Baby Back

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "I Gotta Have My Baby Back" by Ella Fitzgerald with the Mills Brothers.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Live Music This Friday At The Lindy Hop

The Red Hot Lindy Hop lessons and sessions continue at the Rumba Room with live music this Friday night from Jeremy Shrader.  Free beginner lesson at 7:00 p.m., and $7 admission.  Lesson by Ben and Bethany, with music by DJ Bethany on band breaks.
303 South Main
Memphis, TN 38103

Sunrise Serenade: El Choclo

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.

Monday, January 23, 2017

World's Fair Art Deco

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Vintage Ads posted some very Art Deco posters from the 1933 Chicago World's Fair and 1939 New York World's Fair. 

Sunrise Serenade: My Guy's Come Back

This morning'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.

Friday, January 20, 2017

Superman: Electric Earthquake

The Man of Steel returns in this encore from 2012 to fight for "truth, justice and the American way.  From the Internet Archive, here is Electric Earthquake.

Sunrise Serenade: Freedom Train

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Freedom Train" by Johnny Mercer, Peggy Lee, Benny Goodman, Margaret Whiting, the Pied Pipers & Paul Weston Orchestra.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Sunrise Serenade: Not A Care In The World

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Not A Care In The World" by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra with Peggy Lee on vocals.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Playlist For January 18, 2017

The playlist for the January 18, 2017 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Sunrise Serenade: Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin'

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin'" by Stan Kenton and His Orchestra with June Christy on vocals.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Hop Off The Winter Blues

The Red Hot Lindy Hop lessons and sessions continue 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 Todd and Camille, with music by DJ Brooke.
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: How Many Hearts Have You Broken

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "How Many Hearts Have You Broken" by Stan Kenton and His Orchestra with Gene Howard on vocals.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Friday, January 13, 2017

Sunrise Serenade: The Song Is Ended

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "The Song Is Ended" by Louis Armstrong and the Mills Brothers.  Enjoy the video from YouTube

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Sunrise Serenade: Teach Me, Teach Me, Baby

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Teach Me, Teach Me, Baby" by Orrin Tucker and His Orchestra with Bonnie Baker on vocals.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Playlist For January 11, 2017

The playlist for the January 11, 2017 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

CCC

Rivet Head posted this photo of a group at a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp.  I knew that the CCC was, like the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and National Recovery Administration (NRA), part of FDR's New Deal.  Only recently I learned of the work it actually accomplished, other than providing food, shelter and employment for unmarried men.  Basically, the CCC is responsible for the "look" of the U.S. National Parks.  From Wikipedia:
During the time of the CCC, enrollees planted nearly 3 billion trees to help reforest America, constructed trails, lodges and related facilities in more than 800 parks nationwide and upgraded most state parks, updated forest fire fighting methods, and built a network of service buildings and public roadways in remote areas.

Sunrise Serenade: Rose Room

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

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

The New First Lindy Hop Of 2017

With last Friday's session being canceled due to weather, the first Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session of 2017 will be 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 and Anna, with music by DJ Anna.
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: Christmas Swing

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Christmas Swing" by Django Reinhardt.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Monday, January 9, 2017

Color Footage Of Berlin 1945


Vintage Everyday posted this short film featuring color footage of Berlin in 1945.  The giant poster of Stalin and the Russian language street signs suggest at least some of this footage came from the Russian-controlled sector of the city.  The video does have sound, but I wonder if it was added later, because despite hearing the background noises of trams, cars, bicycles, etc; you never hear anyone speaking, despite the large number of people in many shots.  This could be because the subjects were wary of talking while being filmed, but I would have expected to hear human speech in the background noise. 

Sunrise Serenade: Charleston

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

Thursday, January 5, 2017

The Madhouse Murder Mystery


This 1939 comic, The Madhouse Murder Mystery, has a definite Art Deco/Edward Gorey mash-up style.  I learned from Four Color Shadows that before comic book art style became somewhat standardized, experimental styles like this one were not too uncommon.

Sunrise Serenade: Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

Since today is the twelfth day of Christmas, it is not unusual that today's Sunrise Serenade was "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" by Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald.  Enjoy the video from YouTube

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Playlist For January 4, 2017

The playlist for the January 4, 2017 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Swing Out 2017!

The Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues at the Rumba Room this Friday night with Swing Out 2017, the first swing dance of the year.  Free beginner lesson at 7:00 p.m.  Free admission before 7:00 and $5 thereafter.  Lesson by Phil and Monica, with music by DJ Phil.
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: South American Joe

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "South American Joe" by Ambrose and His Orchestra with Donald Stewart on vocals.  Enjoy the video from YouTube

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

TCM In January

Jane Wyman All That Heaven Allows
In its regular monthly preview of programming on Turner Classic Movies, The Hollywood Revue informs us that Jane Wyman is the Star of the Month, and her films will be featured every Monday night.  Tuesdays nights will focus on prison films. 

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.