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.

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Drive In Deco


A nighttime photo of Simon's drive-in, Los Angeles, California, circa 1940, courtesy of Vintage Everyday.  This is some serious style. 

Sunrise Serenade: Pray For The Lights To Go Out

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Pray For The Lights To Go Out" by the Golden Gate Quartet.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Playlist For March 29, 2017

The playlist for the March 29, 2017 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Hop Out Of March

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.  Lesson by Bret and Ruth with music by DJ Ruth.

303 South Main
Memphis, TN 38103

Sunrise Serenade: Stormy Weather

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Stormy Weather" by Glenn Miller and the Army Air Force Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Monday, March 27, 2017

At Sea With Betty And Bogie


This photo of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, posted on Film Noir Photos, reminds me of one of my favorite Old Time Radio programs, Bold Venture.  In that show, Bogey and Bacall played roles very similar to their film roles in To Have And Have Not.  Bogey runs a hotel and charter boat service out of Havana, and Bacall is his girl.

Sunrise Serenade: Shoo Shoo Baby

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Shoo Shoo Baby" by Ella Mae Morse.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Sunrise Serenade: Apple Honey

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Apple Honey" by Woody Herman and His Orchestra.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Playlist For March 22, 2017

The playlist for the March 22, 2017 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Hop Into Spring

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.  Lesson by Jim and Josey with music by DJ Josey.



303 South Main
Memphis, TN 38103

Sunrise Serenade: Your Father's Mustache

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Your Father's Mustache" by Woody Herman and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Monday, March 20, 2017

Sunrise Serenade: All My Life

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "All My Life" by Fats Waller and His Rhythm.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Friday, March 17, 2017

Sunrise Serenade: Pistol Packin' Mama

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Pistol Packin' Mama" by Don Redman and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Playlist For March 15, 2017

The playlist for the March 15, 2017 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Sunrise Serenade: Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Sunrise Serenade: Sleepy Time Gal

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Sleepy Time Gal" by T/Sgt. Jack Leonard and His V Disc Friends.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Monday, March 13, 2017

Sunrise Serenade: If You Build A Better Mousetrap

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "If You Build A Better Mousetrap" by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra with Art Lund and Peggy Lee on vocals.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Friday, March 10, 2017

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Hop Off The Cold Snap With RHLH

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.  Lesson by Todd and Stacey with music by DJ Danny.



303 South Main
Memphis, TN 38103

Sunrise Serenade: Texas And Pacific

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Texas And Pacific" by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Sunrise Serenade: The Sheik Of Araby

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "The Sheik Of Araby" by Hot Lips Page and the V-Disc All Stars.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Sunrise Serenade: Ain't Misbehavin'

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Ain't Misbehavin'" by Fats Waller.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Monday, March 6, 2017

Girl Scouts During WWII

The National World War II Museum posted this item about how the Girl Scouts of America contributed to the war effort.  It looks like food rationing put the bite on the famous GS cookies. 
Girl Scouts were involved in helping the war effort in a variety of ways. They helped sell war bonds, tend victory gardens, and scrapped metals and fat to be reused. Girl Scouts also formed “Defense Institutes” for teaching women necessary skills and ways to comfort children during possible air raids. Troupes even made calendars instead of the Girl Scout cookies we all know and love today, so they could help with food rationing.

Sunrise Serenade: Dinah

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Dinah" by Sam Donahue and the U.S. Navy Band.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Friday, March 3, 2017

Superman: The Magnetic Telescope

The Man of Steel returns in this 1942 animated short.  From the Internet Archive, here is Superman in The Magnetic Telescope.

Sunrise Serenade: Posin'

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

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Sunrise Serenade: The Penguin

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

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Playlist For March 1, 2017

The playlist for the March 1, 2017 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

TCM In March


The Hollywood Revue has issued its preview of March programming on Turner Classic Movies.  Richard Burton is the Star of the Month, and TCM is starting a new film noir series, Noir Alley, on March 5th with a screening of The Maltese Falcon at 10:00 AM. Noir Alley air every Sunday morning at 10:00 AM.

Sunrise Serenade: Bugle Call Rag

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