Bunker Hill Bunny

On this Friday before Independence Day, this bit of cartoon patriotism seemed appropriate.  From the Internet Archive, here is Bunker Hill Bunny.

Sunrise Serenade: How Come

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "How Come" by Anita O'Day.  Enjoy the video below from YouTube.

Only Axis Attack On Continental U.S.

The National World War II Museum posted this items about the only Axis attack on the continental U.S. during WWII. 

On June 21, 1942 Civil-War era Fort Stevens, near the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon, was shelled by Japanese forces. The Japanese submarine I-25, with a crew of 97, and armed with a 14 cm deck gun and carrying a seaplane, opened fire. Fort Stevens commander ordered an immediate blackout, and held all fire. This prevented the submarine from accurately targeting the base. Of the seventeen shots, the only damage was to some telephone poles near the base–the remainder landed on a baseball field or a nearby wetland. Just past the battery of Fort Stevens was the northern Kaiser shipyard, which was at that time turning out a Liberty Ship each week.

The notion of a submarine carrying an airplane seems a little like science fiction, even today.  I believe I have seen the idea in some comic books of the era, but the Japanese deployed such a vessel.  The aircraft from I-25 dropped incendiary bombs on the northwest U.S. after the above encounter, but rains and the U.S. Forest Service prevented any noticeable damage.

Sunrise Serenade: Are You All Reet

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

Sunrise Serenade: Pecos Bill

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Pecos Bill" by Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Sunrise Serenade: After You've Gone

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "After You've Gone" by the Benny Goodman Sextet.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Sunrise Serenade: Johnny Fedora And Alice Bluebonnet

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Johnny Fedora And Alice Bluebonnet" by the Andrews Sisters.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Sunrise Serenade: Ti-Pi-Tin

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Ti-Pi-Tin" by the Andrews Sisters.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Sunrise Serenade: The Patty Cake Man

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

Playlist For June 21, 2017

The playlist for the June 21, 2017 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Sunrise Serenade: McPherson Is Rehearsin'

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "MacPherson Is Rehearsin'" by Chick Webb and His Orchestra with Ella Fitzgerald.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Hop Into Summer

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 Jaredan and Joy with music by DJ Jaredan. 

Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

Sunrise Serenade: Peanut Vendor

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Peanut Vendor" by Stan Kenton and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Sunrise Serenade: Juneteenth Jamboree

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Juneteenth Jamboree" by Louis Jordan and His Tympani Five.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Sunrise Serenade: Trombonology

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Trombonology" by Tommy Dorsey.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Playlist For June 14, 2017

The playlist for the June 14, 2017 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Sunrise Serenade: The Dipsy Doodle

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "The Dipsy Doodle" by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra with Edythe Wright on vocals.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Hop Out Of 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 Jason and Monica with music by DJ Monica. 

Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

Sunrise Serenade: Chicken Reel

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

1949 Memphis Shopping Center

Ask Vance posted this photo and accompanying information about the Bomah Shopping Center, which opened in 1949 at the intersection of Union Avenue and Cleveland Street in Memphis.  Being familiar with the gas station that now stands on this site, as well as the surrounding buildings, it is a little hard to imagine this somewhat sprawling building at that location.  According to Vance, the center housed a variety of businesses, including

Electrolux Corporation, M&W Friendly Shoes, Jack Frost hobbies and crafts, the Bomah Barber Shop, the Playhouse Toy Shop, The Wee Mart, Quaker Drug Company, Charles Owens Jewelers, the Kiddie Corner, Pola’s Maternity Shoppe, Brewster’s Card Shop, and Dino’s Restaurant.

Sunrise Serenade: I'm Beginning To See The Light

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "I'm Beginning To See The Light" by Harry James and His Orchestra with Helen Forrest on vocals.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Ants In The Plants

This 1940 animated short from Max Fleischer features a group of ants defending their home from an anteater.  I had never seen this cartoon before, and it has some clever bug-based gags.  From YouTube, here is Ants In The Plants.

Sunrise Serenade: Choo'n Gum

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Choo'n Gum" by the Andrews Sisters.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Boy Commandos And The Flying Saucers

As the Pappy's Golden Age Comics Blogzine points out, the flying saucer craze started about 70 years ago in 1947 with sightings of UFO's by a pilot in Washington state.  This 1948 issue of Boy Commandos cashed in on that story with no holds barred, including Martians, giant robots and a tiny atomic bomb. 

Sunrise Serenade: Petootie Pie

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Petootie Pie" by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Playlist For June 7, 2017

The playlist for the June 7, 2017 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

1949 Japanese Baseball Cards

Just saw this photo, posted on Dull Tool Dim Bulb, of a set of 1949 Japanese baseball cards.  Not much information in the post, and I certainly cannot read Japanese, but some interesting observations are possible.  The first and most obvious item:  the cards are not photographs, but artistic renderings of the players, almost in a comic book style.  I cannot be certain if these were meant to represent specific, individual players, or just generic players for the team indicated.  The fact that the team names are in English (Giants, Tigers, Tokyo) is also interesting. 

Sunrise Serenade: It's A Great World After All

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "It's A Great World After All" by Don Redman and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

June Is Red Hot

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 Erin with music by DJ Todd. 

Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

Sunrise Serenade: Royal Garden Blues

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Royal Garden Blues" by Benny Goodman.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Richard Halliburton: Memphis' Own Adventurer

I do not remember how I discovered the writings of Richard Halliburton, but I have read several of his books, and enjoyed them.  Bear in mind, there is little food for deep thought therein.  They are light-hearted, and at some points exaggerated, descriptions of world travels by a colorful and head-strong young man.  I can see why they became popular in their time (1920s-1930s), if not critically acclaimed.  Today, they offer a very interesting glimpse into the past, providing the additional escape of history into what was already escapist literature of its time.  Memphis Magazine posted this article about Memphis' home-grown adventurer. 

Sunrise Serenade: My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time" by Vera Lynn.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Hollywood Steps Out

If you are a fan of Golden Age Hollywood, this Warner Bros. animated short from 1941 has everything you want.  WB parodied pretty much all of its big name stars in this short.  Posted on YouTube, here is Hollywood Steps Out. 

Sunrise Serenade: Call The Police

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Call The Police" Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

The Eagle And Buddy The Wonder Boy

I don't remember every posting an Eagle comic before.  In this issue, the Eagle and his companion, Buddy the Wonder Boy, encounter a whip-wielding villain apparently known as the Scarecrow.  Posted on Four Color Shadows.

Sunrise Serenade: My Baby Likes To Bebop

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "My Baby Likes To Bebop" by Ella Fitzgerald.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.