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.

Friday, March 30, 2018

Sunrise Serenade: Chant Of The Jungle

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Chant Of The Jungle" by the Casa Loma Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Sunrise Serenade: Doin' The New Low Down

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Doin' The New Low Down" by Cab Calloway and the Mills Brothers.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.
 

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Playlist For March 28, 2018

The playlist for the March 28, 2018 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

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.

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Sunrise Serenade: Strange As It Seems

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Strange As It Seems" by Cab Calloway and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Monday, March 26, 2018

Sunrise Serenade: She's A Latin From Manhattan

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "She's A Latin From Manhattan" by the Mound City Blue Blowers.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Friday, March 23, 2018

Motor Mania

While Goofy was a character in many Walt Disney shorts, I have always liked the cartoons in which he was essentially the subject of a "documentary," with a narrator dryly commenting as Goof engaged in specific activities such as dancing, fishing, photography, skiing, or in this case, driving.  From YouTube, here is the 1950 animated short, Motor Mania

Sunrise Serenade: My Honey's Lovin' Arms

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "My Honey's Lovin' Arms" by Bing Crosby and the Mills Brothers.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Mel's Drive-In

Ice Cream
Retro Planet's Planet Retro Blog posted this article about Mel's Drive-In, the first drive-in restaurant in San Francisco, which opened in 1947.  This photo shows the second location opened in SF, but the franchise eventually covered Northern California.  In the early 1970's, the diner became famous as the set for American Graffiti.

Sunrise Serenade: Now Will You Be Good

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Now Will You Be Good" by Count Basie and His Orchestra with James Rushing on vocals.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Playlist For March 21, 2018

The playlist for the March 21, 2018 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Sunrise Serenade: When Paw Was Courtin' Maw

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "When Paw Was Courtin' Maw" by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

USS Lexington Found


I saw this a few weeks ago on the BBC.  A search team has discovered the wreck of the USS Lexington, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier lost during World War II in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942.  It was the first naval battle between aircraft carriers, and the first in which ships from the opposing sides neither sighted nor fired directly on each other. 

Sunrise Serenade: Have You Got Any Castles, Baby?

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Have You Got Any Castles, Baby?" by Dolly Dawn and Her Dawn Patrol.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Monday, March 19, 2018

Sunrise Serenade: When You Wish Upon A Star

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "When You Wish Upon A Star" by Cliff Edwards from the 1940 Walt Disney film Pinnochio.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Friday, March 16, 2018

Birds In The Spring

Since Spring officially starts next week, I thought this cute Walt Disney Silly Symphony short from 1933 was appropriate.  A young bird strays a little too far from the nest and gets in trouble.  Here is Birds In The Spring

Sunrise Serenade: Peckin'

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Peckin'" by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra with Bing Crosby on vocals.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Sunrise Serenade: I Found A New Baby

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "I Found A New Baby" by the Mills Brothers.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Playlist For March 14, 2018

The playlist for the March 14, 2018 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Sunrise Serenade: Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" by the Mills Brothers.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Friday, March 9, 2018

The Village Smithy

Ever tried to get something done, and quickly learned that it is just going to be one of those days?  That is pretty much the majority of Donald Duck cartoons, and this one, posted on YouTube, is no exception.  From 1941, here is The Village Smithy

Sunrise Serenade: On The Sunny Side Of The Street

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

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Captain Marvel


It's been some time since Captain Marvel visited our pages, so this 1941 story posted on Pappy's Golden Age Comics Blogzine seemed appropriate.  I never was much of a CM fan myself, as I never could figure out where he stood versus Superman.  Most of my exposure to the character was the 1970's Saturday morning live-action TV show. 

Sunrise Serenade: Get On Board, Little Chillun'

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Get On Board, Little Chillun'" by Freddie Slack and His Orchestra featuring Ella Mae Morse on vocals.  Enjoy the video below from YouTube.

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Playlist For March 7, 2018

The playlist for the March 7, 2018 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Sunrise Serenade: All Over Nothing At All

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "All Over Nothing At All" by Ella Fitzgerald.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

1940's Hot Rod


Here is a shot of a 1940's hot rodder, possibly at a dry lake bed for a race, posted on Rivet Head.

Sunrise Serenade: The Mood That I'm In

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "The Mood That I'm In" by Valaida Snow.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Monday, March 5, 2018

U.S Navy's Flying Aircraft Carrier


Here is a post from Vintage Everyday with a series of photographs of the USS Macon, a 1930's U.S. Navy dirigible designed to serve as a flying aircraft carrier.  The airship could launch and retrieve biplane fighters in mid-air. Airships were difficult to handle in strong weather, and the Macon, along with 3 other of its sister ships, crashed. 

Sunrise Serenade: Pennsylvania 6-5000

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Pennsylvania 6-5000" by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line

Friday, March 2, 2018

Betty Boop: Mother Goose Land

We have not had a visit from Betty Boop for some time, so this little 1993 flight of fancy featuring our favorite cartoon flapper seemed like a good idea.  From the Internet Archive, here is  Mother Goose Land.
 

Sunrise Serenade: Sleep, Come On And Take Me

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Sleep, Come On And Take Me" by the Boswell Sisters.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Sunrise Serenade: Elmer's Tune

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Elmer's Tune" by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra with Peggy Lee on vocals.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line