Sunrise Serenade: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters.  Enjoy the video from YouTube. 

Blindfolded Cartoonists' Art

Boing Boing posted this item about a 1947 Life magazine article in which comic strip artists were asked to draw their most famous characters while blindfolded.  Some of the results, like Chester Gould's Dick Tracy, were not too far off from the sighted version, but some others led to interesting images.

Sunrise Serenade: When Winter Comes

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "When Winter Comes" by Eddy Duchin and His Orchestra.  Enjoy the video from YouTube. 

Playlist For December 10, 2014

The playlist for the December 10, 2014 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

This Week In History: December 7-13

We visit Retro Planet's Planet Retro blog again for another look at This Week In History, which includes more notable events from the Swing Era.
World News & the American Experience:

1941 – Dec 7 – “A date which will live in infamy,” Pearl Harbor Day.  1100 men are lost as America’s Pacific Fleet is attacked.  The catastrophic event leads the US to declare war and enter into World War II.

Movies & TV:

1937 – NBC Radio gets into trouble with the Federal Communications Commission for broadcasting a racy skit with Mae West.  As a consequence, West is banned from its airwaves for 15 years.

1948 – The Horace Heidt Youth Opportunity Program is broadcast for the first time on NBC TV.

Music & Radio:

1926 – Benny Goodman’s first recording session takes place (at age 17).  He plays clarinet with the Ben Pollack and his Californians.

1944 – The Chesterfield Supper Club premieres on NBC radio.

1949 – Fats Domino records his first songs for Imperial Records, starting with “The Fat Man”.

Arts & Entertainment:

1939 – Betty Grable is featured on the cover of LIFE.

1949 – Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, starring Carol Channing, opens at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City.

Sports:

1937 – The Red Sox acquired the contract of 19-year-old Ted Williams.

1939 – Lou Gehrig, 36, is elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Technology & Inventions:

1931 – Coaxial cable is patented.

1945 – The Microwave oven is patented by Dr. Percy Spencer of Raytheon Corp.

Sunrise Serenade: Christmas Medley

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Christmas Medley" by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra.  Enjoy the video from YouTube. 

Only Two More Hopping Days 'Til Christmas

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 Meghan and Ceasar, with music by DJ Alexis.

Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

The Tiger Rag lessons and guided practice sessions are taking a holiday break for December, but they will be back in January at the Madison Dance Studio in Minglewood Plaza, 1555 Madison Ave Memphis, TN 38104.  Learn more and register here. 

Sunrise Serenade: Tabby The Cat

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Tabby The Cat" by Anita O'Day with Stan Kenton and His Orchestra.  Enjoy the video from YouTube. 

TCM In December

Well, it is a little late due to my break, but better late than never with the Hollywood Revue's preview of December programming on Turner Classic Movies.  In addition to holiday favorites, the Star of the Month is Cary Grant, with his films airing every Monday night. 

Sunrise Serenade: An Old Fashioned Tree

I'm back from break, and the Christmas music has started to infiltrate my unconscious.  This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "An Old Fashioned Tree" by Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.