Since April 15 was just two days ago, I thought it appropriate for Donald Duck to return with his annual income tax message. Walt Disney made this animated short featuring Donald for the U.S. Government, so it fell into the public domain. The cartoon's goal was to encourage people to save their money so they could pay their income taxes and support the war effort. From the Internet Archive, here is the 1943 animated short, The Spirit Of '43.
Friday, April 17, 2015
Sunrise Serenade: Shoo-Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy
This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Shoo-Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy" by Dinah Shore. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Mail By Autogyro
Yesterday, a postal employee landed a gyrocopter on the Capital building lawn in Washington, D.C. He was carrying letters to members of Congress urging them to enact campaign finance reform. While this gentleman's political statement was certainly not authorized by his employer, the U.S. Postal Service (although he did have USPS decals on his aircraft), as Gizmodo noted in this post, the USPS once used gyrocopters, or "autogyros" as they were called back then, to deliver the mail. This late 1930's film from Eastern Airlines shows one of the company's autogyros delivering the mail between Philadelphia and Camden, N.J.
Autogyros are very interesting aircraft, and were a popular early alternative to helicopters. Although they resemble helicopters, the distinguishing feature is the main rotor. Helicopters use their main overhead rotor for lift, propulsion and directional control. Autogyros used their overhead rotor only for lift, relying on an airplane type propeller to pull or push the craft through the air, and control surfaces such as rudders for directional control. As a result, autogyros are much simpler, and thus were much cheaper to acquire, operate and maintain than early helicopters, but they could still take off and land in very small spaces.
Autogyros are very interesting aircraft, and were a popular early alternative to helicopters. Although they resemble helicopters, the distinguishing feature is the main rotor. Helicopters use their main overhead rotor for lift, propulsion and directional control. Autogyros used their overhead rotor only for lift, relying on an airplane type propeller to pull or push the craft through the air, and control surfaces such as rudders for directional control. As a result, autogyros are much simpler, and thus were much cheaper to acquire, operate and maintain than early helicopters, but they could still take off and land in very small spaces.
Sunrise Serenade: Beau Night In Hotchkiss Corner
Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Beau Night In Hotchkiss Corner" by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra with Anita Boyer on vocal. Click on the song title for a sample from emusic, or click here for the album page.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Playlist For April 15, 2015 Spring Pledge Drive Special: Cut A Rug
The playlist for the April 15, 2015 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle Spring Pledge Drive Special, "Cut A Rug," has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet. Spring Pledge Drive Special: Cut A Rug
Sunrise Serenade: Sugar Blues
This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Sugar Blues" by Ella Fitzgerald. Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Hop Off The Tax Day Blues
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. Dress like you are going out!
303 South Main
Monday, April 13, 2015
This Week In Film History: April 12-18
The regular MovieFanFare posting of "This Week In Film History" had some notable Swing Era events movie-wise, including Laurel & Hardy, the Marx Brothers, Daffy Duck and Tracy & Hepburn. Here are the relevant items from the 1930s and '40s.
April 12, 1932: The first “all-star” (John Barrymore, Wallace Beery, Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, et al.) movie, MGM’s Oscar-winning Grand Hotel, opens.
April 16, 1932: Laurel and Hardy’s The Music Box, which goes on to earn the duo a Best Comedy Short Subject Academy Award, opens.
April 13, 1935: Prior to shooting their first MGM film, The Marx Brothers start a nationwide stage tour featuring scenes from A Night at the Opera.
April 16, 1937: Portrayed by Joel McCrea, the character of Dr. Kildare makes his film debut in the MGM drama Internes Can’t Take Money.
April 17, 1937: A manic, “darn-fool duck” named Daffy makes his debut in the Warner Bros. cartoon Porky’s Duck Hunt, directed by Tex Avery.
April 18, 1937: British composer Sir Arthur Bliss’ score for Things to Come becomes the first soundtrack to be issued on records to the public in its entirety.
April 12, 1940: The only Alfred Hitchcock film to win the Best Picture Academy Award, Rebecca, opens.
April 15, 1942: Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy team up for the first time in MGM’s Woman of the Year.
April 12, 1932: The first “all-star” (John Barrymore, Wallace Beery, Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, et al.) movie, MGM’s Oscar-winning Grand Hotel, opens.
April 16, 1932: Laurel and Hardy’s The Music Box, which goes on to earn the duo a Best Comedy Short Subject Academy Award, opens.
April 13, 1935: Prior to shooting their first MGM film, The Marx Brothers start a nationwide stage tour featuring scenes from A Night at the Opera.
April 16, 1937: Portrayed by Joel McCrea, the character of Dr. Kildare makes his film debut in the MGM drama Internes Can’t Take Money.
April 17, 1937: A manic, “darn-fool duck” named Daffy makes his debut in the Warner Bros. cartoon Porky’s Duck Hunt, directed by Tex Avery.
April 18, 1937: British composer Sir Arthur Bliss’ score for Things to Come becomes the first soundtrack to be issued on records to the public in its entirety.
April 12, 1940: The only Alfred Hitchcock film to win the Best Picture Academy Award, Rebecca, opens.
April 15, 1942: Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy team up for the first time in MGM’s Woman of the Year.
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