Betty Boop In Snow White

Nothing like a little Betty Boop and Cab Calloway to wrap up 2011.  Max Fleischer did another great job of rotoscoping Cab's dance movements in "Saint James Infirmary."  From the Internet Archive, here is the 1933 animated short, Snow White.

Turner Classic Movies January 2012

Another monthly thanks is due to The Hollywood Revue for its preview of the January 2012 TCM schedule.  Angela Lansbury is the star of the month. 

Sunrise Serenade: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters.  Yes, I know it is December 30, but tell that to my unconscious.  Besides, there are twelve days of Christmas, which is why I keep my tree up until January 6.  Enjoy the video below from YouTube.

Midget Motor Mania!

I first saw this posting of Midget Motor Mania on the Hemmings blog, but there was not much information on the date.  After a little research, I found more detail on The Jalopy Journal.  Apparently, the newsreel was released in October 1940, and shows a "rail" type track in Reading, PA. 

From The Jalopy Journal post:

What’s interesting to consider, is that by the late 50s, the tether car hobby was nearly extinct. It’s been said that this happened due to a shrinking amount of spectators, as the pint-sized cars had just become too fast and the fans could no longer view them in action very easily. The little racers also lost some of their appeal when they began to get too streamlined in appearance, and no longer represented the real midget race cars of their day.

Sunrise Serenade: The Wreck Of The Old 97

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "The Wreck Of The Old 97" by Muggsy Spanier and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Playlist For December 28, 2011 New Year's Eve Special

The playlist for the December 28, 2011 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle New Year's Eve Special has just been added to the playlist filing cabinet.

R.I.P. Cheetah

One of the chimpanzees who played "Cheetah" in some of the Tarzan movies of the 1930s died on Saturday at the unbelievable (for a chimp) age of 80.  The Tampa Tribune reported that the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbor, Florida received Cheetah around 1960 from the estate of Johnny Weissmuller, who played the title role in the Tarzan franchise from 1932 well into the 1940s.  There is little doubt that, throughout the run of those movies, the studios used more than one chimp to play the role of Cheetah.  According to the article, this Cheetah starred in some of the earliest Tarzan movies like Tarzan The Ape Man and Tarzan and His Mate alongside Weissmuller and the original "Jane," Maureen O'Sullivan. 

Sunrise Serenade: Fresh As A Daisy

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Fresh As A Daisy" by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Have A Red Hot Lindy Hoppy New Year! Tiger Rag Starts Next Week

The last Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session of 2011 is this Friday night at the Rumba Room.  The lesson will be taught by Kirk and Kimmie, with music by Kimmie.  Free admission before 7:00 p.m., and $5 at the door afterwards. 

Dress like you are going out!

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

The RHLH starts a new gig in January.  The Tiger Rag will be every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. at Rhitts on Rex with a $7 cover.  Top RHLH DJs will spin the tunes.  Opening night will be January 4 with live music from Jeremy Shrader's Quintessentials. 

Rhitts on Rex
5683 Rex Road
Memphis, TN 38117

You can register now for a four week course of Progressive Lindy Hop lessons from RHLH's Top Teachers starting in January.  The lessons are every Wednesday before The Tiger Rag.  Special Grand Opening Rates now until April!

Sunrise Serenade: Happy Holiday

My unconscious is continuing the holiday spirit.  This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Happy Holiday" by Ray Noble and His Orchestra with Cathy and Elliot Lewis.  Click on the song title for a sample from emusic, or click here for the album page.