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.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

On This Day: South Pacific, Beer & Billie Holiday

Any number of things can happen on any particular day, but The People History indicates that a number of important events occurred on April 7 during the 1930's-40's. 

7th April 1915:  Elinore Harris, a/k/a Billie Holiday, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

7th April 1933:  After years of prohibition since 1920 when the Eighteenth Amendment was put into effect prohibiting the import, export, transport, sale and manufacture of intoxicating liquor; beer is sold once again in 19 of the 48 states and the District of Columbia .

7th April 1949:  Rodgers and Hammerstein debut their hit musical South Pacific on Broadway. 

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