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.

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.

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