Array shift

function array_shift(arr) {
	var shift = arr.shift();
	return shift;
}

Example Javascript Usage

arr = new Array('dog', 'cat', 'lion', 'tiger', 'bear');
var firstitem = array_shift(arr);
alert (firstitem); /* Gives:  dog  */ 
document.write(arr); /* Gives:  cat,lion,tiger,bear  */