Make Believe Ballroom

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom Duke Ellington serves as a second banana, some notes on the song Dipsy Doodle, more music from the 1944 War Bonds fundraiser the Esquire All American Jazz concert, a …

On today's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom a look at how a radio show got the word out about a brand new Broadway hit, Benny Goodman on the radio, a long look at a classical concert as well as a host of additional …

Join us for this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM as we tell a Sinatra story and read a wonderful listener email about autographs along …

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM, a look at Billy May, some tremendous British swing and dance band music, a comedian songwriter, …

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM the first time ever heard on record, or seen on film for two legendary celebrities, a look at something heard in the background for decades that we don't think much …

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM a little remembered band, some British dance band music, a Benny Goodman question, a cowboy tune, a state song plus a wide array of great music from the big band era …

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM a look at combining talent to produce some wonderful records at Brunswick and Decca, a Bing …

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM, Fletcher Henderson arrangments led to Benny Goodman's success, a listen to a couple of "all girl" big bands of the 40s, two new Artie Shaw stories, a singer turned …

This week is a very special 88th Anniversary Edition of the Make Believe Ballroom. Join Jeff Bressler as he takes us back to present the history of the show which began its broadcast odyssey in February of 1935 via WNEW …

Join us for this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM as we hear some music that made the Depression less depressing, so lesser known Glenn Miller recordings, an autographed photo listeners request as well as a …

On today's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom a few tough trivia questions, we continue to play some artists we haven't heard over the past year, a similar story with 2 different endings, plus much more music and …

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM a look at songwriting due, how a celebrity got her stage name, tunes you didn't think had lyrics, plus a program bursting with more music from the treasured big band …

Join us for another edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM as we pay tribute to one of the greatest songwriters of all time, take a look at some novelty tunes and play a host of classic hits and stories from the big band …

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM we vow to play music of artists we have not heard on the show in over a year, the story behind …

For our first program of 2023 a look at some of the songs composed by the legendary Harry Warren, a new listeners email, some tunes from an obscure …

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM a few Sinatra tunes attributed to him but first recorded by others, some songs dedicated to a listener born in 1938, and a treasure trove of additional records and …

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM a look at a novelty singer of the '60s and 70s who molded his career after an old time crooner, a …

Join us for this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM. Lenny and his wife are away on vacation so that gives Jeff Bressler the opportunity to play a few songs from the 50s and 20s. A few great listener's emails …

Join us for this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM, where we reminisce about stories that appeared in 1930s and 1940s copies of both Billboard and Down Beat magazines. Great music and tales from the Big Band …

A look at a famous Copywrite dispute, a stroll past a historic music building, a talented female lyricist plus a bunch of great music from the big …

Join us for another great episode of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM. On today's show a look at songs with female names in the title, a Lenny from Down the Block on Broadway story, a look at an email that asks for a request …

On today's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM, a numerical email from a listener, songs about food and beverage, Jeff Bressler's tale of visiting …

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM, a look at one of the greatest female lyricists of all time, an email from a listener with a pretty strange name, some music by a Benny Goodman small group, then some …

Join us for this week's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM as we continue to delve into the Ralphie from Canarsie, Brooklyn record club list, Bing Crosby duets, a bizarre Artie Shaw magazine piece, and spin a few novelty songs.

On this week's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM via a raffle drum, some random music selections from our famous Ralphie for Canarsie Brooklyn's list of his and his neighbor's record clubs close to 800 ranked songs from the big …

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom a long look at a long-a-go ballroom in the keystone state that is still in operation today!

Join us for this week's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM as we take a look at some tunes that were featured in movie musicals during the 1940s. Over 100 films in the 30s and 40s featured big band music.

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom Jack Teagarden's some may say strange obsession, we go back to 1935 to learn about a historic radio program and in between some of the great tunes and stories from the …

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom, a look at a singer who you might not recognize..and perhaps neither did he, a tribute to a songwriter who we, unfortunately, gave short shrift to last week, a …

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom a whole lot of listeners emails, wrapped around some great music and stories from the big band …

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom a Benny Goodman second look, a bandleader whose name sounds familiar but hard to place, a bandleader whose name you will never recognize, a listeners favorite tunes, …

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom, the history of a swing era classics name, a famous record club selection, some great music surrounding two listeners' emails, and a host of some of the great tunes of …

Join us for this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom as we explore the music venues in the old Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City, a little …

Join us for this week's edition of Make Believe Ballroom where we take a close look at a gentleman who had absolutely nothing to do with the music …

Join us in the Make Believe Ballroom this week as we look at the music we play on our virtual turntable and real turntable in the Crystal Studio. Also on the show, a big band era stalwart discusses his take on the …

On this edition of the Make Believe Ballroom, we take most of the program to read show emails. Through the emails, we learn of a listener who discovered a "new' musician from the 1930s, a nostalgic Ballroom fan with a …

On this edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM a risque song from a Jack Benny bandleader, Lenny from Down the Block shares a drumming album, an unusual story about a vocal trio mother, plus a ton of more great music and …

On this week's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM a look at a female bandleader who led an all-male band, some tunes that you may not realize also had lyrics, a famous sister-in-law plus our usual array of great music and stories …

On this edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM a quick tribute to a great bassist, an unlikely female band leader, mail order music, plus a listeners email and tons of great music from the 30s and 40s.

On this week's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM we are taking a quick one week summer holiday. In the meantime, a Make Believe Ballroom Redux. On this past …

Another great edition of the Make Believe Ballroom featuring an action-packed hour of some wonderful music and stories from the big band era of the …

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom we do our twice-annual console cleaning in the Crystal Studio to remove all the sticky notes …

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom a special look at the Hollywood Walk of Fame and some of the stars of the big band era who …

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom more swinging to the classics with John Kirby. more music surrounding FDR's Presidency, how Benny Goodman spent his "down time" during his 1935 Palomar Ballroom …

The Andrews Sisters didn't play nice when they had the golden opportunity to be paired with Glenn Miller on the radio.

A nice test pressing, sage advice from a legend, maybe the biggest birthday party ever, the toast of NY jazz, classical music on the Make Believe Ballroom indeed. All this plus some of the great music of the big band …

This listener's favorite concerns the relationship between trumpet player and bandleader Ray Anthony and Glenn Miller. Ray celebrated his 100th birthday this past January. Ray's illustrious career went on for decades …

What made famous comedian Morey Amsterdam a "rat" during the big band era? Listen to an interesting story of how one of the beloved stars of the old …

Join Jeff Bressler for this week's Make Believe Ballroom featuring a Washington DC high school music edict, a Glenn Miller bust? a historical song …

Join Jeff Bressler for this week's Make Believe Ballroom featuring some paranoid 1940s DJs, a practical joking music legend, an enormous Chicago 1930s dance party, a comedian's checkered songwriting past, plus emails …

On this week's Make Believe Ballroom - Are there still Big Band era luminaries with us today? A battle between a bandleader and a radio celebrity. A …

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom: how the show saved someone from hard time, a little remembered Glenn Miller tune, a titanic battle for clarinet supremacy, a strange concert hall featured act plus …

A famous comedian's connection to the big band era, can you guess the theme song, Fox Movietone records, a 1947 jam session, plus plenty more music and stories.

On this week's Make Believe Ballroom - A popular recording artist, or not? A dog story. A record company by any other name. In addition, loads more …

On this edition of the Make Believe Ballroom a look at a record where some sidemen are set loose, different types of albums, a salute to a beloved …

On this week's show, Glen Miller and the Andrews Sisters joined forces. Listen to how it ended! The worst day in Palomar Ballroom history plus plenty of great music for your enjoyment.

On today's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom Jeff Bressler looks at three giants of the big band era, Toots Mondello, Gene Krupa, Benny Goodman, and how they interacted together. The program also looks at some …

On this edition of the Make Believe Ballroom a look at three bandleading giants who had something in common, a Hungarian tale, and a whole lot more …

On this week's Make Believe Ballroom some War Bond tunes, Hudson-Delange history, Montgomery Ward records, a famous theme song, Lenny from Down the Block stories, a bizarre bandleader tale, more music and talk.

On this week's show, Jeff Bressler takes a spin around the big band era with a look at a different size record, why the recording industry didn't …

This week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom takes us back to a look at some of the big band music that was featured in the Big Broadcast movies series of the 1930s. Join us for this and some other great music and …

On this weeks edition of the Make Believe Ballroom Jeff Bressler looks at a listeners list of top crooners of the 1930s, reads an email about the early days of big bands performing in movie theaters, Cab Calloway, and …

Jeff Bressler and Lenny from Down the Block review a listeners email about a very special musical list of favorite songs from the 30s and 40s

This week is a very special 87th Anniversary Edition of the Make Believe Ballroom. Join Jeff Bressler as he takes us back to present the history of the show which began its broadcast odyssey on February 3, 1935 via WNEW …

Today's Make Believe Ballroom has Jeff Bressler responding to some listeners e-mails.

On this edition of the Make Believe Ballroom Jeff Bressler looks at 2 era icons whose music is banned for eternity from the program!

This week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom offers part 2 of our series featuring records never before played on the program.

This week's Make Believe Ballroom takes a look at records we have never played on the show.

Today's edition of the Ballroom features a look at the beloved old-time radio program Your Hit Parade. Some great Frank Sinatra stories related to …

On this week's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM we break down a Fats Waller song to figure out and discuss its meaning. Also, a look at some of the top-selling sheet music from the big band era.

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM we look at an interesting fact about purchasing sheet music in the early 20th Century and some music we didn't get a chance to play on past shows.

On this week's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM - A star is born, entertainers for started their careers with big bands, territory bands.

On this week's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM a look at the legendary AMATEUR NIGHT IN HARLEM at the Apollo Theatre in NY with some great history, stories, …

On this week's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM - A band that the senior set listened to, listener emails, songs of some great UK band leaders.

This week's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM looks at the origin of song names, songs that sound the same, movie and Broadway musicals, and songs from the legendary Benny Goodman Carnegie Hall concert that were never recorded.

On this week's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM. A look at a famous tuxedo, a heroic WWII bandleader, Sinatra's long-lost cousin, a famous bandleader meets a famous accordionist, many more stories and music on this program.

On this edition of the Ballroom - All TRIVIA all the time.

This week's Ballroom takes a look at the Metronome All-Star Band

This edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM takes a look at Big Band theme songs.

On this edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM, we look at some bandleaders of the era who were popular but somewhat forgotten today.

This week the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM looks at Coca Cola's Victory Parade on Spotlight Bands. The show was a musical morale booster during WWII.

This week's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM looks at some possible reasons for the passing of the big band and swing era.

On today's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM we look at the origins of Gold Records, the Your Hit Parade, and Billboard weekly song charts plus a trivia contest …

This week's Make Believe Ballroom does a spring cleaning and finds first-time recordings of popular records and big band era musicians who could …

This week's Ballroom focuses in on a historic big band event that took place May 29, 1938, but is little remembered today.

By popular demand, we present VDISC 2 a follow-up to our program on the recordings distributed to the troops during WWII.

This week's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM features a special program about SOUNDIES. MTV did not invent the concepts of music videos. They were wildly …

This week's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM looks at the history of vocal ensembles in the big band era.

An hour of some great favorites of the 30s and 40s with some wonderful stories about the records we play.

An hour of some great favorites of the 30s and 40s with some wonderful stories about the records we play.

An hour of some great favorites of the 30s and 40s with a look at one of the early founders of the Make Believe Ballroom.

An hour of some great favorites of the 30s and 40s with a look at Benny Goodman's clarinet teacher and some of his star pupils.

After several episodes of specials and tribute shows this week's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM is back with our usual potpourri of grand music and stories from the 30s and 40s.

This week's show pays tribute to Jimmy Durante who would have celebrated his 127th birthday in February of 2021.

Join Jeff Bressler for this week's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM as he pays tribute to RCA Victor's budget label, Bluebird records.

This week a very special 86th Anniversary Edition of the Make Believe Ballroom. Join Jeff Bressler as he takes us back to present the history of the show which began its broadcast odyssey on February 3, 1935.

This week the program features records that highlight some of the great crooners, vocalists, and vocal groups of the 1930s and 1940s.

A couple of Kings, music novelty, and many artists you might never have heard. The best of Big Band, Jazz, and Swing on this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM.

Many of our most beloved remakes of songs came originally from the music of the 1930s and 1940s. This edition of the Make Believe Ballroom plays original first-time recordings of some of our favorite music.

Listen to a special edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM where Jeff Bressler plays only Grammy Hall of Fame inducted records from the 1930s and 1940s. The Grammy Hall Of Fame was established by the Recording Academy's …

On this week’s MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM – A Philadelphia Cowboy, the Canadian Bing Crosby, Swinging Polka, In the Mood pre Glenn Miller, some 1800’s …

On this weeks MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM – A song that is child’s play, Oscar, Oscar, Oscar, two brothers from Akron, plus Alice Faye, Dorothy Lamour, …

A salute to the Holiday Season and the impact the music of the 1930s and 1940s has had in creating the beloved Christmas canon.

On this edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM – A special birthday song, a records heartache, first time ever recording, from the top to the bottom, a song Fred Astaire refused to sing, a mystery singer, plus many more …

On this week’s MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM: Rhumba, a bandleader's mark as a composer, battle of the jazz violinists, from goat to Goodman hero, a grave …

On this weeks edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM – a visit from the past, some clues to a famous female vocalist, one bandleader's loss is …

On this edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM a great Helen O’Connell quote, jazz, swing and hillbilly all rolled into one, Tiny, Shorty and Big, the …

On this week’s show – Name a big band era hit that became a famous celebrity’s theme song, Dolly Dawn and Her Dawn Patrol, well-known bandleaders who …

On this weeks MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM Jeff Bressler features two regal names, a great depression musical sales item, Frank Sinatra has the kids …

A wonderful MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM this week on public and community radio stations across the US and UK as we look at a marvelous big band era French …

On this weeks edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM heard on public and community radio stations around the country: a Benny Goodman Band members universal achievement, the musical history of a famous telephone number, a …

On this weeks MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM over Public Broadcasting and Community Radio stations across the county we feature Gene Krupa, Anita O’Day and Ray Eldridge along with a little boogie with Will Bradley, Freddie Slack …

On this weeks MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM Louis Armstrong and his small band the Hot Five, Larry Clinton and his Orchestra, in addition to Cab Calloway we can’t forget his famous sibling, the Chairman of the Board with a …

A wonderful MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM this week as we visit Harry James and his lucky number, Les Brown and His Band of Renown seven decades of music, a …

On this weeks edition of the Make Believe Ballroom - The story of a song title, a look at big band era fate, the salaries of black band musicians, the great trumpet sideman Johnny Best, the history of Soundies along …

On this weeks MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM, some wonderful small group swing, a hot Charlie Barnet tale, “V-Discs, the great arranger Vic Shoen plus more …

On this edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM, we look at Big Band era stars whose careers extended into the 50s and beyond, interviews and music of Tex Beneke and Margret Whiting and a historic recording by "Illinois" …

Join us in the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM. On this week’s show
Jess Stacy’s Monumental Solo.
The Andrews Sisters 13 Weeks with Glenn Miller.
Red Norvo, the …

On this edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM. Is it Eberle or Eberly? Bille Holiday’s tenuous relationship with Artie Shaw. Along the way wonderful …

From the Crystal Studio in the Make Believe Ballroom a fun and fast hour this week. Great vintage interviews serve as companions to the music of …

From the Crystal Studio of the Make Believe Ballroom some great reminiscences, history and stories wrapped around the classic music of Glenn Miller, Chick Webb, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Ray Anthony Kay Kyser, Ish …

From the Crystal Studio of the Make Believe Ballroom some great reminiscences, history and stories wrapped around the classic music of Glen Miller, Ivy Benson, the Modernaires, Chick Webb, Ella Fitzgerald, Vera Lynn, …

On this weeks edition of MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM songs and stories featuring the De Marco Sisters and a nickname given to a star, how the song Linda got its name, how the song Beyond the Sea changed from an ode to the sea …

This week featuring great stories, reminiscences, and music featuring, the King Sisters, Bing Crosby, Jimmy Durante, Kate Smith, Frank Sinatra, Pearl Bailey, Count Basie,, Jack Teagarden, Billy Mills, Benny Carter, the …

Hi folks, I’m jeff Bressler, turning on the lights of the Make Believe Ballroom and welcoming you into the Crystal Studio for another program of the …