Jeff Bressler

Make Believe Ballroom

Music EN ↓ 262 episodes

Hosted by Jeff Bressler ,  The Make Believe Ballroom, each week, brings you Classic Big Band Hits from the 30s and 40s. The program has been broadcast almost continuously since 1935. Each program mixes beloved 78 rpm records, stories, listener requests, and special guest features, all geared to bring you the music and history of the big band era.  

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: www.makebelieveballroompodcast.com

Author

Jeff Bressler

Category

Music

Latest episode

Oct 23, 2026

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Episodes

Make Believe Ballroom - 11/22/24 Edition 22.11.2024

On this week's Make Believe Ballroom broadcast on member supported Jazz 90.1 in Rochester, NY, and on other fine radio affiliates across the United States as well as in the United Kingdom – the macabre ending for Henry Busse, a Tommy Dorsey work party, some videos to watch on YouTube, a lyricist comedian, Make Believe Ballroom's original theme  - all this and many more great records to enjoy on th...

Make Believe Ballroom - 11/15/24 Edition 15.11.2024

On this week's Make Believe Ballroom broadcast on member supported Jazz 90.1 in Rochester, NY, and on other fine radio affiliates across the United States as well as in the United Kingdom – a legendary female singer was also a talented composer,Johnny Guarnieri played an instrument that put him in the recording record books, a British selection and story  - all this and many more great records to...

Make Believe Ballroom - 11/8/24 Edition 08.11.2024

On this week's Make Believe Ballroom broadcast on member supported Jazz 90.1 in Rochester, NY, and on other fine radio affiliates across the United States as well as in the United Kingdom – two famous Harlem hotels, a song written in 1941 about a famous wartime cartoon character, big bands on a beloved American variety show  - all this and many more great records to enjoy on this show! 

Make Believe Ballroom - 11/1/24 Edition 01.11.2024

On this week's Make Believe Ballroom broadcast on member supported Jazz 90.1 in Rochester, NY, and on other fine radio affiliates across the United States as well as in the United Kingdom – a listener request for some more A and B side record stories, the first time recording of one of the big band era’s most treasured toons, a Louis Armstrong Broadway flop, Benny Goodman lends a hand to an ill vo...

Make Believe Ballroom - 10/25/24 Edition 25.10.2024

On this week's Make Believe Ballroom broadcast on member supported Jazz 90.1 in Rochester, NY, and on other fine radio affiliates across the United States as well as in the United Kingdom - music you have heard all your life and never paid attention to, a song salute to a new affiliate, what many say was the first ever jazz festival - all this and many, many more great records to enjoy on this sho...

Make Believe Ballroom - 10/18/24 Edition 18.10.2024

On this week's Make Believe Ballroom broadcast on member supported Jazz 90.1 in Rochester, NY, and on other fine radio affiliates across the United States as well as in the United Kingdom - possibly the big band era radio's most listened to orchestra, an RCA Victor major mess, musicians strike of 1942-44 workarounds - all this and many, many more great records to enjoy on this show!

Make Believe Ballroom - 10/11/24 Edition 11.10.2024

Join us for this weeks MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM, broadcast over member supported Jazz 90.1 WGMC-FM in Rochester, NY, and other fine affiliates across the US as well as in the United Kingdom -- a little about two unsung talents of the big band era, the first time ever recording of a beloved classic, the revival of the Ralphie from Canarsie Record Club list - plus many, many more of the greatest hits o...

Make Believe Ballroom - 9/27/24 Edition 02.10.2024

Join us for this week’s MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM, broadcast over member supported Jazz 90.1 WGMC-FM in Rochester, NY and other fine affiliates across the US as well as in the United Kingdom -- A little about Bon Bon, not the candy but the vocalist: What was a transcription disc? The story behind Rent Party’s: A tune played in reference to a listener's email - plus many, many more of the greatest hits...

Make Believe Ballroom - 9/20/24 Edition 25.09.2024

Join us for this week’s MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM, broadcast over member supported Jazz 90.1 WGMC-FM in Rochester, NY, and other fine affiliates across the US as well as in the United Kingdom  --  some 1900s era hits that were revived during the swing era, a little history about scat singing, when a records B side quickly transferred to the A side - plus many, many more of the greatest hits of the big...

Make Believe Ballroom - 9/13/24 Edition 17.09.2024

Join us for this week’s MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM, broadcast over member supported Jazz 90.1 WGMC-FM in Rochester, NY, and other fine affiliates across the US as well as in the United Kingdom  --  A genuine All-Star band, a battle for the box office, two songs that kind of sound alike -- plus many, many more of the greatest hits of the big band era are played for your musical enjoyment during this epi...

Make Believe Ballroom - 9/6/24 Edition 10.09.2024

Join us for this weeks MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM, broadcast over member supported Jazz 90.1 WGMC-FM in Rochester, NY, and other fine affiliates across the US as well as in the United Kingdom  --  small group bands within a big band, a new use for cardboard in the 1930s, budget record labels, a disturbing story about the Andrews Sisters -- plus many, many more of the greatest hits of the big band era a...

Make Believe Ballroom - 8/30/24 Edition 30.08.2024

Join us for this weeks MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM, broadcast over member supported Jazz 90.1 WGMC-FM in Rochester, NY, and other fine affiliates across the US as well as in the United Kingdom  --  a band with a most interesting name, a famous novelty song’s story, some listeners requests, a bandleader with a double life, original versions of a few favorites, -- plus many, many more of the greatest hits...

Make Believe Ballroom - 8/23/24 Edition 23.08.2024

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM’s weekly big band record party broadcast over member supported Jazz 90.1 WGMC-FM in Rochester, NY, and other fine affiliates across the US as well as in the United Kingdom  --  A Texas and North Carolina Territory Band from the 1930s, how one singers song ended up being another vocalists gold and a satirical musical radio program -- All this and...

Make Believe Ballroom - 8/16/24 Edition 16.08.2024

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM’s weekly big band record party broadcast over member supported Jazz 90.1 WGMC-FM in Rochester, NY, and other fine affiliates across the US as well as in the United Kingdom – early Glenn Miller, a kind of offbeat public service announcement song, a bandleaders famous first name, the Paradise Ballroom, America’s biggest annual birthday party from t...

Make Believe Ballroom - 8/9/24 Edition 09.08.2024

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM’s weekly big band record party broadcast over member supported Jazz 90.1 WGMC-FM in Rochester, NY and other fine affiliates across the US as well as in the United Kingdom – some contemporary big bands,  British big band plays a popular tune, how many children were named during the big band era, a ballroom from days gone by -- All this and more of...

Make Believe Ballroom - 8/2/24 Edition 02.08.2024

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM’s weekly big band record party broadcast over member supported Jazz 90.1 WGMC-FM in Rochester, NY, and other fine affiliates across the US as well as in the United Kingdom – How a Basie song got its name, a nostalgic look at how people listened to recorded music, and some musical trivia. All this and more of the greatest hits of the big band era...

Make Believe Ballroom - 7/26/24 Edition 26.07.2024

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM’s weekly big band record party broadcast over member supported Jazz 90.1 WGMC-FM in Rochester, NY, and other fine affiliates across the US as well as in the United Kingdom – Big Band Era singer and bandleader brother combo, how Louis Armstrong got his nickname, Who’s Yehoodi??,  All this and more of the greatest hits of the big band era are playe...

Make Believe Ballroom - 7/19/24 Edition 19.07.2024

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM’s weekly big band record party broadcast over member supported Jazz 90.1 WGMC-FM in Rochester, NY, and other fine affiliates across the US as well as in the United Kingdom – A short lived but very talented small band,  did Phil Harris record the first “rap” record in 1946, a post Glenn Miller hit, a bandleader we’re sure you never heard of -  All...

Make Believe Ballroom - 7/12/24 Edition 12.07.2024

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM’s weekly big band record party broadcast over member supported Jazz 90.1 WGMC-FM in Rochester, NY and other fine affiliates across the US as well as in the United Kingdom – Who was Shelton Brooks? More train songs. A historic award in the recording industry. A famous phone number. An Artie Shaw story.  All this and more of the greatest hits of th...

Make Believe Ballroom - 7/5/24 Edition 05.07.2024

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM’s weekly big band record party broadcast over member supported Jazz 90.1 WGMC-FM in Rochester, NY and other fine affiliates across the US as well as in the United Kingdom – the Make Believe Ballroom goes to court circa 1936, Jack Teagarden’s obsessive hobby, a song that was censored by the record company once, then not censored a second time! All...

Make Believe Ballroom - 6/28/24 Edition 28.06.2024

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM broadcast over member supported Jazz 90.1 WGMC-FM in Rochester, NY and other fine affiliates across the US as well as in the United Kingdom – an hour of the finest music from the big band era of the 1930s and 40’s plus an email question related to the popularity of swing music, how an old expression in a song title got its roots, a tune popular i...

Make Believe Ballroom - 6/21/24 Edition 21.06.2024

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM broadcast over member supported Jazz 90.1 WGMC-FM in Rochester, NY, and other fine affiliates across the US as well as in the United Kingdom – some old tunes from the 1920s that were given swinging updates, a new band never heard on the Ballroom, another classic Sinatra story, a radio duo that made great music together-  all this in addition to m...

Make Believe Ballroom - 6/14/24 Edition 14.06.2024

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM broadcast over member supported Jazz 90.1 WGMC-FM in Rochester, NY, and other fine affiliates across the US as well as in the United Kingdom – a couple of records and bandleaders never heard on the Ballroom, the first time recording of a song tune that went on to become the theme of a famous singer, a band of individual musicians who each went on...

Make Believe Ballroom - 6/7/24 Edition 07.06.2024

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM broadcast over Member supported Jazz 90.1 WGMC - A talented group from the late 30s and early 40s that we never played on the program, a spin of the wheel for Ralphie from Canarsie Record Club list, two female singers related to famous male bandleader, a hot look at the famed Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles, plus a plethora of musical gems from t...

Make Believe Ballroom - 5/31/24 Edition 31.05.2024

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM broadcast over Member supported Jazz 90.1 WGMC - we play some of the greatest hits of the big band era of the 1930s and 1940s, tell great stories about Sinatra and Benny Goodman, right some verbal wrongs, and learn how a song got its strange name.

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