Make Believe Ballroom

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 broadcast, 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.

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 30s and 40s.

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 containing the names of songs and segments we did not have time for on previous shows. Plenty of great music and stories.

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 achieved recognition. Many big band luminaries were voted in during the inaugural laying of sidewalk tiles back in 1960.

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 engagement, a songwriting contest, and much more music and stories from the big band era.

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 era on this edition.

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 past his early days with Glenn Miller. Somehow, as Ray laments in this clip, Miller and him just never seemed to jell. A funny story. The segment was part of the Make Believe Ballroom...

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 Dick Van Dyke Show pulled a fast one in the music industry!

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 and its background, a kids survey, stars gather to "bury" some music, plus some additional outstanding records and artists.

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 from listeners, and as always some of the swingingest records from the 30s and 40s.

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 scandalous tale. Join us for this and much more wonderful music and stories from the Big Band era of the 1930s and 40s.

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 lots of wonderful music from the big band and swing era of the 1930s and 1940s.

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 music and talk.

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 comic, plus some wonderful music of the 1930s and 1940s.

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 listener emails, great records, a special guest in the audience, and why early color films looked so vibrant.

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 treasured music of the big band era.

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 want to play music on the radio, plus a whole lot of music, stories, and reminiscence.

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 stories.

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 Black History Month, and a look at Ralphie from Canarsie's Record Club list.

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 1130 AM in New York.