Jeff Bressler

Make Believe Ballroom

Music EN ↓ 247 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.  

Author

Jeff Bressler

Category

Music

Latest episode

Jul 10, 2026

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Episodes

Make Believe Ballroom - 4/11/22 Edition 10.04.2022

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.

Make Believe Ballroom - 4/4/22 Edition 03.04.2022

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.

Make Believe Ballroom - 3/28/22 Edition 28.03.2022

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.

Make Believe Ballroom - 3/21/22 Edition 20.03.2022

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.

Make Believe Ballroom - 3/14/22 Edition 14.03.2022

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.

Make Believe Ballroom - 3/7/22 Edition 07.03.2022

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.

Make Believe Ballroom - 2/28/22 Edition 27.02.2022

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.

Make Believe Ballroom - 2/22/22 Edition 19.02.2022

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.

Make Believe Ballroom - 2/14/22 Edition 13.02.2022

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

Make Believe Ballroom - 2/7/22 Edition 06.02.2022

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.

Make Believe Ballroom - 1/31/22 Edition 30.01.2022

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

Make Believe Ballroom - 1/23/22 Edition 23.01.2022

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

Make Believe Ballroom - 1/17/22 Edition 17.01.2022

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

Make Believe Ballroom - 1/10/22 Edition 12.01.2022

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

Make Believe Ballroom - 1/2/22 Edition 04.01.2022

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 his stint on the program.

Make Believe Ball Room - 8/23/21 Edition 30.08.2021

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.

Make Believe Ball Room - 8/30/21 Edition 30.08.2021

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.

Make Believe Ball Room - 8/16/21 Edition 16.08.2021

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

Make Believe Ball Room - 8/2/21 Edition 04.08.2021

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, and music.

Make Believe Ball Room - 7/26/21 Edition 26.07.2021

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

Make Believe Ball Room - 7/19/21 Edition 19.07.2021

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.

Make Believe Ball Room - 7/12/21 Edition 13.07.2021

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.

Make Believe Ball Room - 6/28/21 Edition 29.06.2021

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

Make Believe Ball Room - 6/21/21 Edition 23.06.2021

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

Make Believe Ball Room - 6/14/21 Edition 23.06.2021

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