Dive into Music's Rich Past
Make Believe Ballroom
On the air since 1935 and the nation's third-oldest broadcast music radio program, the show features treasured 78rpm recordings, fascinating stories of legendary bandleaders, musicians, composers, and vocalists, listener requests, and special segments that bring the era’s music and history vividly to life.
Recent Episodes
Oct. 2, 2026
Make Believe Ballroom - 10/2/26 Edition
On this week's show: songs about a high-octane drink, an article about Glenn Miller in Hollywood, a Dutch Bandleader, and how many bass players you can fit on a street corner. All this and much more on today's edition of the program.
Sept. 25, 2026
Make Believe Ballroom - 9/25/26 Edition
On this week's show: an email from Austria, a rare Benny Goodman recording, the Andrews Sisters go Hillbilly, and more records and reminiscences from the big band and jazz era.
Sept. 18, 2026
Make Believe Ballroom - 9/18/26 Edition
On this week's show: Jam, Jelly, Marmalade, singing groups with longevity, music from a Glenn Miller film, and more records and reminiscences from the big band and jazz era.
Sept. 11, 2026
Make Believe Ballroom - 9/11/26
On this week's show: Fats Waller meets Public Enemy Number One, a song honoring one of the era's greatest blues singers, the singer Benny Hill got his inspiration from, and more records and reminiscences from the big band and jazz era.
Sept. 4, 2026
Make Believe Ballroom - 9/4/26 Edition
On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom, hosted by Jeff Bressler, Glenn Miller's greatest trombone solo, trombones of Teagarden and Dorsey, train songs, a short-lived Charlie Barnet vocalist, and more records and reminiscences from the big band and jazz era.
Aug. 28, 2026
Make Believe Ballroom - 8/28/26 Edition
On this week's show: Two hits of the same song recorded 30 years apart, the battle for the title of "First Lady of Radio," British Bandleaders, two great drummers, and much more on this week's program.