Episodes

Aug. 22, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 8/22/22 Edition

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 Cole Porter, an Artie Shaw story, and loads of more great music from the big band era of the 1930s and...

Aug. 14, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 8/15/22 Edition

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 industry, a beloved song with two possible origins, a songwriters lament about the initial tempo of his...

Aug. 8, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 8/8/22 Edition

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 longevity of swing music through a...

Aug. 1, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 8/1/22 Edition

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 memory of Ella Fitzgerald, how...

July 25, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 7/25/22 Edition

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 reminisces from the big band era.

July 18, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 7/18/22 Edition

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 from the big band era of the 30s...

July 10, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 7/11/22 Edition

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.

July 4, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 7/4/22 Edition

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...

June 27, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 6/27/22 Edition

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.

June 19, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 6/20/22 Edition

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...

June 12, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 6/13/22 Edition

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...

June 6, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 6/6/22 Edition

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...

June 2, 2022

RADIO REDUX – The Andrews Sisters drama wreaks havoc on Glenn Miller

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

May 29, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 5/30/22 Edition

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.

May 23, 2022

RADIO REDUX - Ray Anthony's Dilemma

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...

May 23, 2022

RADIO REDUX - Morey" The Rat" Amsterdam

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!

May 22, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 5/23/22 Edition

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...

May 15, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom 5/16/22 Edition

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...

May 8, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 5/9/22 Edition

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...

May 1, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 5/2/22 Edition

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...

April 25, 2022