Make Believe Ballroom
The Make Believe Ballroom carries on the tradition of past hosts Martin Block, Al Jarvis, William B Williams, and Steve Allen by bringing you the greatest hits of the big band era of the 1930s and 1940s, No cover, no minimum, just sit back and enjoy. The Ballroom is also heard across the U.S. on public broadcasting, community, and college radio stations.
Episodes
February 5, 2023 • 58 min
Join us for this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM as we hear some music that made the Depression less depressing, so lesser known Glenn Miller recordings, an autographed photo listeners request as well as a whole lot more great music from the Big Band era of the 1930s and 1940s.
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January 30, 2023 • 58 min
On today's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom a few tough trivia questions, we continue to play some artists we haven't heard over the past year, a similar story with 2 different endings, plus much more music and tales from the revered big band era.
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January 22, 2023 • 58 min
On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM a look at songwriting due, how a celebrity got her stage name, tunes you didn't think had lyrics, plus a program bursting with more music from the treasured big band era.
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January 15, 2023 • 58 min
Join us for another edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM as we pay tribute to one of the greatest songwriters of all time, take a look at some novelty tunes and play a host of classic hits and stories from the big band era.
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January 8, 2023 • 58 min
On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM we vow to play music of artists we have not heard on the show in over a year, the story behind the story of the song In the Mood, an email letter for an old listener plus many more stories and songs from the cherished big band era.
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January 2, 2023 • 57 min
For our first program of 2023 a look at some of the songs composed by the legendary Harry Warren, a new listeners email, some tunes from an obscure record label plus a bountiful number of additional recordings and stories from the big band era.
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December 25, 2022 • 58 min
On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM a few Sinatra tunes attributed to him but first recorded by others, some songs dedicated to a listener born in 1938, and a treasure trove of additional records and stories from the big band era.
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December 19, 2022 • 58 min
On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM a look at a novelty singer of the '60s and 70s who molded his career after an old time crooner, a songstress who for a while was more popular than her uber famous husband, the Mills Brothers' unique "band" plus a whole lot more great music and stories from the big band era.
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December 11, 2022 • 58 min
Join us for this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM. Lenny and his wife are away on vacation so that gives Jeff Bressler the opportunity to play a few songs from the 50s and 20s. A few great listener's emails and a whole lot more music and stories from the big band era.
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December 5, 2022 • 58 min
Join us for this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM, where we reminisce about stories that appeared in 1930s and 1940s copies of both Billboard and Down Beat magazines. Great music and tales from the Big Band Era.
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November 27, 2022 • 58 min
A look at a famous Copywrite dispute, a stroll past a historic music building, a talented female lyricist plus a bunch of great music from the big band era.
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November 20, 2022 • 58 min
Join us for another great episode of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM. On today's show a look at songs with female names in the title, a Lenny from Down the Block on Broadway story, a look at an email that asks for a request that has nothing to do with music plus a plethora of additional music, and stories from the big band era.
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November 13, 2022 • 58 min
On today's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM, a numerical email from a listener, songs about food and beverage, Jeff Bressler's tale of visiting the dairy case, and a whole lot more music and history of the big band era.
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November 7, 2022 • 58 min
On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM, a look at one of the greatest female lyricists of all time, an email from a listener with a pretty strange name, some music by a Benny Goodman small group, then some individual music from its members, a question about Sammy Kaye and a whole lot more music and stories from the big band era of the 1930s and 1940s.
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October 30, 2022 • 58 min
Join us for this week's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM as we continue to delve into the Ralphie from Canarsie, Brooklyn record club list, Bing Crosby duets, a bizarre Artie Shaw magazine piece, and spin a few novelty songs.
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October 24, 2022 • 58 min
On this week's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM via a raffle drum, some random music selections from our famous Ralphie for Canarsie Brooklyn's list of his and his neighbor's record clubs close to 800 ranked songs from the big band era.
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October 16, 2022 • 58 min
On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom a long look at a long-a-go ballroom in the keystone state that is still in operation today!
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October 9, 2022 • 58 min
Join us for this week's MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM as we take a look at some tunes that were featured in movie musicals during the 1940s. Over 100 films in the 30s and 40s featured big band music.
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October 1, 2022 • 58 min
On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom Jack Teagarden's some may say strange obsession, we go back to 1935 to learn about a historic radio program and in between some of the great tunes and stories from the big band era.
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September 25, 2022 • 58 min
On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom, a look at a singer who you might not recognize..and perhaps neither did he, a tribute to a songwriter who we, unfortunately, gave short shrift to last week, a listeners email, and a show filled with more great music from the big band era.
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