Heard on Public, Community and University Radio Stations across the US

Episodes

Make Believe Ballroom - 4/9/23 Edition
April 9, 2023

Make Believe Ballroom - 4/9/23 Edition

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom Duke Ellington serves as a second banana, some notes on the song Dipsy Doodle, more music from the 1944 War Bonds fundraiser the Esquire All American Jazz concert, a few great …

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 4/2/23 Edition
April 3, 2023

Make Believe Ballroom - 4/2/23 Edition

On today's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom a look at how a radio show got the word out about a brand new Broadway hit, Benny Goodman on the radio, a long look at a classical concert as well as …

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 3/27/23 Edition
March 27, 2023

Make Believe Ballroom - 3/27/23 Edition

Join us for this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM as we tell a Sinatra story and read a wonderful listener email about autographs along with our usual assortment of fantastic tales and music from the beloved big band …

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 3/20/23 Edition
March 20, 2023

Make Believe Ballroom - 3/20/23 Edition

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM, a look at Billy May, some tremendous British swing and dance band music, a comedian songwriter, and a plethora of additional stories and music from the wonderful big band era.

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 3/12/23 Edition
March 13, 2023

Make Believe Ballroom - 3/12/23 Edition

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM the first time ever heard on record, or seen on film for two legendary celebrities, a look at something heard in the background for decades that we don't think much about …

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 3/5/23 edition
March 6, 2023

Make Believe Ballroom - 3/5/23 edition

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM a little remembered band, some British dance band music, a Benny Goodman question, a cowboy tune, a state song plus a wide array of great music from the big band era …

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 2/26/23 Edition
Feb. 27, 2023

Make Believe Ballroom - 2/26/23 Edition

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM a look at combining talent to produce some wonderful records at Brunswick and Decca, a Bing Crosby duet partner, a look at a singer who walked away from fame as well …

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 2/19/23 Edition
Feb. 20, 2023

Make Believe Ballroom - 2/19/23 Edition

On this week's edition of the MAKE BELIEVE BALLROOM, Fletcher Henderson arrangments led to Benny Goodman's success, a listen to a couple of "all girl" big bands of the 40s, two new Artie Shaw stories, a singer turned actor, as …

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 2/12/23 Edition
Feb. 12, 2023

Make Believe Ballroom - 2/12/23 Edition

This week is a very special 88th 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 in February of 1935 via WNEW …

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 2/5/23 Edition
Feb. 5, 2023

Make Believe Ballroom - 2/5/23 Edition

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 …

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 1/30/23 Edition
Jan. 30, 2023

Make Believe Ballroom - 1/30/23 Edition

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 …

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 1/23/23 edition
Jan. 22, 2023

Make Believe Ballroom - 1/23/23 edition

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.

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 1/16/23 Edition
Jan. 15, 2023

Make Believe Ballroom - 1/16/23 Edition

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 …

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 1/9/23 Edition
Jan. 8, 2023

Make Believe Ballroom - 1/9/23 Edition

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 …

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 1/2/23 Edition
Jan. 2, 2023

Make Believe Ballroom - 1/2/23 Edition

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 …

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 12/26/22 Edition
Dec. 25, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 12/26/22 Edition

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 …

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 12/19/22 Edition
Dec. 19, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 12/19/22 Edition

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 …

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 12/12/22 Edition
Dec. 11, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 12/12/22 Edition

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 …

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 12/5/22 Edition
Dec. 5, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 12/5/22 Edition

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.

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 11/28/22 Edition
Nov. 27, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 11/28/22 Edition

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.

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 11/21/22 Edition
Nov. 20, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 11/21/22 Edition

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 …

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 11/14/22 Edition
Nov. 13, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 11/14/22 Edition

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.

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 11/7/22 Edition
Nov. 7, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 11/7/22 Edition

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 …

Episode page
Make Believe Ballroom - 10/31/22 Edition
Oct. 30, 2022

Make Believe Ballroom - 10/31/22 Edition

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.

Episode page