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Published by Jeff Bressler
Hosted by Jeff Bressler , The Make Believe Ballroom brings you Classic Big Band jazz, blues, boogie-woogie, and dixieland hits from the 30s and 40s each week. The program has been broadcast almost continuously since 1935. The Ballroom is America's third-longest-running music radio program. 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.
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From the feed
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On this week's show: A vocalist who thought a hit would be a flop. Another female vocalist whose forgotten words created a classic. Yet another female vocalist who might have gone back in time. All this and many more big band jazz recordings on the Make Believe Ballroom this week.
On this week's show: bandleader feuds, a new Louis Armstrong release, and a retired bandleader becomes a government agent. Plus more big-band jazz recordings on the Make Believe Ballroom this week.
On this week's show: Three guys named Chick, Count Basie's favorite time of the day, Abbott and Costello music hits, a record with a historic title. All this and much more on today's edition of the program.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
On this week’s show: A look at “Hard Luck” Amy, a vocalist whose mishaps paid off in the end —did old fogeys listen to swing music? Plus many more great songs and tales to cherish and enjoy on the program.
On this week’s show: why Kansas City was a jazz hub, a song that brings a memory back to Jeff Bressler—this and many more great songs and tales to cherish and enjoy on the program.
On this week’s show: the "Mayor of Harlem," a song about a profession that helped bring black Americans into the middle class, and three crooners who caused swooning—this and many more great songs and tales to cherish and enjoy on the program.
On this week’s show: a sneaky marketing ploy involving a popular songstress, a great Bing Crosby story —this and many more great songs and tales to cherish and enjoy on the program. 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.
On this week’s show: a few Johnny Mercer tunes, a bandleader who didn't know who the real star was, some swinging polkas—this and many more great songs and stories to cherish and enjoy on the program.
On this week’s show: Songs about BBQ and potato salad, some VDISC selections, a popular pianist and songstress lost in time —this and many more great songs and stories to cherish and enjoy on the program.
On this week’s show: a historic “jass” record, Benny Goodman’s first job, an on-air mistake corrected, emails from listeners—this and many more great songs and stories to cherish and enjoy on the program.
This week's Make Believe Ballroom with Jeff Bressler brings you Classic Big Band Hits from the 30s and 40s—on this week’s show: Artie Shaw’s theme song and how it was written, groups of singing sisters, emails from listeners —this and many more great songs and stories to cherish and enjoy on the program.
This week's Make Believe Ballroom with Jeff Bressler brings you Classic Big Band Hits from the 30s and 40s - a game show host's famous uncle, a longtime listener's special playlist, a gambling song, Lenny from Down the Block with his Record Pick of the Week—this and many more great songs and stories to cherish and enjoy on the program.
On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom, hosted by Jeff Bressler, a listener's request for more information on a lesser-known bandleader's autograph, a famous female bandleader's hidden secret, some radio remotes, and more records and reminiscences from the big band and jazz era.
On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom, hosted by Jeff Bressler, some songs never before played on the show, an eerie premonition relayed by a big band songstress, a female songwriting team in the 30s, and more records and reminiscences from the big band and jazz era.
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Observed November 4, 2026.
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