Make Believe Ballroom

Jeff Bressler
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Music History
  • Updated weekly

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.  

  1. 2 days ago

    Make Believe Ballroom - 8/14/26 Edition

    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.

  2. 7 Aug

    Make Believe Ballroom - 8/7/26 Edition

    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.

  3. 31 Jul

    Make Believe Ballroom - 7/31/26 Edition

    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.

  4. 24 Jul

    Make Believe Ballroom - 7/24/26 Edition

    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.

  5. 17 Jul

    Make Believe Ballroom - 7/17/26 Edition

    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.

  6. 10 Jul

    Make Believe Ballroom - 7/10/26 Edition

    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.

  7. 3 Jul

    Make Believe Ballroom 7/3/26 Edition

    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.

  8. 26 Jun

    Make Believe Ballroom - 6/26/26 Edition

    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.

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About

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.  

Information

  • Creator
    Jeff Bressler
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    252
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Retro Radioland
  • Show Website
    Make Believe Ballroom

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