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Artwork for Make Believe Ballroom

Make Believe Ballroom

Jeff Bressler
Big Band Era
Swing Jazz
Glenn Miller
Artie Shaw
Benny Goodman
Make Believe Ballroom
Ella Fitzgerald
Delta Four
Louis Armstrong
Count Basie
Chattanooga Choo Choo
1940s
Billie Holiday
Charlie Barnett
World War II
Music History
Duke Ellington
Scat Singing
Ivy Anderson
Jazz

Hosted by Jeff Bressler, The Make Believe Ballroom, each week, brings you Classic Big Band Hits from the 30s and 40s.The program has been broadcast almost continuously since 1935. 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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes225Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music HistoryMusic CommentaryMusic

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Artwork for Make Believe Ballroom

Latest Episodes

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom hosted by Jeff Bressler, a look at how smaller radio markets got their musical programming, two somewhat forgotten big band era stars, two infamous musicians with checkered pasts, and also more reco... more

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom hosted by Jeff Bressler, a look at a famous jazz club and eatery on an iconic street in New York City, music and discussion about 1930s and 40s small group jazz, and also more records and reminiscen... more

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom - the greatest public relations stunt in big band history, a story of the early days of the Ballroom hosted by Martin Block, some well-known arrangers, in addition to many more songs and reminisces.... more

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom - a scholarly way to start a band, a look at two clubs that served military members during WWII with music and cheer, Bing and Andrews Sisters duets history, in addition to many more songs and remin... more

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Recent Guests

Manny Klein
One of the greatest all-around musicians and trumpet players of the big band era
Episode: Make Believe Ballroom - 7/25/25 Edition
Lenny from Down the Block
Retired producer Emeritus of the Make Believe Ballroom and host of Record Pick of the Week
Make Believe Ballroom
Episode: Make Believe Ballroom - 4/11/25 Edition

Host

Jeff Bressler
Host of the Make Believe Ballroom, delivering an engaging blend of classic Big Band music with rich storytelling about its history and artists.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 20 ratings
  • Keep Them Playing

    Love Big Band. 30s and 40s are my favorite. Glad I came upon you on iTunes podcast. Thank you. Gets me through the bad days we’re going through

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Big Band Babs
    United Statesa year ago
  • Make Believe Ballroom

    Great show gives pleasure to my 90 year old mom and in joy the lovely collection of music!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tom from babylon
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show is praised for its ability to evoke pleasant memories and serve as a comforting source of entertainment, especially for older listeners.
Listeners appreciate the nostalgic musical journey that celebrates the Big Band era, often expressing gratitude for the engaging storytelling that accompanies the music.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Make Believe Ballroom - 1/16/26 Edition
Q: Why did Bing Crosby record so many duets with the Andrews Sisters?
Bing Crosby recorded numerous duets with the Andrews Sisters because their popularity ensured hits, and he enjoyed their upbeat harmonies that complemented his style.
Make Believe Ballroom -5/30/25 Edition
Q: Can you talk about that devastating cabaret tax once again?
Jeff discusses the cabaret tax's impact, explaining it levied a rate of 5% on revenues from venues offering live entertainment, which significantly increased to 30% during WWII, drastically affecting big band revenues and leading to their decline.
Make Believe Ballroom - 4/18/25 Edition
Q: Did Bing Crosby and his brother Bob ever record together?
Jeff confirms that Bing and Bob collaborated a few times, including a Dixieland-style version of 'I'm Walking the Floor Over You'.
Make Believe Ballroom - 11/22/24 Edition
Q: What was the original theme song for the Make Believe Ballroom?
The original theme song was Razzaf and Deniker by Charlie Barnett and his Glen Island Casino Orchestra, recorded in 1936.
Make Believe Ballroom - 2/14/25 Edition
Q: Can you stop playing scratchy records?
There is a balance between playing remastered tracks and preserving historical records, which may have a lower sound quality due to their popularity.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Make Believe Ballroom

What is Make Believe Ballroom about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast offers a rich exploration of classic Big Band music from the 1930s and 1940s, blending beloved tracks with engaging historical anecdotes and listener interactions. Each episode showcases iconic musicians and their significant contributions to the genre, while also delving into personal stories and listener requests that highlight the communal spirit of the era. Particularly noteworthy is the host's dedication to preserving the legacy of Big Band music, providing a nostalgic journey through cultural history that resonates with both music enthusiasts and casual listeners alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for Make Believe Ballroom?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Make Believe Ballroom. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Make Believe Ballroom and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Make Believe Ballroom get?

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What are the audience demographics for Make Believe Ballroom?

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How many subscribers and views does Make Believe Ballroom have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Make Believe Ballroom has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Make Believe Ballroom?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Make Believe Ballroom:

1. The Moth
2. Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade

How many episodes of Make Believe Ballroom are there?

Make Believe Ballroom launched 6 years ago and published 225 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Make Believe Ballroom?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Make Believe Ballroom?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Make Believe Ballroom from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Make Believe Ballroom?

Recent guests on Make Believe Ballroom include:

1. Manny Klein
2. Lenny from Down the Block

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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