
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.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 235 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Music HistoryMusic CommentaryMusic | |||

On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom, hosted by Jeff Bressler, a salute to a female blues vocalist, little remembered, a rare Artie Shaw record, 15-year-old Judy Garland, how a song got an unusual name, plus many more records, stories,... more
On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom, hosted by Jeff Bressler, Sarah Vaughn’s start; Count Basie reached the masses from a tiny club; the first band Benny Goodman led; listeners, emails, plus many more records, stories, and reminiscenc... more
On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom, hosted by Jeff Bressler, Hawaiian swing, a bandleader with no biography, plus many more records, stories, and reminiscences from the big band era.
On this week's edition of the Make Believe Ballroom, hosted by Jeff Bressler, some "royalty" of jazz, the original King of Swing, a forgotten record label, plus many more records, stories, and reminiscences from the big band era.
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
Great show gives pleasure to my 90 year old mom and in joy the lovely collection of music!
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #185 | |
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Apple Podcasts | #135 | |
Apple Podcasts | #94 | |
Apple Podcasts | #163 |
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Classic big band hits from the 1930s and 1940s are curated with a warm, radio‑dj style host who weaves track selections with backstage stories, artist anecdotes, and historical context. Episodes mix beloved 78 rpm recordings, listener requests, and occasional guest features, delivering a nostalgic yet informative tour of the era. Notable strengths include long-running, disciplined curation, deep dives into recording history and venues, and a consistent focus on the music and personalities that defined the big band period. This show is likely to appeal to jazz and swing enthusiasts, history buffs, and listeners seeking moodful, story‑driven music experiences.
What makes this program stand out is its seamless blend of music and lore, the hos... more
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Make Believe Ballroom launched 6 years ago and published 235 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Make Believe Ballroom include:
1. Manny Klein
2. Lenny from Down the Block
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