Make Believe Ballroom

About Make Believe Ballroom

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.

Publisher

Jeff Bressler

Category

music · music · music

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Jul 2020

Latest episode

2 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

32 of 268 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   2 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Make Believe Ballroom - 10/2/26 Edition

   Host [Host Name] explores songs about a high-octane drink, Glenn Miller in Hollywood, a Dutch bandleader, and bass players on a street corner.

2. 

   25 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Make Believe Ballroom - 9/25/26 Edition

   Host [Host Name] explores rare Benny Goodman recordings, the Andrews Sisters' country turn, and musical memories from the big band era in this interview.

3. 

   18 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Make Believe Ballroom - 9/18/26 Edition

   Host Jonathan Schwartz shares enduring music and memories from the big band and jazz era, featuring singing groups and Glenn Miller's film score.

Inside a recent episode

Make Believe Ballroom - 10/2/26 Edition

Published 2 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Thank you. We can share our trouble all together, it's as plain as ABC. And you know that it will be much better if you'll only share your love with me. We can even share our hugs and kisses, how much nicer that will be. And you know that I will always be near if you'll only share your love with me. What's the use of our being apart? I will never let you go. What's the use, dear, of breaking my heart? Surely you will always know. We could even have a little cottage with a window by the sea. And perhaps a cozy little cradle, if you'll only share your love with me. . . . Thank you. That was Shared Your Love by the Callie Holden Orchestra, recorded out in Hollywood. on june the 1st 1932 featuring the callie holden trio on vocal now here's the inside story on that side that record we just heard was never released to the general public victor records privately pressed the disc and for a Los Angeles song plugger who worked for the Gene Johnston Music Publishing House. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.3 / 5

12 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 54 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

74

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

85

Contact Make Believe Ballroom

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Make Believe Ballroom