George Olsen, was a U.S musician and bandleader. He was most popular in the years 1924-35, beginning with his recording of ‘The Hottest Man in Town’ becoming a hit. He’s your Phantom Dancer feature artist this week.
The Phantom Dancer is your weekly non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV every week.
LISTEN to this week’s Phantom Dancer mix (online after 2pm AEST, Tuesday 2 January) and weeks of Phantom Dancer mixes online at, at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/
GEORGE
The George Olsen Orchestra first played at the Multnomah Hotel, Portland. He then headed to Broadway, as musical director for the shows Kid Boots (1923), the Ziegfeld Follies of 1924, Ziegfeld Follies of 1925, and Good News (1927).
George Olsen and his orchestra were in Eddie Cantor’s 1928 Broadway hit Whoopee!, and in the 1930 movie version.
In the Follies George met his first wife, singer, Ethel Shutta, pronounced Shoot-tay. Olsen and Shutta were heard on the Oldsmobile Program on CBS radio in 1933. Olsen was also orchestra leader for the first season of The Jack Benny Program in 1932.
OLSEN
Olsen signed with Victor in 1924 and remained as one of Victor’s most popular bands until 1933 when he signed with Columbia. He stayed with Columbia till January, 1934. He recorded a single session in 1938 for Decca, and one final date for the Varsity label in 1940.
Singer-saxophonist Fred MacMurray was in the Olsen Orchestra in 1930 on his way to eventual movie stardom, recording a vocal on I’m in the Market for You.
Olsen’s long-time alto saxist and singer, Fran Frey, with his distinctive, reedy bass-baritone, was perhaps the best known Olsenite until he left in 1933 for a career as a music director in radio.
In 1936, Olsen became leader of Orville Knapp’s band after Knapp died in a plane crash. Olsen was chosen to lead the band by Knapp’s widow. He called it ‘The Orchestra of Tomorrow’. Morale problems plagued the group. In 1938, after many musicians had already left, the group disbanded.
In the 1960s Olsen ran a popular local restaurant in Paramus NJÂ called “George Olsen’s”. A reviewer wrote, “Olsen is there every day greeting guests at lunch and dinner… In the background, the original George Olsen records of the Twenties play softly.”
2 January PLAY LIST
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Play List – The Phantom Dancer
107.3 2SER-FM Sydney
LISTEN ONLINE Community Radio Network Show CRN #634
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107.3 2SER Tuesday 2 January 2024 |
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Set 1
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Stars in Jazz | |
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Theme + Disorder at the Border
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Coleman Hawkins – Roy Eldridge
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‘Stars in Jazz’
Birdland WNBC NBC NYC 1952 |
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Stuffy
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Coleman Hawkins – Roy Eldridge |
‘Stars in Jazz’
Birdland WNBC NBC NYC 1952 |
| I Only Have Eyes For You |
Arthur Prysock
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‘Stars in Jazz’
Birdland WNBC NBC NYC 1952 |
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Set 2
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Early Rock | |
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Three O’Clock in the Morning
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King Porter Orchestra
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‘Burgie Big Beat’ KNX CBS LA 1956 |
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Poor Butterfly
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King Porter Orchestra
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‘Burgie Big Beat’
KNX CBS LA 1956 |
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The Magic Touch
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The Platters
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‘Burgie Big Beat’
KNX CBS LA 1956 |
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One O’Clock Jump
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King Porter Orchestra
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‘Burgie Big Beat’
KNX CBS LA 1956 |
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Set 3
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George Olsen | |
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Theme + Two Cigarettes
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George Olsen Orchestra (voc) Sherman Hayes
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‘One Night Stand’
Copacabana NYC
AFRS Re-broadcast 11 Feb 1945 |
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This Heart of Mine
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George Olsen Orchestra (voc) Judith Blair
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‘One Night Stand’
Copacabana NYC
AFRS Re-broadcast 11 Feb 1945 |
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There Goes That Song Again
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George Olsen Orchestra (voc) Sherman Hayes
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‘One Night Stand’
Copacabana NYC
AFRS Re-broadcast 11 Feb 1945 |
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Bell Bottom Trousers
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George Olsen Orchestra (voc) Judith Blair and Sherman Hayes and Band
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‘One Night Stand’
Copacabana NYC
AFRS Re-broadcast 11 Feb 1945 |
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Set 4
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Johnny Pineapple | |
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Theme + Little Grass Shack
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Johnny Pineapple |
‘New Years Dancing Party’
Polynesian Village Edgewater Beach Hotel WGN Chicago 1 Jan 1958 |
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Jingle Bells + Hawaiian New Years
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Johnny Pineapple and the Polynesian Sweethearts
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‘New Years Dancing Party’
Polynesian Village Edgewater Beach Hotel WGN Chicago 1 Jan 1958 |
| My Blooming Flower |
Johnny Pineapple
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‘New Years Dancing Party’
Polynesian Village Edgewater Beach Hotel WGN Chicago 1 Jan 1958 |
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Set 5
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Charlie Barnet | |
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Redskin Rhumba (theme) + Cotton Tail
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Charlie Barnet Orchestra
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Aircheck
Los Angeles Mar 1945 |
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Strolling
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Charlie Barnet Orchestra
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Aircheck
Dec 1945 |
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Everything But You
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Charlie Barnet Orchestra (voc) Fran Warren |
Casino Gardens
Ocean Park Ca KECA ABC LA Jan 1946 |
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Poor Little Rich Girl
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Charlie Barnet Orchestra
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Aircheck
Dec 1945 |
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Set 6
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Glenn Miller | |
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Moonlight Serenade (theme) + The Lady’s in Love with You
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Glenn Miller Orchestra (voc) Tex Beneke and Glenn Miller
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Meadowbrook Ballroom
Cedar Grove NJ WJZ NBC Blue NYC 18 Apr 1939 |
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Wishing
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Glenn Miller Orchestra (voc) Ray Eberle
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Meadowbrook Ballroom
Cedar Grove NJ WJZ NBC Blue NYC 18 Apr 1939 |
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Dear Arabella
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Glenn Miller Orchestra (voc) Marion Hutton, Tex Beneke and The Modernaires
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Cafe Rouge
Hotel Pennsylvania WJZ NBC Blue NYC 27 Dec 1941 |
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Elmer’s Tune + Keep ’em Flying + Close
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Glenn Miller Orchestra (voc) Ray Eberle and The Modernaires
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Cafe Rouge
Hotel Pennsylvania WJZ NBC Blue NYC 27 Dec 1941 |
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Set 7
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Blue Barron | |
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The Yam
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Blue Barron Orchestra (voc) Charlie Fisher
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Radio Transcription
1938 |
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At Long Last Love
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Blue Barron Orchestra (voc) Russ Carlyle | Radio Transcription 1940 |
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Love of My Life
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Blue Barron Orchestra (voc) Russ Carlyle
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Radio Transcription
1939 |
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You’re the Only Star in My Blue Heaven
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Blue Barron Orchestra (voc) Russ Carlyle and The Glee Club
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Radio Transcription
1940 |
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Set 8
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Dave Brubeck | |
| Spring is Here |
Dave Brubeck
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Birdland
WJZ ABC NY Dec 1953 |
| A Minor Thing | Dave Brubeck |
Basin Street
WCBS CBS NY Feb 1956 |
| In Your Own Sweet Way |
Dave Brubeck
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Basin Street
WCBS CBS NY Feb 1956 |
Actor - Singer - Voiceover 