Christmas on 1930s-60s Radio | Phantom Dancer 19 December 2023

Christmas Music from 1930s-60s Christmas radio on this week’s Phantom Dancer. Hear Kid Ory, Charlie Parker, Patti Page and more. Listen…your Phantom Dancer feature 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 19 December) and weeks of Phantom Dancer mixes online at, at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/

AUSTRALIAN CHRISTMAS #1

AUSTRALIAN CHRISTMAS #2

19 December PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney LISTEN ONLINE Community Radio Network Show CRN #632
107.3 2SER Tuesday 19 December 2023 12:04 – 2:00pm (+11 hours GMT) National Program 5UV Adelaide Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 5GTR Mt Gambier Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 3MBR Murrayville Monday 3 – 4am 4NAG Keppel FM Monday 3 – 4am 2MIA Griffith Monday 3 – 4am 2BAR Edge FM Bega Monday 3 – 4am 2BRW Braidwood Monday 3 – 4am 2YYY Young Monday 3 – 4am 7RPH Hobart Monday 3 – 4pm 3VKV Alpine Radio Monday 6 – 7pm 7MID Oatlands Monday 3am – 4 and 6 -7pm 2MCE Bathurst Wednesday 9 – 10am 1ART ArtsoundFM Canberra Friday 10 – 11am and Sunday 11pm Reading Radio (QLD) Friday 1am – 2 2RRR Ryde Friday 11am – 12 2ARM Armidale Friday 12 – 1pm 5LCM Lofty FM Adelaide Friday 1 – 2pm 6GME Radio Goolarri Broome Saturday 4am – 5am Denmark FM (West Australia) Saturday 10 – 11am Repeat: Wednesdays 10 – 11pm 7LTN Launceston Sunday 5 – 6am 3MGB Mallacoota Sunday 5 – 6am 3BBR West Gippsland Sunday 5 – 6pm 2SEA Sapphire Coast Eden Sunday 9 – 10pm
Set 1	Henry Hall
Theme + It Had to Be You	Henry Hall and the BBC Dance Orchestra	‘Henry Hall Show’ BBC London 21 Dec 1936
The Fairy on the Christmas Tree	Henry Hall and the BBC Dance Orchestra (voc) Molly, Marie and Mary	‘Henry Hall Show’ BBC London 21 Dec 1936
Sing Me a Swing Song	Henry Hall and the BBC Dance Orchestra (voc) Don Donovan	‘Henry Hall Show’ BBC London 21 Dec 1936
Set 2	Bing Crosby
Open + We Wish You a Merry Christmas + Jingle Bells	Bing Crosby and Chorus (voc) Paul Weston Orchestra	‘Christmas Sing with Bing’ Radio Transcription CBS LA 24 Dec 1962
We Wish You a Merry Christmas + Here Comes Santa Claus	Rosemary Clooney and Johnny Mercer (voc) Paul Weston Orchestra	‘Christmas Sing with Bing’ Radio Transcription CBS LA 24 Dec 1962
The Holly and the Ivy + Deck the Halls + Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer	Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney and Chorus (voc) Paul Weston Orchestra	‘Christmas Sing with Bing’ Radio Transcription CBS LA 24 Dec 1962
Joy to the World + Happy Holidays (theme)	Bing Crosby and Chorus (voc) Paul Weston Orchestra	‘Christmas Sing with Bing’ Radio Transcription CBS LA 24 Dec 1962
Set 3	Organ and Piano
Deep Purple (theme) + Santa Claus is Coming to Town + Joy to the World	Grace Caldwell (hammond organ) Bill Pollard (piano)	‘Keyboard Melodies’ Lobby Northern Hotel KGHL NBC Billings Montana Dec 1954
In the Mood	Grace Caldwell (hammond organ) Bill Pollard (piano)	‘Keyboard Melodies’ Lobby Northern Hotel KGHL NBC Billings Montana Dec 1954
Always	Grace Caldwell (hammond organ) Bill Pollard (piano)	‘Keyboard Melodies’ Lobby Northern Hotel KGHL NBC Billings Montana Dec 1954
Angry + Close	Grace Caldwell (hammond organ) Bill Pollard (piano)	‘Keyboard Melodies’ Lobby Northern Hotel KGHL NBC Billings Montana Dec 1954
Set 4	Count Basie
Open + Let’s Put Our Heads Together + Come To Me	Rudy Vallee and the Connecticut Yankees (elec bj) Sleepy Hall (voc) Rudy Vallee	‘Royal Gelatin Hour’ WEAF NBC Red NYC 17 Dec 1936
Little Old Lady	Rudy Vallee and the Connecticut Yankees (voc) Rudy Vallee	‘Royal Gelatin Hour’ WEAF NBC Red NYC 17 Dec 1936
Riding High	Rudy Vallee and the Connecticut Yankees (voc) Swing Kids Quartet	‘Royal Gelatin Hour’ WEAF NBC Red NYC 17 Dec 1936
Come To Me + Let’s Put Our Heads Together (theme)	Rudy Vallee and the Connecticut Yankees (elec bj) Sleepy Hall (voc) Rudy Vallee	‘Royal Gelatin Hour’ WEAF NBC Red NYC 17 Dec 1936
Set 5	Kid Ory
Theme + Maple Leaf Rag	Kid Ory and his San Francisco Jazz Band	Club Hangover KCBS San Francisco 25 Dec 1954
Basin Street Blues	Kid Ory and his San Francisco Jazz Band	Club Hangover KCBS San Francisco 25 Dec 1954
That’s a’Plenty	Kid Ory and his San Francisco Jazz Band	Club Hangover KCBS San Francisco 25 Dec 1954
Set 6	Dinah Shore
Open + Let It Snow	Dinah Shore	‘The Dinah Shore Show’ WRCA NBC NYC 24 Dec 1954
Happy Christmas, Little Friend	Dinah Shore	‘The Dinah Shore Show’ WRCA NBC NYC 24 Dec 1954
Walkin’ Down the Road	Dinah Shore	‘The Dinah Shore Show’ WRCA NBC NYC 24 Dec 1954
Teach Me Tonight + Close	Dinah Shore	‘The Dinah Shore Show’ WRCA NBC NYC 24 Dec 1954
Set 7	Jingle Bells
Let’s Dance (theme) + Jingle Bells	Benny Goodman Orchestra	‘NBC Rhythm Thesaurus’ Radio Transcription 6 Jun 1935
Jingle Bells	Mel Blanc and The Sportsmen	‘Mail Call’ AFRS Hollywood 1945
Jingle Bells	Glenn Miller Orchestra (voc) Tex Beneke and The Modernaires	‘Sunset Serenade’ Cafe Rouge Hotel Pennsylvania WJZ NBC Blue NYC 27 Dec 1941
Jingle Bells	Dave Brubeck Quartet	Birdland WJZ ABC NYC Jan 1954
Set 8	Charlie Parker
Jumping with Symphony Sid/Jingle Bells (theme) + Half Nelson	Charlie Parker	Royal Roost WMCA NYC 25 Dec 1948
White Christmas	Charlie Parker	Royal Roost WMCA NYC 25 Dec 1948
Little Willie Leaps	Charlie Parker	Royal Roost WMCA NYC 25 Dec 1948

Freddy Rich – Academy Award Winning Band Leader | Phantom Dancer 12 December 2023

Freddy Rich, born in Poland, was a US pianist and band leader who lead dance bands then jazz bands in the 1920s, radio bands in the 1930s, and movie studio bands in the 1940s-50s.  Freddy Rich was co-writer of the song ‘I’m Just Wild About Animal Crackers’. 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 12 December) and weeks of Phantom Dancer mixes online at, at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/

FRED

Among the musicians in Freddy Rich’s 1920s bands were the Dorsey Brothers, Joe Venuti, Bunny Berrigan and Benny Goodman

He studied at the Damrosch Conservatory of Music and led an orchestra at the Hotel Astor from the earley 1920s..

His theme songs were “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” and “So Beats My Heart for You.”

Hee toured Europe from 1925-28 and enjoyed a long band residency at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.

In the late 1920s he started leading a studio band.

He recorded for Okeh, Columbia, Paramount, Camden, and Vocalion, often under the names Fred Richards, the Astorites, and the Hotel Astor Band. He recorded piano rolls.

Rich also lead network radio bands and made radio transcriptions including ‘Friendly Five Footnotes’ for Jarman Shoes under the name of ‘Friendly Fred’.

In the late 1930s, he became musical director for radio stations.

RICH

In 1942, he moved to a staff position with United Artists Studios in Hollywood, where he remained for most of his career.

He was nominated for two Academy Awards:

• 1943 – Nominated for Academy Award for Original Music Score (Scoring of a Musical Picture) for Stage Door Canteen
• 1944 – Nominated for Academy Award for Original Music Score (Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture) for Jack London

12 December PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney LISTEN ONLINE Community Radio Network Show CRN #631
107.3 2SER Tuesday 12 December 2023 12:04 – 2:00pm (+11 hours GMT) National Program 5UV Adelaide Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 5GTR Mt Gambier Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 3MBR Murrayville Monday 3 – 4am 4NAG Keppel FM Monday 3 – 4am 2MIA Griffith Monday 3 – 4am 2BAR Edge FM Bega Monday 3 – 4am 2BRW Braidwood Monday 3 – 4am 2YYY Young Monday 3 – 4am 7RPH Hobart Monday 3 – 4pm 3VKV Alpine Radio Monday 6 – 7pm 7MID Oatlands Monday 3am – 4 and 6 -7pm 2MCE Bathurst Wednesday 9 – 10am 1ART ArtsoundFM Canberra Friday 10 – 11am and Sunday 11pm Reading Radio (QLD) Friday 1am – 2 2RRR Ryde Friday 11am – 12 2ARM Armidale Friday 12 – 1pm 5LCM Lofty FM Adelaide Friday 1 – 2pm 6GME Radio Goolarri Broome Saturday 4am – 5am Denmark FM (West Australia) Saturday 10 – 11am Repeat: Wednesdays 10 – 11pm 7LTN Launceston Sunday 5 – 6am 3MGB Mallacoota Sunday 5 – 6am 3BBR West Gippsland Sunday 5 – 6pm 2SEA Sapphire Coast Eden Sunday 9 – 10pm
Set 1	Duke Ellington
Take the A-Train (theme) + Midriff	Duke Ellington  Orchestra	‘Date with the Duke’ 400 Restaurant NYC AFRS Re-broadcast Jun 1945
Candy	Duke Ellington  Orchestra (voc) Ray Nance	‘Date with the Duke’ 400 Restaurant NYC AFRS Re-broadcast Jun 1945
Black, Brown & Beige Suite: Worksong	Duke Ellington  Orchestra	‘Date with the Duke’ 400 Restaurant NYC AFRS Re-broadcast Jun 1945
Black, Brown & Beige Suite: Spiritual + Worksong and Spiritual	Duke Ellington  Orchestra	‘Date with the Duke’ 400 Restaurant NYC AFRS Re-broadcast Jun 1945
Set 2	Les Paul & Mary Ford
Theme + Tiger Rag	Les Paul & Mary Ford	‘The Les Paul Show’ Radio Transcription NBC Radio City LA 30 Jun 1950
Dry My Tears	Les Paul & Mary Ford	‘The Les Paul Show’ Radio Transcription NBC Radio City LA 30 Jun 1950
Up the Lazy River	Les Paul & Mary Ford	‘The Les Paul Show’ Radio Transcription NBC Radio City LA 30 Jun 1950
Some of these Days + If a Nightinggale Could Sing Like You (theme)	Les Paul & Mary Ford	‘The Les Paul Show’ Radio Transcription NBC Radio City LA 30 Jun 1950
Set 3	Fred Rich
At Your Command	Fred Rich Orchestra (voc & tp) Bunny Berrigan	Comm Rec NYC 15 Jun 1931
I’ve Got Five Dollars (theme) + Copenhagen	Fred Rich Orchestra	‘Friendly Five Footnotes’ Radio Transcription 1932
Hiding in the Shadows of the Moon	Fred Rich Orchestra	‘Friendly Five Footnotes’ Radio Transcription 1932
Some of These Days	Fred Rich Orchestra	‘Friendly Five Footnotes’ Radio Transcription 1932
Set 4	Count Basie
April in Paris	Count Basie Orchestra	‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Zardi’s KFI NBC LA 1956
Two Franks	Count Basie Orchestra	‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Zardi’s KFI NBC LA 1956
The Comeback	Count Basie Orchestra (voc) Joe Williams	‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Zardi’s KFI NBC LA 1956
One O’Clock Jump	Count Basie Orchestra	‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Zardi’s KFI NBC LA 1956
Set 5	Delta Rhythm Boys
Theme + Buying Alone	Harry Sosnick and the Savings Bonds Orchestra	‘Guest Star’ Radio Transcription 24 Apr 1949
How High the Moon	Delta Rhythm Boys	‘Guest Star’ Radio Transcription 24 Apr 1949
East of the Sun	Delta Rhythm Boys	‘Guest Star’ Radio Transcription 24 Apr 1949
Why Do I Love You? + Close	Harry Sosnick and the Savings Bonds Orchestra	‘Guest Star’ Radio Transcription 24 Apr 1949
Set 6	Buddy Rich
Rain on the Riff (theme) + Cool Breeze	Buddy Rich Orchestra	‘Spotlight Bands’ Phoenixville Pa Blue Network 24 Dec 1945
Nellie’s Nightmare	Buddy Rich Orchestra	Aircheck NYC Apr 1947
Minding My Business	Buddy Rich Orchestra (voc) Dottie Reid	‘Spotlight Bands’ Phoenixville Pa Blue Network 24 Dec 1945
Great Moments	Buddy Rich Orchestra	Radio Transcription Los Angeles Mar 1946
Set 7	Dance Band Radio Trancriptions
I Wish I Had a Sweetheart	Carl Ravazza Orchestra (voc) Carl Ravazza and Band	Radio Transcription 1941
Make With the Kisses	Sterling Young Orchestra (voc) Bobbie Ennis	Radio Transcription 1940
Violets For Your Furs	Carl Ravazza Orchestra (voc) Carl Ravazza	Radio Transcription 1941
It Had to Be You	Sterling Young Orchestra (voc) Bobbie Ennis	Radio Transcription 1940
Set 8	Jazz Mod
Two French Fries	Oscar Pettiford	Birdland WABC ABC NY Jun 1957
He’s My Guy	Oscar Pettiford	Birdland WABC ABC NY Jun 1957
Scrapple from the Apple	Charlie Parker	‘Symphony Sid Show’ Royal Roost WMCA NYC 5 Feb 1949

Shortwave Broadcasting 1940 | Phantom Dancer 5 December 2023

Shortwave broadcasting by the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra from New York to Latin America in 1940 is your Phantom Dancer Feature this week. And below are some relevant paragraphs on shortwave broadcasting taken from a 1942 article in ‘RCA Review’.

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 5 December) and weeks of Phantom Dancer mixes online at, at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/

SHORT

From ‘RCA Review’, 1942…

“AN EXPANDING horizon of steel towers, tall wooden poles, and networks of elevated antenna wires attests to the growing international broadcasting activities of NBC stations WRCA and WNBI at Bound Brook, New Jersey.

NBC has provided this service for many years. International activities have been stimulated in recent years, first, ih point of time, through the action of the Fed­eral Communications Commission authorizing commercial operation, and second, by the more important contribution this service brings to National Defence.

The Bound Brook plant contains NBC’s international transmit­ting facilities plus the WJZ transmitting facilities. The original property was purchased for these combined facilities in 1925 when RCA built its first short-wave broadcast transmitter, the predecessor of the present busy stations.

The original site consisted of 54 acres. Recently the expanding scope of NBC’s international activities resulted in the purchase of an additional 16 acres, making a total of 70 acres, most of it devoted exclusively to international transmitting antennas.”

WAVE

“It has been the writer’s privilege to be associated with radio for 26 years and with broadcasting for 20 years.

Rarely has there been an opportunity in those eventful times for any form of communication to demonstrate such unique feats as are now becoming accepted common­ places in international broadcasting.

Barely 16 years ago the first rebroadcast from across the seas took place. Scheduled rebroadcasts from the far corners of the earth have since become matters of but casual interest.

But only in recent months has the bewildered victim of catastrophe, propaganda, and censorship so fully appreciated the modern miracle of radio which enables him to listen, perhaps secretly, at night.

The following is an example of the technical character of the WRCA 9670-kc signal received in Rio de Janeiro from the steerable antenna.

It covers from 6.00 to 7.45 P.M. E.D.S.T. on May 15, 1941. Reception was on a common receiver with six feet of wire for an antenna.

Carrier strength …  Very Strong
Fading-Depth … Very slight to slight
Rate of fading … Very slow to slow
Interference from other stations … None
Static ….Very weak
Background noise … None
Quality Overall rating … Excellent.”

5 December PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney LISTEN ONLINE Community Radio Network Show CRN #630
107.3 2SER Tuesday 5 December 2023 12:04 – 2:00pm (+11 hours GMT) National Program 5UV Adelaide Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 5GTR Mt Gambier Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 3MBR Murrayville Monday 3 – 4am 4NAG Keppel FM Monday 3 – 4am 2MIA Griffith Monday 3 – 4am 2BAR Edge FM Bega Monday 3 – 4am 2BRW Braidwood Monday 3 – 4am 2YYY Young Monday 3 – 4am 7RPH Hobart Monday 3 – 4pm 3VKV Alpine Radio Monday 6 – 7pm 7MID Oatlands Monday 3am – 4 and 6 -7pm 2MCE Bathurst Wednesday 9 – 10am 1ART ArtsoundFM Canberra Friday 10 – 11am and Sunday 11pm Reading Radio (QLD) Friday 1am – 2 2RRR Ryde Friday 11am – 12 2ARM Armidale Friday 12 – 1pm 5LCM Lofty FM Adelaide Friday 1 – 2pm 6GME Radio Goolarri Broome Saturday 4am – 5am Denmark FM (West Australia) Saturday 10 – 11am Repeat: Wednesdays 10 – 11pm 7LTN Launceston Sunday 5 – 6am 3MGB Mallacoota Sunday 5 – 6am 3BBR West Gippsland Sunday 5 – 6pm 2SEA Sapphire Coast Eden Sunday 9 – 10pm
Set 1	Tommy Dorsey
Daydreams Come Teue at Night (theme) + Why Fall in Love witha Stranger? + Dime a Dozen	Dick Jurgens  Orchestra (voc) Al Galetti	‘The Treasury Show’ Garden Room Hotel Claremont Berkeley Ca ABC 9 Oct 1949
Wedding Day	Dick Jurgens Orchestra Vocals – Lee Castle	‘The Treasury Show’ Garden Room Hotel Claremont Berkeley Ca ABC 9 Oct 1949
That Old Black Magic	Dick Jurgens Orchestra	‘The Treasury Show’ Garden Room Hotel Claremont Berkeley Ca ABC 9 Oct 1949
Medley: Miss You  |  Was That the Human Thing to Do?  |  My Blue Heaven  |  Them There Eyes  |  Makin’ Whoopee + Close	Dick Jurgens Orchestra (voc) Lee Castle	‘The Treasury Show’ Garden Room Hotel Claremont Berkeley Ca ABC 9 Oct 1949
Set 2	Tommy Dorsey on Shortwave in Spanish
I’m Gettin’ Sentimental Over You (theme) + Dark Eyes	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra	‘Carnival of Broadway’ Hotel Astor Roof WNBI/WRCA NBC Shortwave NYC 19 Jun 1940
Polkadots and Moonbeams	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (voc) Frank Sinatra	‘Carnival of Broadway’ Hotel Astor Roof WNBI/WRCA NBC Shortwave NYC 19 Jun 1940
March of the Toys	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra	‘Carnival of Broadway’ Hotel Astor Roof WNBI/WRCA NBC Shortwave NYC 19 Jun 1940
Deep Night + I’m Gettin’ Sentimental Over You (theme)	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (voc) Frank Sinatra	‘Carnival of Broadway’ Hotel Astor Roof WNBI/WRCA NBC Shortwave NYC 19 Jun 1940
Set 3	Jazz TV
I Left My Baby	Count Basie Orchestra (voc) Jimmy Rushing	Seven Lively Arts ‘Sound of Jazz’ WCBS TV NYC 8 Dec 1957
Dickie’s Dream	Count Basie Orchestra	Seven Lively Arts ‘Sound of Jazz’ WCBS TV NYC 8 Dec 1957
The Train and the River	Pee Wee Russel (cl) Jimmy Giuffre (cl)  Danny Barker (g) Milt Hinton (db) Jo Jones (d)	Seven Lively Arts ‘Sound of Jazz’ WCBS TV NYC 8 Dec 1957
Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me	Pee Wee Russel (cl) Jimmy Giuffre (cl)  Danny Barker (g) Milt Hinton (db) Jo Jones (d)	Seven Lively Arts ‘Sound of Jazz’ WCBS TV NYC 8 Dec 1957
Set 4
Set 5	Les Brown Orchestra
How High The Moon	Les Brown Orchestra	Palladium Ballroom KNX CBS LA 16 Aug 1945
Coastin’ Along	Les Brown Orchestra	Palladium Ballroom KNX CBS LA 16 Aug 1945
I Wish I Knew	Les Brown Orchestra (voc) Doris Day	Palladium Ballroom KNX CBS LA 16 Aug 1945
Show Me The Way To Go Home	Les Brown Orchestra (vov) Butch Stone	Palladium Ballroom KNX CBS LA 16 Aug 1945
Set 6	Cootie Williams
Round Midnight (theme) + 711	Cootie Williams Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Savoy Ballroom Harlem AFRS Re-broadcast 12 Feb 1945
Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me	Cootie Williams Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Savoy Ballroom Harlem AFRS Re-broadcast 12 Feb 1945
Don’t Blame Me	Cootie Williams Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Savoy Ballroom Harlem AFRS Re-broadcast 12 Feb 1945
Perdido	Cootie Williams Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Savoy Ballroom Harlem AFRS Re-broadcast 12 Feb 1945
Set 7	Duke Ellington Orchestra
Take the A-Train (theme) + Bensonality	Duke Ellington Orchestra	Blue Note WMAQ NBC Chicago 30 Jul 1952
All of Me	Duke Ellington Orchestra (voc) Bette Roche	Blue Note WMAQ NBC Chicago 30 Jul 1952
Bakiff	Duke Ellington Orchestra	Blue Note WMAQ NBC Chicago 30 Jul 1952
The Hawk Talks	Duke Ellington Orchestra	Blue Note WMAQ NBC Chicago 30 Jul 1952
Set 8	Trad Jazz
Theme + Maple Leaf Rag	Wild Bill Davison	‘This is Jazz’ WOR Mutual NYC 19 Apr 1947
Basin Street Blues	George Brunis & Albert Nicholas	‘This is Jazz’ WOR Mutual NYC 19 Apr 1947
Mahoganny Hall Stomp	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	‘All-Star Jazz Show’ NBC TV 30 Dec 1957

Scrappy Lambert Best Named Singer | Phantom Dancer 21 November 2023

Harold ‘Scrappy’ Lambert was not a scrapper nor scrappy. He was a US dance band singer who recorded over 1,500 records between 1926 – 1931 as well as radio transcriptions and musical movie shorts.  He is 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 21 November) and weeks of Phantom Dancer mixes online at, at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/

SCRAPPY

‘Scrappy’ Lambert sang on thousands of recordings from the 1920s to the 1940s.

At Rutgers University, he was a cheerleader and played piano for a jazz group, the Rutgers Jazz Bandits.

In February 1925, he and fellow student Billy Hillpot (who you’ll aslo hear on this week’s Phantom Dancer) formed a musical duo impersonating the Smith Brothers.

They were discovered in 1926 by band leader, vaudevillian, Ben Bernie, who signed them to perform with his orchestra. Lambert and Hillpot appeared on many recordings with the orchestra and remained under Bernie’s employ until 1928. They also filmed a Vitaphone soundie with the Bernie Orchestra in 1928.

Other bandleaders who employed Lambert include Red Nichols, Frank Britton Wenzel, Fred Rich, and Sam Lanin.

In the 1920s and early 1930s, Lambert was one of the most prolific “band vocalists” (hired to sing the vocal chorus on recordings by both performing orchestras and studio groups). His voice is featured on hundreds of recordings and a series of vocal solo recordings for Brunswick.

In the 1930s, Lambert and Hillpot took their comedy routine to the National Broadcasting Company.

In 1943, MCA offered Lambert a job overseeing their radio department in Beverly Hills, California. This marked the end of his singing career. He worked for MCA until 1948

21 November PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney LISTEN ONLINE Community Radio Network Show CRN #628
107.3 2SER Tuesday 21 November 2023 12:04 – 2:00pm (+11 hours GMT) National Program 5UV Adelaide Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 5GTR Mt Gambier Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 3MBR Murrayville Monday 3 – 4am 4NAG Keppel FM Monday 3 – 4am 2MIA Griffith Monday 3 – 4am 2BAR Edge FM Bega Monday 3 – 4am 2BRW Braidwood Monday 3 – 4am 2YYY Young Monday 3 – 4am 7RPH Hobart Monday 3 – 4pm 3VKV Alpine Radio Monday 6 – 7pm 7MID Oatlands Monday 3am – 4 and 6 -7pm 2MCE Bathurst Wednesday 9 – 10am 1ART ArtsoundFM Canberra Friday 10 – 11am and Sunday 11pm Reading Radio (QLD) Friday 1am – 2 2RRR Ryde Friday 11am – 12 2ARM Armidale Friday 12 – 1pm 5LCM Lofty FM Adelaide Friday 1 – 2pm 6GME Radio Goolarri Broome Saturday 4am – 5am Denmark FM (West Australia) Saturday 10 – 11am Repeat: Wednesdays 10 – 11pm 7LTN Launceston Sunday 5 – 6am 3MGB Mallacoota Sunday 5 – 6am 3BBR West Gippsland Sunday 5 – 6pm 2SEA Sapphire Coast Eden Sunday 9 – 10pm
Set 1	Tommy Dorsey
I’m Getting Sentimental Over You (theme) + Night And Day	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra	‘The Tommy Dorsey Show’ KFI NBC LA 14 Jul 1946
I Don’t Know Why	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Vocals – Stuart Foster	‘The Tommy Dorsey Show’ KFI NBC LA 14 Jul 1946
At The Fat Man’s	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Vocals – Charlie Shavers	‘The Tommy Dorsey Show’ KFI NBC LA 14 Jul 1946
Hot Lips	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Guest – Henry Busse (tp)	‘The Tommy Dorsey Show’ KFI NBC LA 14 Jul 1946
Set 2	Crazy Hillbillies
A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight + Hell on the Wabash	Crazy Hillibillies	‘Crazy Water Show’ Radio Transcription Ft Worth TX 1933
Shake Hands with Mother Again	Crazy Hillibillies	‘Crazy Water Show’ Radio Transcription Ft Worth TX 1933
Listen to the Mockingbird + So You’re Going to Leave the Old Home, Jim	Crazy Hillibillies	‘Crazy Water Show’ Radio Transcription Ft Worth TX 1933
Little Brown Jug + Close	Crazy Hillibillies	‘Crazy Water Show’ Radio Transcription Ft Worth TX 1933
Set 3	Scrappy Lambert
There’s No Depression in Love	Scrappy Lambert (voc) Ben Selvin Orchestra	Comm Rec NYC 1931
Come To Me	Scrappy Lambert (voc) Bert Hirsch Orchestra	Hit of the Week Cardboard Record NYC 1931
Are You Going to Be Home?	Scrappy Lambert and Billy Hillpot (voc) Ben Bernie Orchestra	‘Vitaphone Varieties’ Movie Short 1928
Just One More Chance	Scrappy Lambert (voc) Bert Hirsch Orchestra	Hit of the Week Cardboard Record NYC 1931
The New Yorkers	Scrappy Lambert (voc) Red Nichols Orchestra	Comm Rec NYC 1929
I’m Keeping Company Now	Scrappy Lambert (voc) Bert Hirsch Orchestra	Hit of the Week Cardboard Record NYC 1931
Set 4	George Olson
Theme + All the Bees Are Buzzing Around My Honey	George Olson Orchestra (voc) Betty Norman	Marine Dining Room Edgewater Beach Hotel WMAQ NBC Chicago 20 Feb 1950
Happy Times + If I Knew You Were Coming I’d Have Baked a Cake	George Olson Orchestra	Marine Dining Room Edgewater Beach Hotel WMAQ NBC Chicago 20 Feb 1950
The Cactus Polka + Half a Heart	George Olson Orchestra (voc) Betty Norman	Marine Dining Room Edgewater Beach Hotel WMAQ NBC Chicago 20 Feb 1950
You’re Daddy’s Little Girl + Sweet Kentucky Baby (theme)	George Olson Orchestra (voc) Marshall Gill	Marine Dining Room Edgewater Beach Hotel WMAQ NBC Chicago 20 Feb 1950
Set 5	Bob Crosby Orchestra
Summertime (theme) + Boogie Woogie Maxixie	Bob Crosby Orchestra	Blackhawk Restaurant WGN Mutual Chicago 29 April 1940
Fools Rush in	Bob Crosby Orchestra (voc) Marian Mann	Blackhawk Restaurant WGN Mutual Chicago 29 April 1940
South Rampart Street Parade	Bob Crosby Orchestra	‘Swing Concert’ Congress Hotel WMAQ NBC Red Chicago 18 May 1937
Gin Mill Blues	Bob Crosby Orchestra	‘Swing Concert’ Congress Hotel WMAQ NBC Red Chicago 18 May 1937
Set 6	Ozzie Nelson
Theme + Baby Don’t Tell on Me	Ozzie Nelson Orchestra	Blackhawk Restaurant WGN Mutual Chicago 30 Mar 1940
Riff Interlude	Ozzie Nelson Orchestrar	Blackhawk Restaurant WGN Mutual Chicago 30 Mar 1940
I’m Looking for a Guy who Plays Alto and Baritone, Doubles on a Clarinet, and Wears a Size 37 Suit	Ozzie Nelson Orchestra (voc) Rose Ann Stevens	Blackhawk Restaurant WGN Mutual Chicago 30 Mar 1940
Do I Love You?	Ozzie Nelson Orchestra	Blackhawk Restaurant WGN Mutual Chicago 30 Mar 1940
Set 7	Duke Ellington Orchestra
Laura	Duke Ellington Orchestra	‘A Date with the Duke’ Paradise Theatre ABC Detroit 19 May 1945
In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree	Duke Ellington Orchestra	‘A Date with the Duke’ Paradise Theatre ABC Detroit 19 May 1945
Duke Ellington Orchestra	Duke Ellington Orchestra	‘A Date with the Duke’ Paradise Theatre ABC Detroit 19 May 1945
Set 8	Trad Jazz
Theme + Maple Leaf Rag	Wild Bill Davison	‘This is Jazz’ WOR Mutual NYC 19 Apr 1947
Basin Street Blues	George Brunis & Albert Nicholas	‘This is Jazz’ WOR Mutual NYC 19 Apr 1947
Mahoganny Hall Stomp	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	‘All-Star Jazz Show’ NBC TV 30 Dec 1957

Ginny Simms 1930s-40s Singer Housing the Homeless | Phantom Dancer 14 November 2023

Ginny Simms was a US singer, radio star and Hollywood actress. She sang with big bands, Dinah Shore, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Jo Stafford. As an MGM and Universal film actress she appeared in 11 movies from 1939 to 1951. Ginny Simms is 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 14 November) and weeks of Phantom Dancer mixes online at, at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/

GINNY

Ginny Simms studied piano in high school and teachers’ college. She played in college productions, singing with sorority sisters and forming a popular college vocal trio.

This made her want a career as a singer. By 1932 she had her own program on a local radio station.

In that year, Simms also became the vocalist for the Tom Gerun band in San Francisco. Other vocalists in the band were Tony Martin and Woody Herman.

In 1934, she joined the Kay Kyser Orchestra, with which she received her first national exposure appearing on radio shows with Kyser, who she almost married.

She appeared in three films with Kyser: That’s Right—You’re Wrong (1939), You’ll Find Out (1940) and Playmates (1941).

On April 6, 1941, Simms and Kyser costarred in Niagara to Reno (described as “an original comedy”) on CBS radio’s Silver Theater.

She left Kyser in September 1941 for her own radio show.

She starred in more films post-Kyser, including Here We Go Again (1942), Hit the Ice (1943), Broadway Rhythm (1944) and the Cole Porter biopic Night and Day (1946).

In 1951, Simms hosted a local television show on KTTV Channel 11 in Los Angeles that featured dance bands and talent from military bases around Southern California.

HOMELESS

Simms entertained troops during World War II, and after the war, she continued to help servicemen. In 1947, a radio station’s newsletter noted: “[N]ow she is helping provide new homes for them. Ginny is sponsoring the construction of 450 homes for vets in Los Angeles.”

A Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California Walk of Stars was dedicated to Simms in 1993.

14 November PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney LISTEN ONLINE Community Radio Network Show CRN #627
107.3 2SER Tuesday 14 November 2023 12:04 – 2:00pm (+11 hours GMT) National Program 5UV Adelaide Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 5GTR Mt Gambier Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 3MBR Murrayville Monday 3 – 4am 4NAG Keppel FM Monday 3 – 4am 2MIA Griffith Monday 3 – 4am 2BAR Edge FM Bega Monday 3 – 4am 2BRW Braidwood Monday 3 – 4am 2YYY Young Monday 3 – 4am 7RPH Hobart Monday 3 – 4pm 3VKV Alpine Radio Monday 6 – 7pm 7MID Oatlands Monday 3am – 4 and 6 -7pm 2MCE Bathurst Wednesday 9 – 10am 1ART ArtsoundFM Canberra Friday 10 – 11am and Sunday 11pm Reading Radio (QLD) Friday 1am – 2 2RRR Ryde Friday 11am – 12 2ARM Armidale Friday 12 – 1pm 5LCM Lofty FM Adelaide Friday 1 – 2pm 6GME Radio Goolarri Broome Saturday 4am – 5am Denmark FM (West Australia) Saturday 10 – 11am Repeat: Wednesdays 10 – 11pm 7LTN Launceston Sunday 5 – 6am 3MGB Mallacoota Sunday 5 – 6am 3BBR West Gippsland Sunday 5 – 6pm 2SEA Sapphire Coast Eden Sunday 9 – 10pm
Set 1	Vincent Valsanti aka Ted Fio Rito
Serenade of Love (theme) + You Got Everything	Vincent Valsanti Orchestra (voc) Rusty Bennett and the Three Blue Keys	‘Cocoanut Grove’ Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1934
Song of Love	Vincent Valsanti Orchestra	‘Cocoanut Grove’ Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1934
The Day You Came Along	Vincent Valsanti Orchestra (voc) Jack Howard	‘Cocoanut Grove’ Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1934
Serenade of Love (theme)	Vincent Valsanti Orchestra	‘Cocoanut Grove’ Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1934
Set 2	John Coltrane
Body and Soul	John Coltrane Quartet	‘Symphony Sid Show’ Birdland WADO NYC 9 Jun 1962
Cousin Mary	John Coltrane Quartet	‘Symphony Sid Show’ Birdland WADO NYC 9 Jun 1962
Set 3	Ginny Simms
Open + My Guy’s Come Back	Ginny Simms (voc) Frank de Vol Orchestra	‘Borden Show’ KNX CBS LA 28 Dec 1945
Symphony	Ginny Simms (MC) Lyn Johnson (voc) Frank de Vol Orchestra	‘Borden Show’ KNX CBS LA 28 Dec 1945
Nancy	Ginny Simms (MC) Frank Sinatra (voc) Frank de Vol Orchestra	‘Borden Show’ KNX CBS LA 28 Dec 1945
Set 4	Trad Jazz
Medley including Ballin’ the Jack	Phil Napoleon and his Memphis Five	‘One Night Stand’ AFRS re-broadcast Nick’s WOR Mutual NYC 20 Jul 1949
Runnin’ Wild	Phil Napoleon and his Memphis Five	‘One Night Stand’ AFRS re-broadcast Nick’s WOR Mutual NYC 20 Jul 1949
The Alligator Crawl	Hank Duncan (piano)	‘One Night Stand’ AFRS re-broadcast Nick’s WOR Mutual NYC 20 Jul 1949
Up a Lazy River + Close	Phil Napoleon and his Memphis Five	‘One Night Stand’ AFRS re-broadcast Nick’s WOR Mutual NYC 20 Jul 1949
Set 5	Dorsey Brothers’ Orchestra
Open + Opus Number 1	Dorsey Brothers’ Orchestra	Cafe Rouge Statler Hotel WRCA NBC NYC Dec 1955
Once in Awhile	Dorsey Brothers’ Orchestra	Cafe Rouge Statler Hotel WRCA NBC NYC Dec 1955
Harlem Express	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra	Meadowbrook Ballroom. Cedar Grove, New Jersey WCBS CBS NYC 25 Nov 1956
Don’t Worry About Me	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (voc) Lynn Roberts	Meadowbrook Ballroom. Cedar Grove, New Jersey WCBS CBS NYC 25 Nov 1956
Set 6	Johnny Otis
Empty Bed Blues	Johnny Otis Orchestra (voc) Ivie Anderson	‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood Oct 1945
Love My Baby	Johnny Otis Orchestra (voc) Joe Turner	‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood Oct 1945
Improvised Blues	Johnny Otis Orchestra (congas) Miguelito Valdez	‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood Oct 1945
One O’Clock Jump (theme)	Johnny Otis Orchestra	‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood Oct 1945
Set 7	Russ Morgan Wah-Wah Trombone
Open + Cotton Pickers’ Congregation	Rose Morgan Orchestra	Paradise Restaurant NYC Aircheck 14 Oct 1938
Long Ago and Far Away	Rose Morgan Orchestra (voc) Elizabeth Rogers	Aircheck Claremont Hotel San Francisco 11 Jul 1945
Jean	Rose Morgan Orchestra	Aircheck Claremont Hotel San Francisco 11 Jul 1945
Sophisticated Swing	Rose Morgan Orchestra	Aircheck Claremont Hotel San Francisco 11 Jul 1945
Set 8	Modern Jazz
Don’t Blame Me	Charlie Parker	Storeyville Copley Square Hotel WHDH Boston 22 Sep 1953
20th Century Blues	Sir Charles Thompson All-Stars	Comm Rec NYC 4 Sep 1945
Groovin’ High	Charlie Parker	Storeyville Copley Square Hotel WHDH Boston 22 Sep 1953

Del Courtney Seven Decade Career 1933-93 | Phantom Dancer 7 November 2023

Del Courtney was a pianist, bandleader, actor and composer whose career spanned seven decades. He played for four US presidents. He is 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 7 November) and weeks of Phantom Dancer mixes online at, at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/

DEL

Known as the “Old Smoothie” for the smooth dance tunes he and his band would play, Del Courtney started playing paino at age 9 and at university did a double degree in music and teaching

He formed his first band in 1933 at the Claremont Hotel, San Francisco, and became immensely popular in the Bay Area with record deals and radio shows.  His late 1930s bands included electric guitar and keyboards.

In the mid-1940s, he was a favourite at Chicago’s musically prestigious Blackhawk Restaurant, and by 1948 was playing his sixth engagement at the Rose Room at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco., another room the networks broadcast from daily

His band in 1948 was: George Rank, Seymour Solk , Billy Petri trumpets; Rick Meyer and Johnny Strong trombones; Doug Lowery, Rick Sanders, Johnny Shepherd and Ken MacCoulou reeds; Bob Moonan piano, Val Eddy double bass, Mel Severs guitar, and Ellis Stickey drums. The vocalists were Gloria Foster and Gil Vester. 

In October 1958, his album Dancing ‘Til Daybreak LP, which was released on Capitol Records.

In the 1960s he had a daily radio show over KSFO from the Tonga Room of the Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco.

On July 3, 1964, both Courtney and Les Malloy became the owners ofSan Francisco  radio station KSAN. Courtney was also musical director of The Oakland Raiders football club

In the mid-1990s swing revival, Courtney ,came out of retirement to front a big band, playing at the Blue Tropix Restaurant and Night Club and the Elks Club in Honolulu. He is credited with bringing big band swing to Hawaii in the 1930s.

He was still playing once a month at the age of 93. He died age 95.

He was married to the famous big band era swing singers Connie Haines, who sang with Tommy Dorsey as you’ll hear on this week’s Phantom Dancer, and Yvonne King from The King Sisters

He was also an actor and producer, known for The Hideous Sun Demon (1958), Harbor Command (1957) and Aloha Summer (1988). He had his own sponsored TV shows in the 1950s.

His theme song, which he composed, was ‘Good Evening’. His memoir was entitled “Hey! The Band’s Too Loud”.

Del Courtney oral history: https://ww1.namm.org/library/oral-history/del-courtney

7 November PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney LISTEN ONLINE Community Radio Network Show CRN #626
107.3 2SER Tuesday 7 November 2023 12:04 – 2:00pm (+11 hours GMT) National Program 5UV Adelaide Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 5GTR Mt Gambier Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 3MBR Murrayville Monday 3 – 4am 4NAG Keppel FM Monday 3 – 4am 2MIA Griffith Monday 3 – 4am 2BAR Edge FM Bega Monday 3 – 4am 2BRW Braidwood Monday 3 – 4am 2YYY Young Monday 3 – 4am 7RPH Hobart Monday 3 – 4pm 3VKV Alpine Radio Monday 6 – 7pm 7MID Oatlands Monday 3am – 4 and 6 -7pm 2MCE Bathurst Wednesday 9 – 10am 1ART ArtsoundFM Canberra Friday 10 – 11am and Sunday 11pm Reading Radio (QLD) Friday 1am – 2 2RRR Ryde Friday 11am – 12 2ARM Armidale Friday 12 – 1pm 5LCM Lofty FM Adelaide Friday 1 – 2pm 6GME Radio Goolarri Broome Saturday 4am – 5am Denmark FM (West Australia) Saturday 10 – 11am Repeat: Wednesdays 10 – 11pm 7LTN Launceston Sunday 5 – 6am 3MGB Mallacoota Sunday 5 – 6am 3BBR West Gippsland Sunday 5 – 6pm 2SEA Sapphire Coast Eden Sunday 9 – 10pm
Set 1	Ralph Marterie
Blue Lou	Ralph Marterie Orchestra	‘Treasury Show’ WBBM CBS Chicago 26 Dec 1954
My Old Flame	Ralph Marterie Orchestra	‘Treasury Show’ WBBM CBS Chicago 26 Dec 1954
The Girl Next Door	Ralph Marterie Orchestra (voc) Bill Walters	‘Treasury Show’ WBBM CBS Chicago 26 Dec 1954
Rock Rock + Close	Ralph Marterie Orchestra (voc) Band	‘Treasury Show’ WBBM CBS Chicago 26 Dec 1954
Set 2	Count Basie
One O’Clock Jump (theme) + Ev’ry Tub	Count Basie Orchestra	‘America Dances’ WABC CBS NYC & BBC London 9 Jul 1938
Song of the Wanderer	Count Basie Orchestra (voc) Helen Humes	‘America Dances’ WABC CBS NYC & BBC London 9 Jul 1938
Flat Foot Floogie	Count Basie Orchestra	‘America Dances’ WABC CBS NYC & BBC London 9 Jul 1938
Lady Be Good	Count Basie’s Blue 6	‘America Dances’ WABC CBS NYC & BBC London 9 Jul 1938
Set 3	Del Courtney
Good Evening (theme) + The Man I Love	Del Courtney Orchestra	Aircheck Rainbow Room New Kenmore Hotel Albany NY 31 Oct 1938
Good Evening (theme) + April Showers	Del Courtney Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Rose Room Palace Hotel San Francisco AFRS Re-broadcast 7 Jan 1948
They’re Mine	Del Courtney Orchestra (voc) Gloria Foster	‘One Night Stand’ Rose Room Palace Hotel San Francisco AFRS Re-broadcast 7 Jan 1948
London Fantasia Golden Earrings	Del Courtney Orchestra, Bob Moonan piano (voc) Gil Vester	‘One Night Stand’ Rose Room Palace Hotel San Francisco AFRS Re-broadcast 7 Jan 1948
Set 4	Ray McKinley leading the Glenn Miller Orchestra
Swing Low Sweet Chariot	Ray McKinley leading the Glenn Miller Orchestra	Cafe Rouge Hotel Statler WCBS CBS NYC 1956
My Prayer	Ray McKinley leading the Glenn Miller Orchestra (voc) Ronnie Craig	Cafe Rouge Hotel Statler WCBS CBS NYC 1956
Bunkhouse Boogie	Ray McKinley leading the Glenn Miller Orchestra (voc) Ray McKinley	Cafe Rouge Hotel Statler WCBS CBS NYC 1956
Moonlight Cocktail	Ray McKinley leading the Glenn Miller Orchestra	Cafe Rouge Hotel Statler WCBS CBS NYC 1956
Set 5	Tommy Dorsey
Open + Swing Low Sweet Chariot	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra	Meadowbrook Ballroom. Cedar Grove, New Jersey WABC CBS NYC 11 Feb 1941
I’m Gettin’ Sentimental Over You – opening theme + Dark Eyes	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra	Hotel Astor Roof WEAF NBC Red NYC 22 Jun 1940
Everything Happens to Me	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (voc) Frank Sinatra	Meadowbrook Ballroom. Cedar Grove, New Jersey WABC CBS NYC 11 Feb 1941
I’m Nobody’s Baby	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (voc) Connie Haines	Hotel Astor Roof WEAF NBC Red NYC 22 Jun 1940
Set 6	Trad Jazz
Open + Ballin’ the Jack	Kid Ory’s Creole Jazz Band	Club Hangover KCBS San Francisco 10 Oct 1954
Sadie Green the Vamp of New Orleans	Turk Murphy’s San Francisco Jazz Band	Easy Street KCBS San Francisco 9 Dec 1958
St James Infirmary	Kid Ory’s Creole Jazz Band	Club Hangover KCBS San Francisco 10 Oct 1954
Memphis Blues + Bay City (theme)	Turk Murphy’s San Francisco Jazz Band	Easy Street KCBS San Francisco 9 Dec 1958
Set 7	Artie Shaw & Helen Forrest
Nightmare (theme) + Deep in a Dream	Artie Shaw Orchestra (voc) Helen Forrest	Blue Room Hotel Lincoln WEAF NBC Red NYC 2 Dec 1958
Basin street Blues + Ride, Red, Ride	Artie Shaw Orchestra (voc) Helen Forrest	Summer Terrace Ritz Carlton Hotel WNAC NBC Red Boston 19 Aug 1939
I Won’t Tell a Soul	Artie Shaw Orchestra (voc) Helen Forrest	Blue Room Hotel Lincoln WEAF NBC Red NYC 2 Dec 1958
Don’t Worry About Me + Carioca + Nightmare (theme0	Artie Shaw Orchestra (voc) Helen Forrest	Summer Terrace Ritz Carlton Hotel WNAC NBC Red Boston 19 Aug 1939
Set 8	Modern Jazz
Now’s the Time	Charlie Parker	Storeyville Copley Square Hotel WHDH Boston 22 Sep 1953
20th Century Blues	Sir Charles Thompson All-Stars	Comm Rec NYC 4 Sep 1945
Groovin’ High	Charlie Parker	Storeyville Copley Square Hotel WHDH Boston 22 Sep 1953

Red Nichols and his 5 Pennies – Phantom Dancer 31 October 2023

Red Nichols was a cornetist, songwriter and band leader.

He is this week’s Phantom Dancer Feature artist.

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 31 October) and weeks of Phantom Dancer mixes online at, at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/

RED

Red Nichols was a child prodigy, playing difficult set pieces for his father’s brass band by the age of 12. He became strongly influenced by the early recordings of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band and Bix Beiderbecke. His style was polished, clean, and incisive.

In the early 1920s, Nichols joined the Syncopating Seven, then he joined the Johnny Johnson Orchestra and in 1923 went with it to New York City. There he met trombonist Miff Mole. They recorded for Pathé-Perfect under the name the Red Heads.

Nichols could read music and easily gained studio work. In 1926, he and Mole began recording as Red Nichols and His Five Pennies, and recorded more than 100 sides for Brunswick. He also recorded as the Arkansas Travelers, the California Red Heads, the Louisiana Rhythm Kings, the Charleston Chasers, Red and Miff’s Stompers, and Miff Mole and His Little Molers. Sometimes, Nichols and his bands were recording 10 to 12 two-sided records a week.

In 1929, he appeared in the Vitaphone film short (above) with his band the Five Pennies along with Eddie Condon and Pee Wee Russell.

NICHOLS

Nichols’ band started with Mole on trombone and Jimmy Dorsey on alto saxophone and clarinet. Other musicians in his bands in the following decade included Benny Goodman (clarinet), Glenn Miller (trombone), Jack Teagarden (trombone), Pee Wee Russell (clarinet), Joe Venuti (violin), Eddie Lang (banjo and guitar), and Gene Krupa (drums).

The Five Pennies’ version of “Ida, Sweet as Apple Cider” sold over a million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America.

His composition “Nervous Charlie Stomp” was recorded by one of the top jazz bands of the 1920s, Fletcher Henderson’s orchestra.

His recording career stalled in 1932 when his trumpet style fell out of favour. However, the record labels he recorded for in the 1920s-30s included Pathe-Perfect, Brunswick, Edison 1926, Victor 1927, 1928, 1930, 1931, Bluebird 1934, 1939, back to Brunswick for a session in 1934, Variety 1937, and OKeh in 1940.

From 1932, Nichols’ played in show bands, pit orchestras and for radio transcriptions. He led Bob Hope’s radio orchestra and in the late 1930s played for Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra. He worked in a shipyard during World War 2.

After the war, Nichols formed another Five Pennies band and began playing in small clubs in Los Angeles. Club dates turned into performances at bigger venues and radio dates. He toured Europe as a goodwill ambassador for the State Department.

Nichols and his band performed in the 1950 film Quicksand starring Mickey Rooney. In 1956, he was the subject of an episode of the television program This Is Your Life in which he reunited with Miff Mole, Phil Harris and Jimmy Dorsey, who praised Nichols as a bandleader who ensured everyone was paid.

The 1959 Hollywood film The Five Pennies, the film biography of Red Nichols, starring Danny Kaye as Red Nichols, was loosely based on Nichols’ life and career. Nichols played his own cornet parts for the film and appeared briefly as one of the “Clicquot Club Eskimos” on screen. The Paramount Pictures movie received four Academy Award nominations. Louis Armstrong also appeared in the film. The Five Pennies movie theme song and other songs for the film were composed by Sylvia Fine, Danny Kaye’s wife.

Nichols also made cameo appearances in the 1951 film Disc Jockey with Tommy Dorsey, and The Gene Krupa Story in 1959.

His recording of “Poor Butterfly” is heard in the 1994 Woody Allen film Bullets Over Broadway and his recording of “(Back Home Again in) Indiana” in Allen’s 1999 film Sweet and Lowdown.

In 1965, Nichols took his Five Pennies band to the Mint Hotel in Las Vegas. On June 28, 1965, a few days after he began performing, he had chest pains while he was sleeping. He phoned the front desk. but when the ambulance arrived, he was dead. The band performed as scheduled with a spotlight on Nichols’ empty chair.

31 October PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney LISTEN ONLINE Community Radio Network Show CRN #624
107.3 2SER Tuesday 31 October 2023 12:04 – 2:00pm (+11 hours GMT) National Program 5UV Adelaide Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 5GTR Mt Gambier Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 3MBR Murrayville Monday 3 – 4am 4NAG Keppel FM Monday 3 – 4am 2MIA Griffith Monday 3 – 4am 2BAR Edge FM Bega Monday 3 – 4am 2BRW Braidwood Monday 3 – 4am 2YYY Young Monday 3 – 4am 7RPH Hobart Monday 3 – 4pm 3VKV Alpine Radio Monday 6 – 7pm 7MID Oatlands Monday 3am – 4 and 6 -7pm 2MCE Bathurst Wednesday 9 – 10am 1ART ArtsoundFM Canberra Friday 10 – 11am and Sunday 11pm Reading Radio (QLD) Friday 1am – 2 2RRR Ryde Friday 11am – 12 2ARM Armidale Friday 12 – 1pm 5LCM Lofty FM Adelaide Friday 1 – 2pm 6GME Radio Goolarri Broome Saturday 4am – 5am Denmark FM (West Australia) Saturday 10 – 11am Repeat: Wednesdays 10 – 11pm 7LTN Launceston Sunday 5 – 6am 3MGB Mallacoota Sunday 5 – 6am 3BBR West Gippsland Sunday 5 – 6pm 2SEA Sapphire Coast Eden Sunday 9 – 10pm
Set 1	Jack Barrow
Simple and Sweet (theme) + My Heart Stood Still	Jack Barrow Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Aragon Ballroom Southgate Ca AFRS Re-broadcast 1947
Zip-a-Dee-Do-Da + Sooner or Later	Jack Barrow Orchestra (voc) Dolores Crane	‘One Night Stand’ Aragon Ballroom Southgate Ca AFRS Re-broadcast 1947
Medley: Love is the Sweetest Thing + Dee[p Purple + Josephine	Jack Barrow Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Aragon Ballroom Southgate Ca AFRS Re-broadcast 1947
Sunday	Jack Barrow Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Aragon Ballroom Southgate Ca AFRS Re-broadcast 1947
Set 2	John Coltrane
Afro-Blue	John Coltrane Quartet	‘Portraits in Jazz’ WABC FM NYC 26 Mar 1965
Set 3	Red Nichols
Turn On The Heat (theme) + Strike Up the Band + Alexander’s Ragtime Band	Red Nichols and his Five Pennies	‘Heat’ Radio Transcription 3 Aug 1930
Medley	Red Nichols and his Five Pennies	‘Brunswick Brevities’ Radio Transcription 27 Aug 1929
My Future Just Passsed + Oh, Baby!	Red Nichols and his Five Pennies	‘Heat’ Radio Transcription 2 Aug 1930
That’s A’Plenty + Say it With Music (theme)	Red Nichols and his Five Pennies	‘Brunswick Brevities’ Radio Transcription 27 Aug 1929
Set 4	Tommy Dorsey
I’ll Never Smile Again	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (voc) Frank Sinatra and the Pied Pipers	Canadian National Exposition Toronto NBC 5 Sep 1940
Swing Time in Harlem	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (voc) Connie Haines	Canadian National Exposition Toronto NBC 5 Sep 1940
East of the Sun	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (voc) Frank Sinatra and the Pied Pipers	Canadian National Exposition Toronto NBC 5 Sep 1940
So What! + I’m Getting Sentimental Over You (theme)	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra	Canadian National Exposition Toronto NBC 5 Sep 1940
Set 5	Chamber Music
Open + Amapola	Henry Levine Dixieland Octet	‘Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’ WJZ NBC Blue 11 Aug 1941
Jim	Paul Lavalle Woodwinds (voc) Diane Courtney	‘Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’ WJZ NBC Blue 11 Aug 1941
The Peanut Vendor	Burt Shaefta (piano)	‘Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’ WJZ NBC Blue 11 Aug 1941
Bach Suite in Bb	Paul Lavalle Woodwinds	‘Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’ WJZ NBC Blue 11 Aug 1941
Set 6	Bunny Berrigan
You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth + Kiss Me Again	Benny Berrigan Orchestra	Paradise Restaurant NYC 10 Apr 1938
I Can’t Get Started (theme) + Melacholy Baby	Benny Berrigan Orchestra	Aircheck NYC Jun 1939
A Stairway to the Stars	Benny Berrigan Orchestra	Paradise Restaurant NYC 3 May 1938
I Can’t Get Started (theme) + Sugar Foot Stomp	Benny Berrigan Orchestra	Aircheck NYC Jul 1939
Set 7	Trad Jazz
Gershwin Medley	Bobby Hackett (voc) Helen Ward	‘Eddie Condon Floor Show’ WNBT NBC TV NYC 16 Apr 1949
Basin street Blues + Ride, Red, Ride	Henry Red Allen and his Dxielanders (voc) Henry Red Allen	‘Doctor Jazz’ Stuyvesant Casino WMGM NYC 1951
Set 8	Modern Jazz
Moose the Mooche	Charlie Parker	Storeyville Copley Square Hotel WHDH Boston 22 Sep 1953
20th Century Blues	Sir Charles Thompson All-Stars	Comm Rec NYC 4 Sep 1945
Groovin’ High	Charlie Parker	Storeyville Copley Square Hotel WHDH Boston 22 Sep 1953

Jack Fina Bumble Bee Piano- Phantom Dancer 24 October 2023

Jack Fina was a pianist, songwriter (“Bumble Boogie”), composer and conductor.

He is this week’s Phantom Dancer Feature artist.

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 24 October) and weeks of Phantom Dancer mixes online at, at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/

FINA

Jack Fina started out playing piano in Clyde McCoy’s band sometime in the 1930s, but it wasn’t until he joined Freddy Martin’s band in 1936 that he gained real fame, when he was featured on Martin’s famous recording of “Tonight We Love”.

In 1946, Jack Fina formed his own 16-piece band, with Freddy Martin’s blessing and financial backing. His first appearance was at the Claremont Hotel. He used his composition ‘Dream Sonata’ as his radio theme. With good air time and good recordings, Fina became a national figure.

His other song compositions include “Samba Caramba”, “Rhumbanera”, “Chango”, and “Piano Portraits”

He composed a boogie-woogie variation on Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee.” His, “Bumble Boogie”, became a huge hit, Fina played it as a solo piano specialty in the 1946 Columbia Pictures musical ‘It’s Great to Be Young’.

Fina appeared at some of the top venues in the US, including the Waldorf-Astoria, the Aragon Ballroom, and the famous illegal gambling casino in Galveston, the Balinese Room.

He also appeared in several films, including Melody Time (Bumble Boogie sequence, 1948) and Disc Jockey (1951).

24 October PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney LISTEN ONLINE Community Radio Network Show CRN #623
107.3 2SER Tuesday 24 October 2023 12:04 – 2:00pm (+11 hours GMT) National Program 5UV Adelaide Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 5GTR Mt Gambier Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 3MBR Murrayville Monday 3 – 4am 4NAG Keppel FM Monday 3 – 4am 2MIA Griffith Monday 3 – 4am 2BAR Edge FM Bega Monday 3 – 4am 2BRW Braidwood Monday 3 – 4am 2YYY Young Monday 3 – 4am 7RPH Hobart Monday 3 – 4pm 3VKV Alpine Radio Monday 6 – 7pm 7MID Oatlands Monday 3am – 4 and 6 -7pm 2MCE Bathurst Wednesday 9 – 10am 1ART ArtsoundFM Canberra Friday 10 – 11am and Sunday 11pm Reading Radio (QLD) Friday 1am – 2 2RRR Ryde Friday 11am – 12 2ARM Armidale Friday 12 – 1pm 5LCM Lofty FM Adelaide Friday 1 – 2pm 6GME Radio Goolarri Broome Saturday 4am – 5am Denmark FM (West Australia) Saturday 10 – 11am Repeat: Wednesdays 10 – 11pm 7LTN Launceston Sunday 5 – 6am 3MGB Mallacoota Sunday 5 – 6am 3BBR West Gippsland Sunday 5 – 6pm 2SEA Sapphire Coast Eden Sunday 9 – 10pm
Set 1	Sammy Kaye
Let There Be Love	Sammy Kaye Orchestra (voc) Yvette	‘Sensations in Swing’ Hotel William Penn WCAE NBC Red Pittsburgh 10 Jun 1940
Medley: Say, Say / Say it Isn’t So / Say Si, Si	Sammy Kaye Orchestra	‘Sensations in Swing’ Hotel William Penn WCAE NBC Red Pittsburgh 10 Jun 1940
A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow	Sammy Kaye Orchestra (voc) The Vass Family	‘Sensations in Swing’ Hotel William Penn WCAE NBC Red Pittsburgh 10 Jun 1940
Down by the Ohio + Close	Sammy Kaye Orchestra	‘Sensations in Swing’ Hotel William Penn WCAE NBC Red Pittsburgh 10 Jun 1940
Set 2	Charlie Spivak
You Don’t Say	Charlie Spivak Orchestra	Pleasure Beach Ballroom Bridgeport Conn. WRCA NBC NYC 26 Jun 1955
A Blossom Fell	Charlie Spivak Orchestra (voc) Audrey Morris	Pleasure Beach Ballroom Bridgeport Conn. WRCA NBC NYC 26 Jun 1955
Birth of the Blues	Charlie Spivak Orchestra (voc) Paul O’Connor	Pleasure Beach Ballroom Bridgeport Conn. WRCA NBC NYC 26 Jun 1955
I’ll Never Stop Loving You + Stardreams (theme)	Charlie Spivak Orchestra	Pleasure Beach Ballroom Bridgeport Conn. WRCA NBC NYC 26 Jun 1955
Set 3	Jack Fina
Bumble Bee Boogie (theme) + Mama’s Gone, Goodbye.	Jack Fina Orchestra	Marine Dining Room Edgewater Beach Hotel WMAQ NBC Chicago 4 Jun 1950
You Are My Love	Jack Fina Orchestra (voc) Ted Nichols	Marine Dining Room Edgewater Beach Hotel WMAQ NBC Chicago 4 Jun 1950
Nola	Jack Fina Orchestra	Marine Dining Room Edgewater Beach Hotel WMAQ NBC Chicago 4 Jun 1950
Baby, Won’t You Say You Love Me? + Ol’ Piano Roll Blues	Jack Fina Orchestra (voc) Ted Nichols & Band	Marine Dining Room Edgewater Beach Hotel WMAQ NBC Chicago 4 Jun 1950
Set 4	Coleman Hawkins
It’s the Talk of the Town	Coleman Hawkins Quartet	London House WBBM CBS Chicago 19 Jun 1963
Honeysuckle Rose	Coleman Hawkins Quartet	London House WBBM CBS Chicago 19 Jun 1963
Set 5	English Dance Bands
Stompin’ at the Savoy	Johnny Claes and his Claepigeons	Comm Rec London 1941
I’m Nobody’s Baby	Carroll Gibbons and the Savoy Hotel Orpheans (voc) Anne Lenner	Comm Rec London 1941
How Am I To Know?	Johnny Claes and his Claepigeons (voc) Benny Lee	Comm Rec London 1941
Room Five Hundred and Four	Carroll Gibbons and the Savoy Hotel Orpheans (voc) Anne Lenner	Comm Rec London 1941
Set 6	1930s Harmony Groups
Swinging on the Strings	The Inkspots	WEAF NBC Red NYC 9 Aug 1935
Swing for Sale	The Mills Brothers	Radio Transcription NYC 1937
A Stairway to the Stars	The Inkspots	WFIL NBC Red Philadelphia 12 Jun 1939
Pennies from Heaven	The Mills Brothers	Radio Transcription NYC 1937
Set 7	Count Basie
Moten Swing (theme) + One’Clock Jump	Count Basie Orchestra	Meadowbrook Ballroom Cedar Grove NJ WEAF NBC Red NYC Nov 1937
When My Dreamboat Comes Home	Count Basie Orchestra (voc) Jimmy Rushing	Aircheck Savoy Ballroom NYC 30 Jun 1937
Study in Brown	Count Basie Orchestra	Meadowbrook Ballroom Cedar Grove NJ WEAF NBC Red NYC Nov 1937
Swing Brother Swing	Count Basie Orchestra (voc) Billie Holiday	Aircheck Savoy Ballroom NYC 30 Jun 1937
Set 8	Trad Jazz
Blues + Riverboat Shuffle	Wild Bill Davison	‘Eddie Condon Floor Show’ WNBT NBC TV NYC 9 Jul 1949
Struttin’ with Some BBQ	Hot Lips Page	‘Doctor Jazz’ Stuyvesant Casino WMGM NYC 1951
Jam Session	Bobby Hackett	‘Eddie Condon Floor Show’ WNBT NBC TV NYC 16 Apr 1949

Horace Heidt Band Leader, TV Star, Property Developer- Phantom Dancer 17 October 2023

Horace Heidt produced some of the best-known tunes of the Big Band Era including the 1941 international hit, The Hut-Sut Song. He is this week’s Phantom Dancer Feature artist.

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 17 October) and weeks of Phantom Dancer mixes online at, at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/

POT OF GOLD

Horace Heidt was a showman. He hit the big time after fifteen years of running a band by producing and presenting a radio show the US broadcasting regulator, the Federal Communications Commission, called ‘a thinly disguised lottery’ and then forced off air.

“Pot of Gold” featured Horace Heidt and his Musical Knights with singing quartet, The King Sisters, playing popular songs while operators during the broadcast placed three calls to random phone numbers across the U.S.

When someone answered, announcer Ben Grauer shouted “Hold it, Horace, stop the music.” The phone answerer would automatically win $1000 – a huge amount in the late 1930s – whether they had been listening to the show or not.

The show was so popular that cinema operators complained of low movie attendances while Pot of Gold was on air. Some offered $1,000 to anyone who was called while attending their films. How you proved you got the call would have been time consuming and difficult.

NATION OF ISLAM

Heidt’s fame as a band leader came through his promotions. Before “Pot of Gold” he produced “Answers by the Dancers,” in which dancers at the Hotel Drake in Chicago were interviewed between rumbas and fox trots.

On his “Treasure Chest” show, married couples celebrating anniversaries would compete for prizes.

In the late 1940 and early 50s, as the big band era wound down and other bands couldn’t book gigs, Heidt’s band continued touring the U.S with his “Youth Opportunity” radio show.

Talented violinist and later Nation of Islam bigwig Louis Farrakhan (formerly Eugene Walcott) was a successful contestant.

BELL-RINGING DOG

Famed Jazz musicians Alvino Rey, Bobby Hackett and Jess Stacy played in the Heidt band at various times.

The band even accompanied a trained dog. “We would play ‘The Bells of St. Mary’s’ and the dog would ring the bells,” Heidt recalled at a 1982 party celebrating seven decades in show business.

Heidt’s smart showbiz sense meant his big band were still playing ballrooms while other bands were shutting down as the Swing Era came to a close after WW2.

HIGH STAKES

Heidt bought the popular Trianon Ballroom in South Gate California in the early 1940s as a base for his band.

He started a trend for big band leaders to own their own ballrooms after Billboard reported, 10 Jan 1942, that not only had Heidt recouped his $100,000 investment, but he made $40,000 profit through the ballroom in its first year.

Billboard 3 Feb 1945 reported that Heidt had ‘expanded his outside business holdings’ by buying an exclusive Beverley Hills steak house and renaming it “Horace Heidt’s”. He didn’t book any live music in the room.

He later went into housing development.

STAMMERER

Billboard 3 Feb 1945 reported that Heidt had set up a school in Los Angeles for stammerers. Horace used to stammer himself and he announced that he had developed a foolproof way to stop stammering. He put Leo Neibaur, trombonist and vocal instructor with Heidt’s band, in charge of the school.

17 October PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney LISTEN ONLINE Community Radio Network Show CRN #622
107.3 2SER Tuesday 17 October 2023 12:04 – 2:00pm (+11 hours GMT) National Program 5UV Adelaide Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 5GTR Mt Gambier Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 3MBR Murrayville Monday 3 – 4am 4NAG Keppel FM Monday 3 – 4am 2MIA Griffith Monday 3 – 4am 2BAR Edge FM Bega Monday 3 – 4am 2BRW Braidwood Monday 3 – 4am 2YYY Young Monday 3 – 4am 7RPH Hobart Monday 3 – 4pm 3VKV Alpine Radio Monday 6 – 7pm 7MID Oatlands Monday 3am – 4 and 6 -7pm 2MCE Bathurst Wednesday 9 – 10am 1ART ArtsoundFM Canberra Friday 10 – 11am and Sunday 11pm Reading Radio (QLD) Friday 1am – 2 2RRR Ryde Friday 11am – 12 2ARM Armidale Friday 12 – 1pm 5LCM Lofty FM Adelaide Friday 1 – 2pm 6GME Radio Goolarri Broome Saturday 4am – 5am Denmark FM (West Australia) Saturday 10 – 11am Repeat: Wednesdays 10 – 11pm 7LTN Launceston Sunday 5 – 6am 3MGB Mallacoota Sunday 5 – 6am 3BBR West Gippsland Sunday 5 – 6pm 2SEA Sapphire Coast Eden Sunday 9 – 10pm
Set 1	Randy Brooks
Open + It’s Been So Long	Randy Brooks Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Raseland Ballroom NYC AFRS Re-broadcast 9 Jun 1945
This Is It	Randy Brooks Orchestra (voc) Margie Wood	‘One Night Stand’ Raseland Ballroom NYC AFRS Re-broadcast 9 Jun 1945
Negra Consantina	Randy Brooks Orchestra (voc) Billy Usher	‘One Night Stand’ Raseland Ballroom NYC AFRS Re-broadcast 9 Jun 1945
Two Beats or Not Two Beats	Randy Brooks Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Raseland Ballroom NYC AFRS Re-broadcast 9 Jun 1945
Set 2	Paul Whiteman
Deep Purple	Paul Whiteman Orchestra	‘Paul Whiteman’s Musical Varieties’ WJZ NBC Blue NYC 12 Jan 1936
Goody Goody	Paul Whiteman Orchestra (voc) Jarelle & Johnny	‘Paul Whiteman’s Musical Varieties’ WJZ NBC Blue NYC 12 Jan 1936
Glorious Girl	Paul Whiteman Orchestra (voc) The King’s Men	‘Paul Whiteman’s Musical Varieties’ WJZ NBC Blue NYC 12 Jan 1936
Alone	Paul Whiteman Orchestra (voc) Morton Downey	‘Paul Whiteman’s Musical Varieties’ WJZ NBC Blue NYC 12 Jan 1936
Set 3	Horace Heidt
Theme + Margie	Horace Heidt and his Musical Knights	‘One Night Stand’ Trianon Ballroom Southgate Ca AFRS Re-broadcast 23 Jan 1945
Star Dust	Horace Heidt and his Musical Knights	‘One Night Stand’ Trianon Ballroom Southgate Ca AFRS Re-broadcast 23 Jan 1945
One of These Days	Horace Heidt and his Musical Knights	‘One Night Stand’ Trianon Ballroom Southgate Ca AFRS Re-broadcast 23 Jan 1945
Brazil + Begin the Beguine	Horace Heidt and his Musical Knights	‘One Night Stand’ Trianon Ballroom Southgate Ca AFRS Re-broadcast 23 Jan 1945
Set 4	The Smoothies
Open + Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby	The Smoothies	‘Smoothies Music Shop’ AFRS Re-broadcast 1944
I’ll Walk Alone + A Kiss to Remember	The Smoothies	‘Smoothies Music Shop’ AFRS Re-broadcast 1944
I Found a New Baby	The Smoothies (vibraphone and piano solos)	‘Smoothies Music Shop’ AFRS Re-broadcast 1944
Pleeze Don’t Squeeza the Banana + Swinging on a Star + Close	The Smoothies	‘Smoothies Music Shop’ AFRS Re-broadcast 1944
Set 5	1935
Hot Lips (theme) + Rose Room	Henry Busse Orchestra	Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1935
Clouds	Henry Busse Orchestra (voc) Carl Grayson	Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1935
Honeysuckle Rose	Joe Haymes Orchestra	Comm Rec 12 May 1939
Midnight (theme + On the Good Ship Lollipop	Joe Haymes Orchestra (voc) Cliff Weston	Comm Rec Paris 14 Dec 1938
Set 6	1939 Mickey Mouse Bands
It Seems Like Old Times	Gray Gordon and his Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra (voc) Cliff Grass	Radio Transcription 1939
The Siren’s Song	Jan Garber Orchestra	Radio Transcription 1939
Way Back in 1939 AD	Gray Gordon and his Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra (voc) Cliff Grass	Radio Transcription 1939
ItLady Be Good	Jan Garber Orchestra (voc) Fritz Heilbron	Radio Transcription 1939
Set 7	Eddie Condon
Yesterdays	Eddie Condon Group	‘Eddie Condon Jazz Concert’ AFRS Re-broadcast 21 Oct 1944
Old Folks	Eddie Condon Group (voc) Lee Wiley	‘Eddie Condon Jazz Concert’ AFRS Re-broadcast 21 Oct 1944
Whereever There’s Love	Eddie Condon Group (voc) Lee Wiley	‘Eddie Condon Jazz Concert’ AFRS Re-broadcast 16 Sep 1944
Wolverine Blues	Eddie Condon Group	‘Eddie Condon Jazz Concert’ AFRS Re-broadcast 16 Sep 1944
Set 8	Diz
I Waited for You (theme) + Our Delight	Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra	The Winter Palace Stockholm Radio Sweden 2 Feb 1948
Night in Tunisia	Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra	Birdland WCBS CBS NYC Jun 1956
Jam Session	Dizzy Gillespie with Tony Proteau Orchestra	Paris Radio Feb 1953

W Lee O’Daniel 1930s Politician & Musician – Phantom Dancer 10 October 2023

W Lee O’Daniel was a Western Swing band leader, singer and composer, politician and this week’s Phantom Dancer Feature Artist. Also from 1944 on this PD, you’ll also hear beatnik word jazz man Ken Nordine as a CBS radio announcer in Chicago.

O’Daniel wrote the song, ‘Beautiful Texas’.

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 10 October) and weeks of Phantom Dancer mixes online at, at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/

WILBERT LEE

In the late 1920s, O’Daniel wrote the Burrus company’s radio advertising. To that end, he wrote songs, sang, and hired a group of musicians to form an Western Swing band to back his vocals.

Originally called the Light Crust Doughboys, notable musicians such as Bob Wills got their start with O’Daniel. After the Doughboys split up, O’Daniel formed the Western Swing band Pat O’Daniel and his Hillbilly Boys.

The new group was named after O’Daniel’s own Hillbilly Flour Company. O’Daniel also hosted a regular noontime radio show heard statewide, which gave him his nickname after a catchphrase used frequently on air – “pass the biscuits, Pappy” – and propelled him into the public spotlight.

By the mid-1930s, “Pappy” O’Daniel was a household name in Texas. As a national magazine reporter wrote at the time: “At twelve-thirty sharp each day, a fifteen-minute silence reigned in the state of Texas, broken only by mountain music, and the dulcet voice of W. Lee O’Daniel.” The show extolled the values of Hillbilly brand flour, the Ten Commandments, and the Bible

O’DANIEL POLITICIAN

A populist and Democratic Party member, O’Daniel served as the 34th governor of Texas (1939–1941) and later its junior United States senator (1941–1949). O’Daniel chose not to run for reelection to the Senate in 1948 and was succeeded by future U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson.

His 1938 campaign for governor of Texas hailed his flour and the need for pensions and tax cuts. He promised to block a sales tax and raise pensions.

He went against his campaign promises while in office,  proposing a new transaction tax voted down by the Texas Legislature. Despite this position change, he remained personally popular and handily won re-election in 1940.

In 1941 he ran for the United States Senate in a special election and defeated Lyndon Johnson by 1,311 votes in one of the most controversial elections in state history.

As a result of this experience, in the 1948 election, Johnson, in the ‘spirit of democracy’ prepared for a close runoff by arranging for his supporters who controlled votes, including George Parr, to withhold their final tallies until the statewide results were announced.

O’Daniel was ineffective senator. Most of his legislation was defeated. He endorsed the anti-Roosevelt Texas Regulars in the 1944 presidential election.

In his broadcast on this week’s Phantom Dancer he confuses George Washington’s speech advocating separation of church and state as a plea to combine the two.

SONG

“W. Lee O’Daniel (and the Light Crust Doughboys)” is a song written by James Talley and originally recorded by Johnny Cash for his 1987 album Johnny Cash Is Coming to Town.

In the words of C. Eric Banister (Johnny Cash FAQ: All That’s Left to Know About the Man in Black), even though it was a good song, it “probably led a lot of listeners wonder, ‘Who?'”, since the band it was about “hadn’t been popular since the mid-1930s.”

10 October PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney LISTEN ONLINE Community Radio Network Show CRN #620
107.3 2SER Tuesday 10 October 2023 12:04 – 2:00pm (+10 hours GMT) National Program 5UV Adelaide Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 5GTR Mt Gambier Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 3MBR Murrayville Monday 3 – 4am 4NAG Keppel FM Monday 3 – 4am 2MIA Griffith Monday 3 – 4am 2BAR Edge FM Bega Monday 3 – 4am 2BRW Braidwood Monday 3 – 4am 2YYY Young Monday 3 – 4am 7RPH Hobart Monday 3 – 4pm 3VKV Alpine Radio Monday 6 – 7pm 7MID Oatlands Monday 3am – 4 and 6 -7pm 2MCE Bathurst Wednesday 9 – 10am 1ART ArtsoundFM Canberra Friday 10 – 11am and Sunday 11pm Reading Radio (QLD) Friday 1am – 2 2RRR Ryde Friday 11am – 12 2ARM Armidale Friday 12 – 1pm 5LCM Lofty FM Adelaide Friday 1 – 2pm 6GME Radio Goolarri Broome Saturday 4am – 5am Denmark FM (West Australia) Saturday 10 – 11am Repeat: Wednesdays 10 – 11pm 7LTN Launceston Sunday 5 – 6am 3MGB Mallacoota Sunday 5 – 6am 3BBR West Gippsland Sunday 5 – 6pm 2SEA Sapphire Coast Eden Sunday 9 – 10pm
Set 1	Abe Lyman
Open + California Here I Come (theme) + As Time Goes By	Abe Lyman and his Californians (voc) Frankie Connors	‘Treasury Star Parade’ Radio Transcription 1943
I’ve Got That Wonderful Worrisome Feeling	Abe Lyman and his Californians (voc) Rose Blaine	‘Treasury Star Parade’ Radio Transcription 1943
Oakland to Burbank	Abe Lyman and his Californians	‘Treasury Star Parade’ Radio Transcription 1943
Any Bonds Today? (theme)	Abe Lyman and his Californians	‘Treasury Star Parade’ Radio Transcription 1943
Set 2	Archie Bleyer
Pal Joey Medley	Archie Bleyer Orchestra	WABC CBS NYC 6 Jun 1944
I’ll Get By (with 3am time signal)	Archie Bleyer Orchestra (voc) Brad Reynolds	WABC CBS NYC 6 Jun 1944
Swinging on a Star + Blue Room	Archie Bleyer Orchestra	WABC CBS NYC 6 Jun 1944
Amor + Bomber Command (fades)	Archie Bleyer Orchestra (voc) Vera Holly	WABC CBS NYC 6 Jun 1944
Set 3	W. Lee O’Daniel
There’s No Place Like Home	W. Lee O’Daniel and his Band (voc) Trio	Front Porch, Texas Governors’ Mansion KNOW Austin TX Texas State Network Jun 1940
Those Good Ol’ Horse and Buggy Days	W. Lee O’Daniel and his Band (voc) W. Lee O’Daniel and Trio	Front Porch, Texas Governors’ Mansion KNOW Austin TX Texas State Network Jun 1940
Whispering Hope	W. Lee O’Daniel and his Band (voc) Trio	Front Porch, Texas Governors’ Mansion KNOW Austin TX Texas State Network Jun 1940
America the Beautiful + Close	W. Lee O’Daniel and his Band	Front Porch, Texas Governors’ Mansion KNOW Austin TX Texas State Network Jun 1940
Set 4	Early Morning Sweet Band
Open + Maybe	Ralph Morrison Orchestra	Pan-American Room LaSalle Hotel WBBM CBS Chicago 7 June 1944
Tico Tico	Ralph Morrison Orchestra	Pan-American Room LaSalle Hotel WBBM CBS Chicago 7 June 1944
You Called it Madness + Old Acquaintance	Ralph Morrison Orchestra (voc) Ralph Morrison	Pan-American Room LaSalle Hotel WBBM CBS Chicago 7 June 1944
Once Too Often + Close	Ralph Morrison Orchestra	Pan-American Room LaSalle Hotel WBBM CBS Chicago 7 June 1944
Set 5	1930s French Jazz
Jam with Bacon	Freddy Johnson Orchestra	Comm Rec Paris 28 Jun 1939
Morning Feeling	The Hot Club Swing Stars	Comm Rec Paris 14 Dec 1938
Russian Lullaby	Oscar Aleman	Comm Rec 12 May 1939
Daphne	The Hot Club Swing Stars	Comm Rec Paris 14 Dec 1938
Set 6	Mildred Bailey
Rocking Chair (theme) + Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone	Mildred Bailey (voc) Paul Baron Orchestra	‘Music Till Midnight’ WABC CBS NYC 1944
I’ll Never Be the Same	Mildred Bailey (voc) Paul Baron Orchestra	‘Music Till Midnight’ WABC CBS NYC 1944
I’m Beginning to See the Light	Mildred Bailey (voc) Paul Baron Orchestra	‘Music Till Midnight’ WABC CBS NYC 19 Jan 1945
It Had to Be You + Rocking Chair (theme)	Mildred Bailey (voc) Paul Baron Orchestra	‘Music Till Midnight’ WABC CBS NYC 1944
Set 7	Eddie Condon
Sweet Georgia Brown	Eddie Condon Group	‘Eddie Condon Jazz Concert’ AFRS Re-broadcast 14 Oct 1944
Sugar	Eddie Condon Group	‘Eddie Condon Jazz Concert’ AFRS Re-broadcast 14 Oct 1944
I’ve Been Around	Eddie Condon Group	‘Eddie Condon Jazz Concert’ AFRS Re-broadcast 25 Nov 1944
The Lady’s in Love	Eddie Condon Group	‘Eddie Condon Jazz Concert’ AFRS Re-broadcast 25 Nov 1944
Set 8	Modern Jazz
Serenade in Sulphur 8	Slim Gaillard	‘Symphony Sid Show’ Birdland WJZ ABC NYC 7 Jul 1951
Limehouse Blues	Benny Goodman Sextet	‘One Night Stand’ The Click Philadelphia AFRS Re-broadcast 3 Jun 1948
The Man I Love	Benny Goodman Sextet (voc) Patti Page	‘One Night Stand’ The Click Philadelphia AFRS Re-broadcast 3 Jun 1948