George Olsen | Phantom Dancer 2 January 2024

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 NJ  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

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney LISTEN ONLINE Community Radio Network Show CRN #634
107.3 2SER Tuesday 2 January 2024 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	Stars in Jazz
Theme + Disorder at the Border	Coleman Hawkins – Roy Eldridge	‘Stars in Jazz’ Birdland WNBC NBC NYC 1952
Stuffy	Coleman Hawkins – Roy Eldridge	‘Stars in Jazz’ Birdland WNBC NBC NYC 1952
I Only Have Eyes For You	Arthur Prysock	‘Stars in Jazz’ Birdland WNBC NBC NYC 1952
Set 2	Early Rock
Three O’Clock in the Morning	King Porter Orchestra	‘Burgie Big Beat’ KNX CBS LA 1956
Poor Butterfly	King Porter Orchestra	‘Burgie Big Beat’ KNX CBS LA 1956
The Magic Touch	The Platters	‘Burgie Big Beat’ KNX CBS LA 1956
One O’Clock Jump	King Porter Orchestra	‘Burgie Big Beat’ KNX CBS LA 1956
Set 3	George Olsen
Theme + Two Cigarettes	George Olsen Orchestra (voc) Sherman Hayes	‘One Night Stand’ Copacabana NYC AFRS Re-broadcast 11 Feb 1945
This Heart of Mine	George Olsen Orchestra (voc) Judith Blair	‘One Night Stand’ Copacabana NYC AFRS Re-broadcast 11 Feb 1945
There Goes That Song Again	George Olsen Orchestra (voc) Sherman Hayes	‘One Night Stand’ Copacabana NYC AFRS Re-broadcast 11 Feb 1945
Bell Bottom Trousers	George Olsen Orchestra (voc) Judith Blair and Sherman Hayes and Band	‘One Night Stand’ Copacabana NYC AFRS Re-broadcast 11 Feb 1945
Set 4	Johnny Pineapple
Theme + Little Grass Shack	Johnny Pineapple	‘New Years Dancing Party’ Polynesian Village Edgewater Beach Hotel WGN Chicago 1 Jan 1958
Jingle Bells + Hawaiian New Years	Johnny Pineapple and the Polynesian Sweethearts	‘New Years Dancing Party’ Polynesian Village Edgewater Beach Hotel WGN Chicago 1 Jan 1958
My Blooming Flower	Johnny Pineapple	‘New Years Dancing Party’ Polynesian Village Edgewater Beach Hotel WGN Chicago 1 Jan 1958
Set 5	Charlie Barnet
Redskin Rhumba (theme) + Cotton Tail	Charlie Barnet Orchestra	Aircheck Los Angeles Mar 1945
Strolling	Charlie Barnet Orchestra	Aircheck Dec 1945
Everything But You	Charlie Barnet Orchestra (voc) Fran Warren	Casino Gardens Ocean Park Ca KECA ABC LA Jan 1946
Poor Little Rich Girl	Charlie Barnet Orchestra	Aircheck Dec 1945
Set 6	Glenn Miller
Moonlight Serenade (theme) + The Lady’s in Love with You	Glenn Miller Orchestra (voc) Tex Beneke and Glenn Miller	Meadowbrook Ballroom Cedar Grove NJ WJZ NBC Blue NYC 18 Apr 1939
Wishing	Glenn Miller Orchestra (voc) Ray Eberle	Meadowbrook Ballroom Cedar Grove NJ WJZ NBC Blue NYC 18 Apr 1939
Dear Arabella	Glenn Miller Orchestra (voc) Marion Hutton, Tex Beneke and The Modernaires	Cafe Rouge Hotel Pennsylvania WJZ NBC Blue NYC 27 Dec 1941
Elmer’s Tune + Keep ’em Flying + Close	Glenn Miller Orchestra (voc) Ray Eberle and The Modernaires	Cafe Rouge Hotel Pennsylvania WJZ NBC Blue NYC 27 Dec 1941
Set 7	Blue Barron
The Yam	Blue Barron Orchestra (voc) Charlie Fisher	Radio Transcription 1938
At Long Last Love	Blue Barron Orchestra (voc) Russ Carlyle	Radio Transcription 1940
Love of My Life	Blue Barron Orchestra (voc) Russ Carlyle	Radio Transcription 1939
You’re the Only Star in My Blue Heaven	Blue Barron Orchestra (voc) Russ Carlyle and The Glee Club	Radio Transcription 1940
Set 8	Dave Brubeck
Spring is Here	Dave Brubeck	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	Basin Street WCBS CBS NY Feb 1956

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

Australian Trad Jazz on 1949 Radio – Phantom Dancer Show 21 August 2018

Trad jazz became the leading jazz style in Australia after World War Two. On this week’s Phantom Dancer with Greg Poppleton, we hear 1949 radio broadcasts by two of the leading exponents of the style – Dave Dallwitz and Graeme Bell.

THE PHANTOM DANCER

Your non-stop mixtape of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio. Produced and presented by Australia’s only authentic 1920s – 1930s singer, Greg Poppleton, since 1985.

The Phantom Dancer is mixed live-to-air on 107.3 2SER Sydney, Tuesdays 12:04 – 2pm.

It’s then re-broadcast on 22 radio stations of the Community Radio Network and online at 2ser.com.

THIS WEEK’S PHANTOM DANCER MIX

– has a set of ‘Limehouse Blues’ on-air between 1934 and 1946, there’s a set of live radio dance bands from 1939, and there’s the Australian trad jazz on 1949 radio feature. The last hour of the mix is ALL VINYL.

See the full play list below….

AUSTRALIAN TRAD JAZZ

This week’s feature – a set of 1949 trad radio broadcasts from Adelaide and Melbourne and a commercial side from 1929.

JOE WATSON

Trumpeter Joe Watson came to Australia from the USA with the visiting Ray Tellier band and decided to stay. He lead Melbourne’s Green Mill Dance Hall Orchestra. This commercial record was made for ‘Coles’ stores on their ‘Embassy’ label.

DAVE DALLWITZ – SOUTHERN JAZZ GROUP

Jazz pianist, band leader, ragtime, jazz, revue, symphonic and chamber music composer, classical cellist and bassoon player. He lead the Adelaide-based Southern Jazz Group from 1945 to 1951, which we hear in a South Australian radio broadcast from 1949. He was also an artist and associate member of the Royal South Australian Society of Arts.

GRAEME BELL

Dixieland and classical jazz pianist, composer and band leader. He famously toured Czechoslovakia in 1947, and later toured Germany and the UK in the early 50s. He was the first Westerner to lead a jazz band to China.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Australian band, Graeme Bell, cut this on tour in Czechoslovakia in 1947.

21 AUGUST PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #328
107.3 2SER Tuesday 21 August 2018 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+10 hours GMT) National Program: ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm and early morning on 23 other stations.
Set 1	1940s Swing Bands on One Night Stand
Theme + Wherever There’s Me There’s You	Bobby Sherwood Orchestra (voc) Frances Glenn and Jay Johnson	‘One Night Stand’ Avadon Ballroom LA AFRS Re-broadcast 3 Jun 1946
I Don’t Want To Love You Like I Do	Lee Castle Orchestra (voc) Natalie Kaye	‘One Night Stand’ Terrace Room Newark NJ AFRS Re-broadcast 30 Aug 1944
All Or Nothing At All + I Got Rhythm	Boyd Raeburn Orchestra (voc) Ted Travers	‘One Night Stand’ Roosevelt Hotel Washington DC AFRS Re-broadcast Feb 1944
Set 2	Friendly Five Footnotes
I’ve Got Five Dollars (theme) + Ooh That Kiss! + Goodnight Sweetheart + I Wouldn’t Change You For The World + Alabamy Bound + I’ve Got Five Dollars (theme)	Freddy Rich Orchestra (voc) FR	‘Friendly Five Footnotes’ Radio Transcription 1932
Set 3	Concerts in Miniature
Open + Young Blood	Stan Kenton Orchestra	‘Concert in Miniature’ Rustic Cabin NJ NBC 1952
Intermission Riff	Stan Kenton Orchestra	‘Concert in Miniature’ WSOC NBC Charlotte NC 1952
Artistry in Bolero	Stan Kenton Orchestra	‘Concert in Miniature’ Bowling Field WRC NBC Washington DC 15 Jul 1952
Set 4	Your Hit Parade
Happy Days Are Here Again (theme) + Stop Beating Around The Mulberry Bush	Al Goodman Orchestra (voc) Bea Wain and The Hit Paraders	‘Your Hit Parade’ WABC CBS NY 22 Oct 1938
Gotta Be This Or That	Mark Warnow Orchestra (voc) Joan Edwards	‘Your Hit Parade’ AFRS Re-Broadcast 27 Oct 1945
Moonlight Becomes You + Love Me Or Leave Me (close)	Mark Warnow (voc) Barry Wood	‘Your Hit Parade’ AFRS Re-Broadcast 23 Jan 1943
Set 5	Limehouse Blues
Limehouse Blues	Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra	Radio Transcription 1934
Limehouse Blues	Glenn Miller Orchestra	Cafe Rouge Hotel Pennsylvania WJZ NBC Blue NY 6 Nov 1940
Limehouse Blues	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Aircheck New York City Jun 1942
Limehouse Blues	Benny Goodman Sextet	‘One Night Stand’ The Click Philadelphia AFRS Re-broadcast 1 Jul 1946
Set 6	Australian Trad Jazz Radio
Alabama Stomp	Joe Watson Green Mill Orchestra	Comm Rec Melbourne 17 Oct 1929
Strut Miss Lizzy	Graeme Bell Dixieland Band (voc) Roger Bell	3AW Melbourne 1949
Emu Strut	Southern Jazz Group	5AD Adelaide 18 Jun 1949
Georgia Bo Bo	Graeme Bell Dixieland Band (voc) Ade Monsborough	3AW Melbourne 1949
Set 7	1939 Radio Dance Bands
Lady Be Good	Barney Rapp and his New Englanders	The Sign of the Drum Cincinnati NBC Red NY 17 Jun 1939
This is No Dream	Bob Crosby Orchestra	‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS NY 18 Jul 1939
White Sails	Harry James Orch (voc) Connie Haines	‘America Dances’ WABC CBS NY and BBC London 19 Jul 1939
Last Two Weeks in July	Artie Shaw Orchestra (voc) Helen Forrest	Cafe Rouge Hotel Pennsylvania WEAF NBC Red NY 21 Oct 1939
Set 8	New Sounds in Jazz Radio
My Heart Stood Still	Shorty Rogers’ Giants	‘The Tonight Show’ Jul 1955
Royal Roost Bop	Dave Lambert and Buddy Stewart (voc)	‘Symphony Sid Show’ Royal Roost WMCA NY 5 Mar 1949
Budo	Bud Powell Trio	‘Symphony Sid Show’ Birdland WJZ ABC NY 7 Mar 1953