Episode Archive Page

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 10th Apr 2018

Who was Symphony Sid? He was probably the greatest middleman jazz has ever known. You'll hear him introduce live radio performances by Machito, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Ventura, Jackie Cain and Lester Young on his 1948-51 all-night, all frantic Symphony Sid show. And you'll hear it all on The Phantom Dancer - your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio presented by authentic 1920s-30s singer and band leader, Greg Poppleton. Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 3rd Apr 2018

There are some rare jazz broadcasts from 1929 by Ray Miller's Orchestra on this week's Phantom Dancer with Greg Poppleton. The orchestra is selling washing machines. And I bring you letters from Helen Keller and band leader Paul Ash about how the deaf reported 'hearing' music broadcast on the radio in the first years of wireless broadcasting as a mass medium. You'll also hear radio broadcasts by the Buddy Rich, Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman Orchestras, the Andrew Sisters and dance bands from WW2 Moscow, Prague and Hilversum. Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 27th Mar 2018

It's amazing how disease can over-shadow the brilliant legacy of someone's life. How much 'expert' blather was there about Stephen Hawking's motor neurone disease as an excuse to avoid talking about his hard and more interesting physics? Likewise, one of the great trumpet innovators of jazz, Bunny Berigan, is more likely to have his alcoholism and early death discussed then his music. We hear some of his music from live 1936-40 radio broadcasts on this week's Phantom Dancer with 1920s-30s singer, Greg Poppleton. Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 20th Mar 2018

Miff Mole was a trombone player who became famous in the jazz world of the 1920s. And we'll be hearing radio broadcasts by Miff on this week's The Phantom Dancer. The Phantom Dancer is two hours of non-stop swing and jazz mixed from live 1920s - 1960s radio and TV presented by Greg Poppleton, Australia's only authentic 1920s-1930s singer You'll also hear a set of live vintage radio by Nat King Cole, Marion Hutton and Charlie Spivak. Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 13th Mar 2018

A hint of ukuleles takes a set on this week's The Phantom Dancer with Harry Reser and Wendall Hall from 1925 and 1931. Presented by Australia's only authentic 1920s-1930s singer, this week's Phantom Dancer also has a set of shuffle from 1940s radio, Les Paul and Mary Ford from their 1950 radio series, and Charlie Parker from live January - February 1949 'Symphony Sid Show' broadcasts. Read about ukes, see the play list and see a Roy Smeck uke video here. Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 6th Mar 2018

Hans Albers, singer and the 'German John Wayne', features in a set of his hit 1930s-40s movie songs on this week's Phantom Dancer. Also live 1940s radio sets of Raymond Scott, Louis Armstrong and Woody Herman. Hear show, play list and video now Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 27th Feb 2018

Jazz bassoonist and saxophonist, Errol Buddle, co-founder of the 1950s US jazz sensations, The Australian Jazz Quartet (AJQ), died last week. So The Phantom Dancer presents a performance by the AJQ from Birdland NYC over NBC in 1956. The Phantom Dancer is your weekly non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio presented by authentic 1920s-30s singer and band leader, Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 20th Feb 2018

A station callsign on a 1930s radio broadcast brings to mind Mechanical TV. See and read about mechanical TV here. The wonder of the 1920s. Plus Greg Poppleton brings you a non-stop swing jazz mix with Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Miles Davis and Fred Astaire on The Phantom Dancer. Here the mix hear from 20 Feb. Also heard on 2SER and 23 radio stations. Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 13th Feb 2018

Before Timmie Rogers, African-American comedians had to either work in pairs or groups, talking only to each other while playing characters This week's Phantom Dancer has a set by this breakthrogh singer and comedian. We also hear jazz on 1948-49 TV presented by Eddie Condon. Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 6th Feb 2018

Jazz composer Duke Ellington's most ambitious work, 'Black Brown & Beige' had its premiere in a high school. After another two performances at Carnegie Hall and Boston Symphony Hall, Ellington never played the entire work again. We hear two excerpts in today's Phantom Dancer mix live over the Blue Network from the 400 Restaurant New York City in 1945. Yes, 'serious' compositions can be entertaining! Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 30th Jan 2018

Pee Wee Russell's unique clarinet sound stretched the boundaries of jazz clarinet. He plays with Mary Lou Williams on 1948 TV in this week's Phantom Dancer. And he was bullied. Over 23 stations and online, The Phantom Dancer is your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV with Greg Poppleton. Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 23rd Jan 2018

On this week's Phantom Dancer... There's jazz harpsichord by Sylvia Marlow from 1941 radio, a set Duke Ellington's women singers on live 1930s-50s radio, and a set of 1943-45 recordings by Sydney swing band leader, George Trevare, with a track by singer Lawrie Brooks, father of Pulitzer author, Geraldine Brooks. Read More

Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 16th Jan 2018

Hearing child prodigies while they were still children is a rare thing. But radio recorded some in the 1930s-50s. We'll hear them on this week's Phantom Dancer. Greg Poppleton presents Baby Rose Marie, Sugar Chile Robinson, Frankie Lymon even Frank Sinatra! Read More