NEW YEAR’S EVE COUNTDOWN

Originally broadcast on WNIB
Saturday, December 31, 1988

GLENN MILLER AND HIS ORCHESTRA (12-31-38) Remote broadcast from New York’s Paradise restaurant, part of NBC’s New Year’s Dance Parade. Vocals by Marion Hutton and Ray Eberle. Music includes “King Porter Stomp,” “FDR Jones” and “One O’Clock Jump.” Nelson Case announces. Sustaining, NBC. (13:40)

RALPH MARTERIE AND HIS ORCHESTRA (1-1-58) Remote broadcast from the Melody Mill Ballroom, North Riverside, Illinois, part of CBS’ New Year’s Eve Dancing Party. Selections include “Perdido,” “Hesitation Hop” and “What’s New.” Sustaining, CBS. (14:15)

LES ELGART AND HIS ORCHESTRA (12-31-64/ 1-1-65) Remote broadcast from the Sherman House in Chicago from 11:55 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The program begins minutes before midnight as the band plays “Why Don’t You Do Right” and “You Made Me Love You.” At the stroke of midnight, it’s “Auld Lang Syne” followed by “It’s D’lovely,” “Cherokee,” “Skyliner,” “Blues in the Night,” “Makin’ Whoopee” and others. George Stone announces. Sustaining, NBC. (14:00; 17:05)

CHUCK FOSTER AND HIS ORCHESTRA (1-1-60) It’s “Music in the Foster Fashion” from the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago during the first hour of the new year. Featured are “Mack the Knife,” and “Broken-Hearted Melody.” Sustaining, CBS. (14:00)

SWING AROUND THE CLOCK (12-31-44) Don Wilson is master of ceremonies for an all-star Armed Forces Radio swing around the country to hear the big bands and the big singers from various military installations. Featured are Jimmy Dorsey, Ella Mae Morse, Louis Jordan Timpani Five, Harry James, Kay Kyser, Lena Home, Benny Goodman, Bing Crosby, Ginny Simms, Woody Herman, Tommy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers, Vaughn Monroe, GI Jill with Major Meredith Willson and the AFRS Orchestra, Spike Jones, and Count Basie. AFRS. (14:00; 15:00; 14:55; 15:00)

OUR SPECIAL GUEST and co-host for this New Year’s Eve afternoon of revelry will be big band buff KARL PEARSON who will be on hand to talk about the music and the musicians featured on the program. Listeners are invited to tune in with party hats, noisemakers and suitable refreshments! Don’t miss it if you can!