Re: MMM Theme

["David W. Harris" <dwh@totalnetnh.net>]

Russell B. Butler noted:  "The WNEW *Milkman's Matinee" theme was
recorded by Les Brown Orch with The Modernaires.  Ending lyrics by
Modernaires identifies them both..."

That recording, used until WNEW's end (12/11/92), probably dates from
the early 1950s.  Except for its closing lines ("The Modernaires are
singin'/and Les Brown's swingin'/at the Milkman's, the Milkman's
Matinee!") it is closely patterned after the 1936 recording of the song
by Charlie Barnet & His Orchestra featuring vocals by...the
Modernaires!  Jeff Scott's liner notes on The Complete Charlie Barnet
Vol. 1 indicate Stan Shaw picked up this version for the theme of his
overnight gig on WNEW.

Scott's notes also have Martin Block playing Barnet's version of "Make
Believe Ballroom" quite a bit during the day shift.  It was recorded a
few weeks earlier in 1936 with...the Modernaires!  In 1940 Block asked
Glenn Miller to record a new theme for his show, penned in part by
Block, called "Make Believe Ballroom Time."  Similar titles, different
tunes, different lyrics except for one line in common ("Here's your
make-believe ballroom"), same vocalists--the Modernaires!--hired by
Miller just for that session. Within a year the Modernaires had a
permanent gig with Miller and a role in the first formally certified
million-seller ("Chattanooga Choo Choo").

The Modernaires also gave us two versions of "Juke Box Saturday
Night"--a 1942 one with Miller and a 1953 update with George Cates'
Orchestra.  I imagine that tune has been used by numerous stations for a
weekend oldies show.  I remember WERS had a program called "Jukebox
Saturday Night" in the late '70s--mostly R&B--but can't recall which
version of the song was used for an intro. Or was it the "Hi-Fi Party"
show which preceded it that used the Modernaires for an intro?

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