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Ben Bernie Collection

The old Maestro" was known for his entertaining patter more than his violin playing and a "feud" with his good friend Walter Winchell. A musical genius from a very young age, he was the youngest violinist the play Carnegie Hall at age of thirteen.

Ben Bernie

28 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 10 hours, 815 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
11 Audio CDs


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"H Link, Keller S"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Ben Bernie
(1891 – 1943)

After several years at Columbia University, Bernie decided to take his fiddle and go into vaudeville. Here he teamed up with Phil Baker and they played vaudeville theaters from 1910 until the war separated them. Then Ben took up the baton and from it comes the finest dance music also breezy pungent wisecracks.

Rare Musical Variety Program (1930 - 43)

Ben BernieFans of OTR may recognize Ben Bernie's name at first for having a dispute over Benjamin Kubelsky's stage name. Soon after graduating from Waukegan High School, Kubelsky hit the vaudeville circuit as a violinist and was pressured to adopt a new stage name by famous violinist Jan Kubelik. After serving in the Navy during the First World War, Kubelsky went back to vaudeville, calling his act, "Ben K. Benny: Fiddle Funology". This time, vaudevillian Ben Bernie objected, but Kubelsky finally got the last laugh after adopting the handle "Jack Benny".

Although he may not have had the success enjoyed by Jack Benny, Ben Bernie did, in fact, make a splash on NBC during the early 1930s. Calling himself "the old Maestro", he and his dance band played shows for a series of sponsors, including Pabst Blue Ribbon Malt Extract (Prohibition Era Note; open and pour a can of malt extract syrup into a large pot of boiling water with some herbs, when the water cools, add some Fleischmann's Yeast, cover, and wait for a few days, the result may not be "Blue Ribbon", but it will definitely be Pabst Beer!)

As a recording artist, Bernie is noted as a co-composer and the first to record Sweet Georgia Brown in 1925 with his Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra. The tune was inspired by a meeting with Georgia State Representative Dr. Thaddeus Brown. Brown's daughter was born during the 1911 State Assembly, and the legislature passed a declaration that the girl was to be named Georgia after the State. The catchy song went on to become the theme for the Harlem Globetrotters Basketball team.

Like Jack Benny, "the old Maestro" was known for his entertaining patter more than his violin playing. Taking another page from Benny's playbook, Bernie staged a false feud with his good friend Walter Winchell. The two traded jabs between their respective radio programs and raised the ratings of both programs. Ben Bernie passed away after suffering a pulmonary embolism in October 1943 at the age of 52. A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6280 Hollywood Blvd was dedicated on February 8, 1960, honoring Ben Bernie's contributions to radio.  

This rare collection of Ben Bernie includes a Ben Bernie show and several musical numbers by Bernie's band. A musical genius from a very young age, he was the youngest violinist the play Carnegie Hall at age of thirteen. Listen to the show and see for yourself why the man was such a hit.

Harry James, Louis Tobin (Mrs James), Tony Pastor, Ben Bernie, Jimmy Dorsey

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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    Great war time shows , a real time capsule. Thank you for making these shows available.

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    28 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 10 hours, 815 min
    28 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 10 hours, 815 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 28 shows – total playtime 10 hours, 13 minutes
    2. Ben Bernie 230000 Love Tales.mp3
    3. Ben Bernie 350212 Ginger Rogers.mp3
    4. Ben Bernie 350402 Jack Dempsey.mp3
    5. Ben Bernie 350611 Frank Parker.mp3
    6. Ben Bernie 350827 Jackie Heller.mp3
    7. Ben Bernie 350917 Frank Fields.mp3
    8. Ben Bernie 350924 Doring Sisters.mp3
    9. Ben Bernie 351015 Sophie Tucker.mp3
    10. Ben Bernie 351115 Whose Honey Are You.mp3
    11. Ben Bernie 411016 Hi Neighbor.mp3
    12. Ben Bernie 420000 Gail Robbins.mp3
    13. Ben Bernie 420000 To Ladies.mp3
    14. Ben Bernie 420000 Wedding Show.mp3
    15. Ben Bernie 421023 Wedding Show Not Same As 420000.mp3
    16. Ben Bernie 421026 Saluting Coast Guard.mp3
    17. Ben Bernie 421211 Saluting War Workers And People In Canada.mp3
    18. Ben Bernie 421212 Yankee Doodle Boy.mp3
    19. Ben Bernie His Orchestra 26 Up At Em.mp3
    20. Ben Bernie His Orchestra 30 Song Of Bayou.mp3
    21. Ben Bernie His Orchestra H Link Keller S.mp3
    22. Ben Bernie War Workers Program 421005.mp3
    23. Ben Bernie War Workers Program 421023.mp3
    24. Ben Bernie War Workers Program 421104.mp3
    25. Biography In Sound 560515 49 Recolections At 30.mp3
    26. Info Please 380906 017 Ben Bernie Bernard Jaffe.mp3
    27. Jack Benny Program 370214 245 Jacks Birthday.mp3
    28. Texaco Town 370314 26 At Cocoanut Grove.mp3
    29. Tribute To Irving Berlin 380803.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    28 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 10 hours, 815 min
    28 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    281 MB – total playtime 10 hours, 13 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 28 shows – 281 MB – total playtime 10 hours, 13 minutes
    2. Ben Bernie 230000 Love Tales.mp3
    3. Ben Bernie 350212 Ginger Rogers.mp3
    4. Ben Bernie 350402 Jack Dempsey.mp3
    5. Ben Bernie 350611 Frank Parker.mp3
    6. Ben Bernie 350827 Jackie Heller.mp3
    7. Ben Bernie 350917 Frank Fields.mp3
    8. Ben Bernie 350924 Doring Sisters.mp3
    9. Ben Bernie 351015 Sophie Tucker.mp3
    10. Ben Bernie 351115 Whose Honey Are You.mp3
    11. Ben Bernie 411016 Hi Neighbor.mp3
    12. Ben Bernie 420000 Gail Robbins.mp3
    13. Ben Bernie 420000 To Ladies.mp3
    14. Ben Bernie 420000 Wedding Show.mp3
    15. Ben Bernie 421023 Wedding Show Not Same As 420000.mp3
    16. Ben Bernie 421026 Saluting Coast Guard.mp3
    17. Ben Bernie 421211 Saluting War Workers And People In Canada.mp3
    18. Ben Bernie 421212 Yankee Doodle Boy.mp3
    19. Ben Bernie His Orchestra 26 Up At Em.mp3
    20. Ben Bernie His Orchestra 30 Song Of Bayou.mp3
    21. Ben Bernie His Orchestra H Link Keller S.mp3
    22. Ben Bernie War Workers Program 421005.mp3
    23. Ben Bernie War Workers Program 421023.mp3
    24. Ben Bernie War Workers Program 421104.mp3
    25. Biography In Sound 560515 49 Recolections At 30.mp3
    26. Info Please 380906 017 Ben Bernie Bernard Jaffe.mp3
    27. Jack Benny Program 370214 245 Jacks Birthday.mp3
    28. Texaco Town 370314 26 At Cocoanut Grove.mp3
    29. Tribute To Irving Berlin 380803.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    28 recordings on 11 Audio CDs. Total playtime 10 hours, 13 min
    28 recordings on 11 Audio CDs
    total playtime 10 hours, 13 min

    Ben Bernie Disc A001

    1. Ben Bernie His Orchestra 26 Up At Em
    2. Ben Bernie His Orchestra 30 Song Of Bayou
    3. Ben Bernie His Orchestra H Link Keller S
    4. Ben Bernie 230000 Love Tales
    5. Ben Bernie 350212 Ginger Rogers

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ben Bernie Disc A002

    1. Ben Bernie 350402 Jack Dempsey
    2. Ben Bernie 350611 Frank Parker

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ben Bernie Disc A003

    1. Ben Bernie 350827 Jackie Heller
    2. Ben Bernie 350917 Frank Fields

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ben Bernie Disc A004

    1. Ben Bernie 350924 Doring Sisters
    2. Ben Bernie 351015 Sophie Tucker

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ben Bernie Disc A005

    1. Ben Bernie 351115 Whose Honey Are You
    2. Jack Benny Program 370214 245 Jacks Birthday

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ben Bernie Disc A006

    1. Texaco Town 370314 26 At Cocoanut Grove

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ben Bernie Disc A007

    1. Tribute To Irving Berlin 380803

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ben Bernie Disc A008

    1. Info Please 380906 017 Ben Bernie Bernard Jaffe
    2. Ben Bernie 411016 Hi Neighbor
    3. Ben Bernie 420000 Gail Robbins

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ben Bernie Disc A009

    1. Ben Bernie 420000 To Ladies
    2. Ben Bernie 420000 Wedding Show
    3. Ben Bernie War Workers Program 421005
    4. Ben Bernie 421023 Wedding Show Not Same As 420000

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ben Bernie Disc A010

    1. Ben Bernie War Workers Program 421023
    2. Ben Bernie 421026 Saluting Coast Guard
    3. Ben Bernie War Workers Program 421104
    4. Ben Bernie 421211 Saluting War Workers And People In Canada

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ben Bernie Disc A011

    1. Ben Bernie 421212 Yankee Doodle Boy
    2. Biography In Sound 560515 49 Recolections At 30

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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