Radio Rhapsody - Johnny Green & His Orchestra, 1935

The first singer in this short subject ("The Rose In Her Hair") is unidentified, but he is followed by the Johnny Green Orchestra, showing off with the playing of "Dinah." We then see the male quartet known as the Foursome, also famous for their facility with ocarinas. The Foursome gained theatrical fame when they appeared in Broadway shows "Girl Crazy" and "Anything Goes." One of the Foursome, Del Porter, went on to solo with Spike Jones & His City Slickers. Here they sing "Rhythm Is Our Business." For several years Green's Orchestra featured the singing talents of Marjory Logan and Jimmie Farrell, who sing together on "You Can Be Kissed" by Harry Warren and Al Dubin. Logan also sings 16 measures of Green's "How Can I How You Close Enough," a lovely song she recorded on Brunswick records. An excerpt of an original Green composition, "Poem" is performed in this film short. When this short was made, Green (and his large musical organization) was the star of the SOCONY Sketchbook on the radio. Harry Von Zell is the announcer.

[@gregorypalmer5403]

Terrific post ! Thank you.

[@jeromewegand4785]

MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TIME TRAVEL BACK TO WHEN MUSIC WAS ELEGANT AND SENTIMENTAL WITH GREAT VIDEOS LIKE YOUR'S HERE !

[@panamintjoe1808]

Guitarist Perry Botkin front and center. Many considered him Eddie Lang's successor.

[@RatPfink66]

Timestamps Featuring unknown singer (1), The Foursome (2), Marjory Logan (3), Jimmy Farrell (4) 0:00 Opening Music 0:17 Announcement - Harry von Zell 0:44 The Rose in Her Hair (1) 1:34 Dinah 2:31 Poem (John's Concerto) 4:13 Swanee River / My Old Kentucky Home - Company 5:11 Rhythm Is Our Business (2) 6:38 How Can I Hold You Close Enough? (3) 7:37 You Can Be Kissed (3,4) 8:13 Limehouse Blues - Company

[@gregorypalmer5403]

" Von Zell" was fun on the Burns and Allen programs. And didn't Marjory do a stint with Anson Weeks ?

[@johnjames4213]

Fantastic musicians/ vocalists. A great orchestra.

[@clarkhum]

Green later made classical-music shorts with the MGM studio orchestra, which he was directing in the early 1950s.

[@gregorypalmer5403]

About the time, or just after, the incredible Artie Schutt was doing studio stuff.

[@Grundsau47]

Thank you so much for uploading this to KZbin!

[@cats0182]

Harry Von Zell. Famous radio announcer.

[@davidisny]

And, don't forget his role on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show