Inspired by "An American Christmas Carol," we hang around the 1930s with this snappy little number that a Depression-era Belle could have sung to a Depression-era Ebenezer:
That's a fun record from Don Bestor and his Orchestra on Victor Records in 1934!
Don Bestor was best-known as the spats-wearing orchestra leader on Jack Benny's radio program way back when. So long ago that Jack might actually have been 39 at the time!
After a bit of banter during the show, Jack would instruct Mr. Bestor to perform a musical number by saying, "Play, Don..." which became something of a catchphrase.
An interesting artifact of this is that Groucho Marx says, "Play, Don..." to the unimpressed conductor who is about to start the overture in 1935's "A Night at the Opera." I imagine most modern viewers have no idea what he means!
In case the Depression-era Ebenezer wants his turn, this version by Tom Berwick and his Orchestra on Bluebird has him covered:
That's also fun!
I think "Tom Berwick" was a pseudonym used by the Bluebird label for various bands, but who knows at this point!
The vocal is by the ubiquitous Dick Robertson, who sang on a zillion records back then!
Love those 1930s records!
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