Jan Savitt And His Top Hatters 1939.xx.xx Jan Savitt Back To Back

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Jan Savitt And His Top Hatters 1939.xx.xx Jan Savitt Back To Back

Date: November 15, 2025
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio

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Episode Overview

This episode whisks listeners back to the Golden Age of Radio with a live 1939 broadcast of Jan Savitt and His Top Hatters, featuring the famed Four Saxes. The performance is delivered from the elegant Blue Room of the Hotel Lincoln in New York City. The show blends lively orchestral numbers, heartfelt ballads, and jovial commentary from the band and its singers, encapsulating the era’s mix of sentimentality and sophisticated swing.

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Key Segments & Discussion Points

Setting the Scene: Classic Radio Glamour

• [00:00] The episode opens with the announcer establishing the ambiance:

  “The National Broadcasting Company presents one of America's great young bands, Jan Savitt and his Orchestra. Featuring the famous Four Saxes...coming to you from the famous Blue Room of the Hotel Lincoln, just west of Times Square in New York City.”

Musical Highlights

• “I Poured My Heart Into a Song”

  • Featured vocals by Bon Bon.
  • Jan Savitt (as “Jan Sabbath” in announcements) delivers a moving interpretation, introducing the key motif of heartfelt performance.
    • Notable quote:

      “I poured my heart into a song. And when you hear it, please remember from the start, you won't be hearing just the word or the tune of a song. You will be listening to my heart.” (Jan Sabbath, [04:30])

• Instrumental Jazz & Swing Favorites

  • [07:04] Announcer teases a “swell jazz arrangement of an old instrumental number,” maintaining lively energy between ballads.
  • [07:20] “Ruby Bloom and Johnny Mercer's 'Day in and Day Out'” performed, capturing the signature rhythmic jumble of Savitt’s band.
    • Memorable line:

      “Day in and day out, sung by Carlotta Dale are now a favorite with followers of Jan Sabbath's band. A jumble of rhythm all their own.” (Announcer, [13:45])

• Vocal Interludes

  • Carlotta Dale and Bon Bon share the spotlight, delivering elegant vocal performances on songs of longing and devotion.
  • “To You” (Jan Sabbath, [18:10]) and “A Man and His Dream” (Carlotta Dale, [23:38]) stand out for their dreamy, romantic lyrics.

Atmospheric Commentary & Signature Moments

• The on-air exchanges retain a warm, playful tone, with banter between Jan, Sam, and the announcer.
• Introduction of segments often includes references to the experience of listening/dancing—a nod to the program’s dual audience (“for your listening pleasure or for your dancing pleasure”).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the emotion in music:

  “If it's not a hit, I won't mind a bit as long as it conveys the love that I bear for you. So here is my heart wrapped in a song.” (Jan Sabbath, [05:35])

• On gratitude and inspiration:

  “Your smile made the clouds and the shadows on high take wings. Your kiss was a real inspiration to greater things.” (Jan Sabbath, [18:37])

• On romance and nostalgia:

  “Night must fade away and yet it leaves a love so all the world will say, There's a man and his dream.” (Sam, [23:38])

Finale & Farewell

• [25:33] The final number, “It’s a Wonderful World,” rings out with full orchestral force, encapsulating the episode’s theme of joy in music, love, and nostalgia.

• Closing words credit the band and the historic venue, giving the show a sense of occasion:

  “This has been the music of one of America's great young bands, Jen Sabbath and the Orchestra...coming to you from the Blue Room, the Hotel Lincoln, just west of Times Square in New York City.” (Announcer, [29:29])

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Notable Time Stamps (Musical Numbers & Memorable Quotes)

| Time | Moment/Quote | |---------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:30 | “I poured my heart into a song...” - Jan Sabbath (vocal solo) | | 05:35 | “If it's not a hit, I won't mind a bit...” - Jan Sabbath | | 07:04 | Intro to swing instrumental | | 13:45 | Carlotta Dale sings “Day in, Day out” | | 18:10 | “To You” - heartfelt lyrics by Jan Sabbath | | 23:38 | Carlotta Dale sings “A Man and His Dream”, dreamy romantic ballad | | 25:33 | Announcer introduces “It's a Wonderful World” finale | | 29:29 | Closing remarks and credits |

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Summary

This episode delivers a lively, heartfelt snapshot of a 1939 radio dance band broadcast, led by Jan Savitt and his ensemble. The musical selections range from sentimental ballads to swinging rhythms, all punctuated by charming commentary and a celebratory atmosphere. Listeners are not only treated to the music but are transported to the elegant Blue Room, where the sound of an optimistic, pre-war America resonates through every number.

Whether nostalgic for the era or discovering it anew, this episode offers a rich immersion into one of radio’s most beloved traditions—family gathered, stories told, and music filling the room.

Transcript

[Announcer]

Gentlemen, the theme. Yes, sir. For your listening pleasure or for your dancing pleasure, the National Broadcasting Company presents one of America's great young bands, Jan Savit and his Orchestra. Featuring the famous Four Saxes. With one musical song. The program coming to you from the famous Blue Room of the Hotel Lincoln, just west of Times Square in New York City. Jan Savit and the Curtain Racer, back to back. Sounds like Jan Sabbath. It is Jan Sabbath, and here's a swell song, Bon Bon sings it. JAN plays I Poured My Heart Into a.

[Sam]

Sam.

[Jan Sabbath]

I poured my heart into a song. And when you hear it, please remember from the star, you won't be hearing just the word or the tune of a song. You will be listening to my heart. I poured my heart into a song and I'm afraid the words I chose are not so smart. I couldn't think of clever things to say in my song. I had to say it with my heart. If it's never played on the Hidden.

[Announcer]

Parade.

[Jan Sabbath]

It will still contain a heart that is beating true. If it's not a hit, I won't mind a bit long as it conveys the love that I bear for you so here is my heart wrapped in.

[Sam]

A song.

[Jan Sabbath]

And if you take it, please don't tear my song apart.

[Sam]

For.

[Jan Sabbath]

If you do, you won't be just destroying a song, you will be tearing of my heart.

[Announcer]

Here's a swell jazz arrangement of an old instrumental number that we know you'll all like. Jan Sabbath plays Cinderella well, sir, they penned many a grand tune. And here's their latest, Ruby Bloom and Johnny Mercer's Day in and Day Out. All right, Dan. Thank.

[Sam]

You, Sam. Sa Heart the same old pounding in my heart Whenever I think of you and darling, I think of you Day in and day out Day out, Day in I needn't tell you how my day days begin When I awake I awaken with a tingle One possibility in view the possibility of babies in you come, brave, come shine I meet you and to me the day is far Then I kiss your lips and the pounding becomes the ocean's roar A thousand drown can you see its love? Can there be any doubt when there it is it can't you see it? Can there be any doubt when there it is? Day in, Day out.

[Announcer]

Day in and day out, sung by Carlotta Dale are now a favorite with followers of Jan Sabbath's band. A jumble of rhythm all their own. 7:20 in the book 7:20, the National Broadcasting Company is sending you music by one of America's great young bands, Jan Sabat and his orchestra from the Blue Room of the Hotel Lincoln, just west of Times Square in New York City. Now, a bit of singing from Bonbon as Jan plays. To you.

[Sam]

Sam. Save all of my heart and my.

[Jan Sabbath]

Love to you to you I'll bring sunbeams from heaven above to you. To me. You're an angel and you mean the world to me I'll be forever.

[Announcer]

Your.

[Jan Sabbath]

Your smile made the clouds and the shadows on high take wings. Your kiss was a real inspiration to greater things. My dreams I'm so thankful and grateful to say came true. I owe it all to you.

[Announcer]

For you. Well, sir, looks like things are really going to happen right this very minute. It's Ring Damn bell. Yeah. And now a change of tempo as well as mood. For here is lovely Carlotta Dale. To sing of a man in his dream.

[Sam]

Night A soft guitar. A hidden lane of moon and here and there a star For a man and his dream night A cricket's cry A whispered word of kiss and now and then aside For a man and his dream and their eyes when they meet Seem to say it's sublime and their hearts proudly beat To a tune that is older than time Night must fade away and yet it leaves a love so all the world will say There's a man and his. Sam.

[Announcer]

Jan, we're all ready for that final number. It's a Wonderful World.

[Sam]

It.

[Announcer]

This has been the music of one of America's great young bands, Jen Sabbath and the Orchestra Venture Way by NBC Music, featuring four Saxons, with one musical program coming to you from the Blue Room, the Hotel Lincoln, just west of Times Square in New York City. Heard in Canada through facilities of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.