- published: 09 Jul 2014
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Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".
In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America. His January 16, 1938 concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City is described by critic Bruce Eder as "the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz's 'coming out' party to the world of 'respectable' music."
Goodman's bands launched the careers of many major names in jazz, and during an era of segregation, he also led one of the first well-known racially-integrated jazz groups. Goodman continued to perform to nearly the end of his life, including exploring his interest in classical music.
Goodman was born in Chicago, the ninth of twelve children of poor Jewish immigrants from the Russian Empire, who lived in the Maxwell Street neighborhood. His father was David Goodman, a tailor from Warsaw; his mother was Dora Grisinsky (from Kaunas, Lithuania). His parents met in Baltimore, Maryland, and moved to Chicago before Benny was born.
Actors: Gina Gershon (actress), John Wesley (actor), Don Stark (actor), Olympia Dukakis (actress), Bob Gunton (actor), Rod Steiger (actor), Brian Markinson (actor), Jeff Corey (actor), Robin Gammell (actor), Joe Grifasi (actor), Jack Betts (actor), Bruce Gray (actor), Joe Santos (actor), Rena Riffel (actress), Marcia Gay Harden (actress),
Genres: Biography, Drama,Actors: Jack Kruschen (actor), Herbert Anderson (actor), Sam Harris (actor), Antonio Filauri (actor), Franklyn Farnum (actor), Robert Clarke (actor), Wilton Graff (actor), James Conaty (actor), Hy Averback (actor), Hal K. Dawson (actor), Steve Allen (actor), John Erman (actor), Fred Essler (actor), Douglas Evans (actor), Jack Lomas (actor),
Plot: Bio of swing band leader 'Benny Goodman' from age 10 (1919) to his landmark Carnegie Hall band concert in 1938. Not exactly historically accurate, but great music. Also, guest appearances by many great musicians of the time.
Keywords: bandleader, big-band, character-name-in-title, clarinet, swingActors: Jack Kruschen (actor), Herbert Anderson (actor), Sam Harris (actor), Antonio Filauri (actor), Franklyn Farnum (actor), Robert Clarke (actor), Wilton Graff (actor), James Conaty (actor), Hy Averback (actor), Hal K. Dawson (actor), Steve Allen (actor), John Erman (actor), Fred Essler (actor), Douglas Evans (actor), Jack Lomas (actor),
Plot: Bio of swing band leader 'Benny Goodman' from age 10 (1919) to his landmark Carnegie Hall band concert in 1938. Not exactly historically accurate, but great music. Also, guest appearances by many great musicians of the time.
Keywords: bandleader, big-band, character-name-in-title, clarinet, swingActors: Jack Kruschen (actor), Herbert Anderson (actor), Sam Harris (actor), Antonio Filauri (actor), Franklyn Farnum (actor), Robert Clarke (actor), Wilton Graff (actor), James Conaty (actor), Hy Averback (actor), Hal K. Dawson (actor), Steve Allen (actor), John Erman (actor), Fred Essler (actor), Douglas Evans (actor), Jack Lomas (actor),
Plot: Bio of swing band leader 'Benny Goodman' from age 10 (1919) to his landmark Carnegie Hall band concert in 1938. Not exactly historically accurate, but great music. Also, guest appearances by many great musicians of the time.
Keywords: bandleader, big-band, character-name-in-title, clarinet, swingActors: Jerry Colonna (actor), Nelson Eddy (actor), Nelson Eddy (actor), Nelson Eddy (actor), Nelson Eddy (actor), Nelson Eddy (actor), Nelson Eddy (actor), Nelson Eddy (actor), Nelson Eddy (actor), Nelson Eddy (actor), Nelson Eddy (actor), Nelson Eddy (actor), Nelson Eddy (actor), Nelson Eddy (actor), Nelson Eddy (actor),
Plot: Segments: "A Rustic Ballad," a story of feuding hillbillys; "A Tone Poem," a mood piece set on a blue bayou; "A Jazz Interlude," a bobby-soxer goes jitterbugging with her date at the malt shop; "A Ballad in Blue," dark room, rain and somber landscapes illustrate the loss of a lover; "A Musical Recitation," the story of Casey at the Bat; "Ballade Ballet," ballet dancers perform in silhouette; "A Fairy Tale with Music," Peter and the Wolf; "After You've Gone," four musical instruments chase through a surreal landscape; "A Love Story," about the romance between a fedora and a bonnet; "Opera Pathetique," the story of Willie, the Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met.
Keywords: adoration, anthology, anthropomorphic-animal, anthropomorphic-clothing, anthropomorphic-hat, anthropomorphic-musical-instrument, anthropomorphism, automobile, ballet, baseballActors: LeRoy Prinz (director), Jack Carson (actor), Bing Crosby (actor), Cary Grant (actor), Jimmy Lydon (actor), Herbert Marshall (actor), Dennis Morgan (actor), Charles Ruggles (actor), Frank Sinatra (actor), Olive Blakeney (actress), Gordon Hollingshead (producer), Jack L. Warner (producer), Harry James (actor), Benny Goodman (actor), Mildred Shay (actress),
Plot: Documentary short film intended to drum up support for the Fifth War Loan Campaign. It shows a happy family in the future of 1951 enjoying the prosperity and advantages made possible by the successful prosecution of the war, and how the sacrifices of 1944 have made the world a better place.
Keywords: reenactment, world-war-twoActors: Jack L. Warner (producer), Bing Crosby (actor), LeRoy Prinz (director), Jack Carson (actor), Charles Ruggles (actor), Frank Sinatra (actor), Olive Blakeney (actress), Cary Grant (actor), Jimmy Lydon (actor), Herbert Marshall (actor), Dennis Morgan (actor), Benny Goodman (actor), Harry James (actor), Deanna Durbin (actress), Gene Krupa (actor),
Genres: Music, Short,Actors: Jeanne Crain (actress), Edward Everett Horton (actor), Dave Willock (actor), Eugene Pallette (actor), Brooks Benedict (actor), Leyland Hodgson (actor), Al Murphy (actor), Lee Bennett (actor), Leon Belasco (actor), Frank Darien (actor), Johnny Duncan (actor), James Ellison (actor), Herbert Evans (actor), Frank Faylen (actor), Jeanne Crain (actress),
Plot: Playboy Andy Mason, on leave from the army, romances showgirl Eadie Allen overnight to such effect that she's starry-eyed when he leaves next morning for active duty in the Pacific. Only trouble is, he gave her the assumed name of Casey. Andy's eventual return with a medal is celebrated by his rich father with a benefit show featuring Eadie's show troupe, at which she's sure to learn his true identity...and meet Vivian, his 'family-arrangement' fiancée. Mostly song and dance.
Keywords: chorus-girl, dance, nightclub, singer, soldier, variety, wealthy, world-war-twoActors: Richard Keene (actor), Brandon Hurst (actor), Payne B. Johnson (actor), Warren Hymer (actor), Harry Barris (actor), John Gallaudet (actor), Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson (actor), Bing Crosby (actor), Brian Donlevy (actor), Louis Armstrong (actor), Brooks Benedict (actor), Jimmie Dundee (actor), Duke Ellington (actor), Roscoe Ates (actor), Cecil Kellaway (actor),
Plot: Jeff grows up near Basin Street in New Orleans, playing his clarinet with the dock workers. He puts together a band, the Basin Street Hot-Shots, which includes a cornet player, Memphis. They struggle to get their jazz music accepted by the cafe society of the city. Betty Lou joins their band as a singer and gets Louie to show her how to do scat singing. Memphis and Jeff both fall in love with Betty Lou.
Keywords: african-american, cultural-conflict, jazz, movie-theater, murder, musician, new-orleans-louisiana, scat-singingActors: Edward LeSaint (actor), Leonid Kinskey (actor), William Hopper (actor), Irving Bacon (actor), Harrison Greene (actor), Billy Bletcher (actor), Frank Jenks (actor), Murray Alper (actor), George Burns (actor), Gino Corrado (actor), William Arnold (actor), Louis Da Pron (actor), Harry Depp (actor), Jack Benny (actor), Ray Milland (actor),
Plot: A cream-of-the-crop gathering of 1930's radio stars, who lend themselves to a storyline about a failing radio station which needs to put on a huge ratings winner to have any chance of continued operation. An interesting mixture of the stars whose fame continued to grow, those who became bit players in show business history, and those who have been forgotten entirely, except at the Internet Movie Database of course!
Keywords: number-in-title