More Bands on WGN-TV in '65

A few weeks ago, I posted on an appearance by Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Harry James' appearance on WGN-TV in 1964 and '65. Back then, WGN aired a series of shows that featured Swing-era big bands. Most of these bands were at the tail-end of their commercial careers, since their core market was in their 40s or beyond and younger audiences had completely abandoned this form of music. The following WGN video clips give us a glimpse into what was still miraculously tight, nimble instrumental groups functioning as one with a distinct musical personality: 

Here's Claude Thornhill's band...



Here's Les and Larry Elgart's band...



Here's Ralph Flanagan's band...



Here's Vaughn Monroe's band. Monroe was a trumpet and valve trombone player turned singer in the pop era of the late 1940s...



Here's Stan Kenton's band...



And here's a bonus—Vaughn Monroe on Ronald Regan's 1960 TV show...