The Big Band Beat Goes On

PBS has started to air a pretty good special called The Big Band Years, which features vintage clips of the famous bands during WWII including Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Guy Lombardo, and more. The only downside are the many interruptions for pledge money, but it's still worth watching, especially for this performance by the Andrews Sisters singing Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, from the 1941 Abbot & Costello movie Buck Privates. The sisters' performance was written into the script specifically to attract audiences to the movie. While I don't know if it worked, the song makes me want to get up and dance, and you have to admire the choreography, not to mention the middle sister's (Patty) vocal chops. As Peter Marshall and Nick Clooney (who cohost the special...and yes, that is George's dad) mentioned, Patty could've easily had her own solo career, but stuck with her siblings. Now that's some sisterly love! Here's the clip of the gals doing their charming thing...and check out PBS to see when the special is showing in your area.