Broadcast from 11:30 pm to 1:05am, pre-empling Tonight Show starring Steve Allen, The seventh annual Emmy Awards , and for the first time televised Nationally. From Hollywood Steve Allen. From New York Emcee Dave Garroway. Commercials included.                          

This year is Illinois 150th year of statehood. This nostalgic sesquicentennial tribute presents some of the Prairie State's leading citizens, as well as show-business personalities who have been associated with the state.
Among the stars are Jack Benny, Dave Garroway, Bob Hope, Mahalia Jackson, Mercedes McCambridge, Burr Tillstrom (with puppets Kukla and Ollie) and the original Benny Goodman Trio (Goodman, Gene Krupa and Teddy Wilson). The host is Steve Allen, who composed the program's score. 
Also appearing are Senator Everett Dirksen (who offers a dramatic recitation) and Charles Percy, former Senator Paul Douglas, Gov Otto Kerner, Chicago's Mayor Richard Daley, writer Mark Van Doren, architect R.Buckminster Fuller, balladeer Win Stracke, writer-broadcaster Studs Terkel, former FCC head Newton Minow and Adlai Stevenson III. Heard via recordings: the late Adlai Stevenson and poet Carl Sandburg. 
Filmed almost entirely on location, the program covers Illinois from end to end, visiting the pulse points of the present and historic sites sacred to its heritage,                                 

Beginning in 1929, a New Year's Eve Tradition...Guy Lombardo & his Royal Canadians. Guy Lombardo was best known to TV audiences for his annual New Year's Eve telecasts. His brothers Carmen (the band's musical director), Victor, & Lebert were all members of the orchestra. Guy, the eldest, was designated the leader. For most of his years in television, Guy Lombardo represented nostalgia for the '30s and '40s. At midnight the traditional welcoming in of the New Year at Times Square is presented. Dave Garroway brings in the New Year & introduces music from the 1960s (The Beatles, Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra, others).                          

  Scott Ellsworth's guest is disc jockey, TV's TODAY SHOW personality Dave Garroway.

March 30, 1970 - April 1, 1972
KFI 640 Los Angeles AM Radio.

162 individual  broadcast Audio Air Checks survive. 
A goldmine of originally recorded live interviews with the greats from the Jazz and Big Band era, with integrated recorded samples of their work played throughout the broadcast.  


Scott Ellsworth was the creator and on-air host of the popular radio program, "SCOTT'S PLACE." It aired live on KFI-AM in Los Angeles, six times a week, from midnight to 4:00 am (MARCH 30, 1970 - APRIL 1, 1972). Over 500 unique broadcasts featured jazz and big band music, interspersed with live interviews with musicians, singers, composers, conductors, arrangers, band leaders, writers, music producers, dealers & promoters.

These guest artists would drop by the studio after midnight, quite often following work or performing, and would bring some of their favorite records or personal recordings to the show to play for Scott and his audience. They would talk about their career, reminiscing with anecdotes...their love of jazz and big band music.

Interviews averaged in length from one hour to four hours.

Scott was exceptional in his ability to draw together some of the finest artists and musicians representing the history of jazz music...many who were not known by name to the general public, but well know to the jazz community dating back to the 1920's, 30's,40's, and 50's.

The SCOTT'S PLACE theme music, "Have A Nice Day," played by Count Basie & his band, was composed and arranged by Sammy Nestico specifically for Scott, in July 1971. It was used permanently as Scott's theme music beginning in November 1971. 

Most of the lesser known legendary jazz artists who frequented the show did few, if any, talk shows in their life, making these candid conversations so valued since most of these individuals are now deceased.

Guests included:

Matty Matlock, Jess Stacey, Thelma Carpenter, Mercer Ellington, Lex Baxter, Nellie Lutcher, Billy May, George Van Eps, Shorty "Clarence " Sherock, Bobby Bryant, Dick Nash, Nick Fatool, Abraham Lincoln, Rollie Bondock, Ray Sherman, Irv Cottler, Lew McCleary, Kai Winding, Jack Coon, Pat Williams, Duke Ellington, Melba Liston, Conte Condoli, Benny Golson, Mariah McPartland, Johnny Mandel, Johnny Guarnieri, Vince Darosa, Stan Kenton, Fred Gerry, Gerry McKenzie, Pete Dailey, Robert Enevolsen, Jack Marshall, Clair Fisher, Howard Rumsey, John Klemmer, Maurice Harris, Johnny Best, Ted Curson, Dave Garroway, Jimmy Smith, Gus Bivona, Johnny Pate, Harold Land, Joe Marsala, Ralph Carmichael, Clair Fisher, Mundell Lowe, Dave Cavanaugh, Teddy Buckner, Al Rinker, Floyd Huddleston, George Auld, Sonny Burke, Bill Bacin, Paul Tanner, Lorenzo Flennoy, Bill Berry Dave Dexter, Blue Mitchelle, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Benny Powell, Lee Young, Joe Comfort, David Rose, Arnold Ross, Earl Palmer, Jimmy Witherspoon, Benjamin "Scatman" Crothers, Bill Evans, Cat Anderson (William Alonzo),
Al Aarons, Ronnie Lang, Frank Beach, Joe Pass, Jimmy Jones, Van Alexander, Peanuts Hucko, Panama "David" Francis, Marty Patche, Louis Bellson, Sam Most, Don Menza Billy Eckstine, Sam   Donahue, Nellie Lutcher (second interview), Teddy Edwards, Alvin Stoller, Marshall Royal, Terry Gibbs, Louis Jordan, Ulysses Livingstone, Dr. Bill MacPherson, Al McKibbon, John E. Collins, Johnny Rotella, Allyn M. Ferguson, Frank Comstock, Meyer "Mike" Ruben, Bill Pitman, Irving Townsend, Mike Melvoin, Lou Levy, Lennie Niehaus, Preston Love, 
Buddy Clark, Billy Byers, Nappy Lamare, Tony Ortega, Jesse Price, Dick Cary, Dee Barton, Nat Pierce, Ray Avery, Mel Torme, Don Trenner, Milt Jackson, Tommy Shephard, Dalton Smith, LeRoy Vinegar, Eddie Miller, Muzzy Marsalino, Kai Winding (two apparances), Greig Stewart "Chubby" Jackson, Donald Johnson Ellis, Matty Matlock (two appearances),Barney Bigard, Bill Miller, Johnny Sipple, Chlora Bryant, Jerry Goldsmith, Scott Ellsworth SPECIAL BROADCAST, recorded live at Disneyland with Earl "Father" Hines, Trummy Young, Yank Lawson, Bob Haggart, Bob Crosby, and Dizzy Gillepsie.
Sal Gubin, Joe Howard, Sonny Burke, Count Basie, Feddy Green, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, J.C. Williams, Robert McCracken, Frank D'Rone Jackie Mills, Scott Ellsworth SPECIAL BROADCASTS at the 14th annual Monteray Jazz Festival, Tommy Tedesco, Oscar Peterson, J.J. Johnson, Irving C. Ashby, Johnny Mandel (two appearances), Slim Giallard, George T. Simon, Irv Cottler (two appearances), Della Reese (two appearances), Wayne Songer, Harry Mills, Alton Purnell, Lalo Schifrin, June Christy, Ed Garland, Barney Bigard (two appearances), Leonard Feather, Collin Bailey, Paul Smith, Adele Girari, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Shelly Manne, Sarah Vaughan, & Johnny Mercer.

*On the ARCHIVAL TELEVISION AUDIO, INC. website (www.atvaudio.com) click the ARSC link and one can listen to a live 45 minute retrospective as presented by Phil Gries with guest Scott Ellsworth, held May 14, 2011 in Los Angeles California at the Grand Wilshire Hotel, as part of the 45th ARSC National Conference. The history and genesis of SCOTT'S PLACE is discussed with many peerless audio examples of past programs played for the audience. Scott, reminisces with many anecdotes related to these broadcasts. Power point still photographs related to different SCOTT'S PLACE broadcasts supplemented the narrative.