Young Benny Goodman is taught clarinet by a music professor. He is advised to play whichever kind of music he likes best, but to make a living, Benny begins by joining the Ben Pollack traveling band.
Benny Goodman
Steve Allen
Alice Hammond
Donna Reed
Mama Goodman
Berta Gersten
Benny Goodman (age 16)
Barry Truex
John Hammond Jr.
Herbert Anderson
Papa Dave Goodman
Robert F. Simon
Willard Alexander - Benny's manager
Hy Averback
Fletcher Henderson
Sammy Davis Sr.
Gil Rodin
Dick Winslow
Harry Goodman
Shepard Menken
'Murph' Podolsky - riverboat band Mgr.
Jack Kruschen
John Hammond Sr.
Wilton Graff
Prof Schoepp
Fred Essler
Benny Goodman (age 10 )
David Kasday
Harry Goodman (age 16 )
John Erman
George Givot
Lionel Hampton
Gene Krupa
Teddy Wilson
Ben Pollack
Kid Ory
Urbie Green
Buck Clayton
Stan Getz
Harry James
Martha Tilton
Ziggy Elman