This Day in Jack Benny

The Jack Benny Show AKA The Jello Program AKA The Lucky Strike Program aired from the 1930's right through to the 1950's. Each week your host, John Henderson, brings an episode from that week 60-80 years ago. It's old, yet still as funny as ever. "The Jack Benny program, starring Jack Benny with Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris, Rochester, Dennis Day, and yours truly Don Wilson"

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Episodes

What's My Line? (BONUS)

January 23, 1955 - Can you guess the Jack Benny cast member before the celebrity panel? Listen to the audio from the TV gameshow.

Jul 10, 2024•30 min

Amos & Andy with Jack Benny and Rochester

November 10, 1944 - Jack Benny and Rochester are guest stars on the long running radio series Amos & Andy. This episode is called "The Employment Agency".

Jul 03, 2024•30 min

Phil Harris Hosts Kollege (BONUS)

August 9, 1944 - "Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge" was fun music quiz show. When they needed a guest host they called on Phil Harris. Play along and enjoy the music!

Jun 26, 2024•34 min

Jack Benny on the Quiz Kids (Bonus)

April 7, 1941 - This Bonus Episode features Jack as a guest on the Quiz Kids Program! Plus clips of Walt Disney and Fred Allen.

Jun 19, 2024•32 min

USO Show in Paris 1945

June 28, 1945 - Jack Benny, Larry Adler and Martha Tilton starting their USO tour in Paris. They mention the fall of Berlin, the Folies Bergère music hall, the Davis Cup tennis tournament, Bob Hope, Jasha Heifetz, Van Johnson and Duffy's Tavern. Enjoy the show!

Jun 12, 2024•31 min

"Babes in the Woods" This is My Best

May 29, 1945 - Jack Benny guest stars in the radio play "Babes in the Woods" from the program "This is My Best".

Jun 05, 2024•29 min

Portable TV Set

May 23, 1954 - Jack's trip to Las Vegas is disscussed as well as Jack's last television show of the season featuring Bob Hope, as well as Dennis Day's TV Show. References include the portable Crosley TV set, dialing information (1-1-3), "My Sin" perfume, The Good Humor man, Marylin Monroes and her husband Joe DiMaggio, Frank Sinatra's song "Young At Heart", Bing Crosby, Howard Hughes,

May 28, 2024•34 min

Rita Hayworth

May 20, 1945 - In San Francisco Jack Benny is joined by actress Rita Hayworth, Governer Earl Warren and harmonica player Larry Adler. This is just after the German Surrender. References include Orson Welles, Bing Crosby in "Going My Way", and Jack Benny's movie "The Horn Blows at Midnight".

May 22, 2024•34 min

Victory in Europe (The Vault)

May 13, 1945 - Jack is going to San Francisco. It is Mother's Day, the Sunday after V-E Day and Jack Benny is getting ready for a trip, so he gets some money from his vault. References include Truman, Churchill, and Eisenhower, the Adjusted Service Rating (soldiers with 85 points could go home), J. Edger Hoover, actor Errol Flynn, songwriter Cole Porter, and singer Bing Crosby.

May 15, 2024•33 min

Test Drive (Grace Moore)

May 10, 1936 - Mary phones her mother in Los Angeles and Jack test drives a car. References inlcude singers Bing Crosby, actress Loretta Young and singer and actress Grace Moore. Behind the scenes Jack Benny was having trouble with his writer Harry Conn. Some thing this is the first episode written by Bill Morrow and Ed Beloin.

May 08, 2024•32 min

Love Letters (Jeanette Eymann)

May 1, 1955 - Jack buys a baseball team. Much of this episode recycled portions of scripts from previous episodes including May 9, 1948 and April 13, 1947. References include George Gobel, Edgar Bergen, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Gary Cooper's (misquoted) catchphrase from The Virginian, "And smile when you say that".

May 01, 2024•34 min

How Jack Hired Don Wilson

May 6, 1945 - Continuing a series of episodes about Jack Meeting his cast, this episode is about Jack hiring his announcer Don Wilson. Jack also gets ready to open his swimming pool for the summer. References include the writer Mark Twain, the movie "Woman in the Window", singer Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, announcers Harry Von Zell, Jimmy Wallington, and Bill Goodwin.

Apr 24, 2024•32 min

Professor LaBlanc

April 29, 1945 - First episode with Jack Benny's violin teacher Professor LeBlanc, played by Mel Blanc. References include Lena Horne, Ronald Colman, songs "rum and Coca-cola" and "My Dreams Are Getting better All The Time", books "Forever Amber", The Rover Boys series, the Elsie Dinsmore series, and Bob Hope's book "I Never Left Home",

Apr 17, 2024•33 min

29 Palms (Gravel Gertie)

April 22, 1945 - Broadcast from Twenty Nine Palms naval air station. The Jack Benny show is back after a week off due to the death of FDR. Jack mentions the reviews of his new movie. Episode references include Dick Tracy and Gravel Gertie, Donald Duck, William Powell, Fitch hair tonic, songs "Apple Blossom Time" and "Surrey with the Fringe on Top", and the sporting goods store Abercrombie and Fitch.

Apr 10, 2024•27 min

William Powell

April 8, 1945 - From Torney Hospital In Palm Springs, Jack Benny dreams (guest star) William Powell is his butler. References inlcude the radio shows "Breakfast at Sardi's" and "The Aldrich Family", the song "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive", Jack Benny's movie "The Horn Blows at Midnight", Fred Allen's movie "It's In The Bag", movie stars Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Van Johnson, Charles Boyer, Spencer Tracy, Fred MacMurray, Gary Cooper, Ronald Colman, Eleanore Powell and Hedy Lamarr

Apr 03, 2024•32 min

Cinderallen (Quintuplets)

March 29, 1936 - Jack Benny talks with the gang about the American East vs the West does his version of Cinderella with him as the title character "Cinderallen". References include the Dionne quintuplets, movie stars Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Shirley Temple, Mae West, Herald Lloyd, Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers, singers Bing Crosby and Lanny Ross, plus Fred Allen, the Crime Club program, Dracula, and Victor Hugo's Les Misérables.

Mar 27, 2024•34 min

Cimarron Rolls

March 22, 1953 - A walk through Beverly Hills. Jack Benny has recovered from the Flu and is getting ready for his TV show. They mention former president Hoover, "The Sheik of Araby" silent film star Rudolph Valentino, Bendix Washing Machine, and 3-D Movies.

Mar 20, 2024•28 min

Walking Man Winner

March 14, 1948 - Winner of the Walking Man Contest and "Truth or Consequences" host Ralph Edwards are the guests on this episode. References inlcue Radio Mirror magazine the radio show "Bride and Groom", the movie "The Naked City, Oscar winner Ronald Colman "Life of Riley" character Digger O'Dell, Fred Allen, and voice actors Blanch Stewart and Mel Blanc.

Mar 13, 2024•35 min

The Walking Man

March 7, 1948 - The Walking Man Contest from Truth or Consequences has ended and the secret is out; Jack Benny is The Walking Man. References include Sophie Tucker, Van Johnson and radio shows Stella Dallas, Portia Faces Life, and The Judy Canova Show.

Mar 07, 2024•35 min

Doo Wah Ditty (Hit Parade)

February 29, 1948 - Jack's Girlfriend Gladys Comes To Studio References include the songs "Near You", "The Freedom Train", and "South America Take it Away", the songwriter Stephen Foster, movie star Errol Flynn, former President Grover Cleveland, and for the commercials the Sportsmen spoof Al Jolson singing "Sonny Boy".

Feb 28, 2024•33 min

Monument for Jack (Bob Crosby)

February 21, 1943 - From Chicago, Jack Benny broadcasts from the Army Air Force's Technical Training Center with guest bandleader Bob Crosby, brother of Bing Crosby. The program is briefly preempted by a message from the OPA about rationing. They mention Fred Allen, Hedy Lamarr and historical Navy Admiral George Dewey.

Feb 21, 2024•38 min

Birthday in Canada

February 14, 1943 - Jack's Birthday From Toronto, Canada with guest conductor Allan McIver and His All-Canadian Orchestra. References include Prime Minister Mackenzie King, comedian Fred Allen, Halifax-born singer and dancer Ruby Keeler (Or actress Ruby Stevens better known as Barbara Stanwyck) and the song Blues in the Night.

Feb 13, 2024•32 min

Georgie Jessel Hosts

February 7, 1943 - Jack is late and guest George Jessel subs for Jack. References include Fred Allen (with a clip of Oscar levant talking about playing with Jack Benny at Carnegie Hall), Abbot and Costello, Benny Rubin and Joe Lewis.

Feb 07, 2024•34 min

Virginia Bruce

January 31, 1943 - Broadcast from Quantico Marine Base, Virginia with the actress Virginia Bruce, director Gegory Ratoff and guest band the McFarland twins. References include the movie "Casablanca", and the Casablanca Confrence with FDR and Churchill.

Jan 31, 2024•33 min

Scoop Benny, Ace Reporter

January 23, 1938 - Jack Benny plays a newspaper man in this week's drama. References include detective Charlie Chan, movie stars, Paul Muni, Clark Gable, Robet Taylor, Bing Crasby, Carole Lombard, Greta Garbo and Gale Patrick. Also magazines Field and Stream and Woman's Home Companion.

Jan 24, 2024•33 min

Unfinished Mystery (Mighty Lak' a Rose)

January 16, 1955 - Jack Doesn't Have a Script, adapted from the January, 12, 1941 episode. A very funny episode where Jack Benny talks to his writers and tries to get them to finish the script as the show is on the air. References include, the mumps (a childhood illness), writers Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck, comedian Fred Allen, The Hall Johnson Choir, the song "Mighty Lak' a Rose" and Amos 'n' Andy.

Jan 17, 2024•33 min

$64 Question (Benny Goodman)

January 10, 1943 - The Sixty-Four Dollar Question, Jack Benny is in New York with guest conductor Benny Goodman. Then Jack visits "Take It or Leave It" host Phil Baker to try to get the money he had lost on that game show. References include the wartime Victory Tax, comedians Bob Hope and Fred Allen, stage actress and singer Lillian Russel, the movies "Random Harvest" and "For Whom the Bell Tolls".

Jan 11, 2024•34 min

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