This Day in Jack Benny - podcast cover

This Day in Jack Benny

John Hendersonthisdaybenny.com
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"

Episodes

Duck Hunting (Strongman)

November 26, 1939 - References in this episode include Earle Liederman, a strongman on the vaudeville stage who sold a mail-in bodybuilding course. The Tyrone Power movie "The Rains Came" (1939) and the movie "The Devil is a Sissy" (1936). Plus Jack and the gang talk about his Thanksgiving party and they go duck hunting with Andy Devine.

Nov 27, 201632 min

Jack Dreams He's a Turkey

November 21, 1943 - Happy Thanksgiving from the front lines! The war is on which means the rationing of meats, but Jack is still able to get turkey. Then he dreams he is a turkey. Plus Jack plays violin as a guest on the USO broadcast "Soldiers in Grease Paint".

Nov 23, 201632 min

An Ostrich For Thanksgiving

November 19, 1939 - The year with two Thanksgivings. President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving from the last Thursday of November one week earlier and the nation almost lost it's mind. Some stays stayed with the old Thanksgiving time, some the new, some both. Jack Benny and the gang celebrate the holiday in this episode.

Nov 20, 201633 min

Jack's Drivers License

November 16, 1947 - Cleaning Jack's Den before Jack goes to the DMV to get his Driver's License. Movies in '47 included "Forever Amber" and "The Egg and I".

Nov 17, 201634 min

Jack Has a Toothache

November 12, 1939 - Jack Benny has a toothache and goes to the dentist. Dr.Frank Nelson. What could be more torture? Only Fred Allen and his sponsor Ipana Toothpaste.

Nov 13, 201632 min

Girls Dormitory & Romeo and Juliet

November 1 & 8, 1936 - Clips from a few episodes of the Jack Benny Program from 1936. It's also election week Landon vs FDR.

Nov 09, 201622 min

The Women

November 5, 1939 - It's s spoof of the movie "The Women" with Jack Benny, Phil Harris and Don Wilson as the women. A podcast of the greatest Old Time Radio ever, The Jack Benny Program! Starring Jack Benny with Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris, Rochester, Dennis Day, and Don Wilson. 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, ...

Nov 06, 201631 min

Jack's Life Story (Harry Shearer)

November 4, 1951 - Listen after the episode for a clip from Jack's TV show that day. Harry Shearer is well known as the voice of Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, Smithers, Otto, Kent Brockman and many more. His very first job in entertainment was on The Jack benny Program.

Nov 02, 201635 min

Costume Party (Hot Mikado)

October 29, 1939 - Happy Halloween! This episode of the Jack Benny program takes place at a masquerade party and it's no surprise that Don Wilson is dressed like a bowl of delicious JELL-O. Plus, before the show we take a trip to The San Fransisco World's Fair of 1939-1940 and learn about the swing version of "The Mikado".

Oct 30, 201632 min

Romeo and Juliet Preview

October 26, 1936 - Jack Benny stars in "The Big Broadcast of 1937". They talk about the movie "Anthony Adverse", and the star-studded "Romeo and Juliet". Plus a brief answer to the question 'what are minstrel shows?'.

Oct 26, 201632 min

Stanley and Livingstone

October 22, 1939 - This episode spoofs the movie "Stanley and Livingstone", no relation to Mary Livingstone. And Kay Kaiser from the movie "That's Right You're Wrong" is a guest.

Oct 23, 201632 min

Golf Match

October 19, 1947 - Jack Benny is out golfing. Mel Blanc is still looking for a job doing his Al Jolson impression. References to Fibber McGee and Molly, the song "My Blue Heaven", and golfers George Fazio, Lou Clayton, and Artie Steppens.. Plus the Maxwell, Dennis Day, Mary Livingstone, Rochester, and Phil Harris. This episode has some great moments!

Oct 19, 201632 min

Dennis' Mother Interferes

October 15, 1939 - Disney's Cinderella features Verna Felton as the Fairy Godmother. But long before she sang "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo" she was Dennis Day's mother on the Jack Benny Show.

Oct 16, 201631 min

Jack's Memory is Lost Part 2

October 9, 1949 - What?! Jack Benny suddenly stopped being cheap and became the soul of generosity? He give Mel Blanc a raise, he offers Rochester spending money and the night off, and he buys himself a yacht.

Oct 12, 201632 min

Jack's Memory is Lost Part 1

October 2, 1949 - They mention vaudeville performers like Al Jolsen and The Avon Comedy Four, Jack Benny is cheap. That is until one day while taking inventory of his cupboard he gets hit on the head with a large can of tomato juice.

Oct 09, 201631 min

The World Series

October 4, 1953 - Baseball manager Leo Durocher AKA "Leo the Lip" watches the Yankees vs Dodgers 1953 World Series with Jack Benny. Bob Crosby discusses his brother Bing Crosby. Plus Mary Livingstone, Dennis Day and Don Wilson.

Oct 05, 201631 min

Introducing Dennis Day

October 8, 1939 - Aldrich Family was the summer replacement show. This is the first show of the new season and the first episode ever with Dennis Day. Find out why the previous singer, Kenny Baker, left the show. Hint: It wasn't about the money.

Oct 02, 201631 min

Phil and Dennis Have Their Own Shows

September 29, 1946 - Jack is humming the hit song of the day "South America, Take it Away" by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. Jack is upset Phil and Dennis have their own shows ("Fitch Bandwagon" and "A Day in The Life of Dennis Day")

Sep 28, 201632 min

Edger Bergen and Red Skelton

September 25, 1949 - Jack Benny visits the CBS studio to start a new season on the radio and runs into ventriloquist Edger Bergen and his pal Charlie McCarthy, Red Skelton and Amos n Andy.

Sep 25, 201632 min

In Scotland (Who's on First?)

September 21, 1952 - Jack Benny and Rochester do their own version of Abbot and Costello's famous bit "Who's on First?". Plus Shopping in Scotland with Jack and Mary. and Bing Crosby's less famous brother Bob.

Sep 21, 201632 min

Edward My Son (Mel Blanc)

September 18, 1949 - Mel Blanc is remembered as "The man of 1,000 voices" in this episode he is begging Jack Benny to let him do a voice, any voice on his program.

Sep 18, 201632 min

Bus Tour (Deep Sea)

September 11, 1949 - Deep sea diver sets world record in an iron ball. What does that have to do with Mary's sister Babe? Jack Benny has such great supporting players that Jack himself is able to appear in only 4 minutes of this whole EPISODE from 1949

Sep 11, 201632 min

Back From Vacation in Hawaii (Liberace)

September 13, 1953 - Jack Benny and the gang are back from vacation. They joke about Liberace's gleaming white teeth. And this is the radio episode that aired just before the Marilyn Monroe TV Episode.

Sep 07, 201632 min

Back From London (Alan Young)

September 10, 1950 - Alan Young was known in 1950 as the star of TVs "The Alan Young Show". Today He's known as the star of Mr.Ed and the voice of Scrooge McDuck on Duck Tales. He passed away in May of 2016 at the age of 96.

Sep 04, 201632 min

Murder in G Flat

Jack Benny stars in Suspense. Also first episode of a new podcast called "Theater of Thrills", Subscribe here: http://theaterofthrills.libsyn.com/rss

Aug 31, 201629 min

The House of Benny

August 31, 1934 - Jack Benny's old time radio show is really old this time. This is an early episode so it is quite interesting. References include the movie "The House of Rothschild", Mae West, Gretta Garbo and her big feet.

Aug 28, 201631 min

Mr.Benny Actor Interview

Tim Newell has played Jack Benny in a one man stage play called "Mr.Benny" for years. We talk about who Jack Benny was, why he was so funny and how to become the man on stage.

Aug 24, 201630 min

House of Rawchild

August 24, 1934 - The skit in this episode is a spoof on "The House of Rothschild", a 1934 movie about Jewish bankers. The episode also references singer Sofie Tucker, comedian Joe Penner and Hal Roach's "Our Gang" short film comedies, better known as "The Little Rascals".

Aug 21, 201625 min

Reminiscing with my Brother

I talk with my younger brother, Jeff Henderson, about playing the violin as a kid, getting scared out of our minds listening to Suspense, and Jack Benny Show.

Aug 17, 201623 min
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