January 13, 1946 - State Fair Rehearsal - Rochester drives Jack Benny and Mary to the studio where they run into Edgar Bergan and Charlie McCarthy (impersonator) and rehearse their version of the movie "State Fair". References include war hero Pappy Boyington, violinist Joseph Szigeti, radio's Lum and Abner, actresses Barbra Stanwyck, and Betty Grable, movies "The Lost Weekend", "The Bells of St Mary's" and "Spellbound", songs "Stardust", "Chickery Chick", and "Oh You Beautiful Doll"....
Jul 27, 2022•34 min
December 16, 1945 - Hello Louella. Gossip Columnist Louella parsons has a cameo. Jack benny gets a lot or mail for the "I Can's Stand Jack Benny" contest. It will be judged by Fred Allen, Peter Lorre and Goodman Ace. References include songs "Melencholy Baby", "The Sheik of Araby" and "I'm Glad I Waited For You". The two-way stretch refers to real rubber used in womens undergarments after the war. Plus Tommy Manville, Van Johnson, and the poem "The Ballad of Yukon Jake" by Edward E. Paramore Jr....
Jun 29, 2022•34 min
December 9, 1945 - Jack is invited to the Colman's for dinner. This is the first episode with Ronald and Benita Colman and the second episode of the "I Can't Stand Jack Benny Because..." contest. References include the Fred Allen Show's character Senator Claghorn, the movie "The Man Who Came to Dinner", the books Charles Darwin's "Origin of the Species", and H.G. Wells' "Anatomy of Frustration" and "The Outline of History". Plus a couple of excerpts from Jack Benny's memoir "Sunday Night at Seve...
Jun 22, 2022•32 min
December 2, 1945 - Jack Benny's publicity agent comes up with the idea for a new contest. Listeners are invited to write in and finish this sentence "I can't stand Jack Benny because..." in 50 words or less.
Jun 15, 2022•33 min
November 25, 1945 - Jack Benny is still dealing with all the trouble his publicity agent has caused, but this is only the begining. Plus an appearance by Cass Daley of the Fitch Bandwagon. References include Dick Tracy (Itchy stuck in the tunnel), the movie "Spellbound", the song "Sweet Leilani", used car dealers The Smiling Irishman and Madman Muntz, and Boris Karlof on Fred Allen's radio show....
Jun 08, 2022•33 min
May 31, 1953 - Jack Benny listens to the Indianapolis 500 race on the radio. References include jailbreaker Willie Sutton, actors Jimmy Stewart, Mickey Rooney, Humphrey Bogart and George Montomery (Fort Ti 3D), director Mervyn LeRoy (Quo Vatis), and the catchphrase from the Jackie Gleason show's The Homeymooners "One of these Days...pow! Right in the kisser."
May 25, 2022•33 min
May 17, 1953 - Jack Benny takes the plot of the movie "Flight to Mars" and the characters from the TV show "Space Patrol" to do his own science fiction play "I Flew to Mars in a Space Ship". Reference include the MC convertible, "The Girl Next Door" with Dennis Day and more!
May 18, 2022•33 min
May 3, 1953 - From San Francisco, Jack Benny's guest is Gisele McKenzie. References include the TWA airline, the songs "The Doggie in the Window" and "Pretend", actresses Ava Gardener, Lana Turner and Marilyn Monroe.
May 11, 2022•28 min
May 4, 1934 - In this episode they talk about the Kentucky Derby and do a hillbilly feud play. They mention the songs "Carioca", "Cocktails for Two", "Shim Sham Shimmy", "Uptown Lowdown", "The Hills of Old Kentucky" and "Annie Doesn't Live Here Anymore". Movies "Cavelcade", "Mata Hari", and a loose reference to "To The Last Man". Plus explorer Admiral Byrd, silent film actor Fracis X Bushman, newpaper sports writer Damon Runyon, and bridge jumper Steve Brodie....
May 04, 2022•31 min
April 25, 1948 - Jack Dresses as Charley's Aunt and Don brings opera singer Dorothy Kirsten to join the Sportsmen quartet. References include the Marylin Monroe movie "Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!", songs "I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover" and "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody", and producer George Jessel....
Apr 27, 2022•32 min
April 11, 1948 - Murder at the Racquet Club Part One. Jack goes to Palm Springs and meets silent film star Charles Farrell and Academy Award winner Paul Lukas. References include the movies "April Showers", "The Naked City" and "The Last of The Mohicans", and actress Greer Garson.
Apr 20, 2022•35 min
April 11, 1943 - Jack returns to the show after illness. Orson Welles has been filling in for the past four weeks. References include a washing machine ringer, an electric heating pad, the racehorse Whirlaway, the old song "Sweet Adeline", W. C. Fields, Claudette Colbert, and Alice Faye (starring in "Hello, Frisco, Hello").
Apr 13, 2022•32 min
April 4, 1943 - Little Red Riding Hood with guest host Orson Welles filling in one last time for Jack Benny. References include radio's Lum and Abner, the poem "Trees", Burlesque's ball of fire Betty Rowland, Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew", "Hamlet", and "The Merchant of Venice".
Apr 06, 2022•33 min
March 28, 1943 - Host Orson Welles Murder at Midnight. Orson Welles fills in for Jack a third time and does a murder mystery. References include radio comedians Fred Allen and Red Skelton, gossip columnist Hedda Hopper, the painting "Whistler's Mother", and actress Heddy Lamarr. Goodnight Doll.
Mar 30, 2022•33 min
March 21, 1943 - Host Orson Welles fills in for Jack Benny and takes cast to his movie. References include the comedy team of Abbot and Costello, rain in California and the Tournament of Roses.
Mar 23, 2022•32 min
March 14, 1943 - Orson Welles fills in for Jack Benny and Phil Harris returns to the program after three months in the merchant marines. References include the actress Rita Hayworth, and singer John Charles Thomas.
Mar 16, 2022•33 min
March 7, 1943 - George Burns and Gracie Allen Sub For Jack. With Jack Benny sick Don Wilson calls of Jack Benny's personal friends George and Gracie, along with thier cast Bill Goodwin, Herman the duck (Clarence Nash), Tootsie Stagwell (Elvia Allman) and Paul Whitman and his orchestra. References include Mayor La Guardia, Walter Pidgeon, Artie Shaw and Toscanini. Listen after the program for a clip from The Burns and Allen Show "Concerto For Index Finger" where Gracie plays Carnegie Hall....
Mar 09, 2022•39 min
February 28, 1943 - Kit Carson Benny with Bob Crosby. Broadcasting from Fort Custer, Michigan Jack Benny learns Judo from the military police in training. References include the movies "Kit Carson", "Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman" and "the Meanest Man in the World".
Mar 02, 2022•33 min
February 27, 1938 - Jack Benny and his cast are joined by Andy Devine to conclude their version of the movie "Submarine D-1". References include Barbra Stanwyck and Robert Taylor, race horse Pompoon, attorney Clarence Darrow, violinist Jasha Hiefetz, and radio shows Professor Quiz, Lum and Abner, Jimmie Fidler, and Fred Allen,
Feb 23, 2022•33 min
February 20, 1938 - A parody of the movie "Submarine D-1" plus they talk about Jack Benny's age after his birthday this week. They also discuss Jack's appearance on the radio show "Good News of 1938". References include Popeye the sailor, the Albany night boat, movie starts Virginia Bruce, Freddie Bruce and George Arliss.
Feb 16, 2022•33 min
February 9, 1941 - Back From New York. The Sponsor Likes Herbert Marshall. References include Phil Harris' new song "That's What I Like About The South", movies "The Mark of Zorro" and "The Letter", announcer Harry Von Zell, and Fred Allen.
Feb 09, 2022•34 min
February 2, 1941 - The Jack benny Program without Jack Benny. Herbert Marshall Hosts the Show. References include Fred Allen, and the kissing game called post office.
Feb 02, 2022•32 min
January 24, 1943 - Jack Benny talks with his guest bandleaders, the McFarland twins, about the DC housing shortage. The skit is a repeat of the Mr. Smith Goes to Washington spoof from March 10, 1940. References include W.C. Fields, Fred Allen and an atomizer.
Jan 26, 2022•33 min
January 17, 1943 - Guest stars Oscar Levant and Joe Besser help Jack the the gang do a spoof of the game show Information Please. Meanwhile Jack is getting ready to play the violin at Carnegie Hall. References include the wage ceiling, Benzedrine, "The Powers Girls", singers Jarmila Novotna, Ezio Pinza, Gladys Swarthout, John Charles Thomas and young violinist Isaac Stern.
Jan 19, 2022•34 min
January 14, 1945 - Mrs. Nussbaum's Restaurant with special guest Fred Allen. References include the stage shows "Bloomer Girl", "Laffing Room Only", "Mexican Hayride", "The Voice of the Turtle" and "Harvey" starring comedian Frank Fay. Plus singer Frank Sinatra, soap opera "John's Other wife" and Mayor Laguardia.
Jan 12, 2022•34 min
January 7, 1945 - Leaving for New York Jack Benny and the gang meet at the train station. This is the debut episode of Jack Benny's vault, the racetrack tout, and Mel Blank's train announcer who always announces "Anaheim, Azusa and Cucamonga". References include Van Johnson and Barbra Stanwyck and "The Trolley Song".
Jan 05, 2022•31 min
December 24, 1950 - The Beavers come to Jack's for Christmas Dinner. Don Wilson dresses as Santa, Frank Remley (played by Elliott Lewis) joins Phil Harris. References include Red Skelton, Hudson Motors "Step-down" cars, The Faye Emerson Show, and Phil Harris' song "The Thing".
Dec 21, 2021•28 min
December 17, 1950 - Jack Buys Golf Tees For Don References include Kukla Fran and Ollie, Buck Rodgers in the 25th Century, The Ed Sullivan Show, Martin Kane Private I, Faye Emerson, Clark Gable, Victor Mature, Burt Lancaster, Admiral Bird, and the Phil Harris song "The Thing".
Dec 15, 2021•35 min
December 6, 1942 - Phil Harris' last show before joining the Merchant Marines. They References include Captain Kidd, Joan Bennett, Ann Sheridan (George Washington Slept here), Emperor Hirohito, and President Roosevelt's plan that no American make more than $25,000 after taxes.
Dec 08, 2021•33 min
November 29, 1942 - Going after Rommel. In this episode Jack Benny and the gang are broadcasting live for a group of soldiers. References include Spike Jones (Der Fuhrer's Face, Sheik of Araby, Love in Bloom), Dennis Day in the movie "The Powers Girls", shipbuilder Henry Kaiser, and Nazi General Erwin Rommel.
Dec 01, 2021•33 min
