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

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, 202432 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, 202434 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, 202433 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, 202433 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, 202433 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, 202434 min

Take It Or Leave It - Guest Jack Benny (Bonus)

November 8, 1942 - Take It Or Leave It was the game show where the prize money doubled with each question. In this bonus episode Jack Benny plays it strait as a contestant.

Jan 09, 202432 min

Bear Hunting (Maine Stein Song)

January 3, 1943 - Broadcasting from Bangor, Maine for an audience of soldiers. Guest bandleader Abe Lyman. References include singer Rudy Vallee, boxer Lou Nova, and actresses Hedy Lamarr and Lana Turner.

Jan 03, 202432 min

Christmas Department Store (Shirley Temple doll)

December 12, 1937 - The first Christmas shopping episode! Jack Benny says he is a gambler, then goes Christmas shopping at a department store with Mary. References include punchboards, the rado show "Lum and Abner", Popeye, and Shirley Temple dolls.

Dec 13, 202332 min

The Man Who Came to Dinner (Christmas)

December 25, 1949 - Jack Benny is the guest star in this radio adaptation of the movie "The Man Who Came to Dinner". Merry Christmas and enjoy the show!

Dec 06, 202354 min

Tickets to the Game (USC-UCLA)

November 26, 1950 - Jack tries to buy tickets to the USC-UCLA game. Phil Harris plays a part in an episode of the Lux Radio Theater. References include J Edgar Hoover, Albert Einstein, Ronald Colman, Skitch Henderson, Faye Emerson (and her wardrobe malfunction), the movie "King Solomon's Mines", and the Whiffenpoof song (We are poor little lambs who have lost our way).

Nov 29, 202338 min

Ed Wynn

November 20, 1949 - Jack goes to rehearsal and runs into TV comedian Ed Wynn and Dennis Day's replacement Larry Stevens. References include General Bradley, the coal strike, the song "Mule Train", the Crosley millions contest, the musical "South Pacific", Al Jolson, Buster Keaton, Margret O'Brien and Keenan Wynn.

Nov 22, 202335 min

Flubs and Mistakes (Richard Whorf)

November 13, 1949 - Last week's mistakes. Jack visits Ronald Coleman on a movie set. The movie was "Champagne for Caesar", directed by Richard Whorf. References include the song "Mule Train", the Notre Dame college football team, comedian Red Skelton, and orchestra conductor Arturo Toscanini.

Nov 15, 202333 min

Yacht Ride (Amos & Andy)

November 6, 1949 - Jack rides in a yacht and Rochester guest stars on the Amos & Andy program in the episode "Friendly Loan Company". References include the high price of coffee, True Confessions magazine, princess Margret, the song "Mule Train", Popeye cartoons, comedians Milton Berle and Fred Allen, movie stars Gary Cooper, Humphrey Bogart, Errol Flynn and Joan Crawford, the movies "Mutiny on the Bounty" and "Wabash Avenue",

Nov 08, 202341 min

Halloween (Basil Rathbone)

November 2, 1941 - Halloween celebration with guest star Basil Rathbone as himself. Jack and the gang are making mischief on Halloween. References include the animal trapper Frank Buck, and movie stars Claudette Colbert, Charles Laughton, Ronald Colman, and Charles Boyer.

Nov 02, 202332 min

Wife, Doctor and Nurse (The Maxwell)

October 24, 1937 - Jack Buys the Maxwell and they do thier version of the movie "Wife, Doctor and Nurse" starring Loretta Young, Waren Baxter, and Virginia Bruce. References include the steam-powered vehicle called The Stanley Steamer.

Oct 25, 202332 min

Jack Fixes Breakfast (Potatoes Are Cheaper)

October 12, 1947 - Jack's Sponsor Buys Insurance On Him. This is a very funny episode! So funny that the script was reused May 24, 1953. References include the movie "Mother Wore Tights", the burlesque dance Gypsy Rose Lee, and the first televised presidential address in wich Truman asks the American people to conserve food to help feed starving people in Europe.

Oct 18, 202331 min

Jack What's-His-Name

October 10, 1937 - Jack Benny and the gang discuss the reviews of last week's opening broadcast. References include Lily Pons, Eddie Cantor, Fred Astaire, movies "Artists and Models", "This Way Please" and "High, Wide and Handsome". Plus Abe Lyman returns.

Oct 11, 202334 min

Bandleader Abe Lyman

October 3, 1937 - Beginning Of 4th Season for Jello and we compair the east coast and west coast broadcasts. References include ocean liners, Dracula, actresses Loretta Young and Marline Deitrich, and boxer Jack Dempsey.

Oct 04, 202333 min

Jack Benny's Father (Waukegan Mayor)

March 21, 1937 - From New York Jack Benny plays his own father in the story of his life. References include Kenny Baker and Phil Harris' upcoming movie "Turn off the Moon", Minsky's Burlesque nightclub, and old songs "(My) Pony Boy" and "In the Good Old Summertime".

Sep 27, 202333 min

Terry Phillips (1983 Mel Blanc)

Terry Phillips is a former CBS reporter who, in 1983 had a chance to interview the great Mel Blanc. Terry is also the producer of a audio drama podcast called Imagine Air Theater, and his new play "Ronald Reagan Saves the World" premiered last week at the Center Stage Theater in Santa Barbara, California. Mel Blanc Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fsWZVbLllQ Imagine Air Theater here: https://www.imagine-air-theater.com Ronald Reagan Saves the World https://www.reaganplay.com...

Sep 13, 202337 min

Sports Newsreel Show

December 28, 1945 - Jack Benny is the guest on Bill Stern's Sports Newsreel. June 7, 1946 - Eddie "Rochester" Anderson is the guest on Bill Stern's Sports Newsreel. Bonus - Paul Harvey's Rest of the Story segment.

Aug 30, 202333 min

First TV Episode (TV Bonus)

October 28, 1950 – Premiere Show The audio version of the very first episode of the Jack Benny Television Program with special guest Dinah Shore! With Mel Blac, Don Wilson, and comedian Ken Murray. References include Olsen & Johnson, and Bob Hope.

Aug 23, 202348 min

So This is Harris

Phil Harris stars in the short comedy film "So This is Harris" from 1933.

Aug 16, 202331 min

Audiobook - Conclusion

JACK BENNY and the Golden Age of American Radio Comedy By Kathryn H. Fuller-Seeley Read by Stephanie Henderson Conclusion Download the full book at www.thisdaybenny.com/audiobook

Aug 12, 202321 min

Audiobook - Chapter 9

JACK BENNY and the Golden Age of American Radio Comedy By Kathryn H. Fuller-Seeley Read by Stephanie Henderson Chapter 9: Jack Bennys Turn Towards Television

Aug 07, 20231 hr 10 min

Phil Harris Show guest Jack Benny

March 9, 1947 - Jack Benny is the guest star on "The Fitch Bandwagon" starring Phil Harris and Alice Faye. In this episode they mention foxtails on old car radiator caps and more!

Aug 03, 202329 min

Audiobook - Chapter 8

JACK BENNY and the Golden Age of American Radio Comedy By Kathryn H. Fuller-Seeley Read by Stephanie Henderson Chapter 8: Benny At War With The Radio Critics

Jul 31, 20231 hr 17 min
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