This Day in Jack Benny

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, yet still as funny as ever. An OTR podcast.

Hollywood Canteen (Eddie Cantor) 02/26/2025

Hollywood Canteen (Eddie Cantor) February 27, 1944 - At the Holywood Canteen Jack Benny and the gang broadcast for soldiers with guest Eddie Cantor. References include celebrities Hetty Lamarr, Betty Grable, Lana Turner, Dorothy Lamour, Larry Adler, The Hall Johnson Choir, Al Jolson and Frank Sinatra. Plus the song "Cloe". /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/35436695

Buying A Camel (Liquid Stockings) 02/12/2025

Buying A Camel (Liquid Stockings) February 13, 1944 - From March Field Jack tells the story of buying calmels in Egypt last summer. Larry Adler the harmonica player joins him to re-create a portion of thier USO act. Refrences include liquid stockings, Pepsi Cola, Wendel Willkie and FDR, The Andrews Sisters, Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, the songs "Mairzy Doats" and "Deep In The Heart Of Texas". /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/35251165

Douglas Fairbanks Jr (90-Foot Putt) 01/29/2025

Douglas Fairbanks Jr (90-Foot Putt) January 28, 1951 - Douglas Fairbanks Jr Guest Show. Jack Benny and the gang are in New York getting ready for Jack's second-ever television show. Phil Harris had won the Bing Crosby Pro-Amateur Golf Tournament at Pebble Beach by sinking an incredibly long putt on the 17th hole. References include Bock Beer, Fred Allen, Ethel Merman, and the broadway shows "Guys and Dolls", "Call Me Madam", and South Pacific". /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/35064830

Alexis Smith (Shoo Shoo Baby) 01/23/2025

Alexis Smith (Shoo Shoo Baby) January 23, 1944 - From Camp Muroc in the Mojave Desert Jack Benny broadcasting for a crowd of soldiers with guest Alexis Smith returning for the second. References include Jack's article in Libery Magazine, Phillip Morris ciggerettes, Fred Allen and the Andrews Sisters song "Shoo-Shoo Baby". /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/34965440

The Constant Nymph 01/15/2025

The Constant Nymph January 16, 1944 - From El Toro, California Alexis Smith makes guest appearance. References include the Corsair aircraft with folding wings, Good Humor wagons, silent film actress Theda Bara, and Oscar Levant who names piano pieces on the game show "Informtion Please", /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/34863120

Suspense (Death of a Salesman) 01/08/2025

Suspense (Death of a Salesman) January 6, 1952 - Jack Benny and the gang talk about the Rose Bowl then do thier version of the mystery radio show "Suspense". References include Los Angeles cross streets Pico and Supulvida, director of price controls Michael DiSalle, and the movie "Death of a Salesman" with Fredrick March. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/34773065

New Year 1950 (I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts) 01/01/2025

New Year 1950 (I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts) January 1, 1950 - Jack's broken new year's date. Mary invites Jack to her New Year's Eve party but Jack is all dressed up for a date. Mel Blanc sings an Al Jolson song to promote his new record and Dennis Day sings "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts". References include Red Skelton's Mean Little Kid, the Hooper Radio Rating, plus Phil Harris and Alice Fay. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/34683480

The Train Home (Ol' Man Mose) 12/19/2024

The Train Home (Ol' Man Mose) December 18, 1938 - Returning to Hollywood by train. An unnamed announcer introduces the show even though Don Wilson appears in the episode. Jack Benny and the gang are coming home from New York. References include Red Cap Porters, the song "Ol' Man Mose", political figure Anthony Eden, fight announcer Clem McCarthy, comedian Fred Allen, Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Dracula, The Dead End Kids, and movies "You Can't Take It With You", "Snow White" and "Artists and Models Abroad". /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/34527325

Relaxing Day Off (Pumpkin Microfilm) 12/11/2024

Relaxing Day Off (Pumpkin Microfilm) December 12, 1948 - Jack Tries to Relax at Home, Eddie Cantor stops by briefly. References include the Pumpkin Papers, "White Christmas" and "Who Threw The Overalls In Mrs. Murphy's Chowder" by Bing Crosby, bandleader Spike Jones, and the books "City Boy" by Herman Wouk and "Wine, Women and Words" by Billy Rose. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/34391135

Violin Lesson (Lionel Barrymore) 12/04/2024

Violin Lesson (Lionel Barrymore) December 5, 1948 - Professor LeBlanc give Jack a violin lesson, and Don is mad at Jack. References include the desert hot springs earthquake, Princess Elizabeth's new baby, actors Charles Boyer, Lionel Barrymore, Don Ameche, "Litte Lord Fauntleroy", and violinists Isaac Stern, Fritz Kreisler, and Jascha Heifetz. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/34278800

Football Coach (Mustard Plaster) 11/27/2024

Football Coach (Mustard Plaster) November 27, 1938 - Football with coach Flash Benny. Jack has a cold Phill rips off his mustrd paster (along with his chest hair). Then they do a football play like the they did last year called "Hold That Line". References include the songs "Flat Fleet Floogie with a Floy Floy", and "Lambeth Walk", movies "The Devil is a Sissy" and "Angels with Dirty Faces", and PT Barnum was right, there's a sucker born every minute. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/34173725

Too Hot To Handle (Cannibals) 11/20/2024

Too Hot To Handle (Cannibals) November 20, 1938 - Jack Benny does his version of the Clark Gable and Myrna Loy movie "Too Hot To Handle". Refrences include the song "Pocket Full Of Dreams", quiz programs, actor Robert Taylor and Frigidaire refrigerators. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/34030934

Television Director (Ralph Levy) 11/13/2024

Television Director (Ralph Levy) November 15, 1953 - Jack repares for his TV show with Johnnie Ray. References inlude TWA airline, 1954 Cadillac, Old Crow Bourbon Whiskey, Thrifty's drug store, the "I Can't Stand Jack Benny" contest, and his guitar player Frank Remley. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/33909852

Echo-Ay-Hee-Hoo (Election Upset) 11/06/2024

Echo-Ay-Hee-Hoo (Election Upset) November 7, 1948 - Jack Sees Psychiatrist About Echo and Mel Blanc does Bugy Bunny and Porky Pig. References include the election where Truman was re-elected after the polls predicted a Dewey win. Plus Bob Hope, Fred Allen, Derby hats, Maxc Factor, and "The Beer That Made Milwakee Famous". /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/33814242

Trick Or Treat (Election Day) 10/30/2024

Trick Or Treat (Election Day) October 31, 1948 - Jack goes trick or treating with the Beverly Hill Beavers. Plus clips from the Phil Harris Alice Faye Show. References include the Wolf-Man, the presidential election, the Olympics, boxer Gene Tunny, the movie "Johnny Belinda", and the Saturday Evening Post. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/33679767

Airport (Swing Low) 10/23/2024

Airport (Swing Low) October 22, 1950 - Dennis Tries to Borrow Fifty Thousand Dollars. Jack is getting ready to fly to New York for his first ever TV episode. References include the song "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", Duz soap, Lifesavers mints, SMU, comedian Fred Allen and actor Gary Cooper. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/33579477

Casablanca (BVDs) 10/16/2024

Casablanca (BVDs) October 17, 1943 - Jack Benny is back from his USO trip to Casablanca and recounts a story similar to the motion picture of the same name. Rochester sings "As Time Goes By". Plus Jack talks with his new writers. References include Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, Red Skelton, Burns and Allen, Fred Allen, and BVD brand of men's underwear. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/33479102

Home from North Africa (Creaking Door) 10/09/2024

Home from North Africa (Creaking Door) October 10, 1943 - Jack Recalls His African Trip. Broadcasting from New York as Jack returns from his USO tour. Behind the scenes there is a new group of writers. References include Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Eleanore Roosevelt, wartime generals plus the old technology of carbon copying, and the spooky radio show "Inner Sancum Mysteries" with it's signature creaking door. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/33387027

Beverly Hills Police Department 10/02/2024

Beverly Hills Police Department October 1, 1950 - The Maxwell is Stolen. Jack Benny and the gang have a meal at the drug store and Jack finds out his car has been stolen. References include ethyl Gasoline, the draft for the Korean war, Duncan Heins, Mad Man Muntz, gangsters Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd, the radio shows "People Are Funny" and "Hopalong Cassidy", the movie "Born To Be Bad", the song "Good Night Irene", the actor Ronald Colman, the costume designer Adrian, and Woody Woodpecker. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/33294052

The Kenny Baker Show (BONUS) 09/25/2024

The Kenny Baker Show (BONUS) January 20, 1947 - Jack Benny's old tenor Kenny Baker had his own shown, with Don Wilson as the announcer and Jack Benny as special guest! /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/33201682

Here Comes Mr. Kitzel (BONUS) 09/18/2024

Here Comes Mr. Kitzel (BONUS) December 27, 1950 - One of the often forgotten recurring characters on the Jack Benny Program is Mr. Kitzel. His funny voice is an over-the-top jewish dialect. Artie Auerbach was playing Mr. Kitzel on other radio programs like Al Pearce and Abbot & Costello before bringing it to the Jack Benny show. But it was the Jack Benny show that made it most popular. In this BONUS episode you'll hear clips of Mr. Kitzel from other programs, his signature tune "Pickle in the Middle and the Mustard on Top" and the one and only episode his own show "Here Comes Mr. Kitzel". Enjoy! /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/33116327

The Private Life of Rochester (BONUS) 09/11/2024

The Private Life of Rochester (BONUS) May 12, 1950 - In 1950 they developed a radio spin-off of the Jack Benny show starring Eddie Anderson as Rochester Van Jones. The show would have been 15 minutes long, five days a week. Unfortunately, it was never picked up. These are the audition episodes. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/33006667

Love Thy Neighbor Movie (BONUS) 08/28/2024

Love Thy Neighbor Movie (BONUS) December 18, 1940 - Jack Benny and Fred Allen star in the movie "Love Thy Neighbor". This is one of the rare movies where Jack Benny plays himself, set in the same world as his radio show. Here is a radio-style version of the movie. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/32770812

Jack Benny Record for State Farm (BONUS) 08/21/2024

Jack Benny Record for State Farm (BONUS) This is a record for State Farm Insurance agents when the company started sponsoring the Jack Benny TV Show in 1960. "Jack Benny Music to Write Apps By". /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/32453882

1936 JELL-O Summer Show (BONUS) 08/14/2024

1936 JELL-O Summer Show (BONUS) September 27, 1936 - Starring Don Wilson with the wacky comedy team of Tim and Irene Ryan. You might know Irene Ryan as granny from the Beverly Hillbillies. This is the rare surviving episode of that show. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/32453837

Good News of 1938 - Guest Jack Benny (BONUS) 08/07/2024

Good News of 1938 - Guest Jack Benny (BONUS) February 17, 1938 - After Robert Taylor was the guest on Jack Benny's show, now Jack Benny is the guest on Robert Taylor's show. With Frank Morgan, Baby Snooks and more! /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/32453827

Wabash Avenue with Phil Harris (BONUS) 07/31/2024

Wabash Avenue with Phil Harris (BONUS) November 13, 1950 - Phil Harris was in the movie musical "Wabash Avenue" starring Betty Grable and Victor Mature. Here is an original mix of the Lux Radio Theater presentation edited to include Phil Harris as Mike Stanley. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/32364167

Eddie Cantor Show with Jack Benny (BONUS) 07/24/2024

Eddie Cantor Show with Jack Benny (BONUS) January 30, 1947 - The Eddie Cantor Show with special guests Jack Benny. Plus a clip of Eddie on Dinah Shore's show and more! /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/32274147

We The People (Jack and Mary's Anniversary) 07/17/2024

We The People (Jack and Mary's Anniversary) January 26, 1947 - Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone are guests on the human interest radio program "We There People" talking about their 20th Wedding Anniversary (you can skip to Jack Benny's segment at around the 20min mark). Listen to an exert of the books "Sunday Nights at Seven" in which Jack tells the story of meeting Mary. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/32177977

What's My Line? (BONUS) 07/10/2024

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. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/32076327

This Day in Jack Benny

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