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.

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

Amos & Andy with Jack Benny and Rochester 07/03/2024

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". /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/31993492

Phil Harris Hosts Kollege (BONUS) 06/26/2024

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! /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/31892627

Jack Benny on the Quiz Kids (Bonus) 06/19/2024

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. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/31804072

USO Show in Paris 1945 06/12/2024

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! /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/31708517

"Babes in the Woods" This is My Best 06/05/2024

"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". /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/31609687

Portable TV Set 05/28/2024

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, /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/31509242

Rita Hayworth 05/22/2024

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". /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/31413957

Victory in Europe (The Vault) 05/15/2024

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. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/31301077

Test Drive (Grace Moore) 05/08/2024

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. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/31190552

Love Letters (Jeanette Eymann) 05/01/2024

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". /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/31064743

How Jack Hired Don Wilson 04/24/2024

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. /episode/index/show/jackbennypodcast/id/30962943

This Day in Jack Benny

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