This Day in Jack Benny

December 11, 1938 - Jack Benny and the gang are in New York where Jack and Mary Livingstone go for Christmas shopping. In this episode they mention the upcoming World's Fair, comedian Fred Allen, announcer Graham McNamee, playwright Noel Coward, dancer Gypsy Rose Lee, opera singer Giovanni Martinelli, plus Betsy Ross and Abraham Lincoln.

December 1, 1946 - It has been a few years since Jack benny's appearance on the game show "Take It or Leave It" and he still thinks he should have won the money. The host Phil Baker visits Jack in this episode. Plus they mention "The Count of Monte Cristo", Lassie, John L Lewis and Phil Harris' show.

November 24, 1946 - Jack Benny welcomes gangster star Edward G Robinson for their version of the movie "The Killers". References include Hollywood's Santa Claus Lane Parade, Eversharp razors, the gangster movie Little Cesar, and the songs "Rumors are Flying", "The Missouri Waltz", and "Holiday for Strings".

November 21, 1937 - In this episode they spoof the 1937 Ronald Colman movie "Lost Horizon" directed by Frank Capra. Plus they mention the swing dance called The Suzie-Q, adventurer Frank Buck, Eddie Canton (and his 5 daughters), and the Elk's Lodge.

November 10, 1946 - Jack Benny gets a haircut from Rochester. When the Sportsmen quartet come to do the commercial Jack fires and re-hires them. They reference the singer Hildegarde, the song Stardust and the musicians union leader Petrillo. Movies "The Strange love of Martha Ivers", and the actress Merle Oberon. Radio shows Fibber MacGee and Molly, A Date With Judy, and The Phil Harris show. Plus Duz Soap, a fountain pen that can write underwater and Mary's Chizz Sweese flub.

October 27, 1946 - This old time radio episode of the Jack Benny Program is famous for the mistake that Mary Livingstone made when trying to say "Swiss Cheese". They mention dance instructor Arthur Murry, musician union president Patrillo, ballplayer Hank Greenberg, and the fictional character The Mad Russian. They also mention the department store Eastern Columbia, the Native American baby carrier a papoose, a Lincoln quote "You can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.".

October 20, 1946 - Jack Benny does his version of that Murder Mystery radio program The Whistler. They also talk about the meat shortage and price controls, radio shows Truth or Consequences and The Fred Allen Show, the Eugene O'Neil play The Iceman Cometh, singers Al Jolson and Nelson Eddie and they do a whole bit on the breakfast cereal that makes noise, Rice Krispies. Listen to the full episode of The Whistler on the podcast Theater of Thrills

October 15, 1950 - In real life Jack Benny is married to Mary Livingstone, in this episode Jack Benny dreams he is married to Mary. the special guest is their real life daughter Joan Benny.

October 9, 1938 - Jack Benny and the gang spoof the movie "Yellow Jack" in which Lewis Stone, Robert Montgomery and Virginia Bruce play Americans in Cuba looking for the cure to yellow fever. In the episode they mention the song "I've Got a Pocket Full of Dreams", the columnist Jimmie Fidler, and an ice skating carnival called "The Ice Follies".

October 2, 1938 - Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone talk about appearing on the radio show Lux Radio Theatre in the play "Seven Keys to Baldpate". They mention newspaper popularity contests, dancer Bill Robinson, choreographer Busby Berkley, Scottish singer Harry Lauder, British prime minister Neville Chamberlain, and the movie "Yellow Jack".

December 8, 1940 - Jack Benny does his impression of Kit Carson. Plus they mention Kay Kyser's new movie "You'll Find Out" and Jack Bnny's upcoming movie with Fred Allen "Love Thy Neighbor". They also talk about new electric clothes iron vs the old gas iron.

December 1, 1940 - This is a great follow-up to the previous episode! Jack Benny had suggested to Don that he call his wife before inviting company over, so Don leaves jack in the bushes in front of his house. While waiting to be let in Jack gets rained on and mugged. In this episode they mention the Vapour Rub, a cigar humidor and a number of singing movie stars: Anne Sheridan, Dorothy Lamour, Maryt Martin and the singing cowboy Gene Autry.

November 24, 1940 - Don Wilson has just gotten married and invited the whole gang to meet his new wife Peggy. In the episode they mention the coal miners of Scranton PA, movie producer Darryl F Zanuck, movie star Hedy Lamar and the songs "Now I Lay Me Down To Dream (Of You)", "Dream Valley", "Two Dreams Met", and "I'll Never Smile Again".

November 3, 1935 - Before Dennis Day there was Kenny Baker. This is a fun early episode of the Jack Benny program where Jack goes to the barber, meets Kenny and spoofs a movie studio. In the episode they mention the Joe Louis vs Max Baer boxing match, college football, playwright George Bernard Shaw's beard, gowns by Adrian, and the song "50 Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong". Plus Ricardo Cortez, Loretta Young, Constance Bennette, Kay Francis, Kathryn Hepburn and Shirley Temple.

January 18, 1953 - Jack Benny goes with Mary to an auction and Dennis Day's brother, James McNulty, made plans to marry actress Ann Blyth. Plus references to Lady Godiva, the song Mademoiselle from Armentieres, Roy Rogers, and Bob Hope.

February 22, 1953 - Kids of the Beverly Hill Beavers do their version of The Jack Benny Show! This is a re-used script from April 23, 1950. In this episode they mention hula dancer Hilo Hattie.

January 11, 1953 - Jack Benny does a spoof of "Road to Bali", the new movie starring Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. The surprise guest star is Bob Hope. In the episode they also mention Jerry Colonna, and president elect Eisenhower just a couple of weeks before his inauguration.

November 17, 1940 - Jack Benny is co-starring in the movie "Love Thy Neighbor" with Fred Allen and Mary Martin. Jack goes to the studio to see the director and convince him to have the premiere in his home town of Waukegan, Ill.

November 10, 1940 - It's the week of the elections and in Beverly Hills jack benny had been elected dog catcher. Meanwhile, Jack and Fred Allen are making a movie and can't decide where to have the premier. The play this week is called "Murder at the Soda Fountain".

January 6, 1946 - At the Rose Bowl game Jack Benny made a bet with Phil Harris, but will he pay it? This is the end of the "I Can't Stand Jack Benny Because..." contest and the first episode with the hot dog man who we later come to know as Mr. Kitzel. Plus references to "Mutany on the Bounty", Abbott and Costello, Stokowski, Tarzan, Rinse-O and Coca-Cola.

October 27, 1940 - Mary is out sick, but Jack and the cast carry on with a football skit. They mention a number of historical facts, the self proclaimed wizard of credit Smiling Frankie Gordon, Mickey Mouse, Pinocchio's Blue Fairy and the Tom Collins cocktail.

October 13, 1940 - Phil Harris tries to collect on a World Series bet. Jack Benny, Don Wilson and Mary Livingstone read reviews of their first show including Ed Sullivan's review. And Rochester was elected honorary Mayor of Central Avenue. Plus references to conscription day, Helen Hayes, Oscar Levant, Gone With The Wind, Boomtown, The Grapes of Wrath, and Gulliver's Travels.

October 6, 1940 - Mary Kelley returns as The Blue Fairy (a spoof on Disney's Pinocchio). Plus they mention William Shakespeare's a "Midsummer Night's Dream" and the tap-dancing Bill "Bojangles" Robinson.

June 21, 1936 - Don Wilson talks about how he will be the host of the JELL-O Summer Show starring Tim and Irene. The episode is a little bit short because of the way it was recorded on transcription disc. So to fill the time listen for two recordings of Phil Harris from the same time.

June 7 & 14, 1936 - Worried about his place at Paramount, Jack Benny decides to start his own studio called Bennymount. The guest stars are Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin, the writers of Jack's signature song "Love in Bloom". These recordings have pretty low sound quality and are missing portions of the episodes. Plus unusual references like smoked glasses and an alligator pear.

June 3, 1951 - We all know Jack Benny with Mary Livingstone, Rochester, Phil Harris, Dennis Day and Don Wilson. But do you know the rest of the people behind the scenes? Artie Auerbach - Mr.Kitzel Bea Benaderet - Operator Gertrude Sara Berner - Operator Mabel Mel Blanc - Polly the parrot / Professor LeBlanc / Railroad Announcer / the Maxwell Joseph Kearns - IRS agent / Ed the vault guard Sheldon Leonard - Racetrack Tout Frank Nelson - Yeeeessss! Mahlon Merrick- Musical Arranger Gene Twombley and Cliff Norton - Sound men Sam Perrin, Milt Josefsberg, George Balzer, John Tackaberry, Al Gordon and Hal Goldman - Writers Plus a story from the news: Bing Crosby was turned away from a swanky hotel because the clerk didn't recognize him and said he "looked like a bum".

May 27, 1951 - Jack goes for a doctor's check and runs into that Lucky Strike auctioneer Speedy Riggs. Plus writer Milt Josefsberg's story of the joke that was cut from the episode.

May 20, 1951 - This episode is a re-used script from May 2, 1948 with a few updates. In this episode they mention the broadway musical Guys and Dolls, Guy Lombardo, Spike Jones, musician's union president James Petrol and gust star Bob Crosby.

February 13, 1938 - Just before his birthday Jack Benny was named as one of the top ten best dressed men in America along with movie star Clark Gable. Then actor Robert Taylor stops by and helps Jack with a love scene and ends up kissing Mary. Then they play a duet with Jack on violin and Robert on Cello.

May 8, 1938 - It's Mother's Day and Jack Benny considers himself the mother hen of the cast. This is a day after the Kentucky Derby. Manuel Talcott, the mayor of Jack Benny's home town of Waukegan, plays a character in the play. In the episode they mention the WPA (Works Progress Administration), The Jones Family series of movies, Clark Gable, Loretta Young, and a cartoon short featuring Jack Benny called "The Big Birdcast".

May 1, 1938 - This week Jack Benny's Maxwell was in a race for old cars, the Fresno State College Hack Race. He lost to Fred Allen's entry. In this episode they debate wether or not Jack Benny is considered a movie star. They mention Leo the MGM lion, movie producers Darrel F Zanuck and Adolf Zukor, the comedy team The Ritz Brothers, Screen gangster George Raft, Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies and Mickey, Donald and Pluto. Plus the 1927 boxing match known as "The Long Count". And the great silent film comedian Harold Lloyd.

April 24, 1938 - Walt Disney's first feature film has just come out and Jack Benny is going to do his version of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" mixing in a bit of Edward G Robinson and his gangster movies. Plus they mention the Lone Ranger's catchphrase "Hi Oh Silver!" and the opera singer Lawrence Tibbett.

April 23, 1950 - Jack Benny's troop of kids The Beverly Hills Beavers do the show. Plus they mention Phil Harris' movie Wabash Avenue, and the wedding of then vice president Alben W Barkley.

April 16, 1950 - It's spring so Jack Benny decides to get his house painted. Last week he gave 50 cents away to a fellow that was down on his luck. This week he runs into the fellow again and we learn his name is John L. C. Savoni. In this episode they mention the song "Rag Mop" by the Ames Brothers. They also mention Senitor Joseph McCarthy and his loyalty oath against communism. Plus Bob Hope, Lana Turner, Gregory Peck, Ray Maland, and Humphrey Bogart.

April 12, 1953 - Jack Benny gets out of the shower and realizes he's been washing with a peeled potato instead of soap. Later a man comes looking for a missing heir to $5,000! In the episode they mention the radio show Suspense, Gracie Allen, the opening song to the musical Oklahoma! "O What a Beautiful Morning" and the deodorant Stopette. Poof! There goes perspiration

April 1, 1934 - This is an early episode in which Easter Sunday landed on April fool's Day. The guest star is Eddie Cantor. March 29, 1942 - This episode is an unfortunate recycled script from the 1930s that was "updated" for the 1940s. The cast re-created a blackface minstrel show.

March 23, 1947 - After weeks without a proper quartet to sing the commercial Jack Benny is ready to swallow his pride and hire the Sportsmen Quartet back...if they can work out the contract details. In this episode they mention ladies sun suits, they typewriter, operatic singer John Charles Thomas, old time singer Al Jolson, violinist Jasha Heifetz, The Army Air Corps Song (Wild Blue Yonder), and they quote a line from the song Ol' Man River "Tote that barge, lift that bale". Plus Jack Benny wonders if he can use Vigoro Complete Plant Food to get his hair to grow.

March 16, 1947 - After hosting the 19th Academy Awards Jack Benny talks about his experience. Having fired the Sportsmen he still needs a new quartet. He has found a replacement quartet. Dennis Day, Dick Haymes, Andy Russell and Bing Crosby.

March 13, 1947 - This is not a regular episode of Jack Benny. This is the 19th Academy Awards Ceremony hosted by Jack Benny. I have cut down the very long night into a fun highlight show with all of Jack Benny's segments in tact. If you have a bunch of extra time and would like to hear the full three hour ceremony you can listen for free here. Patreon.com/ThisDayBenny

March 9, 1947 - The third episode in a story arc where Jack Benny fires the Sportsman Quartet. Now he has to try to find a replacement. In this episode they mention movie actors Lena Horne, Margery Main, Steppin Fetchit, Bob Hope and Gary Cooper. They mention wacky bandleader Spike Jones, singer John Charles Thomas, guitarist Tony Romano and radio personalities Harry Von Zell and Al Pearce. Plus the movies "Nora Prentiss" and "The Beast With Five Fingers"!

March 2, 1947 - Part of a fun story arc! Jack Benny has fired the Sportsman quartet, but the sponsor is not happy. In this episode they mention the story of George Washington and the cherry tree, The Jolson Story, The Hal Johnson choir, Bob Hope, the movie "Duel in the Sun", Mel Blanc and his many regular radio roles, and silent film star Francis X Bushman.

February 23, 1947 - Jack Benny mentions this episode specifically in this memoirs. He says the he was particularly proud of his timing in the phone call with the sponsor at the end of the episode. In this episode they mention Edger Bergan & Charlie McCarthy, DownBeat magazine, the Esquire girl, Bugs Bunny, Disney's The Song of the South, The Yearling, Lassie, and Nora Prentiss.

February 16, 1941 - Surprise! It's Jack Benny's Birthday and Herbert Marshall show up to celebrate. In the episode they mention gossip columnist Louella Parsons, and "Dish Night" where you got a free piece of china with your movie ticket.

February 2, 1947 - Frank Capra, the director of "It's a Wonderful Life" is the guest in this episode. Jack Benny thinks the movie's premise is silly until he meets his own angel that shows him where the Mary, Dennis, Don and Phil would be if Jack had never been born. Plus references to "The Bride and Groom Program" where real couples tell their love story, Fred Allen Program and two men who both claim to be the governor of Georgia.

January 30, 1938 - In this episode they mention the broadway play "Hurray For What!", the song "It's Delivery" and Benny Goodman. They also mention actors Robert Taylor and Fred MacMurray. But the main portion of the show is a parody of the movie "The Hurricane".

January 25, 1953 rerun January 23, 1955 - In this episode Jack Benny goes to his vault, past the alligator moat, to get money to bet on a horse at the track. At one point Mary quotes the Patti Page song "I Went To Your Wedding".

January 12, 1947 - Gracie wants to listen to Jack benny on the radio. George Burn and Gracie Allen come over. They mention singers Dick Haymes, Andy Russell, and Bing Crosby. Pianist Jose Iturpi, and opera singer Lilly Pons. Plus the books "Strange Fruit" and " The Razor's Edge". And finally, the radio soap opera Dr. Christian.

January 13, 1952 - In this episode of the Jack Benny program Jack is trying to get someone to make a record of the song that he wrote. He calls Dinah Shore and her husband George Montgomery.

January 5, 1947 - It's the Sunday after New Years Day and Jack Benny talks with Don Wilson about the Rose Bowl. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall are the guests in a recreation of the movie "To Have and Have Not" where she says the often quoted line "You know how to whistle don't you...You just put your lips together and blow.".

December 30, 1945 - It's the end of the "Why I Can't Stand Jack Benny" contest and the letters have been pouring in. Plus Don wilson sings his version of the song "It's Been a Long, Long Time" only about Lucky Strike Cigarettes.