This Day in Jack Benny

June 6, 1937 - Death at Midnight Part 2. Jack Benny has lost his watch, a Christmas present from Phil Harris. Eddie (Rochester) Anderson is in the episode. This is his last appearence before becoming Jack's butler. References include the movies "Death Takes a Holiday and "This Way Please".

May 30, 1937 - Jack Benny is back after being sick and does a mystery play called "Death at Midnight" or "The Bang Bang Scream Murder Case" References include Bing Crosby, Mae West, Laural and Hardy, Dracula, Bullocks Wilshire department store, and the book "Live Alone and Like It" by Marjorie Hillis,

May 23, 1937 - Jacvk is sick and does not appear on the program. Don Wilson, Phil Harri and Kenny Baker fill in with guest singer Trudy Wood.

May 16, 1937 - Jack Benny and the gang do the Eugene O'Neill play "Ah, Wilderness!". References include the tradition of throwing rice and old shoes at weddings, the coronation of King George and Queen Elizabeth, Portland Hoffa, Ripley's Believe it or Not, and the racehorse Pompoon.  

April 20, 1947 - Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone play Fred MacMurray and Claudette Colbert in their version of "The Egg and I". References include a radio component called the magic eye, singer Nelson Eddie, Sen-Sen licorice breath freshener, and Murine eye drops.

March 25, 1951 - It's Easter day and Jack Benny and the gand (joined by Mar'ys sister Babe) do a parody of the movie "Sunset Boulevard". References include the Senate crime investigating committee, billiard champ Willie Hoppe, Telula Bankhead, Hopalong Cassidy, movies "Harvey", "Broken Arrow", "Tomahawk", "Lassie", "Banzo", "Wabash Avenue", and "I'll Get By".

April 1, 1951 - Leaving New York to do his TV show, Jack takes Babe Livingstone to the train station. References include The Kefauver Committee, Dick Tracy, the song "The Tennessee Waltz", the radio show Suspense, and Claudette Colbert, Basil Rathbone and Robert Motgomery who would be on his TV show.

March 18, 1945 - Jack tells a reporter the story of how he discovered Mary back in 1932. They made this episode for TV which aired October 31, 1954. Refrences include the Oscars where Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman were winners. They mention the radio shows "Your Hit Parade", "Duffy's Tavern", and "Fibber McGee and Molly", the silent film actress Theda Barra, the bandleader Spike Jones, the old song "Just a Gigolo", the watch company Gruen. Plus the true story of Mary meeting Jack.

November 4, 1960 - Jack Benny is the violin soloist at the Cleveland Symphony Benefit Gala.

March 13, 1938 - Death in the Night Club. Jack and the gand talk about the Academy awards and do a play about a murder trial. References inlcude Kenny Baker in the movie "Goldwyn Follies", Fred Allen in "Sally, Irene, and Mary", Edward G Robinson, Spensor Tracy, Shirley Temple and Robin Hood and his band.

March 7, 1954 - Jack's big date at the Acme Plaza Hotel with Giselle Mackenzie broadcast from New York, New York with guest Frank Fontaine. References include the play "Tea and Sympathy", movies "Beat the Devil", "It Should Happen To You", and "Riot in Cell Block 11".

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".

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".

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". 

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".

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", 

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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".

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!

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!

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.

January 30, 1947 - The Eddie Cantor Show with special guests Jack Benny. Plus a clip of Eddie on Dinah Shore's show and more!

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.

January 23, 1955 - Can you guess the Jack Benny cast member before the celebrity panel? Listen to the audio from the TV gameshow.

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".

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!

April 7, 1941 - This Bonus Episode features Jack as a guest on the Quiz Kids Program! Plus clips of Walt Disney and Fred Allen.

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!

May 29, 1945 - Jack Benny guest stars in the radio play "Babes in the Woods" from the program "This is My Best".

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, 

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".

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.

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.

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".