This Day in Jack Benny

October 31, 1943 - Mr. Mortimer the sponsor visits and Jack pretends he's going to Brazil. This being Halloween Jack and The gang discuss thier plans.

References include fellow radio comedians Eddie Cantor, Fred Allen, Bob Hope and Burns and Alen.

October 25, 1953 - Jack Buys a G string at the music stor after his violin string breaks.

References include the Bob Crosby afternoon show,Jack's TV episode with Humphrey Bogart, actresses Ava Gardener, Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russel, wealthy men Aly Kahn and King Farouk, inventors Marconi and Edison, violinists Jasha Heifetz, Mischa Elman and Evalyn, the Gillette cartoon parrot and the old comedy phonograph "Cohen on the Telephone".

October 18, 1953 - Jack Benny does a parody of the movie "Wings of the Hawk" in which Van Hefin plays a prospector in Mexico caught up in a fight bewteen the rebels and the federales. References include Bing Crosby and Popeye the sailor.

October 24, 1943 - Jack Benny rides the train and tells another story from his time overseas. This story turns out to be a spoof of the Charles Boyer movie Algiers.

References include the Moscow conference, Claudette Colbert, Joan Bennett, Gary Cooper, Fred Allen, the quiz kid Joel Cupperman and a list of gossip columnists.

June 3, 2026 - No Soap Radio presents an "The Finale That Never Was"  original Jack Benny script written by Craig Shemin.

When Jack Benny retired from radio in 1955 no farewell episode was ever produced. Craig has remedied that with our version in which Jack says goodbye to his radio audience. The usual cast of characters make appearances along with a number of guest stars including George Burns and Gracie Allen. The episode was produced, directed and edited by Paul Kovit of No Soap Radio. 

Find more old time radio recreations at NoSoapRadioPlayers.com or on YouTube

October 26, 1945 - With Danny Kaye entertaining the troops overseas Jack Benny, Mary Livingston, Rochester, Larry Stevens and Don Wilson fill in on The Danny Kaye Show.

October 3, 1946 - This is the first episode of Dennis Day's show, a spin off of Jack Benny. This episode is titles "Masquerade". In it they mention the racy book "Forever Amber", the housing shortage, and actor Charles Boyer. Enjoy!

January 23, 1949 - The Fred Allen Show with special guest Jack Haley (Tin Man) and featuring Phil Harris. Phil was out east for President Truman's Inauguration.

March 4, 1949 - Jack Benny is the guest star on The Ford Theater for a radio adaptation of his movie "The Horn Blows at Midnight".

This program follows the Jack Warner episode of The Jack benny Program.
https://thisdaybenny.com/2021/08/13/jack-warner-ford-theater/

October 20, 1946 - This is the second (available) episode of The Phil Harris and Alice Faye Show, which was known as The Fitch Bandwagon and this time.

A new intro to the Jack Benny episode of Suspense "A Good and Faithful Servant" from June 2, 1952.

Theater of Thrills Podcast
https://thisdaybenny.com/thrills/ 

YouTube video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikJzeXUDQ4U

February 12, 1953 - Bing Crosby's General Electric Program with guest star Jack Benny. Bing get's Jack a gift for his birthday. Then he introduces his guest violin soloist, Joe Venuti.

November 21, 1956 - Thirty years of NBC radio. A look back at the days of old time radio, made durning the days of old time radio. Clips of Jack Benny, Fred Allen and more!

December 22, 1948 - CBS's Experimental Broadcast
A preview episode of the Jack Benny show at the CBS studio.

December 23, 1948 - CBS Corporate Broadcast 
A Closed Circuit broadcast for CBS affiliate stations.

November 9, 1948 - Bob Hope tore a muscle on the set of his latest movie and Jack Benny stops by to wish him 'get well soon'. In his fast-talking style Bob hope references many songs both old and new.

August 21, 1943 - Eddie "Rochester" Anderson is guest star on G.I. Journal radio program, with Kay Kyser and Mel Blanc.

October 6, 1946 - Jack Benny guest stars on ventriloquist Edgar Bergan's radio program. It's a fun episode with Jack trying to get some publicity from the dummy.

Summer of 1942 Jack Benny and Jascha Heifetz appear on Command Performance along with Ethel Waters, Richard Haydn and Edward Arnold.

May 23, 1943 - From Gardner Field, near Taft, California.

References include pin-up girl Betty Grable, the movie "Hello Frisco, Hello", Beeman's pepsin chewing gum, and rumble seats.

May 17 and 24, 1936 - Everybody's not so hot. Jack leaves New York for California with a visit from the travel agent. Jack and the gang visit the automat. These are two partial episodes edited together for a better listening expirence. 

References include Greta Garbo, James Cagney, Clark Gable, Fred MacMurray, Fred Atair, Ginger Rogers, Shirley Temple, Mae West, W.C. Fields, Fanny Brice, Walter Houston, George M. Cohen, Guy Lombardo. They also mention the Hindenburg Zeplin.

May 16, 1943 - From the Marine training station at Camp Pendleton, California Jack Benny talks about being a lumberjack and the cast does a Mexican theme sketch.

References include Dennis Day's new movie "The Powers Girls" and Rochester's new movie "Cabin in the Sky".

May 11, 1952 - Jack takes the Beavers to the zoo while Roy and Rochester clean on Mother's Day. 

References include Johnny Ray, Ike Eisenhower and Senator Estes Kefauver, Tarzan, and animal trainer Clyde Beatty.

May 4, 1952 - Jack Fixes the Phonograph. Jack and Mary go to a Los Angeles vs Seattle baseball game.

References include president Truman's televised tour of the white house, Jimmy Durante, Bing Crosby, songs "Slow Poke", "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles", "Dardanella", "The Sheik of Araby", "Keep the Home Fires Burning", "K-k-k-Katy", and "After the Ball is Over".

April 18, 1943 - Jack Opens Swimming Pool for the Season. Loretta Young comes for a quick PSA for War Bonds.

References include Eddie Cantor, Ronald Colman, Fred Allen, Barbara Stanwick, Ann Southern, Claudette Colbert,  the Tom Colins cocktail, victory gardens, and bloomers.

April 25, 1954 - Seance at Jack's home after lunch at the diner.

References include the song "Somebody Bad Stole de Wedding Bell" by Ertha Kitt, the movie "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", Edward R. Murrow confronting Senator Joseph McCarthy, British sportscars called MGs, the "fat, fat lady in the sideshow", and the rule that you can only eat oysters in a month containing the letter R.

April 10, 1938 - Jack Benny talks about building a house in Beverly Hills. 

References include British foreign secretary Anthony Eden, comedian Fred Allen, the song "A Cup of Coffee a Sandwich and You", and the movie A Yank at Oxford with Robert Taylor.

April 25, 1937 - Texaco Town with Eddie Cantor. Eddie's announcer Jimmy Wallington wants to quit the show and Don Wilson pops in as a surprise guest. Plus Mr. Kitzel as part of his short time on the program.

References include the book "Gone with the Wind", movie stars Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Robert Taylor and Carol Lombard, and cartoon characters Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.

April 17, 1949 - A Walk Through The Easter Parade Jack and Mary meet their friends and neighbors from Mr. Kitzel to Frank Nelson. References include Fred Astaire and Judy Garland in the musical "Easter Parade" and the Lunar Eclipse.

March 25, 1945 - Murder Mystery with guest star Alan Ladd. Mary Livingstone was named best dressed woman in radio. References include Humphrey Bogart and Fred Allen.

March 11, 1945 - Jack and the gand practice archery, then a reporter comes and asks about Rochester, featuring guests Amos 'n Andy.

References include the songs "Hot Time in the Town of Berlin" and "In My Merry Oldsmobile", the movie "The Last of the Mohicans", the Mr. Anthony advise program, and Hedda Hopper.

March 11 & 18, 1934 - Jack sleeps in a haunted house and the cast does an Arizona western play.

March 1, 1942 - Jack Benny is upset that his movie "Charlie's Aunt" didn't win him an Academy Award, he falls asleep and dreams of what might have happened.

References include Oscar winner Gary Cooper and Joan Fontaine, Fred Allen, Frank Buck, and the old French motto "Honi soit qui mal y pense" or "Evil to him who evil thinks".

February 26, 1950 - Jack Benny talks about his trip to Washington DC, then they do a parody of the mystery radio show "The Whistler". They did this same parody on the episode from October 20, 1946.

References include President Truman, the Gallup Poll, breakfast cereals, and the songs "Dear Hearts and Gentle People" by Bring Crosby and "Scarlet Ribbons" by Dinah Shore.

February 22, 1948 - Jack Benny and the gang are in Palm Springs and they visit the site where his new house is being built. There is also a cameo by Frank Sinatra. 

References include "The Lady of 29 Palms" by the Andrews Sisters, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Jerry Colonna, AFRA (American Federation of Radio Artists) and Winthrop Rockefeller's wedding.

February 15, 1948 - Jack Turns 39 and for his birthday everyone plans to throw him a surprise party.

References include Bob Hope, Al Jolson, Jasha Hiefetz, the Academy Awards, the Oranges of Riverside Californiaand Townsend clubs.

May 11, 1941 - NBC Tribute 10th Anniversary. Jack and the gang talk about the testimonial dinner that took place this weekend in Jack Benny's honor. Then the episode is taken over by the NBC players' telling the life story of Jack in song.

References include Jack Oakie, Fred Allen, the Marx brothers and Eva Tanguay.

May 9, 1941 - NBC 10th Anniversary Testimonial Dinner. Rudy Valli hosts a formal dinner in Jack Benny's honor with speeches by Edgar Bergan and Charlie McCarthy, Fibber McGee and Molly, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Bob Hope, George Jessel, Paramount Sudios head Y. Frank Freeman, NBC president Niles Tramell, and more!

References include the song "When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano".

May 4 & May 9, 1941 - Behind the Mike with Don Wilson interviewing Jack Benny and the NBC Special 10th Anniversary Salute to Jack Benny.

Plus it's the 10th anniversary of This Day In Jack Benny!

January 9, 1955 - The Elephant's Graveyard Mystery. Jack Benny walks around the neighborhood in the morning, then decides to read an adventure book.

References include Burns and Allen, Robert Montgomery, William Bendix, Jane Russell, sanforization of clothes and the book "Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle".

January 8, 1948 - Jack Benny is the guest in Maxwell House Coffee Time with George Burns and Gracie Allen. Jack Benny wants to be appreciated for his violin playing and George Burns wants to be appreciated for his singing voice. Gracie recommends they disguise themselves as Gypsies.