This Day in Jack Benny

Tom Sawyer Part 3 (Ouija Board)

13 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

June 5, 1938 - Its just after Decoration Day (Memorial Day). Jack Benny is making a movie for Paramount Pictures, but he's not happy with their plan t...

Tom Sawyer Part 2 (Night Boat)

06 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

May 29, 1938 - Jack Benny plays bothe the school teacher and Tom Sayer from Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer". Rochester sings "Love, Your M...

Tom Sawyer Part 1

30 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

May 22, 1938 - Jack Benny is on a diet. Andy Devine stops by having just been named Mayor of Van Nuys, California. They play kids in their version of ...

Final Show (Sound Effects Man)

24 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

May 22, 1955 - This is the very last episode of The Jack Benny Program on the radio. The Jack Benny television show would continue for 15 more years. ...

Jack Lends Phil $2,000 (Hoagy Carmichael)

15 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

May 15, 1949 - Mary is sick. Phil asks Jack to borrow $2,000 and so he visits the vault. Jazz composer Hoagy Carmichael stops by. Then Jack is off to ...

The Beach

09 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

May 9, 1954 (Rerun May 8, 1955) - Jack and the gang go to the beach on Mother's Day weekend. References to Vice President Nixon, "Riot in Cell Block 1...

Buck Benny Party (Ed Wynn)

02 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

May 2, 1937 - Was you there Charlie? Oh, You Nasty Man!, So-o-o-o This'll Kill Ya Graham, Tally-ho-o! what do these odd saying mean? Find out in this ...

The Maxwell Trade In

26 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

April 24, 1949 - In this episode they mention restaurant owner Mike Romanoff, Gypsy Rose Lee and the bubble dance. Jack Benny decides it's time to tra...

Jack Gives 50 Cents Away

19 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

April 9, 1950 - This is a famously good episode (many collections label it "Jack gives 50 cents to a bum"). Frank Fontaine plays the homeless man as w...

Jack Plays Gracie (BONUS)

16 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

April 11, 1954 - BONUS EPISODE - On the Jack Benny television program the guests are George Burns and Gracie Allen. But Gracie is late o Jack dresses ...

Jack Hasn't Received New Contract

11 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

April 11, 1954 - A short history of the Jack Benny radio show before the episode starts. Jack hasn't received a new contract from the sponsor to renew...

Secret of the Psychiatrist

05 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

April 4, 1954 - Rochester is Spring cleaning, Dennis wants to join the Navy and Jack sits down to read a book. In the book Jack plays a psychiatrist a...

Ozzie and Harriet

29 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

March 27, 1949 - Jack Benny and the gang are spring cleaning when they get a phone call from Ozzie Nelson and Harriet.

Hunchback of Notre Dame (Orson Welles)

21 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

March 17, 1940 - Orson Welles is guest star in the prime of his career! He teaches Jack Benny how to act in dramatic roles in hopes of winning an Osca...

Mr. Benny Goes To Washington

14 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

March 10, 1940 - The skit in this episode is their version of Frank Capra's "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" with Jack Benny in the role Jimmy Stewart p...

Gracie For President

07 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

March 4, 1940 - Back from his ski trip, Jack Benny tries to do his show but keep getting interrupted. They talk about the Oscars, Andy Devine stops by...

Birthday in Yosemite (Rover Boys)

28 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

February 25, 1940 - The last part in the Yosemite series of the Jack Benny Show. Jack is laid up in bed after a skiing accident last week. Plus they r...

Skiing at Yosemite

20 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

February 18, 1940 - In the only serial of it's kind on the JELL-O Program, Jack Benny and the gang finally arrive in Yosemite to ski. Jack has been bo...

Arriving at Yosemite

14 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

February 11, 1940 - Jack and the gang are driving to Yosemite. Jack is compared to racer driver Barney Oldfield.

Leaving for Yosemite (Tommy Manville)

07 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

February 4, 1940 - This is part of a rare mini-series in the Jack benny Show. Jack and the gang have just finished a live show in Oakland, CA. Then th...

Murder on the Bay Bridge

31 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

January 28, 1940 - Jack Benny and the gang are on location in Oakland, California in support of The March of Dimes raising money to fight Infantile P...

Jack's Girlfriend (Gladys Zybysko)

24 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

January 21, 1940 - Jack is trying to get his girlfriend, Gladys Zybysko on the phone. Z-Y-B-Y-S-K-O

Violin Movie (Intermezzo)

17 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

January 14, 1940 - Jack Benny plays the violin so it's only natural that he would spoof the violin movie Intermezzo with Leslie Howard and Ingrid Berg...

Jimmy Stewart

10 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

January 9, 1949 - It snowed in LA. Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone are having lunch at the restaurant for famous people "The Brown Derby". They run in...

New Year's (War Baseball)

03 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

January 2, 1944 - Fun banter at the beginning of the episode as always. After Dennis Day's song they look back on 1943 with the allegory of The World ...

Shocked at Christmas (Jack as Santa)

24 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

December 25, 1949 - This episode was broadcast live on Christmas day. They flash back to Christmas Eve where Jack Benny is putting lights on his Chris...

Jack Exchanges Dons Gift

19 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

December 15, 1946 - Jack Benny tries to exchange the gift of shoelaces that he got Don Wilson for Christmas. Mary Livingstone is replaced last minute ...

Christmas Shopping (Shoelaces)

11 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

December 8, 1946 - The first of the classic Jack Benny Christmas shopping episode with Mel Blanc. They later took this basic concept and made it into ...

Murder at the Movies (Ladies Hats)

05 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

December 4, 1938 - Live from New York! They mention Mayor La Guardia, Grover Whelan, and Fred Allen. Jack Benny investigates a murder at the movie the...

Dennis Day's Movie

27 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

November 25, 1951 - Dennis Day's movie "Golden Girl" is in theatres. It was a scary time for the movies. With the popularization of TV it seemed that ...

Ronald and Benita Coleman

20 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

November 17, 1946 - Guest Ronald and Benita Coleman live next door to Jack Benny in the show. This episode has another guest, Leo Durocher, loud-mout...

The Marine Corps

13 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

November 7, 1943 - Jack Benny and the gang dodge aircraft tests on location at the Marine Corps Air Station in Mojave, California.   

4 O'Clock in the Morning

06 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

November 1, 1953 - Jack benny gets a call from an all-night DJ. They mention 86 year old bodybuilder Barnarr MacFadden, Brew 102 Beer and Mary Livings...

Halloween Party

30 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

October 30, 1938 - Jack Benny is broadcasting from a new NBC studio. Big Crosby's "Pocket Full of Dreams" is a hit song. Sally Rand dances with a bubb...

Jack Tries to Sell The Maxwell

23 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

October 20, 1940 - FDR has announced the first ever peace time draft.  Jack Benny goes to trade in his old Maxwell for a new Packard Convertible.

Sorry Wrong Number

15 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

October 17, 1948 - "Sorry Wrong Number" is the most acclaimed radio drama of all time! In this episode Barbra Stanwick guest stars to re-create the ro...

First Phil Harris

08 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

October 4, 1936 - It's the first show of the season and the first ever episode with Phil Harris. During the break the JELL-O program was taken over by...

Polly at the Psychiatrist (Smog)

01 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

September 27, 1953 - Listen as Mel Blanc does the jingle for Papermate Pens as Polly the parrot. With references to Liberace, Benny Goodman, Lady Esth...

Captain Horatio Hornblower

24 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

September 23, 1951 - Jack Benny does his version of the Gregory Peck movie "Captain Horatio Hornblower". Plus they talk about popular music like Rosem...

USO Tour in Korea

17 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

September 16, 1951 - Jack Benny is back from his tour entertaining the troops in Korea along with Errol Flynn and a host if others. Plus references to...

Phil Replaced by Bob Crosby

10 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

September 14, 1952 - The first show of the season. Phil Harris has been replaced by Bob Crosby.

Part 2 The Movies

03 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

John Henderson talks with filmmaker, movie podcaster and Jack Benny fan Zach Eastman about the Jack Benny Movies from To Be or Not To Be (1942) to The...

Part 1 The Movies

30 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

John Henderson talks with filmmaker, movie podcaster and Jack Benny fan Zach Eastman about the Jack Benny Movies from Transatlantic Merry Go Round (19...

Screen Guild Theater

27 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

October 20, 1940 - Jack Benny was the guest star on "The Gulf Screen Guild Theater" radio show with Claudette Colbert and Basil Rathbone.

Chuck Schaden Interview (Speaking of Radio)

23 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

John Henderson talks with Chuck Schaden, from SpeakingOfRadio.com and who interviewed Jack Benny for "Those Were The Days", an Old Time Radio nostalg...

Fred Allen Interviews Jack Benny

20 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

June 19, 1940 - Jack Benny is a guest on Town Hall Tonight, Fred Allen's radio show. Everyone at this time knew that Fred Allen and Jack Benny hated e...

Radio, TV and Script Archive

16 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Dan Einstein talks about the Jack Benny Collections at the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Plus Jeanette Berard from the Thousand Oaks Library Am...

Radio Guide (John Barrymore)

13 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

January 19, 1940 - Bob Hope, Baby Snooks, Fibber McGee and Molly and Jack Benny team up for this variety program to promote Radio Guide Magazine's new...

SPERDVAC Interview

09 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Larry Gassman from The Society To Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy talks about the good old days of old time radio nostalgia, p...

March of Dimes (Polio)

06 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

January 30, 1940 - Jack Benny appears with Eddie Cantor on The March of Dimes special Committee for the Celebration of the President's Birthday. The p...

Eddie Green and Rochester (Elva Green Interview)

02 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

John Henderson interviews Elva Green about the book she wrote about her father Eddie Green. The book is called "Eddie Green: The Rise of an Early 1900...

Baby Snooks with Jack Benny

30 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

November 21, 1940 - Jack Benny is the guest on The Maxwell House Coffee Time featuring Baby Snooks and Daddy.

Caleb the Kid Interview

26 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

My interview with Caleb Daven a very young Jack Benny fan.

More with Steve Darnall

23 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of my interview with Steve Darnall of Nostalgia Digest magazine. We talk all about the Jack Benny supporting characters. Plus vintage clips!

Nostalgia Digest Interview

19 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Part one of an interview with Steve Darnall of Nostalgia Digest a magazine about old things vintage, from old radio to classic Hollywood and more. 

"Love Thy Neighbor" Preview

16 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

December 17, 1940 - Jack Benny and Fred Allen Star in the movie Love Thy Neighbour. This is a radio preview of the movie.

June Moon (Orson Welles)

12 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Jack Benny was guest star on Orson Welles' dramatic program The Campbell's Playhouse for the play "June Moon". 

Ben Dooley Radio Re-enactments

09 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

John Henderson talks with Ben Dooley of Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear about his live adaptations of old time radio shows.

Jackstravaganza 2017

05 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The Jack Benny show was on hiatus during the summer, so podcast host John Henderson it interviewing some great guests. It's the summer Jackstravaganza...

1937 Movie Previews

02 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Paramount is on the air with Jack Benny in "Artists and Models" and Mary Livingstone in "This Way Please". Listen to these extended movie previews.

Jack's Home Town (Racoon Coats)

28 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

June 25, 1939 - From Jack Benny's home town of Waukegan for the opening of his movie "Man About Town". They mention Palm Beach suits, racoon coats, Ma...

Jack's Movie (Einstein)

25 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

June 20, 1937 - This is the very first episode with Rochester! In the episode they mention Albert Einstein, WC Fields, and the Maxwell House Showboat....

Baseball and Bob Hope

21 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

June 20, 1948 - From Cleveland with guests Bob Hope, Marilyn Maxwell and pitcher Bob Feller. It is an uproarious episode with a great crowd. 

Mary's Movie

18 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

June 13, 1937 - Andy Devine is in this early Jack Benny episode talking about his upcoming movie with Bing Crosby. They also mention Fred MacMurray, G...

Detroit (Radio Ratings)

14 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

June 13, 1948 - The Jack Benny Show is #1! The Hooper Ratings listed the top rated radio shows based on millions of telephone interviews through the y...

The Hound of the Baskervilles

11 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

June 11, 1939 - Jack first does a parody of gossip columnist Jimmy Fidler. He mentions a number of old Hollywood stars including youngsters like Micke...

Leaving For Detroit

07 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

June 6, 1948 - A fun train station episode. Mel Blanc does Porky pig and his famous woody woodpecker laugh. And we explain what "Which Twin Has The To...

Sherlock Holmes Preview

04 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

June 4, 1939 - Jack Benny is compared to dramatic actors Paul Muni and Spenser Tracy. But it's really just a rib. Jack Benny is Sherlock Holmes in the...

Best of The JELL-O Years

31 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

May 31, 1942 - After 8 years with JELL-O the Jack Benny Show is changing sponsors (it's still the parent company General Foods). They are doing a clip...

Alexander Graham Bell

28 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

May 28, 1939 - Not only to they spoof the movie "The Story of Alexander Graham Bell", they also talk about Jack Benny's movie "Man About Town". Plus ...

Split Personality

24 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

May 21, 1944 - Jack Benny and the gang discuss split personality, and later Jack realizes he has a split personality. They reference the death of Flat...

More Gunga Din

21 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

May 21, 1939 - In this episode of the Jack Benny program, Phil Harris inflicts the worst torture imaginable on Jack...baby talk! Plus we learn about E...

Infantry

16 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

May 14, 1944 - Jack at the gang are at Camp Adair, Corvallis, Oregon performing for the infantry.  Don starts off the episode by listing other progr...

Gunga Din

14 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

May 14, 1939 - It's mother's day and Jack Benny and the gang spoof a movie in the theatres about a water bearer in British occupied India called "Gung...

Ronald Coleman's Oscar Returned

10 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

May 9, 1948 - Ronald Coleman's Oscar is finally returned...or was it ever gone? They reference the Pilgrims (listen for a funny clip of Abbot and Cost...

Kentucky Derby (3 Little Fishes)

07 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

May 7, 1939 - Jack Benny makes a Kentucky Derby Bet. Then they do a skit as horses. Phil Harris is also teased for talking in baby talk when he sang t...

Frank Sinatra

03 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

May 2, 1948 - Guest Star Frank Sinata. That skinny kid won an Oscar for "The House I Live In" in 1945 and was currently in the movie "Miracle of the B...

Seventh Anniversary

30 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

April 30, 1939 - It's Jack Benny's 7th Anniversary in Radio. At the time there where also two World's Fairs going on. One in New York, the other in Sa...

NBC San Francisco

26 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

April 26, 1942 - Jack Benny and the gang are at the new NBC building in San Francisco. Listen closely and you will hear them mention 7-Up, Red Skelton...

Jack's Studio Dressing Room

23 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

April 23, 1939 - On the set of Jack's movie "Man About Town" we meet Guests Binnie Barns and Mark Sandrich with a cameo by Claudette Colbert...all pe...

Desperate for JELL-O (Don's Play)

19 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

April 19, 1942 - Don's play about JELL-O stars Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone and Dennis Day. Plus Jack steals a joke from his corny sound man and much ...

Phil Shoots a Movie

16 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

April 16, 1939 - Phil Shoots the movie "Man About Town" behind Jack's back. Bob Hope makes a quick reference to The Jack Benny Show on his program. T...

Easter Parade (Admiral Byrd)

12 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

April 18, 1954 (Re-run April 10, 1955) - A great Easter episode of the Jack Benny Program. Listen for a clip of Bob Crosby on his show "Club 15", the ...

Four Girls in White

09 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

April 9, 1939 - Jack Benny recruits his cast to play nurses in a parody of the movie Four Girls in White. They also mention Gunga Din, The Story of L...

Bing Crosby's Oscar

05 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

April 4, 1948 - The Ink Spots are filling in for the Sportsmen. Jack Benny was robbed of the Oscar statue that he borrowed from Ronald Coleman in that...

April Fool's Gags

02 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

April 2, 1939 - Rochester sold Carmichael the polar bear to a pawn shop. Kenny Baker tries some April Fool's Day gags even though it's a day late. The...

Jack is Robbed!

29 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

March 28, 1948 - This is the most well-known episodes of the Jack Benny Program because it includes his most famous joke. And it is a very funny episo...

Guest Ed Sullivan

26 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

March 26, 1939 - Fred Allen claims Jack Benny is an imposter named Maxwell Stroud. Newspaperman Ed Sullivan comes to check the story out.  

Ronald Coleman Oscar

22 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

March 21, 1948 - In this episode of the Jack Benny Program there is a subtle reference to the McCarthy era Red Scare. But most of the episode is spent...

Jack Has a Cold

19 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

March 19, 1939 - Jack Benny has the measles and is at home sick in bed. Phil takes over. It's very funny. In the preface we talk about the early days ...

Embassy Banquet (I Love to Singa)

15 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

March 15, 1936 - One of the better early episodes of Jack Benny. Broadcasting from Washington DC they talk politics and banter. Then Jack goes to a ba...

Carmichael is Sick

12 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

March 12, 1939 - Don Wilson celebrates his anniversary. Jack Benny got polar bear for his birthday and it is sick. 

Snows of Kilimanjaro (1936 Clip)

08 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

March 8, 1953 - Jack and the gang parody the movie "The Snows of Kilimanjaro". Plus Buck Rogers was re-released, Hank Williams has a hit song, and M...

Jesse James Part Two

05 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

March 5, 1939 - Just after "The Richest Horse Race in the World" the Santa Anita Handicap, Jack and the gang discuss the bets they placed. Then they c...

Taquitz Falls (Navajo)

01 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

March 2, 1941 - The Jack Benny show is on location in Palm Springs. They spend some time swimming then go on a hike with an "Indian" guide to Taquit...

Jesse James Part 1

26 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

February 26, 1939 - Jack Benny and Fred Allen are at it again. But Jack still has time to put on his rough and tough cowboy voice as Jesse James. The ...

Groucho Marx

22 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

February 20, 1944 - Special guest star Groucho Marx visits Jack at his home. Then, in a bonus segment Jack visits Groucho on his program sponsored by ...

Carmichael (Mr.Wong)

19 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

February 19, 1939 - Jack Benny's new polar bear gets a name. It's also Oscar season for films made in 1938. Who will win for Best Actor - James Cagney...

The Life of Bing Crosby

15 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

February 15, 1953 - Bing Crosby joins his brother Bob (now a regular member of the Jack Benny Show cast) in Palm Springs, Jack was also a guest on Bin...

Surprise Party

12 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

February 13, 1955 - Happy Birthday Jack Benny! In this episode they let Jack's real age slip, but he still insists he's 39. They also make reference t...