This Day in Jack Benny

May 9, 1937 - Mother's Day Program. Just after the the Kentucky Derby Jack benny and the gang discuss the winning horse War Admiral. References include Donald Duck, the wrestler Man Mountain Dean, burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee, comedy team Stupnaigle and Budd, Fred Allen, actresses Jean Arthur and Jean Harlow, bandleader George Olsen and singer Ethel Sutta.

April 27, 1952 - Jack Benny becomes his cowboy alter ego Buck Benny, to do his version of the new western movie "Bend in the River". The star of that movie, Jimmy Stewart, shows up to play his part. References include the violinist Isaac Stern, Johnny Ray who sings "The Little White Cloud That Cried", exotic animal hunter Frank Buck and Gillette razor blades.

April 23, 1944 - Broadcasting from Vancouver BC, Canada. Jack talks to the mayor and Mary talks about growing up there. Dennis Day says goodbye. This is his last episode before leaving for the Navy for two years. References include W.C Fields.

April 16, 1944 - The Bob Hope Show Parody. Jack benny and the gang are broadcasting from Stockton Airfield in San Joaquin county. They mention Jack's movie "Charlie's Aunt", bandleader Tommy Dorsey, Mel Blanc character Private Sad Sack, gas coupons, and an in depth look at the Bob Hope radio show including cast members Fransis Langford, Professor Colona, Vera Vague and the Pepsodent ad featuring 'poor Miriam'.

April 2, 1944 - Louella Parsons about Jack's movie. Gossip columnist Louella Parsons is expected to visit for an interview with Jack benny (and promote her book "The Gay Illiterate". They mention Jack Benny's USO tour in Africa, Jimmy Star's book "The Corpse Came C.O.D.", movie stars Gary Cooper, Hedy Lamarr, Lionel Barrymore, Spencer Tracy, W.C. Fields, Claudette Colbert and the fictional villain Fu Manchu.

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April 1, 1945 - Jack Benny has received the honorary title of "Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska" and it's going to his head. Then he tells the story of how he found Phil Harris in 1935. We also find out how his met he girlfriend who sings "My Melancholy Baby".

March 19, 1944 - Dennis dreams he has his own show. Barbara Stanwyck is the guest star. References include the Merry Mac's hit song "Mairzy Doats", Queen Elizabeth, Winston Churchill, Henry Morgenthau, Paul Lukas, Dorothy Lamour, Nelson Eddie and Jeanette MacDonald, Gypsy Rose Lee and more.

March 14, 1954 - A recycled script from November 5, 1950. On the train to Los Angeles Jack benny and the gang are playing 20 questions. They mention actors Humphrey Bogart, Jimmy Stuart, Gary Cooper and Walter Pigeon. They reference the commercial jingles "How are you fixed for blades" and Pepsi cola. They mention Jack's January TV episode with Liberace, and more!

March 14, 1937 - From the Hotel Peirre in New York Jack benny Faces off against Fred Allen in the Fight of the Century! Plus Mary Livingstone Sings. References include the songs "There's an Old Spinning Wheel in the Parlor" and "A Fine Romance", Ben Bernie, Guy Lombardo, Bing Crosby, Laurence Tibbitt, Noel Coward, Clark Gable, Robert Tayor, Lionel Barrymore, Andy Devine, Boris Karloff, Ripley's, and the Anheuser Bush Brewery.

March 7, 1937 - Broadcasting from New York City at the height of the Benny / Allen feud, the boy who started it all, 10-year-old violinist Stuart Canin is a guest.

February 12, 1950 - Jack Benny and the gang are in New York so the Ink Spots fill in for the Sportsmen quartet. Fred Allen has been off the air for a year and Jack gets the original cast to come and reprise their roles from Allen's Alley.

February 8, 1942 - Jack is upset because Fred Allen has moved to Sundays. Clip from the song "I'm In Love With The Sound Effects Man" by the Kingsmen from and episode of Fibber McGee and Molly (later recorded by Spike Jones). They mention Gene Autry, Edger Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Abbott and Costello, Phil Baker, and The Great Gildersleeve.

February 14, 1937 - Jack Benny celebrates his birthday. Radio bandleader Ben Bernie shows up and offers to lend Jack his violin so that he can play "The Bee" and settle the feud with Fred Allen. They mention The Townsend Plan, the movie "Wake up and live", Prudence Penny cooking school, Little Orphan Annie, the songs "Thanks a Million" and "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Aint Got That Swing)".

February 2, 1937 - After hearing 10-year-old Stuart Canin play Schubert's "The Bee" on The Fred Allen Program, Jack Benny is Ready to play "The Bee" himself. Leading to The Stolen Violin. They mention the movie The Good Earth, Jack's movie College Holiday in which he plays "Love in Bloom", and Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.

January 31, 1937 - Phil Harris's sister Lucy Belle visits the studio. Nightmares of Fred Allen. Jack Benny will play 'The Bee' next Sunday. References include the Red Cross disaster work in great Ohio river flood. Actors Fred MacMurray, Fred Stone, George Burns, Fred Astair, child actor Jackie Cooper and Robert Taylor who was starring in the movie "Camille".

January 24, 1937 - Jack Practices The Bee. The feud between Jack Benny and Fred Allen is ramping up. Then the gang heads over to Phil Harris' house to meet Phil's southern mother and sister.

January 15, 1950 - Fred Allen is the guest star on The Jack Benny Program, but he is late. This was during the time when The Fred Program was not on the air. They reference Phil Harris' show on NBC and Don Wilson's "Dreer Poosen" flub. They also mention Groucho Marx, Milton Berle, Mory Amsterdam, and Danny Kaye who was starring in "The Inspector General". Plus, Los Angeles Golf Open with Ben Hogan and Sam Sneed, the New York water shortage, Beeman's Pepsin chewing gum, the Miss America...

January 2, 1949 -Jack has the jitters for his first broadcast on CBS after moving from NBC. Jack runs into Amos and Andy looking for CBS president William S pailey. They spoof the song "Slow Boat to China" (written by Frank Lesseer), and reference the song "Buttons and Bows". With Jack moving to CBS he does guest appearances on programs like Suspense and Gene Autry's Melody Ranch. They promote a number of other CBS shows: Lux, Sam Spade, Spike Jones, "My Friend Irma", "Life with Luigi, and...

December 26, 1948 - The last show for NBC. Jack Benny will be switching to CBS next week. He was doing quite a bit of promotion including appearances on other radio shows like "Lux Radio Theater". In this episode they mention Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Guy Lombardo and the song "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth". They reference the ad agency Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn. They also mention the movie "Portrait of Jennie", the swimming movie star Esther Williams, and...