This Day in Jack Benny

December 7, 1941 - The day of the Pearl Harbor attack that would lead to the United States' entry into WWII. This is a continuation of the previous episode in which Jack Benny plays Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. They also mention socialite friends Brenda Frazier and Cobina Wright Jr.

November 30, 1941 - Jack Benny plays both Jekyll and Hyde in this episode's spoof of the Spencer Tracy movie. They mention the song "Why don't we do this more often?". They also mention the movie Jack is filming the movie "To Be or Not to Be".

November 15, 1942 - From the Naval Air Station at Terminal Island Jack Benny and the gang perform for the men stationed there. Dennis Day brings his new girlfriend...movie star Dottie Lamour! Plus Popeye the sailor, WWI flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker, Phil Harris' song "I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas", Veronica Lake, Hedda Hopper's hats and more.

November 8, 1942 - This episode has a bit of sound issues at the end. The beginning is pretty funny, so its worth a listen. Jack Benny is the newly elected sidewalk inspector for Beverly Hills. They mention "Kalamazoo" by Glenn Miller, "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby, campaign manager Jim Farley, and the fuller brush girl at the door. Plus Jack Benny was on Take it Or Leave It and a guest from Lum and Abner.

October 14, 1945 - After returning from a USO tour entertaining the groups with Ingrid Berman, Jack Benny invites her on his show to reprise her Oscar-winning role in "Gaslight". It was recorded for a live audience of newly liberated WWII prisoners of War.

November 5, 1944 - This episode of the Jack Benny Show features guests Amos and Andy, Mrs.Nussbaum, and Mentalist Jack Dunninger. This is the first episode with Larry Stevens. Plus references to Charles Boyer in Gaslight, Peter Lorre, Van Johnson and mens sock garters.

October 31, 1937 - Jack Benny and the gang go to the Andy Devine Farm for a Halloween party. They mention Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy and they talk about the speech Jack Benny gave at the testimonial dinner for Eddie Cantor's 25th anniversary in show business.

October 26, 1941 - Jack Benny wants to play the most dramatic role in "Dive Bomber", the movie starring Errol Flynn, Fred MacMurray and Ralph Bellamy. Plus they mention "Arsenic and Old Lace" a dark comedy on the broadway stage.

October 16, 1938 - The JELL-O Program starring Jack Benny is moving to the new NBC studio. This is the last episode in the old studio. In it they mention the old age pension plan that they hoped would get the US out of the depression called the Townsend Plan.

October 8, 1944 - Frank Sinatra is a guest on this episode. His hit at the time was "Sunday, Monday or Always". They mention the teenage girls who were fans of music like Sinatra known as Bobby Soxers. We also talk about spanking, and war time rationing with stamps and tokens. Plus "Sympathy spelled backwards is Yhtapmys. Yip, Yip, Yatapamiss!" a parody of Serutan.

October 1, 1944 - In this wartime episode Jack Benny compares himself to General Patton. Jack is just back from a USO tour. Dennis Day has joined the Navy and Phil Harris was the replacement host for "Kay Kaiser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge". Plus Dick Tracy characters Flattop, Gravel Gerdy, The Brow and the Summer Sisters. Plus references to Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Boris Karloff and surprise guest Fred Allen!

September 28, 1952 - In this episode Jack Benny plays Gary Cooper's character in their version of the western "High Noon". Dennis Day started using Chlorophyll Toothpaste. and Jack Benny had his picture in the Radio Guide.

September 26, 1954 - A really fun episode from 1954. They mention radio shows from the 1920s - A&P Gypsies conducted by Harry Horlik and Sam 'n' Henry (later known as Amos 'n' Andy). They mention "The September Song", Rheingold the dry beer, and Bing Crosby's stock in the Pittsburg Pirates. "The Jack Benny program, starring Jack Benny with Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris, Rochester, Dennis Day, and yours truly Don Wilson"

September 14, 1934 - School Days September 21, 1934 - Boxing Match October 14, 1934 - First Episode fro JELL-O October 21, 1934 - Grocery Store

September 20, 1953 - Jack and the gang do their version of Gary Cooper's new movie "Return to Paradise". They mention Ralph Edwards' This is Your Life, miners union president John L Lewis, president Eisenhower, Tallulah Bankhead, Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardener. Plus, Mary Livingstone on the cover of Women's Home Companion magazine.

John Henderson, host of the This Day in Jack Benny podcast talks with Jack Benny's oldest grandson Mike Rudolph. He talked about how his granddad would play the violin for him as a baby. As a kid Jack would take him baseball games and met the players. He took him on tour to places like Las Vegas where he would sit backstage and hang out. His grandmother (Mary Livingstone) would sleep in late and Mike had to be quiet. George Burns confused him. The stories are too numerous to fit here....

April 20, 1952 - This episode was broadcast from the Naval Air Station in San Diego, California. They mention Navy related things like the F9F fighter jet and WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). Plus, the Poodle HairstyleGuy Lombardo and the song "Shrimp Boats".

March 30, 1952 - Broadcasting from the Naval Training Centre in San Diego It's the Jack Benny Program. In this episode Jack recreates his time in the Navy. They mention the Navy's theme song "Anchors Aweigh" and the Essex aircraft carrier. Plus Hopalong Cassidy and the drug APC (Aspirin Phenacetin Caffeine) for headaches and colds.

May 25, 1941 - Phil Harris is back from his honeymoon with Alice Faye, so Don Wilson does a play called "The Life of Philbert Harris" loosely based on his life. Plus Regular Fellers, Lindy's restaurant, Abe Lyman, Meredith Wilson Kenny Baker and Hair Tonic. Thomas E Dewey comes for a promotional segment raising money for the USO.

Listen to my interview with Jack Benny's Grandson Mike right Now! As a thank you to those who support this podcast on Patreon I an releasing my interview early. Become a Patron February 14, 1954 - Happy Birthday Jack Benny! In this EPISODE Jack turns 40…or does he?