This Day in Jack Benny

February 20, 1938 - A parody of the movie "Submarine D-1" plus they talk about Jack Benny's age after his birthday this week. They also discuss Jack's appearance on the radio show "Good News of 1938". References include Popeye the sailor, the Albany night boat, movie starts Virginia Bruce, Freddie Bruce and George Arliss.

February 9, 1941 - Back From New York. The Sponsor Likes Herbert Marshall. References include Phil Harris' new song "That's What I Like About The South", movies "The Mark of Zorro" and "The Letter", announcer Harry Von Zell, and Fred Allen.

February 2, 1941 - The Jack benny Program without Jack Benny. Herbert Marshall Hosts the Show. References include Fred Allen, and the kissing game called post office.

January 24, 1943 - Jack Benny talks with his guest bandleaders, the McFarland twins, about the DC housing shortage. The skit is a repeat of the Mr. Smith Goes to Washington spoof from March 10, 1940. References include W.C. Fields, Fred Allen and an atomizer.

January 17, 1943 - Guest stars Oscar Levant and Joe Besser help Jack the the gang do a spoof of the game show Information Please. Meanwhile Jack is getting ready to play the violin at Carnegie Hall. References include the wage ceiling, Benzedrine, "The Powers Girls", singers Jarmila Novotna, Ezio Pinza, Gladys Swarthout, John Charles Thomas and young violinist Isaac Stern.

January 14, 1945 - Mrs. Nussbaum's Restaurant with special guest Fred Allen. References include the stage shows "Bloomer Girl", "Laffing Room Only", "Mexican Hayride", "The Voice of the Turtle" and "Harvey" starring comedian Frank Fay. Plus singer Frank Sinatra, soap opera "John's Other wife" and Mayor Laguardia.

January 7, 1945 - Leaving for New York Jack Benny and the gang meet at the train station. This is the debut episode of Jack Benny's vault, the racetrack tout, and Mel Blank's train announcer who always announces "Anaheim, Azusa and Cucamonga". References include Van Johnson and Barbra Stanwyck and "The Trolley Song".

December 24, 1950 - The Beavers come to Jack's for Christmas Dinner. Don Wilson dresses as Santa, Frank Remley (played by Elliott Lewis) joins Phil Harris. References include Red Skelton, Hudson Motors "Step-down" cars, The Faye Emerson Show, and Phil Harris' song "The Thing".  

December 17, 1950 - Jack Buys Golf Tees For Don References include Kukla Fran and Ollie, Buck Rodgers in the 25th Century, The Ed Sullivan Show, Martin Kane Private I, Faye Emerson, Clark Gable, Victor Mature, Burt Lancaster, Admiral Bird, and the Phil Harris song "The Thing".  

December 6, 1942 - Phil Harris' last show before joining the Merchant Marines. They References include Captain Kidd, Joan Bennett, Ann Sheridan (George Washington Slept here), Emperor Hirohito, and President Roosevelt's plan that no American make more than $25,000 after taxes.

November 29, 1942 - Going after Rommel. In this episode Jack Benny and the gang are broadcasting live for a group of soldiers.  References include Spike Jones (Der Fuhrer's Face, Sheik of Araby, Love in Bloom), Dennis Day in the movie "The Powers Girls", shipbuilder Henry Kaiser, and Nazi General Erwin Rommel.

November 29, 1953 - Jack Buys a Turkey. References include Phil Harris, Bing Crosby and his Minute Maid Orange Juice sponsorship, Mel Blanc the voice of Bugs Bunny and Woody Woodpecker, Dinah Shore, Jimmy Wallington, Harry Von Zell and Lydia Pinkham's Vegetable Compound.

November 18, 1945 - Broadcasting From Birmingham hospital in Van Nuys, California. Prize fighter Joe Louis returns. References include Phil Spitalny and his all girl orchestra, Dr. Kildair and Dr. Gilespie, dancing the jitterbug, point rationing on butter and clothing made from milk wool.

November 11, 1934 - In this early episode Jack Benny plays the Chinese detective Charlie Chan from the film series of the same name. References include the record breaking streamline train, California Governor Frank Merriam, Popeye the sailor, Babe Ruth visiting Japan (ballplayers Dizzy Dean, Daffy Dean, Hack Wilson and Frankie French), Senator Huey Long getting a black eye, boxers Max Baer and Ja...

November 2, 1947 - Jack Benny and the gang do their version of the Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall movie Dark Passage where an escaped convict gets plastic surgery to change his face. References include Tom Breneman's Breakfast in Hollywood radio show, comedians Bob Hope and Fred Allen, Orson Welles, playwright Norman Krasna, and the new style in skirts (they're wearing them long again).  

October 28, 1945 - $85,000 Bet. After dreaming of an eighty-five thousand dollar bet last week, Jack gets held-up in this episode. References include news commentators Erskine Johnson, Gabriel Heater and H.V. Kaltenborn, child star Margret O'Brien, actress Ingrid Bergmen, soap opera Stella Dallas, the song "My Dream Are Getting Batter All The Time", WWI General Pershing, Diamond Jim Brady, Julius...

October 21, 1945 - Jack Dreams of the Race Horse 'Texas Sandman'. References include, Charles Boyer, Gypsy Rose Lee, Fred Allen, Claudette Colbert, Lana Turner and Turhan Bey, movies "The House on 92nd Street", "Mildred Pearce" and "Double Indemnity",  WAACs, Admiral Halsey, and Tokyo Rose.

October 26, 1952 - Louella Parsons is back to write a gossip article on Jack Benny. This is a recycled script from April 2, 1944. References include Johnny Ray singer of "The Little White Cloud That Cried", Florence Chadwick who swam the English Channel, movies like "Francis Goes to West Point", exiled King Farouck of Egypt, and the presidential campaign with Ike Eisenhower and Richard Nixon vs Ad...

October 19, 1952 - Jack Buys 20th Century Fox. Producer Darryl F. Zanuck of 20th Century Fox is the guest star and Jack dream he is the head of a movie studio himself. References include Campbell's Soup, Jack Warner of Warner Brothers, Howard Hughes of RKO, Errol Flynn, Ronald Colman, Lassie Come Home, and the song "Feet Up (Pat Him on the Po Po)".

October 15, 1952 - Jack Catches His Nose in a Gopher Trap. Mel Blanc does the chattering of the gopher. Then Jack goes shopping for a new television set. References include the song "Wish You Were Here" by Eddie Fisher, Spike Jones, Marion Davies, the Yankees World series win, Chlorophyll tablets that fight bad breath, Vigero plant food, and Bugs Bunny's catchphrase "What's Up Doc?".

October 5, 1952 - Jack Benny plays a newspaperman. References include game 5 of the World Series with ballplayers like Phill Rezzuto and Jackie Robinson, Albert Einstein, Milton Berle, Rocky Marciano, Ty Cobb, The New Follies at the Burbank Theater, and the songs "Cry" by Johnny Ray, "Kiss of Fire" by Georgia Gibbs, and "Feet Up (Pat Him on the Po Po)" by Guy Mitchell.  

October 25, 1942 - In this episode Jack Benny and the gang do their version on the movie "Tales of Manhattan" starring Charles Boyer, Charles Laughton and Edward G Robinson. References include the Fred Allen radio show, the Kate Smith radio show, gasoline rationing and Berma-Shave.

October 4, 1942 - Jack Takes Two Cadets To Barbara Stanwyck. Don still calls the new sponsor "Grapes Nuts Flakes", they again listen to their favorite soap opera "The Heartaches of Sally Sutton" Jack is getting ready to give the Maxwell away for scrap in support of the war effort. References include Bromo-Seltzer in the blue glass bottles, coal minor's union man John L Lewis, Red Cross blood donat...

October 4, 1942 - Jack Rounds up the Gang in the Maxwell. It's the first show for Grape Nuts and Grape Nuts Flakes .  In this episode they mention the "Share Your Car" campaign. Jack's toupee is compared to the iconic hair of Veronica Lake. Jack sings ("I Got Spurs That) Jingle Jangle Jingle" plus Fibber McGee, the Aldrich Family, Bing Crosby and soap operas.

January 6, 1935 - Jack Talks with Don and Mary about their New Year's Eve celebration then do their version of "The Count of Monte Cristo". References include Mickey Mouse, Popeye the Sailor, playwright George Bernard Shaw, boxer Gene Tunney, and Gimbel's department store.