This Day in Jack Benny

March 19, 1950 - Jack Benny plays the Kirk Douglas part in the movie "Champion".  Plus they mention Popeye, Mickey Mouse and Oscar nominees Broadrick Crawford, Richard Todd, Gregory Peck, and John Wayne. And they reference the tennis player "Gorgeous" Gussie Moran.

March 16, 1941 - On this episode of The Jack Benny Program they have just returned from vacation and discuss Palm Springs' Prices. The Guadalajara Trio return to get paid. They mention Ripley's Belive it or Not, the song "There I Go", the half-dollar (with the Eagle and the latin phrase E Pluribus Unum, and Jack's new arm muscle is compared to the box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda.

March 9, 1941 - The Jack Benny Show is broadcasting from Palm Springs with special guests Peter Lorie, character actor Charles Butterworth, the silent film actor Charles Farrell and the Guadalajara Trio. They mention local spots like The Doll House restaurant, Rogers Stables and the Racquet Club resort. Plus references to the movies Western Union , Mr. Moto and Ktty Foyle , and the song "The Shiek...

February 23, 1941 - Broadcasting from Palm Springs Jack Benny talks about the place where he's staying, the T.P. Motel. They mention the western film series Hopalong Cassidy and the poet Henry W Longfellow. Plus The Knocking Man stops by, as portrayed by Harry Baldwin.

February 16, 1947 - Jack's Birthday party with Isaac Stern the violinist, actor Ronald Colman and his wife Benita. Actress Lorraine Day recently married baseball coach Leo Durocher after divorcing her previous husband. She had filed for divorce in the California, but the judge ruled that she couldn't re-marry for a year. So she went to Mexico instead. The California judge still insists that her di...

February 9, 1947 - In this episode Jack Benny and his gang mention previous bandleaders on the show, Jack is once again visited by his guardian angel from "it's a Wonderful Life" and they spoof the news commentator H.V. Kaltenborn. Plus Headless Valley, Sally Rand's Baloon dance, The Best Years of Our Lives, Margret O'Brien and more!

Winter 1934 - This is a very early episode of Jack Benny with poor sound quality. They mention Eddie Cantor and the movie "Little Women" with Katharine Hepburn.

January 26, 1947 - Jack Benny is changing his name to something more dignified. Then they do a skit very loosely based on the movie "Margie". In this episode they mention the new 1947 Studebaker with large rear windows, the novelty song "Open the Door, Richard", Rudolf Valention in "The Shiek", Charles Boyer and Humphrey Bogart.

January 19, 1947 - Most of this episode is recycled from March 1946, only with horror movie actor Boris Karloff. In the episode they reference the bandleader Spike Jones and the novelty song "Open the Door Richard".

January 18, 1948 - Jack Benny is in Denver for a March of Dimes fundraising event. They meet the governor and mention the mayor. It happened to be the same week as the National Western Stock Show which was also hosted in Denver. In the episode they mention Slapsy Maxi Rosenbloom, Lady Esther cosmetics, Al Jolson, and Robert Taylor who was filling in on the Phil Harris and Alice Faye Show .

January 11, 1948 - Jack Benny is packing for his trip to Denver for a March of Dimes event. In the episode they mention radio comedian Judy Canova, Duz Soap, the movie "Ramona", the song "Near You", Shirley Temple who would soon have her first baby and Dinah Shore who just had her first baby. In a time before disposable diapers many people hired a diaper service to pick up old diapers and drop off...

January 5, 1941 - The ASCAP Boycott started in January and lasted until October of 1941. On the Jack Benny program they wrote original music for the opening of the show with funny titles. Plus the new electric razor.

December 22, 1940 - Christmas in New York and the premier of Jack Benny and Fred Allen's movie "Love Thy Neighbor" was earlier in the week. Kenny Baker is back for a guest appearance and a friendly rivalry with his replacement Dennis Day.  In the episode they mention Lindy's Restaurant, the comedy team Olsen and Johnson, stars Heddy Lamar and Lana Turner, former presidential candidate Wilkie, and...

December 15, 1940 - Just ahead of the premier for "Love Thy Neighbor", Jack Benny gets a bodyguard to protect himself from Fred Allen's goons.  In the episode they mention Carmen Miranda's hats, comedian Ed Wynn, stage plays, bandleaders the calendar of desserts.

December 11, 1938 - Jack Benny and the gang are in New York where Jack and Mary Livingstone go for Christmas shopping. In this episode they mention the upcoming World's Fair, comedian Fred Allen, announcer Graham McNamee, playwright Noel Coward, dancer Gypsy Rose Lee, opera singer Giovanni Martinelli, plus Betsy Ross and Abraham Lincoln.

December 1, 1946 - It has been a few years since Jack benny's appearance on the game show "Take It or Leave It" and he still thinks he should have won the money. The host Phil Baker visits Jack in this episode. Plus they mention "The Count of Monte Cristo", Lassie, John L Lewis and Phil Harris' show.

November 24, 1946 - Jack Benny welcomes gangster star Edward G Robinson for their version of the movie "The Killers".  References include Hollywood's Santa Claus Lane Parade, Eversharp razors, the gangster movie Little Cesar, and the songs "Rumors are Flying", "The Missouri Waltz", and "Holiday for Strings".  

November 21, 1937 - In this episode they spoof the 1937 Ronald Colman movie "Lost Horizon" directed by Frank Capra. Plus they mention the swing dance called The Suzie-Q, adventurer Frank Buck, Eddie Canton (and his 5 daughters), and the Elk's Lodge.

November 10, 1946 - Jack Benny gets a haircut from Rochester. When the Sportsmen quartet come to do the commercial Jack fires and re-hires them. They reference the singer Hildegarde, the song Stardust and the musicians union leader Petrillo. Movies "The Strange love of Martha Ivers", and the actress Merle Oberon. Radio shows Fibber MacGee and Molly, A Date With Judy, and The Phil Harris show. Plus...

October 27, 1946 - This old time radio episode of the Jack Benny Program is famous for the mistake that Mary Livingstone made when trying to say "Swiss Cheese".  They mention dance instructor Arthur Murry, musician union president Patrillo, ballplayer Hank Greenberg, and the fictional character The Mad Russian. They also mention the department store Eastern Columbia, the Native American baby carri...

October 20, 1946 - Jack Benny does his version of that Murder Mystery radio program The Whistler . They also talk about the meat shortage and price controls, radio shows  Truth or Consequences and  The Fred Allen Show , the Eugene O'Neil play The Iceman Cometh, singers Al Jolson and Nelson Eddie and they do a whole bit on the breakfast cereal that makes noise, Rice Krispies. Listen to the full epi...

October 15, 1950 - In real life Jack Benny is married to Mary Livingstone, in this episode Jack Benny dreams he is married to Mary. the special guest is their real life daughter Joan Benny.

October 9, 1938 - Jack Benny and the gang spoof the movie "Yellow Jack" in which Lewis Stone, Robert Montgomery and Virginia Bruce play Americans in Cuba looking for the cure to yellow fever. In the episode they mention the song "I've Got a Pocket Full of Dreams", the columnist Jimmie Fidler, and an ice skating carnival called "The Ice Follies". 

October 2, 1938 - Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone talk about appearing on the radio show Lux Radio Theatre in the play "Seven Keys to Baldpate".  They mention newspaper popularity contests, dancer Bill Robinson, choreographer Busby Berkley, Scottish singer Harry Lauder, British prime minister Neville Chamberlain, and the movie "Yellow Jack". 

December 8, 1940 - Jack Benny does his impression of Kit Carson. Plus they mention Kay Kyser's new movie "You'll Find Out" and Jack Bnny's upcoming movie with Fred Allen "Love Thy Neighbor". They also talk about new electric clothes iron vs the old gas iron.