This Day in Jack Benny

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 gue...

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, an...

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...

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?

April 27, 1941 - Listen for the mention of the greatest bandleader of all time Glenn Miller. In the skit they go to the movie theater and "The Road to Zanzibar" is on the Marquee. This episode uses parts of an old script. The sound quality is also quite poor. You might want to listen to December 4, 1938 or May 2, 1948 instead.

March 30, 1941 - Jack benny works in his garden and has trouble with his writers. This episode mentions Frank Buck the animal collector, Luther Burbank the botanist, a "Mickey", Bromo-Seltzer and Don Wilson's western movie The Round Up .

February 8, 1941 - This is an episode of a fundraising broadcast called America Calling in support of Greek forces fighting the invading Axis forces. Bob Hope and Jack Benny host many celebrities including Shirley Temple and Mickey Rooney.

Summer Fun in '41 January 12, 1941 - In this episode Jack is late with no script. His writers are not worried. This is a very funny episode on a whole different level. References include Popeye cartoons, Jazzbo ties, Presidential candidate Wendell Wilkie, and the New York Rangers hockey team. Plus, listen for an interesting look at the phrase "Long time, no see". And a robot!

Podcast host John Henderson's wife Stephanie takes over the show to interview John about Jack Benny and making This Day in Jack Benny. BRAND NEW JACK BENNY WEBSITE!  ThisDayBenny.com   has been updated and re-designed to make it easier to find your favorite Jack Benny episode. You can help keep This Day in Jack Benny going by joining us on  Patreon . If you enjoy listening, ask yourself: "Is it wo...

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 to make him do his own stunt. They mention the movie "Her Jungle Love", Christmas Night (Nuit De Noel) perfume, The Camp Fire Girls, and the Ouija board. But most of the episode is spent finishing their play of Tom Sawyer.

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 Magic Spell is Everywhere". They mention the movies "The Awful Truth", "In Old Chicago", and "Artists and Models Abraod". Andy Devine is Mayor of Nan Nuys, California. Finally, The Albany Night Boat was a riverboat from New York City to Albany. Couple...

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 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Plus references to George Arliss, Shirley Temple and Joan Bennette, and Myrna Loy.

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. This episode features Mel Blanc and Twombly the sound effects man. Plus they reference to Jackie Gleason in "The Honeymooners".

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 his violin lesson. References include the newly ended Soviet Blockade of West Berlin, NY Giants manager Leo Derocher, comedians Fred Allen and Milton Berle, Bank of America founder A.P. Giannini, and "The Horn Blows at Midnight".

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 11", Johnny Weissmuller, Robert Taylor, Joe Dimaggio's marriage to Marilyn Monroe, Catalonia Swimwear, Papermate Leak-proof Pens and the hip saying "Dig that crazy kid".

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 episode.

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 trade in his old Maxwell for a new car. Will he get the new Nash with the twin bed?

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 well as Winston Churchill, Cary Grant and Spencer Tracy.

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 up as Gracie and does her routine.