This Day in Jack Benny

Side 1 - The March Toward World War II. The King George V Funeral. Edward VIII abdicates. King George VI coronation. Prime Minister Chamberlain reports to the world. The U.S.S. Squalus Disaster. Hitler declares war on Poland. Chamberlain announces war. FDR: "America Hates War." and Winston Churchill: "Give us the tools." Side 2 - On-The-Spot Coverage of Sports! The Dempsey-Tunney fight. Schmeling...

JACK BENNY and the Golden Age of American Radio Comedy By Kathryn H. Fuller-Seeley Read by Stephanie Henderson Chapter 5: Rochester and the Revenge of Uncle Tom in the 1940s and 1950s

Side 1 - Radio Adventure and Drama. Jack Armstrong. The Lone Ranger. Sgt. Preston and Yukon King. Terry and The Pirates. Famous Jury Trials. Dangerous Assignment. Mr. Keene, Tracer of Lost Persons. Gang Busters. Suspense. The Shadow. Side 2 - The Classic Radio News Broadcasts. KDKA Election Returns. Pres. Coolidge presents Charles Lindberg to Congress. Amos 'n Andy on Hoover-Smith campaign. Eddie...

JACK BENNY and the Golden Age of American Radio Comedy By Kathryn H. Fuller-Seeley Read by Stephanie Henderson Chapter 4: Eddie Anderson, Rochester, and Race in 1930s Radio and Film

In 1969 Jack Benny hosted a a box-set of records looking back at old time radio. It was titles "Jack Benny Presents the Treasury of Golden Memories of Radio". Side 1 - The Great Radio Comedians. "Allen's Alley" with Fred Allen, Senator Claghorn, Titus Moody and Mrs. Nusbaum. The Easy Aces with Jane and Goodman Ace. Baron Munchausen, featuring Jack Pearl. Fibber McGee and Molly, with Mr. and Mrs. J...

JACK BENNY and the Golden Age of American Radio Comedy By Kathryn H. Fuller-Seeley Read by Stephanie Henderson Chapter 3: Masculine Gender Identity in Jack Benny's Humor

In 1969 Jack Benny hosted a a box-set of records looking back at old time radio. It was titles "Jack Benny Presents the Treasury of Golden Memories of Radio". Side 1 - Remember Golden Radio? The Philco Radio Show with Bing Crosby, Jack Benny and Mary Livingston. George Burns and Gracie Allen. Eddie Cantor. Amos 'n Andy. Side 2 - Day Time Radio and Commercials Lorenzo Jones. The Romance of Helen Tr...

JACK BENNY and the Golden Age of American Radio Comedy By Kathryn H. Fuller-Seeley Read by Stephanie Henderson Chapter Two: What Are You Laughing at, Mary?

December 26, 1942 - In this war time episode of the radio show "Over Here" Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone, Dennis Day and Don Wilson do a spoof of Cinderella. Plus the music of Benny Goodman, an interview with actress Janet Blair and a reading by Herbert Marshall.

JACK BENNY and the Golden Age of American Radio Comedy By Kathryn H. Fuller-Seeley Read by Stephanie Henderson Chapter One: Becoming Benny

This is the introduction of the new audiobook of "Jack Benny and the Golden Age of American Radio Comedy" by Kathryn H Fuller-Seeley. Thank you for the support of our Patrons who supported this project. The audiobook is now free for all to enjoy! Buy a hard copy of the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Benny-Golden-American-Radio-Comedy/dp/0520295056  

This episode is a look at Jack Benny before his radio career when he was a Master of Ceremonies on film. July 30, 1928 - Bright Moments (Short Film) January 6, 1929 - Song Writers Revue (clip of film short) November 23, 1929 - Hollywood Revue of 1929 (portions of film)

Leonard Maltin talks about Jack Benny at the 2023 International Jack Benny Fan Club convention. The well known film critic and historian wrote a book about old time radio in 1997 called "The Great American Broadcast". This interview is hosted by Zach Eastman (Yesteryear Ballyhoo Revue podcast) and John Henderson (This Day in Jack Benny podcast). Watch the full video interview here: https://www.you...

May 25, 1952 - Jack prepares for his trip to London, then Jack gets money from Ed in the vault, and a visit from Dennis' mother. They mention the ocean liner that Jack Benny will take to London, the RMS Queen Elizabeth. They also mention the old Bundles for Britain program, the presidential slogan "I Like Ike", singers Johnnie Ray and Ezio Pinza, and Verna Felton on The Dennis Day TV show.

May 8, 1949 - Jack is upset with the cast for flubbing so many lines last week. Eddie Cantor stops by and discusses the article he wrote about Jack in Cosmopolitan magazine. References include the Hooper Ratings, the fire at The Hollywood Park Race Track, the lifting of the Berlin Blockade, the song "Laugh Clown, Laugh", Bromo Seltzer and Dr. Scholl's corn remover.

Here are Dennis Day's appearances on The Kraft Music Hall with Al Jolson. December 9, 1948 February 3, 1949 May 8, 1949 

May 1, 1949 - Jack Benny, Mel Blanc and the gang do their version of the Humphrey Bogart movie "The Treasure of The Sierra Madre". References include Arthur Murray Dance Studio, used car salesman Mad Man Muntz, the new Buick with side port holes, French bathing suits, Mermaids, Toni home permanents, ad agency BBDO, the May Company department store, radio characters Henry Aldrich and Titus Moody, q...

April 25, 1937 - In The Spring Tra-La. Phil Harris gets mad at Jack Benny for talking during the band number and the whole cast ends up walking off the set in anger. Then Jack visits Andy Devine at his parents house for supper. References include the phrase "too, too divine", the bandleader Abe Lyman, Ish Kabibble from Kay Kyser's band, actor Clark Gable and actress Jean Harlow, and the circus lio...

April 18, 1937 - Lady Milicent's Husband is the name of the English drawing room drama that Jack Benny and the gang put on. References include Jeeves and Wooster, the actor Gary Cooper, casting for "Gone With The Wind", the movies "Lost Horizon", "Tarzan Escapes" and Jack Benny's movie "College Holiday.

April 11, 1937 - Guests Burns and Allen join Jack Benny for Buck Benny Rides Again (part 10). References include the comedy trio The Ritz Brothers, the actor Adolphe Menjou, Ben Bernie's catchphrase "Yowsa". Plus a joke about shoe trees.

April 4, 1937 - Back From New York where Jack Benny made up with Fred Allen and ended the feud...for now. Andy Devine visits and Phil Harris and Kenny Baker talk about their new movie "Turn Off The Moon".

March 28, 1937 - The Train Ride to Hollywood. This is the first episode with Eddie Anderson who would later become a regular on the show as Rochester. References include the singer Lily Pons and the movie San Fransisco with Clark Gable and Jeanette MacDonald.  

March 24, 1952 - Jack and Mary attend the Academy Awards and Jack tries to sing his song.  References include the many celebrities at the Oscars - Host Danny Kaye, best actor nomonees Marlon Brando (A Streetcar Named Desire), Montgomery Clift (A Place in the Sun), Arthur Kennedy (Bright Victory), Fredric March (Death of a Salesman), and Humphrey Bogart (The African Queen) plus James Cagney, Lionel...

March 12, 1944 - From Livermore, CA near San Fransisco. Jack in the Navy. References include Red Skelton, Abbot and Costello, Fred Allen, Maxie Rosenbloom, Shirley Temple and Lt Robert Taylor.

March 5, 1944 - From Lemoore Army Air Field, Don Wants to Get Paid. This is the first episode where Jack Benny says "Now Cut That Out!". References include George Burns' singing voice, Bob Hope, Fred Allen, Hedy Lamarr, Betty Grable and her husband Harry James, and the song from Oklahoma "A Surrey With The Fringe On Top".