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.

This Day in Jack Benny

Herbert Marshall Hosts

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.

The McFarland Twins

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.

Oscar Levant (Joe Besser)

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.

Mrs. Nussbaum's Restaurant

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". 

The Vault (Racetrack Tout)

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".  

Christmas with the Beavers

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".  

Christmas Shopping (Unbreakable Crystal)

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. 

Liberty Ship

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. 

Three Men in a Tank

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. 

Thanksgiving Dinner (Lydia Pinkkham's)

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. 

Birmingham Hospital (Milk Dress)

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 Jack Dempsey, comedian Lou Holtz, the Marx brothers (Harpo in particular), the song "Carioca", orchestras Fred Waring and his Pensilvanians, Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians, Abe Lyman's Californians, and movie stars John Barrymore, Mirna Loy, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Gloria Swanson, Kay Francis and Miriam Hopkins. Not to mention mention "Charlie Chan in London". 

Charlie Chan in Radio City

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).  

Dark Passage (Bogie and Bacall)

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 Caesar. 

Publicity Stunt (Erskine Johnson)

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. 

Racehorse Dream (Tokyo Rose)

The Jack Benny Show AKA The Jello Program AKA The Lucky Strike Program aired from the 1930's right through to the 1950's. Each week your host, John Henderson, brings an episode from that week 60-80 years ago. It's old, yet still as funny as ever. "The Jack Benny program, starring Jack Benny with Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris, Rochester, Dennis Day, and yours truly Don Wilson"

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This Day in Jack Benny

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