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”.
Jack Benny Episodes 