This Day in Jack Benny Podcast
February 13, 1938 – Just before his birthday Jack Benny was named as one of the top ten best dressed men in America along with movie star Clark Gable. Then actor Robert Taylor stops by and helps Jack with a love scene and ends up kissing Mary. Then they play a duet with Jack on violin and Robert on Cello.
May 8, 1938 – It’s Mother’s Day and Jack Benny considers himself the mother hen of the cast. This is a day after the Kentucky Derby. Manuel Talcott, the mayor of Jack Benny’s home town of Waukegan, plays a character in the play.
In the episode they mention the WPA (Works Progress Administration), The Jones Family series of movies, Clark Gable, Loretta Young, and a cartoon short featuring Jack Benny called “The Big Birdcast”.
May 1, 1938 – This week Jack Benny’s Maxwell was in a race for old cars, the Fresno State College Hack Race. He lost to Fred Allen’s entry.
In this episode they debate wether or not Jack Benny is considered a movie star. They mention Leo the MGM lion, movie producers Darrel F Zanuck and Adolf Zukor, the comedy team The Ritz Brothers, Screen gangster George Raft, Walt Disney’s Silly Symphonies and Mickey, Donald and Pluto. Plus the 1927 boxing match known as “The Long Count”.
And the great silent film comedian Harold Lloyd.
Jack Benny, Harold Lloyd and wife Mildred Davis
April 24, 1938 – Walt Disney’s first feature film has just come out and Jack Benny is going to do his version of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” mixing in a bit of Edward G Robinson and his gangster movies. Plus they mention the Lone Ranger’s catchphrase “Hi Oh Silver!” and the opera singer Lawrence Tibbett. They did this episode again the following year.
April 23, 1950 – Jack Benny’s troop of kids The Beverly Hills Beavers do the show. Plus they mention Phil Harris’ movie Wabash Avenue, and the wedding of then vice president Alben W Barkley.
Top Row: Warren Stirling (Don), Jack Benny (Himself), Johnny McGovern (Jack) and H.B. Barnum. (Rochester) Front Row: Simon “Stuffy” Singer (Dennis), Merry McGovern (Mary), Gilbert “Sonny” Barnett (Telegram Boy), Jeff Silver (Phil).
April 16, 1950 – Last week Jack Benny gave 50 cents away to a fellow that was down on his luck. This week he runs into the fellow again and we learn his name is John L. C. Savoni. It’s spring so Jack Benny gets his house painted. In this episode they mention the song “Rag Mop” by the Ames Brothers. They also mention Senitor Joseph McCarthy and his loyalty oath against communism. Plus Bob Hope, Lana Turner, Gregory Peck, Ray Maland, and Humphrey Bogart.
