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.
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”.
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).
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.
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.
Jack Benny Episodes 