Soap Contest (Joan Benny)

March 12, 1950 – Jack Benny’s daughter Joan makes a guest appearance in this episode where Jack Benny enters a radio contest. Phil Harris talks about his upcoming movie “Wabash Avenue” starring Betty Grable

They mention Lever Brothers company, Bob Hope, Lena Horne, Aly Kahn and Rita Hayworth. Songs “Time on My Hands”, I Can Dream Can’t I”, “The Cry of the Wild Goose”, “I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts”, “M-O-T-H-E-R” and crooner Vic Demone. Plus Blondie and Dagwood, Tanforan racetrack, and the puppet kids show “Time for Beany”.

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Margaret Whiting (Cast Introduced)

May 29, 1949 – Jack Benny introduces all of the members of his cast and writers. Dennis sings his new song “Three Wishes” and guest Margret Whiting sings “Baby, It’s Cold Outside (for a Lucky Strike)” with the Sportsmen Quartet. Jack compliments Mel Blanc on his new record “Big Bear Lake”.

References include ventriloquist Shirley Dinsdale and her dummy Judy Splinters, Simonize car wax, the movie “Take me out to the Ball Game”, the song “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition” and Jack Benny’s short film for the Opportunity Bond Drive “The Spirit of ’49”.

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Larry Adler (Harmonica)

May 27, 1945 – It’s the last show of the season before Jack Benny goes on his USO tour in Europe with harmonica player Larry Adler and singer Martha Tilton. Plus bonus portion of June 28, 1945 broadcast of that USO show.

References include Winston Churchill’s “blood, toil, tears and sweat” speech, Charles Boyer, Fred Allen returning to radio, radio soap operas and the summer replacement Wayne King and his Orchestra.

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20 Questions

November 5, 1950 – On the train to Los Angeles Jack benny and the gang are playing 20 questions. References include the midterm elections, Irene Dunn, Gary Cooper, Jimmy Stewart, movies “The Glass Menagerie”, “The Miniver Story”, “the Horn Blows at Midnight” and “I’ll Get By”, and the song “Good Night Irene”. Download

Taking a Taxi (Opera)

May 18, 1934 – Jack Benny takes a taxi to the studio where Frank Parker invited him to dinner with his very musical family.

References include General Pershing, boxer Primo Carnera, Harry Lauder, “The Rise of the Goldbergs” radio show, Gretta Garbo, William Powell, Clark Gable, Boris karloff, Frank Buck’s “Wild Cargo”, the song “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes”, Franz Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No 2, the opera “Lucia Di Lammermoor”, and the singer Enrico Coruso.

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