The Ink Spots (Allen’s Alley Reunion)

February 12, 1950 – Jack Benny and the gang are in New York so the Ink Spots fill in for the Sportsmen quartet.

Fred Allen has been off the air for a year and Jack gets the original cast to come and reprise their roles from Allen’s Alley.

Download

Time Change (Sound Effects Man)

February 8, 1942 – Jack is upset because Fred Allen has moved to Sundays.

Clip from the song “I’m In Love With The Sound Effects Man” by the Kingsmen from and episode of Fibber McGee and Molly (later recorded by Spike Jones). They mention Gene Autry, Edger Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Abbott and Costello, Phil Baker, and The Great Gildersleeve.

Download

Jack Benny’s Birthday (Ben Bernie)

February 14, 1937 – Jack Benny celebrates his birthday. Radio bandleader Ben Bernie show up and offers to lend Jack his violin so that he can play “The Bee” and settle the feud with Fred Allen.

They mention The Townsend Plan, the movie “Wake up and live”, Prudence Penny cooking school, Little Orphan Annie, the songs “Thanks a Million” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Aint Got That Swing)”.

Download

jack 1937

Lucy Belle (Flood Disaster)

January 31, 1937 – Phil Harris’s sister Lucy Belle visits the studio. Nightmares of Fred Allen. Jack Benny will play ‘The Bee’ next Sunday.

References include the Red Cross disaster work in great Ohio river flood. Actors Fred MacMurray, Fred Stone, George Burns, Fred Astair, child actor Jackie Cooper and Robert Taylor who was starring in the movie “Camille”.

Download

Boating down the street after Ohio River Flood
flood_girl
17-year-old survivor of flood