November 26, 1939 – References in this episode include Earle Liederman, a strongman on the vaudeville stage who sold a mail-in bodybuilding course. The Tyrone Power movie “The Rains Came” (1939) and the movie “The Devil is a Sissy” (1936). Plus Jack and the gang talk about his Thanksgiving party and they go duck hunting with Andy Devine.
November 27, 1949 – Did you know Ricardo Montalban & Esther Williams sang the first recorded version of the holiday hit “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”? Or was it Red Skelton? In this episode Jack spends and evening playing bridge. How could something so average wind up so crazy?
December 3, 1939 – Jack Benny AKA Buck Benny the cowboy joins other western stars for the Santa Claus Lane Parade. Meanwhile in cinema, Spencer Tracy won the Oscar that year for “Boys Town”. The skit in the episode is part one of “Murder on the Gridiron” where they spoof college football.
December 5, 1954 – This is the last of the great Christmas Shopping episodes on The Jack Benny radio show. Jack Buys oil paints for Don for Christmas. Dennis Day had many vinyl records.
December 10, 1939 – Jack finishes the Murder on the Gridiron episode which is less gridiron and more murder mystery. They have some great double-talk nonsense voices. They also mention the movie “The Private Life of Henry VIII” starring Charles Laughton.
Jack Benny Episodes 