Old Time Radio Show of the Week

This week's show is probably my favorite old time radio show not called Gunsmoke,
"The Jack Benny Program" which starred of course, Jack Benny.  Jack was a comedy and radio legend and transitioned to television with no problem and deftly took his show with him and became a tv legend.
Jack along with his famous cast saw little change in lineup from his debut in 1932 to the final radio show in 1955.   He made household names out of his wife Mary Livingstone, announcer Don Wilson, singer Dennis Day and band leader Phil Harris.  In the early 1950s Phil Harris left Jack's show and was smoothly replaced by Bob Crosby (brother of Bing Crosby) and it was seamless.   Jack himself said that his role was to have a funny show and it didnt matter who got the laughs because it was always The Jack Benny Program the people remembered.

October 24th 1954

"The Drive In Movie"

CBS Radio

(Jack, Don and Dennis have a night out at the movies)

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Radio Season (Last show of the Season)

We wrap up the 1952-53 season for The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny.

thank you again to my friend Buck Benny and his tremendous Jack Benny podcast.  Please follow him to hear these great Jack Benny shows and other greats from the golden age of radio.

click here to visit his page

The Lucky Strike Program Starring Jack Benny

"Gondola in Venice"

06/07/1953

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Season

Thanks to Buck Benny and his stellar Jack Benny podcast for these great episodes.  This podcast also has some great information regarding upcoming shows with Rose Marie and the soon to be released "Lost Episodes" of The Jack Benny Show tv program from The Shout! Factory.


The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny
04/12/1953
"Missing Heir"
CBS Radio

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Radio Season

The Easter episode from Jack and the gang for the 1952-53 season.

(thanks to Buck Benny and his podcast for all of these great episodes)

The Lucky Strike Program Starring Jack Benny
Easter Parade
Aired 04/05/1953
CBS Radio

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Season

Here we are again for the next episode of The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny.  The show was #2 for the season behind Amos N' Andy.

(click below to go to the podcast page)
Thanks to Buck Benny and his Jack Benny Podcast.  Please follow his show for all the great OTR from the golden age of radio

01/18/1953
Jack Buys an Umbrella Stand

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Season

Our continuing look at the 1952-53 Season of The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny.

This was the #2 show on radio for that season.

Thanks to Buck Benny for his assistance with these postings and all tremendous work he puts into this first class podcast
click here to follow Buck and his Jack Benny / OTR Podcast

12/28/1952
The New Tenant
(This was one of the few lost or missing episodes of The Lucky Strike Program and Buck along with friends and family have recreated the missing parts to make a very good show)


01/04/1953
The Dishwasher is Broken
first show of 1953
(Jack gets tickets to the Rose Bowl Game with USC vs Wisconsin)

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Season

Two more wonderful episodes of The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny from the 1952-53 radio season.
Jack was the #2 show of that season behind Amos N' Andy which followed his show on Sunday nights at 730pm.

Thanks again to Buck Benny and his OTR Jack Benny Podcast for these high quality shows.  I am giving you 2 episodes again so we can get to the great Christmas shopping episode for Jack and the Gang.




12/07/1952
Happy Time



12/14/1952
Jack Buys a Gopher Trap for Don Wilson

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Season

Our continuing journey through the 1952-53 season of The Jack Benny Show, the season it finished as the #2 show on radio

Thanks to Buck Benny and his tremendous work on his OTR podcast

11/16/1952
The Purple Pirate
(Jack and the gang take to the high seas)

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Season

Here is the next episode in the 1952-53 season of the Jack Benny Show from the Golden Age of Radio.

This season Jack's show was #2 for the entire season behind a resurgent Amos N' Andy.

Here is the next episode in that year

11/09/1952
Jack goes to the doctor for a vitamin shot

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Season

Here is the next installment for the Jack Benny Show in the 1952-53 season.  This is the season that Jack's show went to #2 in the overall season ratings behind Amos N' Andy.

From my friend Buck Benny and his tremendous OTR podcast which features, Phil Harris and Alice Faye Show, Gunsmoke, Red Skelton, Fred Allen, Great Gildersleeve, Suspense, Escape, Bing Crosby and Jimmy Durante.

Please go to his podcast and follow him and listen to the greatest Old Time Radio shows.

Tell'em Jim sent ya!




here are episode 4 and 5 from the 1952-53 Season.
As usual 2 great shows and this is a year I would introduce anyone to the Jack Benny Show if they have never heard it.

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Season

The Jack Benny Show in the last years of the Golden Age of Radio managed to climb higher in the ratings each season and would culminate in being the #1 show for the 1954-55 season.
We are going to look at the 1952-53 season as The Lucky Strike Program with Jack Benny would be the #2 show of the radio season behind the resurgent Amos N' Andy Show that somehow saw its ratings jump to #1.



In my own opinion this is a really good season even without bandleader Phil Harris, who left the show after the 1951-52 season.  He was ably replaced by Bob Crosby, brother of legendary crooner Bing Crosby.
The sound quality of these shows is remarkable and gives the show a more "modern" feel and they are really in stride this season with Rochester, Dennis, Mary and Don.   I think Mel Blanc was really on top of his game during the 1950s and this season is one of his best.


This week the first 3 episodes of the 1952-53 season.

You get the added bonus of a great introduction by my friend Buck Benny who happily allowed me to post these shows from his Buck Benny Podcast.  Please go listen and follow him for great Old Time Radio from the 30s, 40s and 50s.

Golden Age of Radio - The Jack Benny Show 1937

Today's OTR classic episode is from this week in 1937 from the Jell-O Program starring Jack Benny.   This was an episode to promote Jack's upcoming movie "Artist and Models" , but in looking back this now takes a place as a groundbreaking episode.   With no fanfare and no buildup we are introduced to "Rochester", Jack's valet, butler, driver, foil and all around right hand man as played by Eddie Anderson.
Rochester was the creation of Al Bosberg and his last contribution to radio comedy which he wrote before his sudden death the next week and the character thanks to Eddie Anderson and Jack Benny became an icon in radio and popular culture.

Thanks to Buck Benny and a great and insightful podcast discussing the impact of Eddie Anderson
.

Jack Benny's 20th TV Anniversary

A classic in every sense of the word was Jack Benny and in 1970 he celebrated his 20th anniversary in television with lots of friends.  Here we get to see Mary Livingstone, Don Wilson, Dennis Day, Mel Blanc, Rochester, Frank Nelson, Bob Hope, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra,Red Skelton,Dean Martin and others.

A pure slice or radio and television history.

 Many Thanks to my friend and Jack Benny expert Buck Benny and his podcast.

Happy Birthday Jack Benny

Today would have been the 39th birthday of Jack Benny (wink wink).  To celebrate we have The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny from 02/16/1947.


Jack celebrates his birthday with Ronald and Benita Coleman, who are fantastic as always and special guest Isaac Stern.

Jack Benny Christmas

One of the famous running gags for the Jack Benny Show was always Jack going Christmas shopping to buy gifts for Don, Phil, Rochester, Dennis and even Mary.   Usually the clerk was Mel Blanc who by the end was so exhausted dealing with the skin flint Jack that was ready to shoot himself.

here from the 1957 season of the TV version of Jack's show features the classic lineup with Mel as the clerk and Frank Nelson as the smartalec floor walker he made famous on the radio show.




Click here for the radio classic, the 1946 Christmas shopping episode

The Jack Benny Show on Radio

Here is a truly classic episode from the Jack Benny Show, April 18th 1943.   This featured every classic thing Jack and his cast was known for and made it all hilarious.   This episode one saw a great performance by Rochester (Eddie Anderson).

Enjoy and thanks again to Buck Benny and his wonderful podcast

The Jack Benny Show (radio)

From 1955 here is a rare rehearsal tape of the Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny.   This episode has guest Bob Hope.

The Jack Benny Show

Here is an episode of The Jack Benny Show and its an episode that was taken from one of his radio episodes.
I cannot tell you how much I love watching Jack and the Gang.