Monday, June 18, 2012

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
.

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