Jack Benny – Retro Radio Podcast

Flashback to the day before at rehearsal. Jack is critical of Bob Crosby’s band members. Jack begins to worry when Don points out that his contract hasn’t been renewed yet.…

as Don prepares his customary introduction, Barry Livingston interrupts. She tells how Jack is anticipating winning an Oscar award this year. Even Dennis reports on how upset Jack is in…

in honor of George Washington’s birthday, Don Wilson compares him to Jack Benny’s war record. Jack gets annoyed when Don claims that he is Older Than Fred Allen. Mary Livingston…

Don announces to the studio audience that yesterday was Jack’s birthday. We roll the clock back to see what happened in Jack’s house yesterday. Rochester sings as he does housework.…

Don lets us know that daylight savings time goes into effect tomorrow, and here comes a man who has to deal with the changes, Jack Benny. Is Jack managing to…

Don gives tribute to the man who makes the show happened, Virgil Reimer, the sound effects man (Frank Nelson). Jack springs his own surprise, he threatens to fire Don. Jack…

Mary and Dennis informed Don that Jack has not arrived yet. He’s on the telephone to talk to his lawyers. Mary opens the door so we can listen in on…

This is a rare episode where Jack Benny does not appear. After the tragic passing of Carole Lombard, wife of Clark Gable and recent costar in Jack Benny’s latest film,…

Don Wilson introduces the eminent authority on aviation and flying, Jack Benny. Jack brags to the soldiers at Marshfield about his part in inventing the airplane. Mary arrives to tease…

Don Wilson rolls back the clock, and we join Jack in Rochester as he prepares for the new year celebrations. Jack learns the bad news about how Rochester lost his…

Introducing that man who gave up partying, but Jack complains that Don is just ungrateful. Mary enters to see if Jack can tell what’s new about her. Dennis has a…

he Yuletide season is once again upon us, and Don brings out the star to put upon the Christmas tree. Jack soon turns the conversation topic of his Christmas party…

Don rolls the clock back a little, to about an hour before the show. We find Jack having a dinner of hash. Jack has a little trouble washing dishes though.…

Before the show get started we have a news report with the war update. Being the height of the Christmas shopping season, Don turns our attention to Jack Benny as…

Join Jack, Mary, and Rochester as they get the preparations ready for the big Thanksgiving feast. Jack is just as stingy with his food as he is with his money.…

Anticipating the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, Don Wilson introduces Jack Benny. Jack brags about getting three ducks with one shot, although his knowledge of shotguns and ducks are soon put to…

That versatile master of ceremonies, Jack Nenny is praised for his work in the movies, although Don hasn’t actually seen Jack’s latest film. Mary Livingstone is on hand to tease…

Turning the clock back to a few days ago, we join Rochester and Jack as they prepare for the costume party planned for Halloween. Mary enters as an Indian squaw…

In the world of radio in 1941, next week is Halloween, and Don gives Jack a grand and gay introduction. As Jack tries to chew Don out, his attention is…

Don Wilson sets the stage to roll back the clock, and we join the gang as they travel by train back to Los Angeles. Rochester and Mary are on hand…

The audio is a little static in parts. Don’s introduction has Jack Benny a little riled up. Mary Livingstone enters to share headlines and reviews of the show. Has the…

It’s the season opener, and Jack Benny is having trouble remembering his opening lines. Don Wilson and Mary Livingstone tease him about their jokes, and Dennis Day arrives to joke…

For a change, Don takes the audience to the home of Bob Crosby where he talks with his wife about an upcoming appearance. Bob has been away so much lately…

After a rough start with the audio, Jack enters to talk with Don about going to a boxing match, and talk about milestone fights through the previous few decades. What…

It’s flashback time to just after the last rehearsal. Jack is fed up with the cast’s performance and gets onto Don about it. A few insults fly, and the band…

Don flashes back to the previous night as Rochester presses Jack’s tuxedo. He is getting ready for a special event on the town. The Beavers are putting on a school…

Don flashes back to last year on Jack’s birthday where the Beaver club is planning a birthday party. The Beavers talk about Jacks accomplishments as a highly rated football player,…

Flashback to the previous Thursday to Jack’s home in Beverly Hills. Jack learns that Rochester wants to have his own phone line installed. He needs it for emergencies, and to…

Flashback to Jacks home in Beverly Hills. As Rochester sleeps in, Jack is in the kitchen making breakfast. His chores in the kitchen are interrupted by a phone call. It’s…

As the show begins, Jack is absent. Mary announces that he’s in the hallway, talking to his writers. We listen in as Mary goes to eavesdrop to learn that the…

Don sets the scene as Jack takes a walk early in the morning. He jokes to himself about smog, Beverly Hills, a horse and buggy, and his Maxwell. When Jack…

Dennis opens the show to remind us of last week’s incident with Don refusing to sign his contract. Flashback to Jack’s house where Dennis and Rochester talk. Jack is busy…

Flashback to Jack’s house where Don is trying to renegotiate his contract. When a stalemate is reached, Jack sends Don to a room to think it over, and locks him…

In Jack’s house, he and Rochester put together a photo scrapbook. They’re out of glue, and have no flour to make homemade paste. Jack sets out for Ronald Colemans to…

Don sets the stage for a flashback in the Brown Derby where two waiters argue over who has to take care of Jack Benny. While Jack and Mary wait for…

Jack calls a stop to Bob Crosby as the band opens the show. Jack complains about the drunken state of the band at the start of the new year. Bob…

Don announces this as being the first show for CBS, and sets the stage for a flashback. Jack, Mary, and Rochester drive to the studio in the Maxwell. Jack is…

At Jack’s house, Rochester and his friend Roy clean up after the big Christmas party. Their talk turns towards dating and New Years Eave. They also discuss Jack’s age. The…

Originally archived in 2 parts, I recombined the parts. I assume it was done that way for ease in distributing on cassette tape. My show notes are a big longer…

Jack has a trip planned to go to Palm Springs, but now he has to pack. He and Rochester try to keep it a secret from Polly since she gets…

After an intro that drips with buttering up, Jack suspects that Don is expecting something good for Christmas. Even Phil and Mary are overly complementary. It doesn’t take long for…

In place of Don Wilson, Rochester introduces the show today. Will this mean more money for him? Yeah, right. Mary enters to tease Jack about his addition to the cast…

Kenny Delmar, announcer for Fred Allen, substitutes for Don Wilson while the gang is in New York. Of course, the jokes about Fred Allen kick into high gear. Mary Livingston…

On the road, the gang broadcast from Chicago. Norman Berry substitutes for Don Wilson. Doing a rigorous schedule of 8 shows per day, Jack talks about the fun he has…