Saturday, December 1, 2018

25 More Days of Old Time Radio Christmas - Day 1: Christmas Shopping with Jack Benny & Gang (1947)

Well....its December 1st, so it is no better time than to start my annual exploration of some of my favorite programs features to the holidays from the Golden Age of Radio.  I had hope to feature programs all year long - but oh well, stop living in the past (uhm....maybe I need a better expression here).  So for the next 25 days or so, I will feature favorite Christmas and holiday programs each day.  I have been doing this every year since 2014 and hope they are enjoyable.  In almost every way possible, I am not ready for December, but here goes nothing!

There will be many opportunities to catch Christmas and holiday themed episodes from the Golden Age of Radio on the web and on Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#148).  But these all have the joy of not needing anything other than a web connection to enjoy.  If you want to see all of my previous entries, please click here - OTR Christmas (or drop to the bottom of this message).


131/365/3783 (October 20, 2018) - Visit to Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland (Frankenmuth, Michigan - October 20th, 2018)

Visit to Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland (Frankenmuth, Michigan - October 20th, 2018)

So let's jump in with Jack Benny.  With someone as prolific as Mr. Benny, I have featured him twice before.  More Shopping with Jack Benny (1944) and Christmas Shopping with Jack Benny.  He was also a regular on the Elgin special (that will be shared on Christmas day) and other features including Hotpoint's The Man Who Came to Dinner (with Jack Benny).

The Jack Benny Program was a national treasure and it is great that we have so many recordings.  Staring in the show was Jack Benny, a vaudeville performer who seemed to hit it big over the airways.  Mary Livingstone played second fiddle (no pun intended) to her real life husband.  She apparently had horrible stage fright, but hardly shows it as the straight person to many of Jack Benny's jokes.  Eddie Anderson played Rochester, Jack's valet and chauffeur.  He was one of the earliest African-Americans on mainstream radio and was one of the most loved characters on the show.  Don Wilson was the show announcer and did the commercials.  He was the constant butt of jokes, primarily about his weight.  Irish Tenor Dennis Day (who was on the 1948 show) also had a show of his own.  Besides being a 'dim bulb' in all the skits, he also sang a song on every episode.  Phil Harris (who also had a show of his own) was the bandleader and the joker on the show.  His real wife, Alice Faye would join him on the show as well.  The last big name was Mel Blanc (of Bugs Bunny fame).  Blanc (who ALSO had his own show) was one of the most famous character actors to play on the Jack Benny Show.  He is very commonly the floorwalkers for the Christmas episodes.  The shows are chock full of laughs, funny stories, corny jokes and great music.

This episode is from December 21st, 1947 and represents what happens if you do not have the holidays planned out and get your presents wrapped up (so to speak) early.  The episode starts with Jack and Rochester heading slowly towards the shopping area just a few days before Christmas.  While the cast does a great job as usual, I am particular enamored by the supporting cast of store employees.  Joseph Kearns is the employee at the credit office in the store who takes Jack's application.  Mel Blanc does a great job reprising the frustrated store clerk who last year spent hours with Jack as he decided which type of shoe laces to buy as a gift for Don Wilson.  He also is a salesman working with Dennis Day who, in a moment of enthusiasm - sold his own pants.  In another cameo, Gerald Mohr (one of my favorites as Phil Marlowe) is helping Rochester buy a gift for Jack.
The episode ends with some lovely Christmas music sung by Dennis Day.  I hope this episode (and the cold weather in the states) helps get you in the spirit of the holidays.  I also hope that you have a more productive time shopping this year for the holidays.

Last Minute Christmas Shopping with Jack Benny (December 21st, 1947)


Here are some links to programs relating to Old Time Radio and Jack Benny:

Another 25 Days of Old Time Radio Christmas (from 2017) 
25 Days of Old Time Radio Christmas (from 2016) 

25 Days of Old Time Radio Christmas (from 2015) & Other Links

25 Days of Old Time Radio Christmas (from 2014)
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