JACK BENNY MONTH – PART 3

Originally broadcast on WNIB
Saturday, February 20th, 1999

JACK BENNY PROGRAM (10-29-44) When Jack tells guest Fred Allen that he’s still look­ing for a singer to replace Dennis Day, Fred suggests they take a poll of the public to see what kind of singer he should get. They go to Allen’s Alley where they meet John Doe (John Brown), Mrs. Nussbaum (Minerva Pious), Socrates Mulligan (Charlie Cantor), and Falstaff Openshaw (Alan Reed). Lucky Strike Ciga­rettes, NBC. (27 min)

SCREEN DIRECTORS’ PLAYHOUSE (2-17-50) “It’s in the Bag” starring Fred Allen in his screen role from the 1945 film comedy-mystery about a flea circus promoter entitled to an inherit­ance. Cast features John Brown, Sheldon Leonard, Frank Nelson, Hans Conried, Alan Reed. RCA Victor, NBC. (28 min)

JACK BENNY PROGRAM (11-5-44) Jack and Mary Livingstone go to the Shrine Auditorium to see Dunninger, the Master Mentalist who has found a new singer for Jack’s program. He’s Larry Stevens who is a gas station at­tendant at a station at the corner of Third and LaCieniga. Larry sings “I’ll Be Seeing You.” Lucky Strike Cigarettes, NBC. (29 min)

SPEAKING OF RADIO (10-22-98) Singer Larry Stevens, who replaced Dennis Day on the Jack Benny program (1944-46), talks about his ca­reer in a conversation with Chuck Schaden recorded at the Friends of Old Time Radio con­vention in Newark, New Jersey. (22 min)

JACK BENNY PROGRAM (11-19-44) Remote broadcast from the U.S. Naval Hospital, Co­rona, California with Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris, Don Wilson, Eddie “Rochester” Ander­son, “and our new singer, Larry Stevens.” Guest is harmonica virtuoso Larry Adler. Larry Stevens joins in the commercial and then sings “What a Difference a Day Made.” Lucky Strike Cigarettes, NBC. (28 min)

JACK BENNY PROGRAM (2-24-46) Remote broadcast from Palm Springs, California. To show up Esquire Magazine writer Gilbert Seldes, who has criticized the brash style of comedy on the Benny program, Jack and the gang presents “a nice, sweet program” with his cast entirely out of character. Larry Stevens sings a new novelty song, “Pickle in the Middle” written by Jack’s writer John Tackaberry. Lucky Strike Cigarettes, NBC. (28 min)