Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Jack Benny - December 31, 1944 - Jack Resolves to Be Friends with Fred Allen

Jack makes a New Year's resolution to be friends with Fred Allen. Larry Stevens sings "The Trolley Song". The annual New Year's pageant is performed.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Saturday, December 28, 2013

You Bet Your Life - December 28, 1949 - Unedited

Groucho interviews a newlywed couple, a carhop and a married man, and a college football player and a chiropractor from Iran.
This is the full-length live recording of the show, before it was edited for broadcast.

Friday, December 27, 2013

Jack Benny - December 27, 1942 - New Year's Eve Skit

A replacement is needed for the absent Phil Harris in the annual New Year's sketch, and Fred Allen shows up.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Phil Harris/Alice Faye - December 26, 1948 - The Christmas Present

Remley's upset because Phil only spent $2 on his Christmas gift, but Phil's upset because Remley got a gift from Rexall (the sponsor) and he didn't. Phil sings "Keep in the Middle of the Road".

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Bob Hope - December 24, 1952 - Frank Sinatra / Christmas Presents

Frank Sinatra buys Christmas presents for the crew on his latest movie, and has them sent to Bob Hope's house, expecting to pick them up there. In a flashback, Bob and Frank recall how they first met working at a department store. Sinatra sings "South of the Border".

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Burns & Allen - December 22, 1942 - Santa and the Wicked Pirate

Gracie dreams that she and George fly to Santa's Workshop on their pet duck, Herman. Arthur Q. Bryan plays Santa.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Jack Benny - December 21, 1947 - Last Minute Shopping

In another excellent Christmas episode, the gang heads to a department store for some Christmas shopping. Benny Rubin plays the racetrack tout in this early appearance by the character.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Our Miss Brooks - December 20, 1953 - Christmas Gift Mix-Up

Connie plans to use her meager Christmas budget to buy a gift for Mr. Boynton, but her friends are all dropping hints about the gifts they want.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Phil Harris/Alice Faye - December 18, 1949 - Getting a Christmas Tree in the Mountains

After having trouble finding a Christmas tree in town, Phil and Alice decide to go up to the mountains to get one. Phil sings "Woodman, Spare That Tree", and Alice sings "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm".

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Jack Benny - December 17, 1950 - Golf Tees for Don

In one of the series' best Christmas episodes, Jack goes Christmas shopping with Mary. Frank Nelson plays the floorwalker, and Bea Benaderet plays a watch saleswoman. Sheldon Leonard shows up as his racetrack tout character, and Mel Blanc returns as the salesman who makes the mistake of telling Jack there are two kinds of golf tees.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Burns & Allen - December 16, 1941 - Mailing a Christmas Present

Gracie brings trouble for George when they go to the Post Office to mail a Christmas present. Jimmy Cash sings "My Foolish Heart and I".

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Fred Allen - December 14, 1947 - Most Important Advance in Science 1947

A series of jibes about poultry leads to Allen's Alley, where the question is about the biggest advance in science in the past year.

Friday, December 13, 2013

You Bet Your Life - December 13, 1950

Groucho interviews a greeting card writer and a gadget salesman, a housewife and a hosiery designer, and two high school students.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Jack Benny - December 12, 1937 - Christmas Shopping

Jack takes Mary Christmas shopping. Eddie Anderson is especially good as an elevator operator; this was before his Rochester character was created. Frank Nelson appears as a floorwalker in a funny scene, but his abrasive character hadn't quite been developed yet. Kenny Baker sings "Am I in Love?"

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

The Great Gildersleeve - December 10, 1947 - Christmas Shopping

Gildy realizes that Christmas is coming soon, and plans his list of gifts to buy. His friends and family have other ideas, however.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Jack Benny - December 9, 1951 - Guadalajara Trio Sings Jack's Song

In a show from Palm Springs, Jack gets the Guadalajara Trio to sing his unsaleable song, "When You Say I Beg Your Pardon, Then I'll Come Back to You". Dennis Day sings "A Little Bit of Heaven".

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Friday, December 6, 2013

You Bet Your Life - December 6, 1950

Groucho meets a bachelor and a spinster, a female dentist and a Texan, and a female deputy and a symphony conductor.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Jack Benny - December 5, 1954 - Christmas Shopping

Jack goes Christmas shopping, where Mel Blanc's tormented salesman has transferred to the Art Supplies dept. this year in hopes of avoiding him. Frank Nelson appears as the floorwalker, of course, and Sheldon Leonard appears again as the racetrack tout.

The Christmas shopping shows were well-established at this point, and the writers seemed to delight in finding new ways for Benny to torment Blanc's salesman each year. This would be the last Christmas shopping episode on radio, but the routine continued on television.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Our Miss Brooks - December 2,1951 - Mushy Notes to Harriet

When Walter writes a mash note to Harriet, Connie sees it and thinks Mr. Boynton has written it to her.

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Jack Benny - December 1, 1940 - Jack Catches Cold at Don's House

Jack gets into a dispute with the rest of the gang about a recent trip to Don's house. Frank Nelson appears as a doctor.