Jack Paar - August 31, 1947 - Radio Show Parody

The story of John Alden is parodied; the BBC are lampooned.

The Great Gildersleeve - August 30, 1942 - Fishing Trip

When Gildy's doctor recommends that he go on a fishing trip, he loads the family into the car and takes off.

Burns & Allen - August 29, 1944 - No Money for Auction

Gracie needs money to pay for items she bought at an auction.

Our Miss Brooks - August 28, 1955 - Audio Visual Experiment

Connie attempts to rent a filmed version of the poem "Lady of the Lake" to show in class, but gets a Marilyn Monroe picture instead.

Dennis Day - August 27, 1947 - The Drama Critic

Dennis is jealous when Mildred begins seeing the director of a play, and tries to get the play to close after its first performance. Dennis sings "Feudin and Fightin".

Fibber McGee & Molly - August 26, 1935 - The McGees Win 79 Wistful Vista

The McGees pass by a new housing development, and win a house in a drawing.

In this seminal episode of the series, the eventual sitcom formula is set up. For the first few months of the show, the McGees had traveled America by car, the better to promote Johnson's Car Wax. Starting with this episode, they're anchored at 79 Wistful Vista, where they would remain for 24 years (and add Johnson's Floor Wax to the mix).

The Magnificent Montague - August 25, 1951 - Lily Gets a Dog

Lily takes in a dog, and tries to hide it from Edwin.

Jack Paar - August 24, 1947 - Cinderfella

Trudy Erwin sings "Nice Work if You Can Get It". A modern version of Cinderella is presented.

Bob Hope - August 23, 1953 - David Niven

Bob plugs his recent book; Bob and guest David Niven celebrate the history of radio.

Jack Benny - January 22, 1939 - Phil Wants to Quit

Phil is planning to leave Jack to star in his own show; Jack reminisces about appearing with Fred Allen in his vaudeville days. Frank Nelson plays a doctor in a straight fashion.

Our Miss Brooks - August 21, 1949 - Weekend at Crystal Lake

Mrs. Conklin invites Connie to bring Mr. Boynton to the Conklins' cabin on the lake.

My Favorite Husband - August 20, 1948 - Liz Teaches the Samba

Liz teaches the samba to the son of a bigwig at George's bank.

Burns & Allen - August 19, 1940 - George Late for Show

George is late arriving to the show after spending time with a girl who thinks she's going to be his new partner. The Smoothies sing "Madame La Zonga", a song that inspired the film "Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga" the next year.

This episode is during the period where George and Gracie are still doing a "flirtation act", and their characters aren't married.

The Great Gildersleeve - January 17, 1943 - Women's Club Speaker

Gildy is invited to make a speech in front of the Summerfield Women's Club.

Jack Paar - August 17, 1947 - Jack Benny

Jack stages a talent contest to find his winter replacement. Will Jack Benny win?
Trudy Erwin sings "Just One of Those Things".

Fibber McGee & Molly - January 16, 1940 - Fibber's Car Is Stolen

McGee renews his license plates at the DMV, and upon leaving, thinks his car's been stolen.

Jack Benny - December 27, 1942 - Fred Allen

The show is performed at the Vanderbilt Theater in New York, to an audience of servicemen. Benny Goodman and Fred Allen are the guests; Fred plays Uncle Sam in the New Year's Pageant.

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Our Miss Brooks - August 14, 1949 - The English Test

Stretch is giving a party that Connie wants to attend with Mr. Boynton, but he'll only be allowed to give the party if he wins a school English award.

Jack Paar - August 3, 1947 - Buying a House

When talk turns to the possibility of Hawaii becoming a state, Jack and Hy Averback do a routine with Jack as Fred Allen and Hy as a Hawaiian version of Senator Claghorn.

Bob Hope - August 12, 1944 - Somewhere in the South Pacific

Bob Hope brings his show to a naval hospital "somewhere in the South Pacific" (such a nicer phrase than "undisclosed location".) Frances Langford sings "I'll Be Seeing You".

The Magnificent Montague - August 11, 1951 - Agnes Joins a Cult

The leader of the Eastern cult that Agnes has joined may be a con man.

You Bet Your Life - August 10, 1959

This broadcast from 8/10/59 is a repeat of an earlier episode. By this time, NBC's nighttime radio schedule was all contained under the "Monitor" umbrella, so there's an introduction by Skitch Henderson before the show.

Fred Allen - January 9, 1944 - Ed Gardner and the cast of Duffy's Tavern

Clancy (the policeman who frequents Duffy's Tavern) brings Fred to Duffy's after an accident.

Fibber McGee & Molly - January 8, 1946 - Fibber Wants to Win a Bean Counting Contest

McGee is determined to win the guess-the-number-of-beans-in-the-bowl contest at Kramer's drugstore.

Our Miss Brooks - August 7, 1955 - Cat Burglars

When the Conklins don't want to leave Harriet alone during a rash of buglaries, Connie agrees to stay with her.

Jack Benny - January 26, 1941 - Jack Packs for New York

Jack packs for his latest trip to New York, and the gang accompanies him to the airport.

Burns & Allen - August 5, 1940 - George's Movie

George plans to pitch a movie to an arriving producer.

The Magnificent Montague - August 4, 1951 - $500 Prize

Montague's theater colleague wants him to help raise $500 for the theater fund without any contributions from radio actors, but he doesn't know that Montague has taken a radio job.

Fibber McGee & Molly - January 3, 1950 - At Aunt Sarah's

The McGees stay with Fibber's wealthy Aunt Sarah, who doesn't appreciate his efforts to help in the household.

You Bet Your Life - January 2, 1952

Groucho meets a highway worker and Anna Mahler, daughter of composer Gustav Mahler; also, a dancing teacher and a stevedore.

Jack Benny - January 7, 1945 - First Show with the Vault

Jack prepares for the gang's trip to New York; Larry Stevens sings "Don't Fence Me In".

When Jack realizes he needs $5 for expenses on the trip, he opens his safe. The beginnings of the vault gag are here, with Ed, the guard, and lots of crazy sound effects. The vault gag was also used on television, notably in an episode of "The Lucy Show", but it was a perfect gag for radio, becoming more outrageous over the years.

At the station, Jack has to deal with Frank Nelson at the ticket counter, of course, as well as the racetrack tout (not played by Sheldon Leonard). Mel Blanc's "Anaheim, Azuza and Cucamonga" routine also begins with this show, as the announcer gets more and more frantic when no one will board that train.

This is an Armed Forces Network version of the show.