[Music]
Hello friends welcome to this day in
Jack Benny I'm John Henderson this
episode is from November 23rd 1941 just
a few days after Thanksgiving
a time when you give thanks for your
many blessings for your home and loved
ones we too were thankful for your
continued friendliness and loyalty
may we bring you our warm and sincere
holiday greetings
Happy Thanksgiving for Thanksgiving
school children might recreate the story
of Miles Standish the pilgrim and for
fun kids might read the series of Junior
novels the Rover boys
chipped beef was a dried salted pressed
beef that was thinly sliced or chipped
and used for rations in World War one
and here approaching World War II it was
still being used as rations in the
military this was exactly two weeks
before the attack on Pearl Harbor
in this episode they referenced the song
Old Man River
[Music]
it was not unusual for media from this
time period to include racial
stereotypes
black characters on screen like step and
fetch it were often seen in the role of
household servants and expected to speak
in stereotypical voices
white people on stage and Screen would
still put on burnt cork to appear in
blackface
[Music]
the average Jack Benny episode might
include some stereotypes but this
episode is worse than most and it's too
bad because this is the first episode of
Jack Benny to feature Phil Harris's new
wife the movie star Alice Faye oh hello
I like the way nobody stands on ceremony
on shipboard I met dozens of people last
night she could be seen in the 20th
Century Fox movie weekend in Havana with
Carmen Miranda who was known for wearing
elaborate headdresses which usually
included flowers or fruit
how would you like to spend the weekend
how would you like to see the Caribbean
other movie stars at the time included
the beautiful Hedy Lamarr oh it's good
of you to try to help me
the tough Humphrey Bogart what do you
want me to do land aesthetic
when you're slapped you'll take it and
like it and the Suave Ronald Coleman who
was known to be Jack Benny's neighbor on
the show yes I remember now if you
wanted to keep up on the private lives
of these celebrities you could read
about it in the newspaper there were a
number of Gossip columnists Harrison
Carroll with behind the scenes in
Hollywood herbstein with what's
Hollywood Whispering about and even
bigger names Louella Parsons now for
example magnifico well that means that
Daryl's Anakin 20th Century Fox did a
tremendous job in Technicolor Jimmy
Starr okay I'm going to turn the wheels
and reels of Hollywood into reverse and
go through an imaginary photograph album
of yesterday in Hollywood and Sydney
skolski who apparently was rather short
in stature the party just beginning to
get good
if you like hearing these historical
broadcasts take a moment to give this
day and Jack Benny a five-star rating
and review on Apple podcasts or wherever
you're listening and enjoy the show
the jello program brought to you by
Jello and Jello pudding starring Jack
Benny with Mary Livingston Phil Harris
Dennis day and yours truly Don Wilson
the orchestra opens a program with one
on the house
foreign
news and years that's what folks
everywhere are calling jello's new
locked in flavor never has Jello tasted
so rich and delicious today it's even
better than ever and all because of a
wonderful new process that lacks in all
of jello's grand flavor keeps it from
fading keeps it at full strength till
the moment you use it today jello's
Vivid original goodness is locked right
into the tiny Jello particles where time
can't touch it it's protected against
fading or changing in any way and it
comes out of the package just as rich
and full flavored as it went in prove it
for yourself
open a package of jello notice that
there's no heavy fruity Aroma no sign of
escaping flavor but when you dissolve
the jello you unlock its captive
goodness and out it pours for your
pleasure to order Jello tomorrow look
for the big red letters on the box and
be sure to get Jello the flavor never
goes away we put it in and it's there to
stay
all right
foreign
on the house played by the orchestra Now
ladies and gentlemen we would like to
take you back three days and show you
how Jack Benny entertained the gang on
Thanksgiving the time 2PM last Thursday
the scene the kitchen of Jack's home in
Beverly Hills where we find Jack Mary in
Rochester preparing the dinner take it
away
foreign
now what else oh yes Rochester hand me
those little plates there will you here
boys
let's see a black one for Phil a green
one for Alice a black one for Don a
green one for Mrs Wilson
a black one for Mary say Jack make mine
a green one I don't like ripe olives
uh all right I'll switch you and Don
there I'm hungry I think I'll eat mine
now drop that
I don't want you to spoil your appetite
you know we're having wild duck for our
Thanksgiving dinner no chip beef this
year eh
not unless we run short Rochester uh
what are you putting in that dressing I
thought a dash of gin would snap it up a
little
what whoever heard of putting gin and
dressing on Central Avenue it's a must
well I don't want it in this dressing
and put that gin back in the first aid
kit
oh Mary take a look in the oven and see
how the Ducks are coming along okay
hahaha
uh what was that they're not quite done
yet
now look that noise came from some live
Ducks I've got in the basement these
ducks here should be done by now at what
time do we put them in the oven
Rochester about 10 o'clock last night
let's see that's 16 hours they're done
all right they sure look tender don't
they marry tender the middle one looks
like Humphrey Bogart
what an imagination now Rochester take
each duck and stuff the dressing in it I
ain't gonna touch old Humphrey
cut that out
get busy and stuff those Ducks okay
where's the shoehorn you don't need a
shoe horn now let's see a green olive
for me a black one say Jack why don't
you give those olives a little company
and put some celery on the plate celery
okay open the ice box and get some I
don't know the combination
45 right 23 back and 10 right that's it
can I buy your pencil boss don't bother
writing it down I'm changing it tomorrow
foreign
oh yes a green one for me a black one
for Billy Getz
that must be Dennis open the back door
for him Rochester yes sir send that kid
on an errand he takes all day where'd he
go Jack over to Ronald Coleman's to
borrow something you ought to be ashamed
of yourself you're always borrowing from
Mr Coleman that works both ways Mary
within the last year he's borrowed over
a dozen of my best eggs your eggs yes
his chickens laid him in your garage
foreign
that's the same thing as the grapefruit
near the fence what hangs over is mine
even Coleman's lawyer admits that
well don't ever hang your head over the
fence or comb and I'll pick your toupee
screaming here's the punch ball you
wanted Mr Benny what is that here's the
punch bowl you wanted thanks kid and
what have you got in that bag some corn
Mr Coleman says please feed it to his
chickens
foreign
now Dennis the gang will be here pretty
soon so rub some of this burnt cork on
your face okay we're in Clark what's
that for Dennis is going to help serve
dinner tonight it's an emergency I hired
Rochester's brother and he didn't show
up oh what happened to him Rochester I
was wrong boss he got 60 days instead of
30.
oh well I can use a New Year's Eve now
Dennis a Rochester will be busy here in
the kitchen so it'll be your job
oh there's the front door and I here's
your chance of practice see who's at the
door Sylvester I'll go Mr Minnie I'm
going
foreign
that's all right that boy does the worst
black face I've ever heard
not so easy I'd like to hear you do
Irish sometimes
come on Mary we'll sit in the music room
until the gang gets here a jukebox an
old fiddle and you call it a music room
don't run down that jukebox Mary and
incidentally I wish you'd stop playing
it with Lifesavers
got it all sticky
Mr and Mrs Wilson are here Massacre
well you're looking fine Peggy take Mrs
Wilson's cold Sylvester yeah
I wish he'd hold it down a little well
two servants tonight you're kind of
putting on the dog AJ well it's a big
party gee Peggy I'm sure glad you and
Don were able to come to dinner today
yes I am too Don's been gaining weight
again and I'm so happy he's someplace
where he can't overeat
foreign
well I hate to disappoint you Peggy but
there's going to be plenty of food on
that table yes and I love chipped beef
we're having wild duck now let's have a
little music while we're waiting Mary
put a nickel in the Jukebox I've only
got one I'm saving it for the Apple
machine
all right I'll put one in that is if
I've um if I've uh here's a nickel Jack
thanks let's say here's one of field
records uh Chattanooga Choo Choo
he sings A Chorus on this one very cute
too
pardon me boy is that to Chattanooga
Choo Choo Track 29
then you can give me a shine
I can avoid the board of Chattanooga
Choo Choo
I've got my fan and just an inkling
display
you leave old Pennsylvania station by
the quarter to four read the magazine
the menu in Baltimore dinner on the
diner nothing could Define a fence to
have your Hammer naked hair reliner when
you hear the Whistleblower they to the
fire then you know the tendency is not
very far hurry up and calling gotta get
a rolling
Chattanooga there you are
there's gonna be a certain party at the
station
sat in the blade I used to call funny
baby
she's gonna cry until I tell her that'll
never wrong
food Chattanooga Choo Choo won't you too
chew me home
laughs
there's gonna be a certain party at
station
sad sad Saturn and lays I used to call
my bunny honey bunny fish she's on the
drive until I tell her that I'll never
Roar so Chattanooga Choo Choo
Chattanooga to who we who we Chattanooga
Choo Choo won't you do to me home
foreign
[Music]
even puts Applause on the record
remember though yes indeed indeed by the
way Peggy I don't believe been in my
music room before have you no I haven't
Jack and you've got some lovely old
pieces here who furnished it Harry Talk
Shop I only got the melody in there you
know Peggy if you look around you can
get some of them oh Here Comes Your
border yeah I wonder what happened to
him his arms in a sling oh good
afternoon Mr Billingsley hello Mr Benny
having company for dinner I see
yes yes the others will be here pretty
soon won't you have a seat oh thanks I
never touch him
[Music]
[Laughter]
oh by the way Mr Billingsley I noticed
your arms in a sling how did you happen
to break it I was putting on my long
underwear this morning and I fell off
the ladder
oh well why do you have to climb a
ladder to put on your underwear when I
say long I mean long
oh oh I see won't you join us for dinner
Mr Billingsley we're having wild duck no
I'll have a glass of dressing later good
night
it's getting more eccentric every day
but who else would pay me 800 a week for
room and board
amazing character Adam
Mr Bennett can I speak to you
confidentially is very important oh now
what excuse me folks
what is it Rochester most those Ducks
ain't never gonna get tender why what
happened I just took a fork and when I'm
gonna get gravy all over me
now that's ridiculous it probably slid
in the pan that's all you may be right
boys but I don't think it would hurt to
shoot them just once more
foreign
don't you dare I shot those Ducks all
you've got to do is cook them I want
dinner served as soon as Mr and Mrs
Harris arrive but balls and get back to
the kitchen
oh sorry folks what's the matter Jack oh
Rochester is having a little trouble
with the Ducks it seems
well everything will be all right now
yes sir Jack what was that noise sounded
like a gunshot how do I know well folks
just as soon as every
there's someone at the door Sylvester
Sylvester answer the door that's dope
boss all right answer the dough
and don't Shuffle Just War
say Don would you like a cocktail before
dinner hey Don definitely no hmm well I
can see who wears the pants in that
family with Don's a room for both of
them you said it thank you
and after Mr and Mrs Phil Harris Phil
hiya Jackson
well well Alice I'm sure happy you were
able to come to dinner oh I wouldn't
have missed it for anything Jackson
she calls me Jackson you know everybody
here no chalice hello Alice oh right
Peggy I haven't seen you since our trip
to New York and Alice you know Mary
Livingston oh well of course I do hello
Mary so nice seeing you again hello
hello that's a fine greeting who cares
how many fan clubs she's got
married don't pay any attention to her
Alice you see Mary is always jealous of
any girl that shines up to me well who's
shining up to you
well I mean that you I mean explain that
Jackson
don't get excited Phil now look fellas
let's not have a brawl I don't want duck
stains all over the furniture
well well this is the uh first time
you've ever been to my house is it Alice
yes and I think it's furnished in very
good taste what did you mean Phil I
should wear my old clothes
why fail you little rascal uh say Mary
call up Luella Parsons and tell her
Alice Faye is visiting me she'll never
believe it she will too call Harrison
Carroll say Phil I want to congratulate
you on your performance last night and
the courtship of Miles standing yeah
it's a best play our night school ever
put on oh yes Phil you were excellent as
Priscilla but as long as you were
playing the part of a girl why didn't
you shave before you went out on the
stage I didn't want people to think I
was on a level
well let's spoil it a little for me by
the way Phil use the ashtray Peggy these
rugs are expensive
[Music]
by the way Phil that's a girl
uh by the way Phil uh uh did you Phil
did you did you get those flowers I sent
you before the performance oh yeah
thanks for the Christmas anthemum
Christmas anthemum Phil I told you last
night it's one word chrysanthemum oh lay
off honey I don't want no lecture on
Thanksgiving
behave yourself filler I won't read that
book to you anymore what book are you
reading to him Alice oh you know Jack A
is for Apple so round and red
B is for butter you spread it on bread
what are you kidding C is for crackers
you eat them in bed I know them all
see you you'll be up to the Rover boys
pretty soon
well I don't know about you folks but
I'm gonna have a cocktail before dinner
oh don't jack you always act so silly I
do not one cocktail and it's look Fellas
on a Spanish dancer oh a Spanish Dancer
by that time he's wearing a lampshade
well someone's got to put a little life
in the parties around this town oh
Sylvester yeah the yeah the boss hmm go
out in the kitchen and tell Rochester
we're ready for dinner another one told
that bird lift that bed oh shut up
foreign
[Applause]
I hope you're good and hungry I'm on a
diet myself you see I have to be on
account of the new picture I'm making I
knew we'd get around to that quiet see
I'm working opposite Cara Lombard and I
must look my best Well Jack I've seen
you in pictures before and as I recall
you always look very nice yes I imagine
I do but of course I look much younger
on the screen oh much much much
foreign
you know Alice now that we're both at
20th Century Fox maybe you and I will be
working together soon who knows I think
we'd make a swirl team yes are you with
your Youth and beauty and me with my
Suave debonairs charm
you're right Phil he is hammy
you know Alice the next time I see Mr
xanick
dinner folks walk do not run into the
dining room
you'll take Alice Phil you take Peggy
and Mary oh Mary call up header Hopper
and Jimmy star and herbstein tell him
that Alice Faye's having dinner with me
today okay and call Sydney skowski too
Koski yes who's going to boost him up to
the telephone
he's got a ladder like Billingsley all
right everybody grab your seat and take
your time now there's plenty for all
come on
[Applause]
[Music]
boy what a dinner hey this dressing is
delicious Jack I'm glad you like it or
Rochester served Mrs Harris some more
duck we have another piece of duck Ellis
no thanks I'm still chewing on my first
piece
well you've got beautiful teeth use them
I uh I think the duck is very tasty
don't you marry yeah but the next time
you go out shooting be more careful
mine's full of Buckshot Mary that's what
that bowl is for dump the buck shot in
the bowl oh
that's it personally I think this is the
finest meal text me that bowl will you
marry yeah I feel thanks
well I really banged away at that one
little liar but I still say this is a
lovely dinner yeah everything from soup
to lead never mind and have another
cranberry one cranberry you're supposed
to have cranberry sauce well squash it
are you helpless
foreign
bring me a sharper knife I got Humphrey
say Alice Alice I have a real treat for
you after dinner I'll take you
downstairs and show you Carmichael my
polar bear oh that swell I love animals
you do have you got any pets Alice oh
just fill my little reformed wolves
some more uh some more dressing done no
thanks by the way Jack where's Dennis
didn't you invite him to dinner yes I
wonder what happened to the kid me too
Mary don't give it away oh Sylvester
have we heard from Mr Dave yeah the Heap
on the left word that he was having
dinner with Miss Petty Lamar Hedy
lamarrhea that boy sure gets around
don't he
Ard
all right Sylvester stop leaning on the
table and get busy enjoying the food
Peggy oh it's fine Jack and the dressing
is delicious what's in it I really don't
know all right
he's like all good chefs Peggy just
won't give away a secret
get another Bowl Rochester this one's
full
feeling all right Alice oh I've never
been to such a novel dinner party and
that you'd feel I got a prize in my
dressing a prize uh-huh look a shoe horn
yeah
that is anomaly isn't it I got a red
cross button in mine
we'll hand it over I joined yesterday
and remind me everybody could especially
this year Rochester I think we'll have
our dessert and coffee in the music room
okay but as if everybody's had enough
ducks
come on come on let's go in the music
room uh what are we having for dessert
Jack what do you think I'll bet a
thousand dollars this jello with that
new locked in flavor you win Don the
flavor never goes away
say let's have some entertainment while
we're waiting for the coffee yeah what
do we do well we can oh I know hey look
at me fellas yeah take that bowl of
fruit off your head you don't look
anything like Carmen Miranda well
somebody's got to entertain well what
about Alice singing a song for us yeah
what about it Alan come on
come on
you hear that Alice will you sing for us
oh wait till I finish chewing this duck
huh all right and I'll tell you what if
you sing I'll accompany you on the
violence no no no Jackson no not that
all right all right come on Alice uh
what's that song Alice what's that song
you did in your new picture weekend in
Havana and you mean tropical magic yeah
that's it you sing tropical magic and
I'll pull rabbits out of my house quiet
everybody Alice is going to say
foreign
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
Whispering Shadows
[Applause]
never goodbye
music to play
tropical magic
you'll have me pain
adios to my heart
foreign
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
Whispering Shadows
out of a midnight
whisper money
you're never goodbye
ideas
[Music]
foreign
[Applause]
well anyway folks that's just about what
happened to Jack's house last Thursday
Alice sang a song and then we all played
games that had a swell time and just as
we were leaving we could hear Russia
what is it Rochester what do I do with
all this stuff that's left over well we
can have it tomorrow night to make what
about the mashed potatoes and all this
very tasty okay I'll make a pie out of
them cranberry pie is delicious you know
okay oh same boss what I think we ought
to turn this bug shot over to the
government for National Defense
that's a very good idea early yet so I'm
going out to see a movie is that still
playing around
oh mean Charlie's
all right boys good night Roger
[Music]
one of Mary Livingston's favorite Jello
desserts is a swell treat called Peach
and banana mold
because I think you like it too I'm
going to pass it right along it's an
easy recipe to remember its main
ingredients are canned sliced peaches
sliced bananas and lime Jello and you
combine them like this
make up one package of lime Jello as you
usually do next arrange one half cup of
canned sliced Peaches on the bottom of
the mold and pour the jello over them
then slice one banana into the jello and
chill until firm when you unmold it
you'll have a beautiful three layer
dessert golden Peach slices on top
sliced bananas embedded on the bottom
and in between them and surrounding them
clear glistening Emerald lime Jello many
grosses are featuring canned sliced
peaches and lime Jello all next week get
both and make up this Grand Tree just be
sure when you buy to ask for jello
because jello's new locked in flavor
gives you all the flavor always
[Music]
the last number of the eighth program in
the current yellow series and we'll be
with you again next Sunday at the same
time well Alice it was awfully sweet of
you to come over tonight and show the
folks what happened last Thursday and
your song was really wonderful oh thanks
Jackson Jackson she called me Jackson
good night folks
[Music]
20th Century Fox picture
[Applause]