[Music]
Hello friends welcome to this day in
Jack Benny I'm John Henderson this
episode is from March 14th
1948 sponsored by Lucky Strike
cigarettes so round so firm so fully
packed so free and easy on the draw the
famous tobacco auctioneers heard on
tonight's programmer Mr LA Speed Rigs of
Goldsborough North Carolina he
[Applause]
Mr Fe Boon of Lexington Kentucky
499 American also on the radio you could
hear Truth or Consequences sponsored by
does
soap previously the host Ralph Edwards
held a contest where you had to guess a
secret celebrity and the latest was The
Walking Man yes all right this is Ralph
Edwards of Truth or Consequences tell us
who you think is The Walking Man Jack
Benny is correct and you in the giant
Jack PR don't go away there my dear a
Chicago housewife I suppose how do you
feel Mrs
hubard you work for the best firm in
Chicago you say what is it Carson
something oh oh department store Carson
Perry scotton company are you a sales
clerk
there all right now take it easy take it
easy well that's a girl all right now
are you married you're a widow we we
want all the nation too to hear the
walking man's own feelings about this so
we'll hear about you in detail next week
on truth of consequences Mrs Hubbert is
that all right you will have to ask
Carson Perry and St yes I know but I
mean if they say it's okay now don't go
away because I'm going to bring in The
Walking Man Jack Benny in just one
second now hang on uh come in
Jack
yes um
Jack Jack you can talk now Jack look
they know who you
are
Jack Jack look the contest is over you
can stop walking thank goodness my feet
are killing
me well well Jack it's all over wasn't
it a wonderful experience the whole
country was trying to guess the identity
of The Walking Man on everybody's lips
it was who is the walking man who's the
talking man and just imagine it was you
yeah you know I do it all the time Ralph
uh what do you think of uh Mrs hubard
winning all those prizes isn't it
exciting H what's the matter Jack don't
don't you think she deserved it oh yes
yes but look Jack she sent in the
winning letter well you should have seen
the letter I sent
in my writers worked a week on it I
think I'll fire him and hire Mrs hubard
I know you're joking because you've kept
it a real secret and that I mean and
your writers will be the most surprised
people of all look even Mary didn't know
about it and that's the truth I believe
you jack by the way Ralph yes would you
ask Mrs hubard if she would like to also
be a guest on my show of course if she
can come see if we can get Carson Perry
and Scott right yes of
course all right I know she'd be
delighted to be a guest on your show a
week from tomorrow another program on
the radio was called bride and
groom here come comes the
bride I'd like to introduce our bride
and groom and I see that you're both
smiling and very happy oh very happy
indeed how long has you've been looking
forward to this day Charles oh about 2
years now let's get down to the most
interesting part which is this love
story that brought you two together
who's going to start oh I think she
should I think I'm getting my way now
anyway aren't I and Charles hasn't seen
anything yet on the radio show The Life
of Riley there was a character called
Digger Odell who's that it is I Digby
Odell the friendly
Undertaker and Fred Allen one day on
Vine speed Benny overpowered me and
introduced
himself but enough about Mr Fe Boon
straight man on the big screen you could
see the Naked City this is the city as
it is hot summer Pavements the children
at play the buildings in their naked
Stone the people without makeup Ronald
Coleman was nominated for for best actor
at the upcoming Oscars for his role in a
double life I'll come by later Jack
Benny and Mary his wife in real life
were on the cover of the April edition
of Radio Mirror magazine this episode
has a rare shout out to the character
actress blanch Stewart who you'll hear
in an unusual role and the Man known for
his voice characterizations Mel
blank all if you'd like to contact me
you can email Jack Benny podcast
gmail.com and take a moment to give this
day in Jack Benny a five-star rating and
review on Apple podcasts and enjoy the
show The Jack Benny Program presented by
Lucky
[Applause]
Strike Lucky Strike and Lucky Strike
alone offers you important evidence
gathered in the tobacco country by the
world famous Crosley poll this evidence
reveals the smoking preference of
auctioneers buyers and warehousemen the
men who really know tobacco here's what
the Crosley Pole for their own personal
smoking enjoyment independent tobacco
experts again name Lucky Strike First
Choice Lucky Strike First Choice over
any other brand these experts know their
business their overwhelming preference
for Lucky Strike We Believe has a direct
relationship to the Quality tobacco we
purchase for luies and to the real deep
down smoking enjoyment you may expect
from fine tobacco and when these veteran
tobacco experts name Lucky Strike first
choice for their own personal smoking
enjoyment then you know LS mft LS mft
Lucky Strike means fine tobacco and fine
tobacco is what counts in a cigarette so
smoke the smoke tobacco expert smoke
Lucky Strike remember independent
tobacco experts again name Lucky Strike
First Choice Lucky Strike First Choice
over any other
[Music]
brand the Lucky Strike program starring
Jack Benny with Mary Livingston Phil
Harris Rochester Dennis day and yours
truly Don
[Music]
Wilson ladies and gentlemen as an
emergency measor at 2:00 this morning
the state of California went on daylight
savings time which means that in
California we started the day an hour
earlier this Sudden Change has even
upset the Barnyard animals for this
morning when I opened my bedroom window
at 5:00 which was really 4:00 I
heard shut
[Applause]
up what a shame it's their first
argument since they appeared on bride
and
groom continue Don yes ladies and
gentlemen when the change of time has
certainly been confusing so now we bring
you a man who gets 5:00 shadow with his
4:00 tea Jack
[Applause]
Benny thank
you thank you thank you thank you hello
again this is Jack Betty talking and Don
Don what is the reason for this Sudden
Change of time here in California Well
Jack because of the drought there's been
a power shortage and the extra hour of
daylight saves millions of kilow hours
of electricity kilowatts yes yes you see
we've had practically no rain and it
takes millions of tons of water rushing
through the pen stocks to turn the
turbines which generate electricity it
then run through the Giant Transformers
in which it is converted into
alternating current and this current is
sent throughout the state on a
complicated network of cables
where imagine them going through all
that trouble just so Rochester can burn
my toast in the
[Music]
morning but Don this drought has really
been something I don't ever remember it
being so dry out well listen this you'll
never believe I mean this sounds
incredible but it's been so dry last
week I passed a Citrus Grove and I saw
an orange sucking a
lemon you know the rain today nearly
spoil that
[Music]
joke
you know we nearly took it
out but anyway Don I like the idea of
broadcasting at 5:00 instead of 4:
because it gives us more time oh say Mr
Benny I heard you and Don talking about
oh oh hello Dennis hello say Mr Benny I
heard you and Don talking about did you
just get here again yeah I heard you and
Don talking about daylight savings time
and I'm in favor of it well I'm glad you
are Dennis you see it it gives us an
extra hour of daylight every day yeah I
got up at 2:00 this morning I turned my
watch ahead 365
hours what I'm said I'm set for the
whole year
yeah i't she glad you made me repeat
that
huh but Dennis Dennis look at me I want
to ask you one thing why do you have to
be so silly I mean you you're not a kid
anymore look at you're approaching
manhood I
am certainly and you have
responsibilities look at Dennis I really
wanted to talk to you when I was your
age I was serious-minded settled I was
supporting my family I'd get up at 4:00
in the morning on a cold wintry day pack
my own lunch and trudge 12 miles through
the snow looking for work any kind of
work selling paper shoveling coal
digging ditches anything and at night
with the pennies I had earned clunch in
my little
fist
clenched in my little
F I would drag my weary body home and it
was because of my efforts that my loved
ones my family were able to keep Body
and Soul together through that Dreadful
winter what do you think of that that
was pretty good but I still think
they'll give it to Ronald
Coleman Dennis I was just telling you
the story of my life I wasn't trying to
get an Academy Award I didn't even make
a picture so I'm not eligible to win it
oh you're just being modest I'm not
being modest I didn't make a picture
last year if I had made one then I would
be eligible to win the award what a
h oh For Heaven's Sake I don't know why
I get into these things oh speaking of
pictures Jack I saw a great one last
night really down what' you see the
Naked City oo what he
[Music]
said well that does it Mary have you
ever heard anyone so ridiculous Mary I'm
talking to you Jack I don't come in to
the next page well come in now I can't
stand any more of this okay hello Jack
hello Mary hey fellas look who's here
[Applause]
Mary say Jack I'm all mixed up now how
come we're broadcasting at 3:00 instead
of 4 we're not broadcasting at 3:00 look
at it's 5:00 you see you're supposed to
set your watch ahead ahead certainly see
the idea is to get an extra hour of
daylight and the purpose of that is to
conserve electricity
you see there's been a drought and it
takes millions of tons of water rushing
through the pen stocks to turn the
turbin which generate electricity it has
then run through a giant shut
up Miss Stewart you were employed on
this program to read one line at the
opening of the show and that's
all I could have got a real chicken but
they wanted 90 cents a
pound now please don't interrupt again
$643 70 Dennis what are you figuring Don
Wilson at 90 cents a
pound Dennis go don go sit on Dennis for
a while so we can get on with the show
will you say Jack are you having the
winner of The Walking Man contest on the
program today yes Mary Ralph Edwards is
going to bring her over later well good
because I got a letter from Mama and she
say she's going to listen oh a letter
from your mother yeah here it is right
here well what does The Fearless fos
dick of planfield have to
say I'll read it to you
my darling daughter Mary just a short
note to tell you how thrilled we all
were to find that Jack was The Walking
Man when I heard the news I got so
excited that the cow is now wearing four
Band-Aids oh the poor thing I should
have realized Jack was The Walking Man
as soon as I heard that clue where he
played the violin it sounded like a cat
who already lost eight lives and didn't
have a nickel to call North Side
777 Mary you your mother can put a
Band-Aid on that gag too so much for
Jack this show was written in do W Diddy
I think so much for Jack now here's the
latest family news your sister babe has
been studying Dramatics and this
Wednesday she will have an important
part in the annual St Patrick's Day play
well babe the play will open with St
Patrick chasing babe out of
Ireland say babe should be good in that
part she never did Have Hips you
[Music]
know this part doesn't give babe any
lines to read but she'll have a chance
to hiss back at the audience good good
no other news except we had to take your
Uncle Harry to a psychiatrist as he
thinks he's an
avocado every time I make a salad he
jumps in the bowl what once he did it
without dressing
Mary salad dressing that is is your
Uncle Harry is really a character I
remember last year he thought he was a
tube of shaving cream every time he left
the house he wanted you to screw his cap
on what a guy so we'll close now with
all my love to you your mother Mama well
I'm glad that's over now come on Dennis
it's time for your song what are you
going to sing well since Wednesday is St
Patrick's Day I'm going to sing
McNamara's band good good go
[Applause]
ahead
all me name is McNamara I'm the leader
of the band although we're few in
numbers we're the finest in the land we
play at wakes and weddings and at every
fancy ball and when we play to funerals
we play the march from sa oh the drums
go bang and the symbos clang and the
horns they Blaze away the car pumps the
old bassoon while I the pipes do Play oh
Hennessy Tennessee toodles the fruit and
the music something Grand a credit to
Old Ireland is back
Mar right now we are rehearsing for a
very swell Affair the annual celebration
all the Gentry will be there when The
Walking Man to Ireland came he took me
by the hand says he I never saw the
likes of magnar's band oh the drums go
bang and the SYM clang and the horns
they BL away thei puns the all bassoon
while I the PIP play Oh Hennessy
Tennesse toles the flute and the music
something Grand a credit to Old
irelanders
MN oh nameus and from have come to play
with mnar and beat the Big B drum and
when they March along the street the
ladies Tank come Grand they shout as
Uncle Julius playing vit an Irish band
oh the drums go bang and the Sim and the
horns they Blaze away the puns the Allon
while I the fights to play Oh Hennessy
Tennesse toles the flute and the music
something Grand a credit to Old Ireland
is magnam band sure it's the grandest
band in the world and if anybody doesn't
agree with me just to be sociable I'll
fight the best man in the house and I'm
not long for this
world
ma
that that was MC nera's band sung by
that we broth of a lad Dennis day and
Dennis Me by sure and beg I'm proud of
you lad as I am of me father
chele but Dennis seriously I want to
congratulate you and all the Irish on St
Patrick's Day thank you and a good y of
to you too
what thank
[Music]
you thank you Dennis and now oh hold it
kids come in here Mr Benny yes I'm here
to inform you that the results of Radio
Mirror Magazine's Nationwide po have
been tabulated and youve won the title
of America's favorite comedian well
thank you don't thank me I voted for
Mary's
mother what you're about as funny as an
eviction
NOS look all right you came here you
told me I won the award now you can go
and just a minute is Don Wilson around
well yes hey wait a minute ask me that
again will you yeah I said is Don Wilson
around he's not not only around but he's
a firm and a fully
packed oh brother you may not be the
walking man but you stepped right into
that one yes sir hey mister what are you
doing I'm setting my watch back an hour
I was happier
then now may I see Mr Wilson Oh Don come
here a minute yes what is it Jack and Mr
Wilson on behalf of Radio Mirror
magazine I want to congratulate you on
being voted America's favorite radio
announcer little old me yes little fat
old
you the plaque we're presenting to you
reads first prize awarded to Don Wilson
because of perfect diction and Flawless
anunciation well gosh who won second
prize Speedy
re he F Bo will be heartbroken now Mr
Benny while I'm here I'd like to take
some pictures of the lady who won The
Walking Man contest well Ralph Edwards
was supposed to bring her over and
they're not here yet I can't understand
what what's keeping him I better call up
and
see say mapel what is it g
is Mr Benny's line is flashing I wonder
what high button shoes wants
now well answer it and find out I'm
loosening my girdle you answer it okay
hello hello Mabel now this is G tro
right now Mabel is loosening G
ger will you try to get me Ralph Edwards
please just a moment he wants I should
get him Ralph Edward it's a good thing
he talked to you I'd have hung up on him
why why Jack took me out once and when
we got home he didn't even kiss me good
night I can't understand it I even
brought my lips up close to him like
this well no wonder we didn't kiss you
what I've seen a better pucker on a
closed laundry
bag
well maybe it's because I don't paint my
lips up so good you know it's hard with
a thin brush I think I'll start using a
rubber stamp like you
do yeah yeah but you got to be careful
once at the office I was in a hurry to
make up I grabbed the wrong stamp and my
lip said fragile this end
up anyway I don't I don't care what you
say Mabel to me Mr Benny has a very
sweet personality well everyone is
entitled to their own opinion that's why
you find so many things in fruit
cake oh that's a fine way to talk about
Mr Benny especially now that he's famous
as a walking man what's so wonderful
about that he was walking when Paul
Rivier was
riding ain't it the truth Operator
Operator
I'm sorry Mr Benny but Ralph Edwards
doesn't answer all right thanks Jack
wasn't Ralph Edwards home no but we
finally got to use that telephone
routine we've been saving since
Thanksgiving four times we rehearsed it
and had to take it out anyway Ralph will
be down here and Don until he gets where
he might as well oh hello Phil hello
Jackson how you
live I'm sorry I'm late Jackson but this
change of time got me all mixed up well
Phil that's ridiculous all you had to do
was set your watch ahead an hour well
that ain't easy for me you see my watch
has got four hands Four Hands sure here
I'll show it to you take a look at how
do you like that I saw four hands last
night that I can understand Phil are
those your eyes or are you trying to
flag down a freight pain anyway the
change of time is no excuse you've been
with me for 12 years and not once if
you've been on time for rehearsal
Jackson if you had a band as lousy as
mine you wouldn't even get here for the
show well well now that you really admit
that what your band sounds like why
don't you let him go I can't Jackson
can't do it I got to deal with patrilla
where I have to take all the in between
musicians in between musicians yeah when
they're through with Guy Lombardo and
not quite ready for Forest Lawn I get
them what a combination Guy Lombardo and
Forest
Lawn
[Music]
well well who makes their Arrangement
bger
Odell oh stop with those jokes what do
you mean jokes there look what it says
on the music where well I'll be darn may
you rest 16 bars in
[Music]
peace well Phil whether you like your
orc or not we have to have a band number
so hit it will you hey what's that now I
just did that to wake up the audience
well Mr blank you don't have to wake up
the audience you were hired just to do
one crow at the opening of the program
you can go home now but I'm talented I
can do a lot of things a dog a horse a
pig look
Mister look I don't want all of I also
imitate an electric organ
what cut that
out That's all
folks come on
let's
[Music]
that was a short version why
don't why don't you let me
know I wish somebody let me know these
things will unclutch your fist
that was I'm looking over a fourleaf
clover played by Phil Harris and his
Ireland Must Be Heaven because you can't
hear his music there Orchestra and now I
say Jack I'm a little worried Ralph
Edwards hasn't shown up yet well he
ought to be here any minute meanwhile
Don let's have a commercial oh I can't
do a commercial because the quartet
isn't here the quartet isn't here why
not well you
see what are you laughing at Mary the
quartet couldn't be here because a
baritone got married what about the
other three guys they tied their shoes
to the back of his car and forgot to get
out of
them you should have tied that joke to
the back of Fred
Al well Don even though the quartet
isn't here we got to have a commercial
so it's up to you to do it oh but Jack
how am I going to get laughs reading a
straight commercial well listen to this
LS mft LS mft Lucky Strike means F
tobacco yes Lucky Strike means F tobacco
listen to what Mr C Bert Oliver tobacco
warehouseman of Lexington Kentucky says
I I've been smoking lies for oh it's no
use Jack you can't get laughs that way
but you can Don you can I'll show you
you read the same thing and while you're
reading it I'll put this silly looking
straw hat on your head Straw Hat yeah
like the ones they wear in the magazine
ads now go ahead and read it again and
at a certain point I'll put on the St
okay okay LS mft LS mft Lucky Strike
means F tobacco yes Lucky Strike means F
tobacco listen to what Mr C Bert Oliver
tobacco warehouseman of Lexington
Kentucky now way I put on the hat now
now I've been smoking lies for n under
20 years because I've seen the makers a
Lucky Strike consistently by that five
life that naturally mild tobacco yes sir
why not you bet you all LS MF LS mft
Lucky Strikes are so round so firm so
fully packed so free and easy on the see
there you are Don you see how easy it is
get not only that it'll be great on
television you mean you're signing me up
no not you Don just the
hat and now folks hey Jack Jack your
guests have arrived my guest oh good
good I'll introduce them ladies and
gentlemen it isn't often that we have
guest stars on this program and for a
very good reason cost money besides
that but tonight it gives me great
pleasure to introduce the Master of
Ceremonies of radio's number one quiz
show and the originator of The Walking
Man contest here he is Ralph
[Applause]
Edwards hi a truth hello
consequence well I was worried that you
wouldn't get here so I called your house
but nobody answered I can't understand
it but Jack there was nobody in my house
so my phone couldn't be answered funny I
thought does does
everything uh maybe it was in the
washing machine at the maybe but I'm
sure glad you got here well so am I jack
because I want to take this opportunity
of thanking you again for your Splendid
cooperation in The Walking Man contest
which raised over a million dollars
whoops to be exact we raised almost
whoops whoops yes oh 2 million oh
good and all this money Jack went to the
American Heart Association well that's
certainly a worthy cause say rap do you
mind if I ask you a question I know Mary
what is it well in your four contests Mr
hush Mrs hush miss hush and the walking
mush I
mean I mean mat I mean M
walk what was the total value of all the
prices given away oh I'd say around
$100,000
geez and you know since I've been
running these contests I've been the
happiest guy in the world I only wish I
could give more prizes gives me such a
wonderful feeling giving things
away well to each his
[Music]
own but Ralph Ralph while you're on the
subject uh of money don't you think I
should receive something for my efforts
on your program the last eight weeks
Well Jack I know it was for charity
Ralph but for8 weeks I walked and walked
and walked yeah I know Jack and I have
here a check for you for
$630 $6.3 how'd you arrive at that
figure uh 15 cents for the first quarter
mile and 20 cents a mile therea
so that's why you strapped that meter on
my back if I have known that I'd have
taken longer steps you know Jack I know
I should put on that straw hat for that
joke you know no but I can't understand
you at all I always thought it was just
a gag but it seems the only thing you
can think of is money so what Ralph
there's nothing wrong with liking money
oh but Jack think of it this way money
isn't everything supposing you were the
only person in the whole world all the
diamonds all the wealth all the gold was
yours I wouldn't to be
lonely lonely but
loaded I'd be so nice to come home
to well I may as well get to the real
reason for my being here today I brought
along as my special guest tonight uh Mrs
Florence hubard of Chicago May I
introduce her to you and your listeners
certainly Ral go right ahead all right
ladies and gentlemen it's my privilege
to present the winner of The Walking Man
contest Mrs Florence hubard of Chicago
Illinois
uh Mrs hubard I want to welcome you to
this program thank you Mr Benny you know
I read in the paper that after you won
The Walking Man contest all your old
friends people you haven't heard for in
years came around to see you that's
right GE that must have been thrilling
who was the very first person to visit
you after you won the income tax man
oh well I'll bet I'll bet after the
income tax man got there and Mrs hub's
cupboard was
Bare for that I left
[Music]
Chicago tell us miss Hubbert uh how did
you discover that Jack was The Walking
Man it was simple the footsteps were
familiar you mean you've heard his
footsteps before no but I realized they
were made by a person around my own
a now just a second uh Mrs hubard uh how
how old are you
39 39 gee you look a little older I am
but but they gave me a new birth
certificate it was one of the prizes oh
oh I
see you know this is really quite a
coincidence I happen to be 39 years old
myself really what contest did you
win no no contest you see that's really
my age but you look much Mrs Hub
remember you're a guest here yeah yeah
now Mrs hubber tell me were you born in
Chicago uh no I was born in the sou
really where a little place called do
rad
Dy well Mrs Hub now that you've had all
this good luck I suppose you'll be
thinking of getting married again huh
won't you no now that I've all these
prizes I feel that I don't need anyone
but but won't you be lonely lonely but
loaded
oh yes yes I know what you mean all be
ni you to come on my program tonight
thank very much and
congratulations independent tobacco
experts again name Lucky Strike First
Choice Lucky Strike First Choice over
any other
brand American that statement is backed
up by an impartial Crosley poll just
completed in 11 Southern tobacco States
this poll taken among tobacco experts
reveals the smoking preference of the
men who really know tobacco yes for
their own personal smoking enjoyment
independent tobacco experts again name
Lucky Strike First Choice Lucky Strike
First Choice over any other brand these
are the experts auctioneers buyers and
warehousemen and we believe their
overwhelming preference for Lucky Strike
has a direct relationship to the Quality
tobacco we purchase for liy you've heard
the polar result
now listen to what Mr Fred Evans a
veteran tobacco buyer for 25 years
recently said at every auction I've
attended I've seen the makers of Lucky
Strike by fine ripe Mel of tobacco I've
smoked luies 19 years so for your own
real deep down smoking enjoyment
remember LS mft LS mft Lucky Strike
means fine tobacco so round so firm so
fully packed so free and easy on the
draw
ladies and gentlemen I want to thank
Ralph Edwards and Mrs hubard for being
with us today Mrs hubard appeared to the
courtesy of Carson Peri and
Scott also on our program tonight we're
Mel blank Frank Nelson B benad Sarah
burner Blan Stewart I appeared through
the courtesy of penicillin tonight good
night this is NBC The National
Broadcasting Company
[Music]