The Automat

The Automat

Author: John Henderson May 28, 2026 Duration: 32:39

May 17 and 24, 1936 - Everybody's not so hot. Jack leaves New York for California with a visit from the travel agent. Jack and the gang visit the automat. These are two partial episodes edited together for a better listening expirence. 

References include Greta Garbo, James Cagney, Clark Gable, Fred MacMurray, Fred Atair, Ginger Rogers, Shirley Temple, Mae West, W.C. Fields, Fanny Brice, Walter Houston, George M. Cohen, Guy Lombardo. They also mention the Hindenburg Zeplin.


Step back into a world of radio dials and living room entertainment with This Day in Jack Benny. Host John Henderson curates a weekly trip to the past, pulling an original broadcast from the same calendar week, but sixty to eighty years prior. These episodes, known variously as The Jello Program or The Lucky Strike Program, capture the iconic comedy that aired from the 1930s through the 1950s. What you'll hear is the timeless rhythm of Jack Benny's legendary stinginess and his impeccable timing, surrounded by the familiar voices of Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris, Rochester, Dennis Day, and announcer Don Wilson. The humor, built on character and situation rather than dated references, remains surprisingly fresh and effective. This podcast offers more than just nostalgia; it's a direct line to a golden age of comedy that still delivers genuine laughs. Henderson presents each episode as a preserved artifact, allowing the original performances to shine without unnecessary commentary. It’s a family-friendly listen that bridges generations, proving that great comedy is truly timeless. Tune in and discover why these classic routines have endured, finding a perfect home in the modern podcast format where their charm can be appreciated all over again.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

This Day in Jack Benny
Podcast Episodes
Podcast Update 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:55
John Henderson's wife Stephanie joins him for a chat about the state of the podcast. https://thisdaybenny.com/
Lost Watch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:35
June 6, 1937 - Death at Midnight Part 2. Jack Benny has lost his watch, a Christmas present from Phil Harris. Eddie (Rochester) Anderson is in the episode. This is his last appearance before becoming Jack's butler. Refer…
Death At Midnight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:00
May 30, 1937 - Jack Benny is back after being sick and does a mystery play called "Death at Midnight" or "The Bang Bang Scream Murder Case" References include Bing Crosby, Mae West, Laural and Hardy, Dracula, Bullocks Wi…
Without Jack Benny [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:35
May 23, 1937 - Jack is sick and does not appear on the program. Don Wilson, Phil Harris and Kenny Baker fill in with guest singer Trudy Wood.
The Egg and I (Magic Eye) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:09
April 20, 1947 - Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone play Fred MacMurray and Claudette Colbert in their version of "The Egg and I". References include a radio component called the magic eye, singer Nelson Eddie, Sen-Sen liqu…
Sunset Boulevard (Easter) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:16
March 25, 1951 - It's Easter day and Jack Benny and the gang (joined by Mary's sister Babe) do a parody of the movie "Sunset Boulevard". References include the Senate crime investigating committee, billiard champ Willie…
Mary's Sister Babe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:52
April 1, 1951 - Leaving New York to do his TV show, Jack takes Babe Livingstone to the train station. References include The Kefauver Committee, Dick Tracy, the song "The Tennessee Waltz", the radio show Suspense, and Cl…
How Jack Found Mary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:06
March 18, 1945 - Jack tells a reporter the story of how he discovered Mary back in 1932. They made this episode for TV which aired October 31, 1954. Refrences include the Oscars where Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman were…
Courtroom Drama [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:33
March 13, 1938 - Death in the Night Club. Jack Benny and the gang talk about the Academy awards and do a play about a murder trial. References inlcude Kenny Baker in the movie "Goldwyn Follies", Fred Allen in "Sally, Ire…