Retro Radio Podcast

Mary sings as she helps Jack decorate his house for the big Christmas party. Jack trims the tree, and talks about the famous guests he invited. Also about Barbara, the girl that Jack alegedly stole away from Phil a few episodes earlier. Rochester greets the gang as they arrive. Kenny sings, O Little Town of Bethlehem. As Jack continues trimming the tree, Mary reads rejection telegrams from each of his celebrity guests. Despite a few mishaps, Jack remains in the Christmas spirit. Andy Devine arrives to play Santa Claus for the gang. Phil plays some mood music, then Jack gets a surprise when Phil brings Joan Bennet for his date. Joan gets to joke around about the film she just made with Jack. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "retrootr-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_title = "jack Benny on Amazon"; amzn_assoc_asins = "0517092131,087000347X,1617090220,1593931018"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "d044d97d5e71edb0df9497c070c428e8";

The Bowl Weevils have been particularly bad this year, and the gents gear up for high production of their formula. Lum takes orders over the phone, as Abner cooks up batches of the formula. Is there a better way to make more? There’s a bottle neck in the supply of chemicals from the wholesale house. Abner gets confused over the term of bottle neck. Grandpap makes the observation that this business could make Lum and Abner rich. They don’t entertain the daydream for long, they’re more concerned for saving the cotton crop. Acting as delivery boy, Ben Withers pops in with the new orders. If they slash the price, will the company make more money? Ben thinks so, but Lum wants to hold out for his price. Will good will and a slashed price win out over Lum’s business plan? How much formula is going to be needed to win the war of the weeevil?

When the Army has decided to practice their combat maneuvers in Wistful Vista, the whole town is buzzing, and in a military mood. Fibber is off to see the General to advise him on tactics. Fibber claims to be a retired Major, and Gildersleeve is the General. Fibber brags about his younger days as Carpet Tactics McGee. As Major McGee resumes his active duty status, Donald Novas sings, Only a Rose. The Old Timer enters with a word on shortages and surpluses. A Chinese camp cook pops in to tell about his service to the Army. Abigail Uppington shares a word from the upper crust before Harlow Wilcox delivers on the commercial. Nick the Greek guy tells about his fighting spirit. Fibber gets his moment, and he offers advice to the general on the local terrain. Billy Mills plays as the Four Notes sing, Patty Cake. Boomer pops in with his idea to sell the Army a secret weapon. If only he can find his authorization form. In the end Fibber finds that his services aren’t up to military standards. Note: Harold Peary is recognizable as the loud, pompous Gildersleeve character, but can you guess what other character he plays in the show? If you know, drop me a comment to say who you think it is.

The scene opens with three old gents looking for a farm that lays East of town. With a little help from a star they get their bearings. Doc Miller has sent them out with groceries for the family in need. The family has come on hard times after a fire, and are forced to spend the wintery night in a barn. The humble scene is described as Lum, Abner, and grandpap draw close to the barn. The details of the hardship of the family is described, and a charitable spirit is present as the gents all talk about extending their homes to the weary travellers. At the barn, Doc Miller sheds some light as to how to help the carpenter out, and provide for the family with the baby being born tonight. The sentimental scene wraps up with a carol that goes hand in hand with the events of the night.

Robert Taylor introduces the opening song, Honolulu. Tony Martin tells about his dressing room to Robert, and band leader Meredeth Willson. Tony sings, Christmas Night in Harlem. Baby Snooks and daddy are next to share Christmas frustrations as daddy tries to get her primed on proper etiquette in visiting the department store Santa. Snooks manages to show generosity to an under privileged boy. Learn the story behind a beloved Christmas Carole, Silent Night. The orchestral singers perform the tune. Frank Morgan is on hand to complain about his new suit. He brags about his boyhood in Switzerland, and mountain climbing. His storytelling includes being an Olympic champion. Skiing, skating, and athletic prowess. Baby Snooks is back to recite, the Owl and the Pussy Cat. Robert Taylor and Rita Johnson perform a dramatic short, Rendezvous at Dawn. The couple meet for a romantic moment at their favorite cafe. Happy times turn into clashes with soldiers, and the need for an escape, if that’s possible. Years pass, but is there hope of a rekindled romance? Tony Martin is back, and sings, Old Man River. Baby Snooks and the cast have time for some more musical Christmas fun, What Makes the World Go Round.

Revelling in the latest use of the formula, Abner tells grandpap about his new title as doctor. Grandpap isn’t impressed, but we learn how the formula has been a hit in killing potato bugs. They can hardly keep making it to meet the demand. The success won’t go to Abner’s head, and change him, will it? To get all spiffed up for an upcoming party, Abner wants to borrow some of grandpap’s old duds. The two talk about thwe party preparations, and who’ll be there. What other high society fads have become popular lately in Pine Ridge? Abner tells how Lizabeth won’t be able to make it, since she’s so busy tending to woman’s work. Lum enters just ahead of Ben Withers. Word comes in that the Bowl Weevil is particularly bad this year for cotton farmers. Will the formula win the battle for the cotton crop? Note: Abner’s idea of woman’s work is just about all the hard chores of keeping a farm. Chopping firewood, working the fields, tending the animals, Laundry, ironing, and so forth. Keep in mind, the fireood is for a kitchen stove, and the iron would be the kind that was heated over the stove.

`After the performance on last week’s show, Jack feels the need to call a meeting. One by one, Jack complains about Phil, Mary, and Dennis. Jack replays recordings from the previous shows to prove his points about their mistakes. Is the cast really losing their edge, or is it just going to show Jack’s ability to roll with the punches and do some adlibbing for the best laugh possible. Dennis sings, Roses in December. With the meeting finished, Jack goes to visit the Colemans. Jack gets acting tips from Ronald as he watches his neighbor make his latest dramatic film. Although Jack has his own ideas on how to direct the scene.

Featuring host, Robert Young, the music of Meredeth Willson, the comedy of Baby Snookx, and Frank Morgon. After arriving late, and blamuing it on an incident with a horse, and Robert Young, Tony Martin sings, Everybody’s Laughing. Fanny Brice as Baby Snooks, asks non stop questions of her daddy, Hanley Stafford. Daddy has indigestion, Snooks has insomnia, and gets a lesson on the moon and stars. Will she tell daddy a bedtime story for a change? Meredeth Willson performs his hit, Ferdinand the Bull. Frank Morgan is on hand to complain about a bill, and some legal troubles. Commercial break. Presenting the Charles Dickins classic, Lionell Barrymore narrates, and introduces the cast from the recently produced film. The familiar tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, and the ghostly, midnight visitors who try to change his mind about celebrating Christmas is presented. The loyal employee, Bob Cratchet, festive relatives, charitible organizations needing help, and the beloved Tiny Tim. Ghostly visits begin with long dead business partner, Jacob Marley, and proceed to the spirits of Christmas past, present, and future.

The year started with FDR being sworn in again. Disaster strikes when rivers overflow their banks near Memphis, Tennessee. Sit down strikers make an Impact on Detroit, resolved by peaceful efforts. Tragedy struck in May, with The Hindenberg disaster. Speculation was that a flash of lightening struck, but to this day is still a mystery. The first non stop flight across the Atlantic is monitored through the night by radio stations. George VI is crowned, and for the first time, a king’s voice and coronation are heard round the globe. The America’s Cup Yacht races are broadcast over radio for the first time. Legionaires have traffic in Times Square blocked off for their parade. An event that went on for days. Shadows of war loom, and America expresses hope to defend peace. The voice of a queen is heard for the first time on the air. An experiment in artificial insemination of chicken eggs is conducted. Looking forward to 1938, the president of Mutual Broadcasting System shares the mission of the network. The various network announcers sign off. Note: All events have been dramatized, other than speeches from world leaders. Namely FDR and the king of England.

Joe Friday and partner, Frank Smith are just finishing up with a case, and talk about Frank’s home life. He is having woman troubles after forgetting Valentine’s Day. Friday isn’t much help in the advice department, but at least offers a sympathetic ear. Their conversation is interupted by a call to investigate a robbery that turned into murder of a store clerk. At the scene, it is clear that the .38 caliber slug killed the clerk, passed through his body, but can’t be found on the scene. Other local store workers don’t offfer up much more help, but a doctor who treated a bullet wound has information that sends Friday and Smith to a residence to question a housewife. The woman’s husband has been out of town all week at a sales convention. She has a photo that Joe takes, and the doctor uses it to identify the man. After just a moment of confusion, he points out that it was the housewife’s brother, not her husband. It doesn’t take much to track down the errant young man. Once questioned, he tries to deny his activity, but is soon becomes clear that he was involved, and what his part in the murder was. Note: This situation sounds very familiar, but different. There was an episode not long ago where Friday was on the trail of a young married couple, but the doer turned out to be the younger brother of the wife. There was even a mix up over a jacket. In that one though it was a set of contact lenses that cracked the case, instead of the missing .38 slug.

With a new marketing campaign, the gents now offer their formula as something to kill potato bugs. Will they be able to write their own ticket, with a monopoly on the market. Cedric enters with his sales orders. He’s just a little too good at demonstrating, and sprayed the entire gardens of the folks he visited. When Cedric invested money in the store in a previous episode, he’s due to have a partnership in the store. Will he be tricked into keep on doing all the labor, but with a fancier, new title? Who’s going to be president? Will Lum pull a fast one to make sure it’s him?

Just as Santa has taken off for his Christmas ride, the Crazy Quilt Dragon, once again has the Silver Star and is on the run. What would make him do such a thing? Crazy Quilt tries to make his get away by climbing the North Pole. There is a last minute tangle, and then… Hey, what do you expect? A sad ending? Jim and Judy are back at home, and try to tell their mom about their adventures. their journey couldn’t have been only a dream… could it?

What has the hardboiled detective shaken up? Before he can head out to seek comfort with his best gal, Helen, a customer demands Richard’s attention. A package of important papers needs delivered. Though it would be unethical to peek into the package, Richard does, and discovers valuable diamonds. A phone call is all the assurance that somebody is setting him up, so Walt is called to witness what goes down. Is Richard pulling his own prank on his police buddies? How does the missing diamonds play into a murder that Walt is under pressure to solve? Tracking down addresses, Richard encounters a dame. What next? A thump on the head? You know it. Will he be any closer to learning why he was picked as the pigeon in the heist? The diamond seem long gone, but a plan begins to form, and Richard gets the answers he needs. Danger looms as Richard’s plan goes into affect. Calling on Walt to cover his back, the thugs won’t have long before they’re under wraps.

Playlist: * Rocking the Town. (Instrumental) * Alice Faye sings, Who Stole the Jam. If There Ever Was One. In Old Chicago. Medley * Champaigne Cocktails. (Instrumental) * Bob Allen sings, I Still Love to Kiss You Goodnight. * Bolero. (Instrumental) * Alice Faye sings, Once in a While. * By Heck. (Instrumental) * The whole gang take turns in a big medley of tunes including: (and I may not have all these right) * Goodbye Jonah. * Wearing Last Years Dresses * Do You Remember Me. * Ache in My Heart * Full Speed Ahead. * The Love Bug Will Bite You if You Don’t Watch Out. * The Loveliness of You. * Goodnight My Love * Thank Your Stars Above.

The merits, and lack of them in the formula are discussed. It dyes clothes purple, but is more expensive than plain old dye. The gents review their back and forth experience in discovering what the formula does, and in what to name the company. Lum begins to feel they ought to just give up on the business of the formula. He confuses Abner on an old Edwards saying, “You’ve got to have money to make money.” Can Lum explain the saying? Will Abner go into melt down at his misunderstanding? Squire Skimp pops in, wanting to offer to buy an interest in the formula. How will that deal go? Find out right after Abner gets a phone call from Lizzabeth and a new use for the formula.