The Golden Age of Radio

11 The Burns and Allen Show 1943_11_02 With Jack Benny Pt 01

Radio was still fighting the good fight against television in the early 1950s, but times were changing. For example, comedian Jack Benny was the main guest on radio's Bing Crosby Show. Benny was there to tout his new T.V. show.

The Fred Allen Show features a variety of comedy skits, including going door-to-door to ask colorful neighbors if they are having trouble sleeping. Jack Benny later crashes the show by sneaking into a 60 cent studio tour

Jack Benny visits the Bill Stern Sports Show where he jokes about what a great athlete he is and talks about his favorite sports. He also gets serious in discussing the end of World War II and thanking the USO for allowing him to visit American troops.

n "The Horn Blows at Midnight," the "Chief" has had it with planet 33974 — also known as Earth. Saying there are too many wars and hate on Earth, the Chief decides to destroy it. But with his top demolition experts busy on other projects, the Chief is forced to send bumbling junior angel, Nathaniel, played by Jack Benny, to blow his horn and make Earth disappear. Is Nathaniel up to the job? Listen to the conclusion of "The Horn Blows at Midnight."

In "The Horn Blows at Midnight," the "Chief" has had it with planet 33974 — also known as Earth. Saying there are too many wars and hate on Earth, the Chief decides to destroy it. But with his top demolition experts busy on other projects, the Chief is forced to send bumbling junior angel, Nathaniel, played by Jack Benny, to blow his horn and make Earth disappear. Is Nathaniel up to the job? Listen to Part 1 of "The Horn Blows at Midnight."

In the "Horn Blows at Midnight," the "Chief" has had it with planet 33974 — also known as Earth. Saying there are too many wars and hate on Earth, the Chief decides to destroy it. But with his top demolition experts busy on other projects, the Chief is forced to send bumbling junior angel, Nathaniel, played by Jack Benny, to blow his horn and make Earth disappear. Is Nathaniel up to the job?

In "The Face is Familiar," Jack Benny plays a nice guy who likes to ramble around a train station. He stumbles upon two thugs planning a bank robbery, who are looking for a third man to pull off the caper. Benny's insistence that he recognizes one of the robbers sucks him into the bank heist.

Fueled by the Cold War, sci-fi was all the rage in the 1950s. In this episode of Suspense on the Jack Benny Program, the comedian gives the sci-fi genre a satirical spin as only Jack Benny can. He plays Zeno, a blue-collar Martian who is sent by his superiors to meet the first rocket from Earth to land on Mars — and to put "Plan X" into effect. 

After 30 years on the job, a meek department store accountant plans his own unique retirement pension. Listen to what happens.

Suspense: "Murder in G-Flat" from 1951 featuring Jack Benny. A meek piano tuner's bag of tools is switched in the subway with a bag filled with $25,000.

The Jack Benny Program from 1950 starring Jack Benny with guest, Bob Hope. The show originates from Palm Springs. Guest Bob Hope is late for the show.

The Jack Benny Program from 1949 starring Jack Benny with guests, Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarthy, Red Skelton and Amos n' Andy. Jack arrives at the CBS studios and meets all the stars of CBS while trying to find his dressing room.

The Whistler: "Whirlpool" from 1948 starring William Conrad. After a shipwreck, a man is offered the chance to impersonate a clever woman's husband and collect a lot of money.

The Weird Circle: "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" from 1944 by Edgar Allen Poe, starring Arnold Moss. The classic story of French murder and its surprise ending.