Podcast Summary: Jack Benny - 39-11-19 - Jack Buys An Ostrich For Thanksgiving Dinner

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Episode Date: November 26, 2025
Original Broadcast Date: November 19, 1939
Featured Cast: Jack Benny, Mary Livingston, Don Wilson, Phil Harris, Dennis Day, Rochester

Episode Overview

This episode of The Jack Benny Program unfolds with the usual comedic banter between Jack and his ensemble, centering around the confusion and mishaps leading up to Thanksgiving dinner. The highlight? Jack Benny accidentally buys an ostrich instead of a turkey for his festive meal. The show brims with classic vaudevillian humor, musical interludes, playful jabs, and the beloved comedic timing of the original cast.

Key Discussion Points & Comedy Highlights

1. Opening Banter & Running Gags

• Jell-O Commercial & Introduction

  • Don Wilson opens with a characteristic, upbeat endorsement of Jell-O, emphasizing its place at every mealtime.

  • Introduces Jack Benny as “that bubbling personality, that effervescent comedian, that fizz.”

    "I am bubbling and effervescent. The fizz you can have back." – Jack Benny (02:41)

• Playful Insults and “Fizz” Interpretation

  • Don tries to explain “fizz” means Jack is “physical,” leading to wordplay and Jack’s quips about Don’s intelligence and his own mug.

2. The Pink Alligator Joke

• Virgil the sound man’s joke about a pink alligator and Bromo Seltzer is shared and dissected, leading to confusion from Dennis and skepticism from Mary.

  "If the man was walking down the street, where did he get the Bromo Seltzer?" – Dennis Day (04:16)
  "Yes, Dennis, and a banjo on his knee. Now don't worry about it." – Jack Benny (04:22)

• Mary and Jack trade even older jokes, with Mary’s “stepped in a poodle” pun, mocking old vaudeville humor.

3. Humor about Phil Harris

• Ribbing Phil Harris about his band, their sign, and artistic pretensions is a recurring theme.

  "He sold his painting… someday that picture will be hanging in Paris right next to the Mona Lulu." – Jack Benny (08:03)

• Jokes abound about Phil’s spelling and his appeal to the “collegiate crowd.”

4. Music and Good-Natured Sabotage

• Dennis sings "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair" (09:45–12:33), followed by playful praise and jibes.

  "Well, rake them up and let's get on with the show." – Mary Livingston, on Jack's “autumn-leaf-colored” hair (13:00)

• The group mocks Phil’s performance and then reverses course for comedic effect:

  "How'd you like Phil's number, Mary?" – Jack Benny (22:45)
  "Well, I thought it was a little loud and fast. Didn't you, Don?" – Mary Livingston (22:47)
  "I thought it was lousy." – Jack Benny, completing the running joke (22:53)

5. Thanksgiving Preparations

• Jack invites the cast and their families to Thanksgiving at his house, promising a massive turkey.

  "I've got the biggest, fattest, juiciest turkey you ever saw." – Jack Benny (23:47)

• Jack grandly claims his turkey weighs 65 pounds, which is met with doubt and ribbing.

• Jack lists Hollywood stars he’s (supposedly) invited—Clark Gable, Carol Lombard—which the cast ridicules.

6. Thanksgiving Poem by Mary Livingston

• Instead of a playlet, Mary presents her comedic Thanksgiving poem, poking fun at the calendar confusion surrounding Thanksgiving dates.

  "So, Thanksgiving, I don't mind if you're a week before or a week behind. What's the difference? What's the heck? The turkey's the guy that gets it in the neck. The end." – Mary Livingston (19:02–19:16)

7. The Ostrich Reveal: The Episode’s Comedic Climax

• Rochester calls Jack to report on the Thanksgiving bird. After humorous back-and-forth about working on the holiday, Rochester expresses suspicions about the "turkey."

  "Well, I went out in the garage a few minutes ago and she laid an egg as big as a cantaloupe." – Rochester (26:45)
  "Not only that, but every time I go in there, she sticks her head in a bucket of sand… Boss, you bought an ostrich." – Rochester (27:04)
  "She just ate the headlights off your car." – Rochester (27:12)
  "How do you know?" – Jack
  "She had two Adam's apples and they were going down fast." – Rochester (27:13)

• Jack’s mortification and Rochester's unflappable wit bring the episode to its farcical apex.

  "That big turkey I bought turned out to be an ostrich." – Jack Benny (28:08)

8. Closing

• Jack promises a real turkey for Thanksgiving and bids the audience good night.

  "Well, if I find a headlight in the dressing, watch out." – Mary Livingston (30:39)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jack on Being Cheap (with Dennis's salary):

  "I'm merely holding his salary until he's a little older. I'm teaching Dennis how to save money." – Jack Benny (13:39)

• Mary’s Retort:

  "Well, he's learning from the top, man." – Mary Livingston (13:42)

• On Hollywood Invitations:

  "I can't stop now. They'll think I'm mad at them. You know how it is." – Jack Benny (24:39)

Important Segments with Timestamps

• Jell-O Commercial & Intro: 00:33–02:41
• Pink Alligator Joke: 03:43–05:13
• Phil Harris & Band Discussion: 06:12–08:39
• "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair" (Dennis's Song): 09:45–12:33
• Thanksgiving Poem: 18:03–19:16
• Invitation to Thanksgiving & Bird Discussion: 23:09–27:12
• Ostrich Reveal & Rochester Call: 25:48–28:08
• Wrap-up & Sign-off: 30:24–30:41

Tone & Style

The episode is classic Jack Benny: warm, quick-witted, self-deprecating, and brimming with zany wordplay. The humor is friendly, occasionally sharp, but always in keeping with the close camaraderie of the cast.

Final Thoughts

This episode offers a pitch-perfect example of 1930s radio comedy, with the entire ensemble leaning into the farcical premise of a Thanksgiving spoiled by an ostrich. The rapid-fire banter, running jokes, and slapstick resolutions make it a treat—not just for Thanksgiving, but for anyone who loves timeless comedy.

Highly recommended for:

• Fans of vintage radio
• Lovers of classic vaudeville humor
• Listeners who enjoy ensemble comedic chemistry

Happy Thanksgiving from the Jack Benny gang—be careful what you serve for dinner!