Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Jack Benny Show 1941-11-23 (Thanksgiving Day Dinner)
Release Date: November 3, 2025
Original Airdate: November 23, 1941
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Featured Cast: Jack Benny, Mary Livingston, Phil Harris, Dennis Day, Don Wilson, Alice Faye, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson

Overview

This episode features a classic broadcast of The Jack Benny Show from November 23, 1941, capturing the humor and camaraderie of Jack Benny and his regular ensemble as they prepare for a Thanksgiving Day dinner. Set in Jack's Beverly Hills kitchen and living room, the cast creates an uproarious atmosphere—complete with wild duck dinner mishaps, witty repartee, and musical interludes. The episode is peppered with self-referential jokes, playful showbiz banter, and the timeless antics that made Jack Benny's program a radio staple.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Thanksgiving Dinner Preparations (02:29 – 07:15)

• The episode opens with Jack, Mary, and Rochester (Jack's butler) in the kitchen assembling the dinner:
  • Assigns different colored olive plates for guests, leading to quick-witted banter (02:29).
  • Rochester’s suggestion of adding gin to the stuffing sparks laughter about Central Avenue cooking traditions (03:13).
  • Comedic timing on the ducks in the oven: they've been cooking since 10pm the night before (03:51).
    • Memorable line:
      Mary: "The middle one looks like Humphrey Bogart." (04:07)

2. The Arrivals and Running Gags (05:00 – 14:00)

• Borrowed Goods Routine:
  • Dennis Day returns with a punch bowl and corn for Ronald Coleman’s chickens.
  • Jack's playful, possessive logic over eggs laid by Coleman’s chickens in his garage leads to:
    • Quote:
      Jack: “That doesn’t make any difference… what hangs over is mine. Even Coleman’s lawyer admits that.” (05:19)
• Servant Comedy:
  • Dennis is roped into serving as a last-minute butler; his awkward attempts at "blackface" dialect lampoon old minstrel tropes (06:17).
• Welcome to the Music Room:
  • Jukeboxes, old fiddles, and sticky keys from Mary using lifesavers as coins (06:39–07:15); segues into music.

3. “Chattanooga Choo Choo” and Musical Comedy (07:45 – 09:58)

• Phil Harris’s record “Chattanooga Choo Choo” is played, with Jack joking about Phil’s hamming and forced applause.
  • Quote:
    Jack (after playing the record): “Phil is a ham. He even puts applause on the record.” (09:58)

4. Absurdist Humor & Dinner Mishaps (10:13 – 17:43)

• Mr. Billingsley’s Entrance:
  • Offers surreal humor about wearing long underwear requiring a ladder (10:13–10:37).
• Cooking Problems:
  • Rochester can’t get the ducks tender; suggests shooting them “just once more.” Jack refuses to re-shoot, escalating the farce (11:17–11:55).
    • Quote:
      Rochester: “I just stuck a fork, it went up and got gravy all over me... I don’t think it would hurt to shoot them just once more.”
• The Dinner Table Banter:
  • Jealous banter between Mary and Alice Faye over Jack’s "charms."
  • Playful references to Jack's film career and conceits about his youthful appearance (16:21–16:35).
  • Crossed wires about fan clubs and who should inform Hollywood gossip columnists about Alice visiting (17:09–17:15).

5. Thanksgiving Feast Antics (17:43 – 20:01)

• Tough Duck and Buckshot:
  • Guests struggle with tough, buckshot-laden duck—one guest jokes about dumping shot into a bowl (18:01–18:08).
  • The dressing contains unexpected treats: a shoehorn, a Red Cross button, adding to the wild dinner theme.
    • Quote:
      Alice Faye: “Imagine, Phil. I got a prize in my dressing… a shoehorn.” (20:01)

6. Dessert, Music, and Entertainment (20:13 – 23:31)

• Jell-O as the Star Dessert:
  • Predictably, Jell-O is served; Don wins a bet for guessing it’s "Jell-O with that new locked in flavor" (20:32).
• Entertainment:
  • Alice Faye is cajoled into singing “Tropical Magic” (22:04–23:31).
  • Jack tries, and fails, to mimic Carmen Miranda with fruit on his head (20:47–20:51).
    • Quote:
      Mary: “Jack, take that bowl of fruit off your head. You don’t look anything like Carmen Miranda.” (20:47)

7. Epilogue and Taglines (24:06 – End)

• The cast wraps up joking about leftovers (“cranberry pie”), preparing buckshot for “national defense,” and making plans for the next day (24:18–25:06).
• Multiple plugs for Jell-O and Jell-O puddings, including a peach and banana mold recipe (25:06–26:09).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mary (on the oven-roasted ducks):
  “The middle one looks like Humphrey Bogart.” (04:07)
• Jack (on property law):
  “What hangs over is mine. Even Coleman’s lawyer admits that.” (05:19)
• Rochester (on tough ducks):
  “I just stuck a fork and went up and it got gravy all over me. I don’t think it would hurt to shoot them just once more.” (11:17)
• Alice Faye (on "prizes" in the dressing):
  “Imagine, Phil. I got a prize in my dressing…a shoehorn.” (20:01)
• Mary (on Jack’s attempts at being Carmen Miranda):
  “Jack, take that bowl of fruit off your head. You don’t look anything like Carmen Miranda.” (20:47)
• Jack (playfully self-assured):
  “Yes, you with your youth and beauty and me with my suave debonair charm.” (16:47)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:29 | Thanksgiving dinner prep—assigning olives, plates, dressing | | 03:47 | Oven scene, live ducks, “Humphrey Bogart” line | | 05:00 | Arrival of Dennis Day; running “borrowing” gag | | 06:17 | Dennis as stand-in servant; dialect humor | | 07:45 | Playing Phil Harris’s "Chattanooga Choo Choo" record | | 10:13 | Mr. Billingsley’s entrance; long underwear gag | | 11:17 | Rochester’s duck mishap and call to re-shoot ducks | | 17:43 | Serving the Thanksgiving meal; "soup to lead" jokes | | 20:01 | Dressing “prizes”—shoehorn, Red Cross button | | 22:04 | Alice Faye sings "Tropical Magic" | | 24:06 | Epilogue: leftover jokes and final banter |

Tone and Style

The tone throughout is fast-paced, filled with gag-driven dialogue, puns, light satire on show business, and the affectionate ribbing between cast members. The camaraderie and improv-style interruptions create a lively, family atmosphere reflective of radio's Golden Age.

Recommended For

Fans of classic comedy, radio history, or those seeking an authentic slice of 1940s American entertainment—full of quick-witted banter, musical performances, and a window into holiday humor that has aged with nostalgic charm.