Harold's Old Time Radio
The Lucky Strike Program Starring Jack Benny (1944-12-24): "Trimming the Christmas Tree"
Podcast Date: December 20, 2025
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Overview
This episode features the beloved 1944 Christmas Eve broadcast of "The Jack Benny Program." Jack Benny and his usual comedic ensemble gather at his house to trim his Christmas tree, exchange witty banter, share holiday mishaps, and celebrate the season with warmth and humor. The episode perfectly captures the spirit and camaraderie of family radio during the Golden Age, blending slapstick, wordplay, nostalgic moments, and a heartfelt tribute to soldiers overseas.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Trimming the Christmas Tree: Chaos and Comedy
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Electrifying Mishaps:
- Jack and Mary attempt to decorate the tree, but Jack's antics with the Christmas lights lead to repeated electrical mishaps—he holds a bare wire, tapes his finger to the wire, and his "nose lights up," much to Mary's delight (01:04–02:43).
- Mary Livingstone: "Your nose lit up too." (02:47)
- Rochester refuses to fix the lights, humorously lamenting the dangers of electricity:
- Rochester: "I ain't going to get hit by nothing. I can't hit back." (03:27)
- A running joke emerges about a little man up at Boulder Dam being responsible for the electrical mishaps (05:02, 12:23).
- Jack and Mary attempt to decorate the tree, but Jack's antics with the Christmas lights lead to repeated electrical mishaps—he holds a bare wire, tapes his finger to the wire, and his "nose lights up," much to Mary's delight (01:04–02:43).
-
Banter About Science & History:
- Jack mixes up the historical inventors, confusing Robert Fulton and Thomas Edison, leading to a layered gag with contributions from Mary and Rochester.
- Mary Livingstone: "Jack, you're thinking of Thomas Edison." (03:46)
- Rochester: "He said, 'Don't give up the ship.'" (03:51)
- Jack mixes up the historical inventors, confusing Robert Fulton and Thomas Edison, leading to a layered gag with contributions from Mary and Rochester.
2. Gift Giving and Tree Decorating
- Whipped Cream Cake & Spelling Errors:
- Rochester asks how many R's are in "Merry" for decorating the cake.
- Jack Benny: "It's better than ruining the cake." (03:17)
- Rochester asks how many R's are in "Merry" for decorating the cake.
- Candy Cane Confessions:
- Mary admits to eating a candy cane when Jack questions the missing treat.
- Jack Benny: "I'm not looking at you. I'm asking you." (10:13)
- Mary Livingstone: "All right, I ate it." (10:15)
- Jack Benny: "Here's 10 cents, smarty." (10:16)
- Mary admits to eating a candy cane when Jack questions the missing treat.
- Practical Gifts for Rochester:
- Jack labels Rochester's present (toilet water) so he won't mistake it for something else, referencing last year's ship-in-a-bottle mix-up:
- Jack Benny: "Last year I gave him a miniature ship in a bottle and the mast stuck out of his mouth for three days." (11:00)
- Jack labels Rochester's present (toilet water) so he won't mistake it for something else, referencing last year's ship-in-a-bottle mix-up:
3. The Policeman Incident: Flashback to a Christmas Department Store Brouhaha
- Officer's Visit:
- A policeman arrives to investigate a complaint regarding Jack's behavior at Moore's Department Store (05:21–08:02).
- Jack narrates, through flashback, the comic chaos: a man pesters him repeatedly about what to buy his wife, culminating in absurd accusations and crowd confusion.
- Bill Harris: "Fine Christmas spirit." (06:35)
- Mary Livingstone: "That man's been caught stealing somebody's wife." (06:49)
- The policeman, amused, drops the complaint:
- Officer: "It sounds like something you'd hear on the radio." (07:48)
- Officer: "Well, I'm convinced it wasn't your fault. And... Merry Christmas." (07:55)
4. Holiday Gatherings and Running Gags
- Lighting Strikes Again:
- As more friends arrive, the recurring joke with the lights continues. Jack sits on a wire and accidentally lights his cigarette (12:04–12:20).
- Mary Livingstone: "You don't need it now. Your cigarette is lit." (12:12)
- Rochester: "Don't thank me. Thank that little man up at Boulder Dam." (12:23)
- As more friends arrive, the recurring joke with the lights continues. Jack sits on a wire and accidentally lights his cigarette (12:04–12:20).
- Phil Harris’ Gift:
- Phil presents Jack with a turtleneck sweater—containing a live turtle:
- Jack Benny: "A turtle." (14:38)
- Phil Harris: "Are you comfortable, Phil? ...Good, good. Mary—push in the plug." (15:02–15:14)
- They attempt to prank Phil with the electrified chair, but the joke fizzles, prompting more jokes about Boulder Dam (15:29–15:36).
- Phil presents Jack with a turtleneck sweater—containing a live turtle:
- Movie Cameo:
- Larry tells Jack he saw him in the movie "Hollywood Canteen" eight times, with Jack feigning modesty and Rochester chiming in with a jab:
- Rochester: "Between you and me, that seat never gets a chance to cool off." (16:44)
- Larry tells Jack he saw him in the movie "Hollywood Canteen" eight times, with Jack feigning modesty and Rochester chiming in with a jab:
5. Andy Devine Joins the Party
- Warm Holiday Reunion:
- Andy Devine arrives, welcomed warmly by the crew, and exchanges jokes about their holiday habits and Christmas cards:
- Andy Devine: "Well, who you think I was, Frank Sinatra?" (17:55)
- Rochester: "Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without you." (18:49)
- Andy Devine: "The holidays wouldn't be the same if I didn't see all of you folks." (18:52)
- Andy Devine arrives, welcomed warmly by the crew, and exchanges jokes about their holiday habits and Christmas cards:
- Toasts and Friendship:
- The group toasts to friendship and the holidays in a touching moment:
- Andy Devine: "Here’s to you, Buck, Mary, Phil, and the whole gang. We've been friends for a long time, and I hope it always stays that way. Merry Christmas." (20:15)
- Mary Livingstone: "A Merry Christmas to everyone everywhere." (20:31)
- The group toasts to friendship and the holidays in a touching moment:
6. Jack’s Heartfelt Christmas Toast to Soldiers
- Emotional Message:
- Jack delivers a poignant toast to soldiers fighting overseas, blending gratitude, solemnity, and hope:
- Jack Benny:
"This is a toast to a lot of fellas I met in Africa, Europe, and the South Pacific. And to all you other boys out there I wasn't lucky enough to meet... Christmas is a spirit... it transcends even the ugly scenes of a battlefield and fills the soul with a passion to defend the things that are right and just... So here's to you, fellas. Merry Christmas and God bless you all." (20:52–22:36)
- Jack Benny:
- Jack delivers a poignant toast to soldiers fighting overseas, blending gratitude, solemnity, and hope:
7. Traditional Carol Medley
- Musical Finish:
- The episode closes with carols: "O Come All Ye Faithful," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," and "Silent Night," to bring home the nostalgia and warmth of old-time radio Christmases (22:36–26:14).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Jack Benny (on electricity mishaps):
"Those were my eyes. I must have been holding onto a bare wire." (01:31) - Rochester (on fixing lights):
"I ain't going to get hit by nothing. I can't hit back." (03:27)
"But way up there, Boulder Dam, is a little man sitting in a room with thousands of wires around..." (05:02) - Mary Livingstone:
"Jack, you're thinking of Thomas Edison." (03:46)
"A Merry Christmas to everyone everywhere." (20:31) - Phil Harris:
"Where'd you find this one?"
Mary Livingstone: "In the lobby of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel." (13:06) - Andy Devine (to everyone):
"Here’s to you, Buck, Mary, Phil, and the whole gang. We’ve been friends for a long time, and I hope it always stays that way. Merry Christmas." (20:15) - Jack Benny (closing toast):
"So here's to you, fellas. Merry Christmas and God bless you all." (22:36) - Rochester (about Jack and holiday movies):
"Between you and me, that seat never gets a chance to cool off." (16:44)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:31 – Poetic introduction: Jack trimming the Christmas tree
- 01:04–02:43 – Jack’s mishaps with electricity and the running joke about "bare wires"
- 03:27 – Rochester refuses to fix electricity; Boulder Dam joke introduced
- 05:21–08:02 – Policeman confronts Jack about the department store incident
- 12:04–12:20 – Jack accidentally lights his cigarette via electric shock
- 13:06 – Reveal: Jack's tree comes from the hotel lobby
- 14:38 – Phil gives Jack a turtleneck sweater—containing an actual turtle
- 15:02–15:36 – Jack and Mary attempt an electric prank on Phil; Boulder Dam gag
- 17:55–18:52 – Andy Devine’s arrival and Christmas reunion jokes
- 20:15–20:34 – Andy's toast, followed by Mary’s toast
- 20:52–22:36 – Jack’s emotional Christmas message to overseas troops
- 22:36–26:14 – Carol medley: "O Come All Ye Faithful," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "Silent Night"
Final Thoughts
This episode weaves classic Jack Benny humor with timeless holiday warmth, balancing slapstick, wordplay, and heartfelt sincerity. The playful chaos around the tree, the recurring gags about Boulder Dam, and the affectionate camaraderie among friends evoke a bygone era of family togetherness around the radio. The episode’s climax—a moving message to soldiers—reminds listeners of the program's deep connection to its contemporary audience during World War II, making this a holiday classic with both laughter and heart.