I will be in New York in a few weeks and if I can find the time, one of my stops will be the Paley Center, where they have a gigantic library of vintage television shows available for viewing to visitors. They have quite a few Jack Benny tv episodes, and as I perused their selection I made notes of the episodes I don't recall seeing in syndication, DVD compilations, YouTube, Internet Archive, or anywhere else for that matter. Although I'm annoyed that these episodes are sitting in vaults and are not accessible to anyone but in-person visitors, I suppose I'm still grateful that they have them. The good news is if you visit their locations in NYC or LA, it costs $10 to spend 90 minutes in their library, so FYI to those of you if you find yourselves in one of those cities with some extra time to yourself!
So these are the episodes I found (many episodes in the catalog didn't have descriptions so who knows what those are!), if any of these are fairly easy to find online please let me know, I'd obviously like to prioritize and spend time watching episodes that aren't available elsewhere.
JACK BENNY PROGRAM, THE: PANEL DISCUSSION SHOW (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series starring Jack Benny. In this program, Jack feels he is not getting enough publicity and insists his publicity agent book him on "The Impromptu Show," a topical conversation program -- though his agent is highly skeptical of Jack's ability to improvise. Later, Jack arrives at the "Impromptu" set and meets his co-panelists for the broadcast: Mrs. Oscar Levant (June Levant), and actors Pamela Mason and Vincent Price. Moderator George Putnam begins the show, and Jack soon finds himself out of his depth in a lively discussion ranging from theories about the roots of juvenile delinquency to the work of the Spanish painter El Greco (whom Jack confuses with the dancer, José Greco). Also on this program: Jack receives a visit at his home from members of the "Blackfoot Indian tribe," who present him with a plaque and feather headdress, honoring him as their favorite comedian; and they perform a "ceremonial" song and dance with lyrics plugging the sponsor, Lucky Strike cigarettes. Includes commercials and promos.
JACK BENNY PROGRAM, THE: JACK WEBB SHOW (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series starring Jack Benny. In this episode, Benny discovers that his guest star, Jack Webb, cannot tell jokes, sing, or dance. A sketch, set in a Chinese laundry, parodies many of the late-1950s detective series, including Webb's own "Dragnet." Garry Moore also makes an unexpected appearance to promote his new variety show.
JACK BENNY PROGRAM, THE: AIRPORT SKETCH (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series starring Jack Benny. In this episode, Benny's flight to Los Angeles on ultrathrifty I.O.U. Airlines is late (they don't land until they run out of gas), so Don and Dennis take over the show. Scenes of Rochester helping Jack to locate his luggage in the airline's dilapidated hangar alternate with Dennis and Don's attempts to fill airtime. Howard McNear (who later became Floyd the Barber on "The Andy Griffith Show"), appears as one of the airline's pilots. In a surreal ending, as the pilot enters the stage on the boom camera, Benny stands in front of the curtain and says that this is one of the craziest shows he has ever performed. Includes commercials.
JACK BENNY PROGRAM, THE: PHIL HARRIS SHOW (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series starring Jack Benny. This program includes the following highlights, among others: Jack prepares for the show in his dressing room with his valet, Rochester Van Jones, and after Jack exits the room, Rochester picks up Jack's violin and proceeds to play like a virtuoso; Jack introduces substitute announcer "Elwood Hunter," (as Don Wilson is away), but Hunter frets that he will have difficulty with the Lucky Strike commercials because he does not smoke; Jack introduces his guest star, singer/bandleader/actor Phil Harris (whom Benny worked with for years on radio), making his first appearance on the Lucky Strike show with this program; Harris jokes around with drummer Sam Weiss and guitarist Frankie Remley before launching into "That's What I Like About the South"; Jack interrupts Harris's performance of "(A Little Town Called) Do Wah Diddy," to berate him for the song's silly lyrics -- Benny even pulls down a map of the U.S. and asks Harris to locate "Do Wah Diddy"; but Jack is embarrassed when Rochester later receives a package from an aunt from Do Wah Diddy, Mississippi. Includes commercials.
JACK BENNY PROGRAM, THE: WAUKEGAN SHOW (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series starring Jack Benny. In this episode, Benny returns to his hometown of Waukegan, Illinois for the dedication of the new Jack Benny Junior High School. The mayor of Waukegan congratulates Benny for being the third individual to be so honored in Waukegan. Benny is impressed that the other two schools were named after Daniel Webster and Thomas Jefferson. The school's glee club performs a special song for the occasion, and a time capsule of Benny artifacts is preserved. At the end of the program, Benny is escorted off the stage by two naval officers because he was never officially discharged from the service. Includes commercials and public service announcements.
JACK BENNY PROGRAM, THE: JOEY BISHOP SHOW (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series starring Jack Benny. In this program from New York, Australian singer Diana Trask performs "Let's Face the Music and Dance." Don Wilson and Jack Benny discuss the talents of Joey Bishop. Wilson, Benny, and Trask visit the Copacabana where Joey Bishop is performing. While at the Copacabana the following events occur: Don Wilson helps a gentleman from Pakistan give his drink order to the waiter; Benny visits Joey Bishop backstage and asks the young comic to be a guest on his show; Joey turns down the opportunity due to Jack's sobriety; and Jack consumes two pieces of rum cake and discovers the joys of alcohol. Includes commercials.
JACK BENNY PROGRAM, THE: BACHELOR TV LIVES (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series starring Jack Benny. In this episode, Jack Benny prepares to journey to New Orleans in order to participate in a benefit concert. Due to his yearning to save as much money as possible, Jack decides to curb his travel expenses by driving to his destination and placing an ad for passengers who wish to share the cost of the trip. Things become slightly hectic when the following events occur in succession: the Sportsmen Quartet arrives to bid Jack a farewell and in the process disrupt his packing; Jack's mechanic appears with interesting news about Benny's car; gangsters arrive hoping to use Jack's vehicle as a gettaway car; George Burns shows up at Jack's home with his piano player in order to prove his talents as a singer so that Jack will allow him to perform in the show in New Orleans; and a bickering married couple arrive to take advantage of Jack's offer. At the end of the show, Jack allows Burns to sing his song in order to prove that George is a horrible singer.
JACK BENNY PROGRAM, THE: STARS' WIVES SHOW (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series starring Jack Benny. In this episode, the wives of stars Bob Hope, Dean Martin, Ray Milland, and David Niven arrange for Benny to win a new Jaguar in a rigged raffle so that he will finally replace his beloved Maxwell, an automobile which is an eyesore and a major source of Beverly Hills noise pollution. But when frugal Jack gives the winning -- and only -- raffle ticket to his house painter in lieu of full payment, their plan seems destined to backfire. The program concludes with a guest appearance by Bob Hope and David Niven, and a vocal performance by Mel Blanc, who recreates animated characters Bugs Bunny and Woody Woodpecker, among others. Includes commercials, promos, and public service announcements.
JACK BENNY PROGRAM, THE: JACK GOES TO THE ROSE BOWL (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series starring Jack Benny. In this episode, a flashback recalls how Jack met his former flame Zelda, and their subsequent date at the Rose Bowl one New Year's Day. Overcome by his trademark frugality, Jack sells his ticket to a scalper, allowing his girlfriend to attend the game alone. An advertisement for sponor Lucky Strike cigarettes is integrated into the show's parade float segment. This program also features hefty announcer Don Wilson wearing a diaper while portraying an inebriated New Year's baby. Includes commercials and promos.
JACK BENNY PROGRAM, THE: NBC PREMIERE {FIFTEENTH SEASON PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The premiere of the NBC run of this comedy series starring Jack Benny. Newsmen Chet Huntley and David Brinkley introduce the show, Benny opens with a monologue, and Dennis Day introduces his large family to Benny and the audience. Benny tells of the signing of his contract with NBC and serves as the host of a panel discussion, featuring the "brilliant minds" of The Marquis Chimps. Benny and the Chimps mimic the Beatles and pretend to sing "I Want To Hold Your Hand." Includes commercials.
JACK BENNY PROGRAM, THE: 60-PIECE ORCHESTRA SKIT (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series starring Jack Benny. In this episode, Benny is interviewed by Miss Bronson and tells her of his concert violinist aspirations; Don Wilson rehearses his ballet commercial as a tobacco leaf; Benny plays with a sixty-piece philharmonic orchestra, playing "Love In Bloom" and other airs; and Ann Sothern appears at the end of show. Includes commercials.
JACK BENNY PROGRAM, THE: THE CLAUDETTE COLBERT AND BASIL RATHBONE SHOW (TV)
(I believe this script was re-used w/ Irene Dunne and Vincent Price)
Summary
One in this comedy series starring Jack Benny. In this episode, Benny attempts to win a serious dramatic role on "Lucky Strike Playhouse" (more commonly known as "Robert Montgomery Presents"). He pleads with the program's sponsor, the American Tobacco Company, and with the producer, Robert Montgomery, to let him appear in a program starring Basil Rathbone and Claudette Colbert. He refuses to take no for an answer and proceeds to hound Colbert (in her television debut) to persuade Montgomery to unload Rathbone in favor of himself. He goes on to invade a rehearsal for the program in Colbert's apartment, where Montgomery appeases him by giving him a small role to read, but Jack's petulance and disruptive behavior make it impossible to rehearse. The actors leave the apartment in disgust, after Rathbone calls Jack a "schlemiel." Includes commercials.
JACK BENNY PROGRAM, THE: THE FAYE EMERSON AND FRANK SINATRA SHOW (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series starring Jack Benny. In this episode, while the show is in progress, viewers see Benny in his dressing room telephoning Mary Livingstone at home to ask how he looks on television (she confuses him with Frank Sinatra). Also, Benny answers a telephone call from his nemesis, Fred Allen (whose voice is not heard), who claims he misdialed. Appearing on the program are Sinatra, who mentions his CBS music/variety series as well as his sponsor, and Faye Emerson, the popular blond hostess of several series in the early fifties and a frequent guest star on many quiz, dramatic, and variety programs. Benny, Emerson and Sinatra perform a sketch with Benny in which he tries to inveigle a kiss and is foiled by the savoir-faire of Sinatra. Includes commercials.
JACK BENNY PROGRAM, THE: 30 YEARS IN THE FUTURE (TV)
(I think part of this episode was recycled for one of his hour specials)
Summary
One in this comedy series starring Jack Benny. In this live premiere of Benny's tenth season on CBS, Benny switches sponsors, opting for Lever Brothers (Lux Soap) after fourteen years of radio and television work for American Tobacco (Lucky Strike). The greater part of this show is given over to Don Wilson's futile attempts to come up with a Lux Soap commercial that pleases Benny. At one point Wilson complains that after fourteen years with Lucky Strike, it is difficult to adjust to Lux Soap. "What adjustment?" Benny retorts. "Stop smoking and start bathing!" Without integrating any actual, separate commercials into the show, the program manages to endorse the product many times. In a sketch, Jack imagines "The Jack Benny Program" thrity years in the future: Don, Dennis, and Rochester are all old men, while Jack remains an ever-youthful thirty-nine.