Chuck Schaden's "Jack Benny Month" Comes Early Thi

[Maxwell]

Every February, Chuck Schaden celebrates February as "Jack Benny Month" on his "Those Were the Days" radio program on WDCB Radio. The show is broadcast Saturdays from 1:00-5:00 p.m. on 90.9 FM in the Chicago area and streamed live at http://www.wdcb.org. They are also available the following Tuesday through Monday at http://www.nostalgiadigest.com.

This year is a little different than past years because "Jack Benny Month" starts two weeks early on January 24 and is interrupted in the middle.

Here is the schedule:

January 24:

Jack Benny Program (4/11/37): With guest stars George Burns and Gracie Allen and a Buck Benny sketch.

Burns and Allen Show (2/19/48): Cast includes the inevitable Hans Conried.

Jack Benny Program (4/27/47): First of three programs centered on Jack's appearance at the Chicago Theater. Guest stars are Ronald and Benita Colman.

Jack Benny Program (5/4/47): The gang gets ready for their trip to Chicago.

Jubilee #129 (4/16/45): Host is Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman. Guests include Eddie Anderson, Benny Carter and His Orchestra, the King Cole Trio, and Barney Bigard.

Jack Benny Program (5/11/47): From Chicago with guest star Marjorie Reynolds. Norm Berry (an announcer I remember from WMAQ radio and WNBQ/WMAQ-TV from the '50s and '60s) substitutes for Don Wilson.

[url]January 31[/url]

Jack Benny Program (2/15/53): From Palm Springs. Guest star Bing Crosby. Sketch: "The Life of Bing Crosby."

Phico Radio Time (2/26/47): Song include "South America Take It Away" and "You Don't Have to Know the Language," with Bing and the Andrews Sisters and "Gotta Get Somebody to Love" with Bing and Les Paul.

Jack Benny Program (3/12/39): First of three consecutive programs surrounding the illness of Carmichael. This episode is also Don Wilson's 16th anniversary in radio.

Jack Benny Program (3/19/39): Jack has caught Carmichael's cold.

Glamour Manor (10/3/46): Since Kenny Baker was Jack's singer on the preceding shows, why not Jack appearing on the first episode of Kenny's new show? Don Wilson is the announcer and Sam Hearn appears as Schlepperman.

Jack Benny Program (3/26/39): Carmichael has recovered and Jack takes him out for a walk. Sketch: "Hotel Mystery Drama."

Jack Benny Month then takes two weeks off for a Lincoln Bicentennial salute on Feb. 7, and a Valentine's Day program on Feb. 14.

[url]February 21[/url]:

Jack Benny Program (4/14/46): Guest stars Ronald and Benita Colman who are disturbed by Jack's violin playing.

Halls of Ivy (1951): Starring (of course) Ronald and Benita Colman.

Jack Benny Program (4/6/41): First of three programs with guest stars the Quiz Kids. Quiz Kids vs. the Jell-o Kids, moderated by Jack.

Jack Benny Program (4/13/41): Jack dreams he is on the Quiz Kids program.

Phil Harris-Alice Fay Show (12/5/48): In keeping with the tradition of playing episodes of shows starring Jack's cast.

Jack Benny Program (4/20/41): Jack has appeared on the Quiz Kids show and thinks he has made a fool of himself.

[url]February 28[/url]

Jack Benny Program (4/2/50): From Palm Springs. Guest: Al Jolson who complains about Mel Blanc's impersonation of him ("Nyaaaah").

Kraft Music Hall (10/7/48): Starring Jolson and featuring Oscar Levant. Guest star: Edward G. Robinson.

Jack Benny Program (1/25/53): Jack and Mary go to the race track.

Jack Benny Program (2/1/53): Sketch: "High Noon."

A Day in the Life of Dennis Day (11/13/48): Yet another show starring a Benny cast member.

Jack Benny Program (2/8/53): From Palm Springs. Jack goes to play golf.

The following week, Chuck celebrates his 2,000th broadcast.