The Jack Benny Program
Jack Benny was a regular on his own radio program since 1932. He brought the program, with his underplayed humor, to television along with his radio regulars. Jack, who remained thirty-nine-years-old, kept his money in his basement and drove his old Maxwell car just as he had done on the radio.
- 1950-1965
- 15 seasons
- CBS
- Comedy
Jack Benny was a regular on his own radio program since 1932. He brought the program, with his underplayed humor, to television along with his radio regulars. Jack, who remained thirty-nine-years-old, kept his money in his basement and drove his old Maxwell car just as he had done on the radio.
Season 15 Episode Guide
28 Episodes 1964 - 1965
Episode 1
NBC Premiere
Fri, Sep 25, 1964 30 mins
To begin his 15th year on television, Jack (still 39) returns to the network where he began on radio 32 years ago. Tonight: Jack visits his new bosses, the NBC vice presidents; sits in on a "panel show" with the Marquis Chimps; and is visited by singer Dennis Day, who brings along his wife Peggy. Don Wilson is the announcer.
Episode 2
The Lucille Ball Show
Fri, Oct 2, 1964 30 mins
Lucille Ball reveals the "true" story behind Paul Revere's famous ride.
Episode 3
Andy Williams Show
Fri, Oct 9, 1964 30 mins
Jack's guest is laid-back singer Andy Williams, which prompts a visit from Jack's Pasadena Fan Club President (Madge Blake, Aunt Harriett on "Batman"), who can't believe Really Old Blue Eyes would book another blue-eyed guest. Jack lectures Andy to work harder to promote his career, so Andy changes from a sweater to a tux to join Jack at a premiere - which turns out to be a meat market opening. When a customer (Lee Meriwether, Catwoman in the Batman: The Movie (1966) movie) gushes over Andy's crooning, he's too embarrassed to admit who he is.
Episode 4
The Income Tax Show
Fri, Oct 16, 1964 30 mins
Since Jack Benny and U. S. Steel are the IRS' best customers, they want to help Jack take his full deductions.
Episode 5
Jack Makes a Comedy Record
Fri, Oct 23, 1964 30 mins
Jack proposes recording a lucrative comedy album with Bob Hope, upon finding out how worthless his investments are: as chief stockholder of a harpoon company, Jack gets dubbed Schnook of the South. Fretting that he won't be able to counter Hope's hilarious ad libs, Jack orders his writers to give him all the laughs, but Old Ski Nose is too slick to fall for that.
Episode 6
Hillbilly Sketch
Fri, Oct 30, 1964 30 mins
Jack affronts guest Connie Francis by claiming comedy is hard, but singing easy, then sics his apprentice announcer Harlow Wilson, a devoted fan of pop singer Connie, on her. The cast lampoons "The Beverly Hillbillies" in a musical sketch with Connie as Jack's wife, and Harlow in the Jethro role.
Episode 7
Jungle Sketch
Fri, Nov 6, 1964 30 mins
Episode 8
Jack Loses a Raffle
Fri, Nov 13, 1964 30 mins
Episode 9
The Cat Burglar
Fri, Nov 20, 1964 30 mins
Episode 10
Jack Hires a Cook
Fri, Nov 27, 1964 30 mins
Episode 11
Wayne Newton Show
Fri, Dec 4, 1964 30 mins
Jack, Wayne Newton and Louie Nye perform at a charity fund-raising garden party.
Episode 12
Jack Has a Sick Alligator
Fri, Dec 11, 1964 30 mins
Episode 13
Amateur Night
Fri, Dec 18, 1964 30 mins
Episode 14
One Man Show
Fri, Dec 25, 1964 30 mins
Jack chats with the audience and performs a duet with Gisele MacKenzie.
Episode 15
The Jack Jones Show
Fri, Jan 8, 1965 30 mins
Jack Jones sings two songs. Jack Benny plays the role of a school principal, and Jack Jones plays the role of a schoolteacher in the show's sketch.
Episode 16
Jack Adopts Son
Fri, Jan 22, 1965 30 mins
In the skit, Jack plays a wealthy man who, under the mistaken belief that "there is no such thing as a bad boy", goes to an orphanage to adopt one, and though advised against it, takes a full grown man in a Buster Brown suit nicknamed "The Rat", who promptly betrays the man's trust, by cracking his home safe.
Episode 17
The Kingston Trio, Guests
Fri, Jan 29, 1965 30 mins
Jack winds up in a Tijuana jail with The Kingston Trio.
Episode 18
Jack Goes to the Monkey's House
Fri, Feb 5, 1965 30 mins
Episode 19
The Stradivarius Story
Fri, Feb 12, 1965 30 mins
Episode 20
Jack Joins Acrobats
Fri, Feb 19, 1965 30 mins
Episode 21
Rainy Day in Palm Springs
Fri, Feb 26, 1965 30 mins
Episode 22
Jack Brings Ed Up from the Vault
Fri, Mar 5, 1965 30 mins
Episode 23
Jack Finds a Double
Fri, Mar 12, 1965 30 mins
Episode 24
Jack's Navy Buddy Returns
Fri, Mar 19, 1965 30 mins
Jack's old Navy buddy causes trouble when he guilt-trips Jack into having him on his show.
Episode 25
Dennis Opens a Bank Account
Fri, Mar 26, 1965 30 mins
Episode 26
Jack Appears on a Panel Show
Fri, Apr 2, 1965 30 mins
Episode 27
Jack Has Dog Trouble
Fri, Apr 9, 1965 30 mins
Episode 28
Smothers Brothers Show
Fri, Apr 16, 1965 30 mins
The Smothers Brothers confound every attempt by Jack to force them into his straitjacket comedy formula while performing his theme song, but, even scarier to Jack, he is pinned under an unexploded bomb in a World War II London air raid. The UXB squad turns out to be the Smothers. Tom can't remember which wire to pull, while Dick uses the opportunity of Jack's being immobilized to lock in an appearance on Jack's final program.