Jack Benny – From New York. 470518

Kenny DelMar, announcer for Fred Allen, substitutes for Don Wilson while the gang is in New York. Of course, the jokes about Fred Allen kick into high gear. Mary Livingston tells about visiting her mother in Plainfield. She tells the latest mishaps with her sister Babe, and the men she’s dating these days. In telling how well Jack did with his shows in Chicago, Mary makes a flub, but it works as well as the real line. Mr Kitzel pops in to tell about staying with Mrs Noosebaum. Has it been an enjoyable visit for him?

The Sportsmen seem to be lost, but phone in to sing a sponsor flavored version of, Give My Regards to Broadway. Phil Harris enters to tell how his stay in New York is going. After getting caught up with Kenny DelMar, Phil is interupted with some troublesome updates for Jack from Rochester.

One of the hardest working entertainers in the business, Al Jolson arrives to ham it up with Jack. The two friends compare the similarities in their careers, from vaudeville, to radio, to the movies. How did the old friends help each other get started? Al sings one of his signature songs, April Showers. Jack claims to be tossing the script aside, and asks Al for another song. An offer of a song to Al Jolson? Just try to stop him. He sings, You Made Me Love You.

Note: For fans who may not be familiar with Fred Allen, he and Jack had a famous rivalry. The feud had it’s start in unplanned beginnings, but when it took off, it was a source of material for both comedians for years to come. Of course, in real life they were actually friends, and only tormented each other on stage.

Mrs Noosebaum was a long running character from the Fred Allen programs, and was played by talented voice actress, Minerva Pious.

Kenny DelMar was more than Fred Allen’s announcer. He also created a character known as Senator Claghorn. Modern listeners may recognize the character when Phil does a brief impression of him. The Senator was the basis of the Looney Tunes character, Foghorn Leghorn.

Mention of Hugo Carmichael is a joke aimed at Hoagie Carmichael, and the way his name was mispronounced at the Oscars in recent weeks.