Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:41 — 13.1MB)
Don and the gang all open with Birthday wishes for jack. They try to get Jack to confess his real age. Mary even has a special poem for him. Phil plays, Riding High.
In previous episodes, Jack has begun his rivalry with Fred Allen, and he was to respond to the challenge to play the Bee. His violin had been abducted, and today is still missing, but a substitute almost shows up. While waiting for word on the missing violin, Andy Devine shows up with birthday greetings, and a gift. Kenny sings, Carry Me Back to the Lone Prairie.
Telegrams trickle in from various sources including Fred Allen, and Jack’s dad. Ben Birney, the Old Maestro, pops in for a visit, and bearing gifts. The Old Maestro talks with the cast, and Phil claims to be the Young Maestro. Phil plays, Goona Goo.
The topic turns to the whole gang taking pot shots at Fred Allen, and the remarks he made on his latest show. Jack presents a spoof look at the highlights of Fred Allen’s life. It’s short, but funny. Will Jack be any closer to playing the Bee?
Note: Today is Jack’s birthday. He manages to avoid telling his age, though his running joke in later years will be that he is 39, he is 43 today.
Ben Birney was a popular band leader of the day, and in his own way instrumental in giving Jack his stage name. When Jack was in Vaudeville, he went by various names, but settled on Ben K Bennie for a time. The Old Maestro thought it sounded too much like his own name, and the two are said to look something alike, and he was going to sue Jack if he didn’t pick another stage name. So Ben K Benny became Jack, and the rest is history.
