Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:11 — 13.4MB)
Flashback time. Rochester and jack head to the race track, and begin the adventure with fun in the Maxwell. Jack comments on the scenery as they go motoring. Eventually they make it to Mary’s house. Interesting horn on the Maxwell, it must be an after market job.
Mary tells about her vacation to Palm Springs. Then they’re off again to the track. Jack tells about the horse he plans to bet on. Phil drives up to help out with a flat tire. He’s heading out to visit an injured band member. Mary plays the radio to hear the Sportsmen sing, I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, Lucky Strike style.
Finally at the track, Jack anticipates betting on his horse. Jack and Mary grab a bite from the food stand where Frank Nelson is the waiter. Race track tout, Sidney Sheldon, give Jack advice for eating in the restaurant. Mel Blanc gives interspersed announcements with color commentary for track events. Ronald and Bonita Coleman are back by popular demand, after their first appearance just last January, and they discuss some finer points of race track life. They pick a horse they like, a long shot, but Ronald is satisfied over his decision.
Suddenly, they spot their annoying neighbor Jack Benny. Jack hasn’t seen them yet, but Dennis arrives to tell Jack about his system for picking a horse. On the way to place his bet, Jack sees the Colemans and does the neighborly thing and talks with them. Jack plays tout, and tries to convince Ron to bet on his horse. They part company, and feeling doubt, unknown to each other, bet on each other’s horses.
Mel gives the color commentary of the race, and the winner is… well… let’s just say that Ronald has another reason to be annoyed with Jack.
PS: If this show seems way too familiar, it’s because the race track theme was a popular setting for Jack and the gang. Though the whole show isn’t exactly a repeat certain elements show up repeatedly. namely the sequence of Frank Nelson in the diner, the tout with restaurant adivece, Dennis’ system, and the betting mix up. At various times, and with various actors, or other personalities this scene is repeated at least 3 or 4 times that I can think of, and likely more than that. With each performance, the jokes have subtle changes, which makes each performace a little fresher.
