What happens
Jack Benny opens the new season of his Jell-O program with Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris, Dennis Day, Don Wilson and Eddie Anderson. The show's second broadcast of the season, aired on October 15, 1939, begins with banter about Christopher Columbus and Jack's supposed stinginess. Jack and his cast tease one another over Phil Harris's fraternity pin, a glowing review of the Jell-O program, and the orchestra's musical criticism. Dennis Day's mother arrives and interferes with Jack's plans for the young tenor, insisting he sing a different number than the one Jack chose. Jack also previews next week's dramatic production, Stanley and Livingston.
A radio studio during a live broadcast of the Jell-O program.
Characters: Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris, Dennis Day, Don Wilson, Eddie Anderson, Mrs. Day
Listen for: Mrs. Day's insistence on which song Dennis sings, and Jack's exasperated reactions to her.
Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.