How The Gang Spent Thanksgiving: Jack Benny (November 28, 1948)

Jack Benny, old-time radio on Stupid Potato

“How The Gang Spent Thanksgiving” is an episode of Jack Benny, the old-time radio show, first broadcast November 28, 1948. Listen free on Stupid Potato: no sign-up, no app.

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What happens

Jack Benny spends Thanksgiving with his gang at Mary Livingstone's house, after a busy day of phone calls, a turkey taken for a walk, and a party line that keeps interrupting. Rochester handles the household chores while Jack dresses for the party, and Mary asks him to bring candy. Phil Harris brings his band, Dennis Day sings, and a dinner with a carving knife soon turns into a heated argument between Jack and Don Wilson over where the Pilgrims landed. The episode comes from the Jack Benny series, first aired on November 28, 1948, on NBC and CBS Radio, with Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone, Eddie Anderson and Phil Harris in the leading roles.

Jack Benny's home in Beverly Hills and Mary Livingstone's house on Thanksgiving Day

Characters: Jack Benny, Rochester, Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris, Don Wilson, Dennis Day, Mr. Kitzel, Ernest

Listen for: The argument over whether the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock or Cape Cod

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.