What happens
Jack Benny prepares to leave Beverly Hills for a two-week stay in Palm Springs, with Rochester, Mary Livingstone, Dennis Day and Phil Harris (as Bob) all joining the trip. Packing goes awkwardly with Polly the parrot underfoot, and Dennis announces he cannot leave on time. Jack, Rochester and Mary set off in a car that has trouble starting, and the journey is interrupted by a gas station stop, a tire mishap, and a chance meeting with Bob. Jack's shortcut through the desert leaves the travellers lost as evening falls. The episode was broadcast on 1953-12-06 on NBC and CBS Radio, and this part of it ends with Jack's promise of a television show.
Beverly Hills and Palm Springs, California, including a gas station on the road between them
Characters: Jack Benny, Rochester, Mary Livingstone, Polly, Dennis Day, Bob, Sammy
Listen for: Jack's attempt to take a shortcut to Palm Springs and Polly the parrot following the car
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.