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Old-time radio actor · 1903–1957

Artie Auerbach

Mr. Kitzel on The Jack Benny Program.

We have him in 93 episodes of 4 series, 1944 to 1956, and 6 of our live channels play them around the clock, free.

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About Artie Auerbach

Artie Auerbach, from Radio and Television Mirror, January 1942, page 58
Artie Auerbach in Radio and Television Mirror, January 1942, page 58.Public domain in the United States: Radio and Television Mirror, January 1942: issue copyright not renewed. Radio and Television Mirror
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Benny asks, "Tell me, Mr. Kitzel, are you handy with a gun?" and Mr. Kitzel laughs his "Hoo-hoo-hoo!" The Jack Benny Program, December 11, 1949.

Hear all 93 Artie Auerbach episodes, and every episode of every show, on demand: Potato Plus, $5 a month.

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Auerbach first became known as Mr. Kitzel on Al Pearce's radio show in 1937. Source: Wikipedia: Artie Auerbach

On The Jack Benny Program, Kitzel garbled names in his accent, calling Nat King Cole "Nat King Cohen", and often answered questions with "Hoo-hoo-HOO!" Source: Wikipedia: The Jack Benny Program

He got the idea for Kitzel while working as a press photographer, after hearing a man in a Bronx drug store sing "Yes, Sir, That's My Baby" in a strong Yiddish accent. The name means "to tickle or make laugh" in Yiddish. Source: Wikipedia: Artie Auerbach

Before joining Benny he played Mr. Kitzel on The Abbott and Costello Show in the 1940s, and in the 1943 film Here Comes Elmer with the Al Pearce radio cast. Source: Wikipedia: Artie Auerbach

Benny hired him in 1946 as an occasional but permanent character. Kitzel's first appearance, in January, was as a hot-dog vendor at a Rose Bowl game Jack was attending, and it went over so well he was back the next week. Source: Wikipedia: Artie Auerbach

His hot-dog line "De pickle in de middle mit de mustard on top." became a 1946 novelty song by Benny writer John Tackaberry and songwriter Carl Sigman, with Auerbach singing. Source: Wikipedia: Artie Auerbach

Before show business he was a reporter and photographer for the New York Daily Mirror and Daily News, covering the Lindbergh kidnapping; he made his Broadway debut in 1934 in the revue Calling All Stars. Source: Wikipedia: Artie Auerbach

His other radio work included House of Glass (1935), The Goldbergs, and The Wonder Show on CBS in 1938 with Lucille Ball, Gale Gordon and Jack Haley. Source: Wikipedia: Artie Auerbach

Born in New York City on May 17, 1903, he kept playing Kitzel on Benny's television show and died of a heart attack in Van Nuys, California, on October 3, 1957, the day he was due to start rehearsals for a Benny TV episode. Source: Wikipedia: Artie Auerbach

Listen live: the channels that play Artie Auerbach

Free 24/7 stations. These play the episodes below, in rotation with the rest of their shows.

Buster Pratt, the host of Laugh Track

Mixed channel

Laugh Track

91 of his episodes: The Jack Benny Program (78), Abbott and Costello (13)

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Wally Wattle, a plump bronze turkey with headphones around his neck, at a radio microphone in a harvest studio with pumpkins and autumn leaves

Mixed channel

Thanksgiving Radio

5 of his episodes: The Jack Benny Program (4), Abbott and Costello (1)

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Sal Vitale, the host of Gumshoe

Mixed channel

Gumshoe

2 of his episodes: Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (1), Fire Fighters (1)

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Artie Auerbach’s shows on Stupid Potato

SeriesYearsEpisodes
The Jack Benny Program1946 to 195578
Abbott and Costello1944 to 194513
Fire Fighters1
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar19561

Artie Auerbach episodes: 5 free to hear

Each one names Artie Auerbach on the air, in its cast list or in the show itself, or has his character Mr. Kitzel named on the air. Each title opens the episode’s page: what happens, the transcript from the moment he is named, and listens from any line.

  1. Guest Frank Leahy - Texas benefitThe Jack Benny Program · December 11, 1949 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line
  2. Dennis Day returns from the Navy - Allen's AlleyThe Jack Benny Program · March 17, 1946 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line
  3. And Mary Walk To The StudioThe Jack Benny Program · October 13, 1946 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line
  4. Dream Of Killing Quartet - Chiss SweezeThe Jack Benny Program · October 27, 1946 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line
  5. Gets Haircut, Trouble with SportsmenThe Jack Benny Program · November 10, 1946 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line

Hear all 93 Artie Auerbach episodes, and every episode of every show, on demand: Potato Plus, $5 a month.

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All 93 Artie Auerbach episodes, by show

The 88 marked Potato Plus are for members: join to hear every one of them, whole, from any moment.

The Jack Benny Program 78 episodes, 1946 to 1955
  1. Dennis Day returns from the Navy - Allen's AlleyMarch 17, 1946 · Episode guide · Free
  2. And Mary Walk To The StudioOctober 13, 1946 · Episode guide · Free
  3. Dream Of Killing Quartet - Chiss SweezeOctober 27, 1946 · Episode guide · Free
  4. Gets Haircut, Trouble with SportsmenNovember 10, 1946 · Episode guide · Free
  5. Guests Ronald Colman And Leo DurocherNovember 17, 1946 · Potato Plus
  6. Christmas Shopping - Shoelaces For DonDecember 8, 1946 · Potato Plus
  7. MargieJanuary 26, 1947 · Potato Plus
  8. How Jack Gets His Studio AudienceFebruary 9, 1947 · Potato Plus
  9. Fires The Sportsmen QuartetFebruary 23, 1947 · Potato Plus
  10. Rehires The Sportsmen QuartetMarch 23, 1947 · Potato Plus
  11. From San Francisco With Jane WymanMarch 30, 1947 · Potato Plus
  12. Preparing To Leave For ChicagoMay 4, 1947 · Potato Plus
  13. From ChicagoMay 11, 1947 · Potato Plus
  14. From NY With Al JolsonMay 18, 1947 · Potato Plus
  15. Movie Of Jack's Life - Thanksgiving ShowNovember 23, 1947 · Potato Plus
  16. Last minute shopping - Jack applies for creditDecember 21, 1947 · Potato Plus
  17. Tries To Get Tickets To Rose BowlJanuary 4, 1948 · Potato Plus
  18. In Denver For The March Of DimesJanuary 18, 1948 · Potato Plus
  19. House In Palm SpringsFebruary 22, 1948 · Potato Plus
  20. Guest Star Frank SinatraMay 2, 1948 · Potato Plus
  21. Don Wilson's Weight - From DetroitJune 13, 1948 · Potato Plus
  22. Last Show Of Season - NY - Fred AllenJune 27, 1948 · Potato Plus
  23. Is Worried Because Mary Is LateNovember 14, 1948 · Potato Plus
  24. How The Gang Spent ThanksgivingNovember 28, 1948 · Potato Plus
  25. First broadcast on CBS - Guests Amos & Andy - Jack has the jittersJanuary 2, 1949 · Potato Plus
  26. Don Refuses To Sign His New ContractJanuary 30, 1949 · Potato Plus
  27. Has A Music LessonFebruary 27, 1949 · Potato Plus
  28. Lost Money At The Race TrackMarch 13, 1949 · Potato Plus
  29. Prepares For Trip To NYApril 3, 1949 · Potato Plus
  30. Last Show Of Season - Introducing CastMay 29, 1949 · Potato Plus
  31. takes inventory of his pantry and has amnesiaOctober 2, 1949 · Potato Plus
  32. is out of the hospital following nose surgeryOctober 23, 1949 · Potato Plus
  33. rides in a yachtNovember 6, 1949 · Potato Plus
  34. A quiet evening at home playing cardsNovember 27, 1949 · Potato Plus
  35. Guest Frank Leahy - Texas benefitDecember 11, 1949 · Episode guide · Free
  36. Jack's broken New Year's date - againJanuary 1, 1950 · Potato Plus
  37. From NY - Allen's Alley with old castFebruary 12, 1950 · Potato Plus
  38. Sagebrush Soap contestMarch 12, 1950 · Potato Plus
  39. gives 50 cents to a bumApril 9, 1950 · Potato Plus
  40. Easter showApril 30, 1950 · Potato Plus
  41. Mother's Day gagsMay 14, 1950 · Potato Plus
  42. Don tries to borrow $50,000 for a new candy businessOctober 22, 1950 · Potato Plus
  43. How Jack met the ColmansOctober 29, 1950 · Potato Plus
  44. Coming home on the train playing 20 questionsNovember 5, 1950 · Potato Plus
  45. tries to buy a ticket to the USC-UCLA gameNovember 26, 1950 · Potato Plus
  46. buys golf tees for DonDecember 17, 1950 · Potato Plus
  47. goes to the doctorJanuary 21, 1951 · Potato Plus
  48. The founding of Palm SpringsFebruary 11, 1951 · Potato Plus
  49. listen to radio in bed - talks about last week's illnessMarch 18, 1951 · Potato Plus
  50. Leaving New York to do his TV show - Jack takes Babe Livingstone to the trainApril 1, 1951 · Potato Plus
  51. Broadcast from Nellis Air Force Base - The Las Vegas HotelApril 29, 1951 · Potato Plus
  52. Last show of season - Jack introduces the cast - everyone sings the commercialJune 3, 1951 · Potato Plus
  53. loses his songOctober 28, 1951 · Potato Plus
  54. goes shopping for cufflinks for DonDecember 2, 1951 · Potato Plus
  55. Decorating the Christmas treeDecember 23, 1951 · Potato Plus
  56. gets a haircutJanuary 13, 1952 · Potato Plus
  57. Guests Frank Sinatra, George Burns, Groucho Marks, Danny Kaye - Jack's songMarch 2, 1952 · Potato Plus
  58. All Hands on Deck - broadcast from San Diego Naval BaseApril 20, 1952 · Potato Plus
  59. Last show of season - Phil Harris's last showJune 1, 1952 · Potato Plus
  60. Goes Trick or Treating with the BeaversNovember 2, 1952 · Potato Plus
  61. Thanksgiving pilgrimsNovember 30, 1952 · Potato Plus
  62. The dishwasher is brokenJanuary 4, 1953 · Potato Plus
  63. Preparing to go to New York CityMarch 1, 1953 · Potato Plus
  64. Easter paradeApril 5, 1953 · Potato Plus
  65. listens to the Indy 500 on the radioMay 31, 1953 · Potato Plus
  66. Thanksgiving dinnerNovember 29, 1953 · Potato Plus
  67. Cactus Christmas treeDecember 20, 1953 · Potato Plus
  68. loses $4.75 at the race trackMay 2, 1954 · Potato Plus
  69. A day at the beachMay 9, 1954 · Potato Plus
  70. Last show of the season - Jack prepares for a trip to DallasJune 6, 1954 · Potato Plus
  71. The Purple PirateOctober 17, 1954 · Potato Plus
  72. takes Dennis to the psychiatristNovember 28, 1954 · Potato Plus
  73. buys oil paints for Don for ChristmasDecember 5, 1954 · Potato Plus
  74. Christmas in Palm SpringsDecember 19, 1954 · Potato Plus
  75. The Rose Bowl Parade - broadcast from New YorkJanuary 2, 1955 · Potato Plus
  76. Jack's love letters - Jack buys a baseball teamMay 1, 1955 · Potato Plus
  77. paints the house - meets a friend at the train stationMay 15, 1955 · Potato Plus
  78. Last radio broadcast - Twombly, the sound effects man, has difficultyMay 22, 1955 · Potato Plus
Abbott and Costello 13 episodes, 1944 to 1945
  1. Costello Buys Gifts For CastafrsJune 8, 1944 · Potato Plus
  2. Investment AdviceafrsOctober 5, 1944 · Potato Plus
  3. Investing In A Gold MineOctober 12, 1944 · Potato Plus
  4. Lou Goes To JailOctober 19, 1944 · Potato Plus
  5. Mortimers Pet ShopNovember 2, 1944 · Potato Plus
  6. Return To P.s.15November 16, 1944 · Potato Plus
  7. Formal Thanksgiving DinnerNovember 23, 1944 · Potato Plus
  8. The Bank RobberyafrsNovember 30, 1944 · Potato Plus
  9. Christmas PartyDecember 21, 1944 · Potato Plus
  10. Lous House Needs Another BathtubJanuary 11, 1945 · Potato Plus
  11. Lou Wants To Join The Merchant MarinesJanuary 25, 1945 · Potato Plus
  12. The Merchant MarinesafrsJanuary 25, 1945 · Potato Plus
  13. Lou Shoots An Orange PickerFebruary 1, 1945 · Potato Plus
Fire Fighters 1 episode,
  1. Forest Fire Breaks OutPotato Plus
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar 1 episode, 1956
  1. The Markham MatterNovember 18, 1956 · Potato Plus

The supporting cast of old-time radio: every actor · Every series, A to Z

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