Phil Harris and Jack Benny Interviewed 1946 (BONUS)

·34 min·3 clips

Hear Phil Harris and Jack Benny in rare 1946 radio interviews while their own show was on hiatus.

The episode opens with host John Henderson introducing two short radio segments from spring 1946, when The Jack Benny Show was on hiatus. He explains that Phil Harris and Jack Benny were guests on another radio program hosted by Chicago columnist Nate Gross. Henderson notes the influence of newspaper columnists like Walter Winchell at the time. The first segment features Phil Harris and his wife Alice Faye on Nate Gross's show, sponsored by the Illinois Commercial Men's Association (ICMA). Harris immediately disrupts the program by demanding to buy a $2 accident insurance policy from announcer Everett Clark, leading to chaotic banter. Nate Gross attempts to introduce Alice Faye, but Harris insists on doing it himself. The trio discusses Hollywood, with Gross claiming he couldn't get a date there. Nate Gross then performs his original love song 'I'm in Love,' only to receive a wire from Irving Berlin telling him to stop mentioning his name. Phil Harris suggests forming a trio and they rehearse the counting song 'Onesie Twosie.' The segment ends with Gross expressing affection for his guests. The second segment features Jack Benny as a guest on Nate Gross's show. Benny complains that Phil Harris was on the program without his permission and jokes about taking commission from his cast. He interacts with announcer Everett Clark, referencing a previous appearance on Fred Allen's show. Benny discusses his planned cross-country drive in his Maxwell car, estimating it might take all summer. He talks about his upcoming film 'The Life of Jack Benny' and jokes about his age, claiming to be 37. Benny shares a story about appearing in Fred Allen's film 'In the Bag,' which had to be made in black and white due to Allen's skin photographing plaid. The interview concludes with Benny telling a joke about the difference between Walter Winchell and Nate Gross, which Nate points out he used before. Throughout both segments, there are news updates and promotions for ICMA's accident insurance and the newsletter NewsGov, reflecting the commercial radio style of the 1940s.

As heard by us

Phil Harris and Jack Benny coast through a 1946 Chicago radio double feature built on newspaper fame, self-parody, and a stubborn mock love song.

This 1946 radio double feature finds Phil Harris and Jack Benny filling a spring-hiatus slot with the easy confidence of performers who know exactly how far to push a joke.

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Why you'd press play

You get a quick 1946 local-radio detour where Phil Harris, then Jack Benny, wander through Nate Gross's columnist room.

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