This vintage comedy show starred radio personality Jack Benny as the cheap but hilarious character Benny had developed on radio from 1932-1955. Like radio listeners, television audiences quickly fell in love with Benny's portrayal of the stingy older man who claimed to be perpetually 39 years old. This release compiles 20 fun-filled episodes of Benny's classic television program on 5 DVDs, featuring musical numbers and performances by regulars Eddie "Rochester" Anderson and Mary Livingston.DVD 1
Episode 1: In a series of flashbacks, Jack recalls his first meeting with Mary, who is working as a clerk in a department store and his feeble attempts to ask her for a date. / Episode 2: Jack plans to dramatize his life story on the show. An adorable boy shows up to audition for the part as Jack as a child, but his ruthless agent demands $2000 to hire his client! / Episode 3: Jack is about to introduce singer Bob Crosby when he is interrupted by a precocious young girl asking for an autograph who insists that her name is Margaret Truman and that she lives in Washington DC! / Episode 4: Jack visits the show's sponsor to renew his contract. What Jack doesn't know is that the scheming Fred Allen is trying to convince the company that Benny should be fired and he should be the new star! In a surprise appearance, Eddie Cantor suddenly enters to turn the tables on both Benny and Allen!
DVD 2
Episode 1 - 4 AM: After being awakened at four in the morning by a phone call from "Hank, the All Night Radio DJ," Jack can't get back to sleep. Exhausted, a simple trip to buy a new suit with Mary turns into an exasperating ordeal. / Episode 2 - Humphrey Bogart: Humphrey Bogart guest stars as notorious killer "Baby Face" in a sketch based on Dragnet, with police Lieutenant Jack Benny submitting him to a grueling interrogation. / Episode 3 - Don's Anniversary: Announcer Don Wilson gets the star treatment from Jack in honor of his 27 years of service. Jack recalls the day they met when Don was hired after accidentally showing up for the audition, with Jack putting him through elocution and dance classes that were meant to whip him into shape. / Episode 4 - Liberace: Jack visits the home of guest star Liberace, where the flamboyant pianist's reputation for extravagance is taken to ridiculous lengths.
DVD 3
Episode 1: It's New Year's Day and Jack is so revved up about the upcoming Rose Bowl Game he tackles a comedy routine with coaches from the rival football teams. Then, for the first time ever on his new TV show he recreates his annual radio drama "Old Father Time"-complete with sound effects man, radio actors and announcers. Don Wilson and the original man-of-a-thousand-voices, Mel Blanc, join in the fun. / Episode 2: Penny-pinching Jack is upset when he learns that popular recording star Johnnie Ray wants ten thousand dollars to appear on his show. Rochester collaborates on a song and dance routine with announcer Don Wilson and Danny Thomas makes a surprise appearance. / Episode 3: Hollywood movie stars Dan Daley, Kirk Douglas, Fred MacMurray, Tony Martin and Dick Powell - all of them amateur musicians, drop by Jack's house for an informal jam session that soon turns into musical mayhem. Maestro Benny leads the band and saws away on his violin. At Jack's request, Rochester economizes by serving peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. / Episode 4: Jack competes with Vincent Price for a role in a film co-starring Irene Dunne. Jack, however, is the only one who thinks he has a chance.
DVD 4
Episode 1 - Reminiscing About New Year's Eve: Jack turns down an invitation for a big holiday party with the cast of his show. Instead, he gets dressed in top hat and tails for a gala New Year's Eve date with his new lady friend Gloria. A few hours later, though, Jack finds himself sipping champagne with his new date-Rochester. / Episode 2 - Jack Dreams He's Married To Mary: While taking a nap Jack dreams that he has been married to Mary Livingston for 21 years. However, the roles are reversed in the Benny household. Mary is the breadwinner and goes to work each day. Jack stays home, does the cooking the cleaning and continues to celebrate his 39th birthday. / Episode 3 - Jack's Hong Kong Suit: Jack is proud of his beautiful new suit, the one he bought from a Hong Kong tailor for just 12 dollars. But after playing a frenetic fiddle duet with Gisele MacKenzie, Jack's cheap suit starts splitting at the seams. / Episode 4 - Beverly Hills Police Station: Rochester telephones to tell Jack that his ancient Maxwell auto is missing, apparently stolen during the night from the Benny residence. Jack heads for the Beverly Hills Police Department and can't believe just how upscale and "Hollywood" a police station can be.
DVD 5
Episode 1 - Dorothy Shay Show: Jack can barely get through the opening monologue when he is rudely interrupted, twice. First when Bob Crosby decides to sing a song just as Benny is in the middle of telling a joke and by a talkative taxi cab driver, Mel Blanc. / Episode 2 - Goldie, Fields & Glide: Jack reminisces about his old vaudeville days when he toured with his musical partners, George Burns and Bing Crosby. The team - billed as Goldie, Fields and Glide - has a brief reunion and Bob Hope pops up in a surprise cameo appearance. / Episode 3 - Lunch Counter Murder: Jack plays a frightened manager of a roadside hamburger joint that is invaded by a gang of gangsters. Guest star Dan Duryea is a scar-faced tough guy who eats sardines - tin can, and all. Even Dennis Day acts like a tough guy. / Episode 4 - Jack Rents His House: Jack is getting ready to open a new show on Broadway. He rents his Beverly Hills home for the months he'll be gone. He neglects to tell the renters about the fish he keeps in the swimming pool or how he gets his electricity from tapping into a traffic light down the street.
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