Summary: Special Guest Is Groucho Marx (Aired February 20, 1944) Benny had been only a minor vaudeville performer, but he became a national figure with The Jack Benny Program, a weekly radio show which ran from 1932 to 1948 on NBC and from 1949 to 1955 on CBS. It was consistently among the most highly rated programs during most of that run. With Canada Dry Ginger Ale as a sponsor, Benny came to radio on The Canada Dry Program, beginning May 2, 1932, on the NBC Blue Network and continuing there for six months until October 26, moving the show to CBS on October 30. With Ted Weems leading the band, Benny stayed on CBS until January 26, 1933. Arriving at NBC on March 17, Benny did The Chevrolet Program until April 1, 1934. He continued with sponsor General Tire through the end of the season. In October, 1934, General Foods, the makers of Jell-O and Grape-Nuts, became the sponsor most identified with Jack, for the next ten years. American Tobacco's Lucky Strike was his longest-lasting radio sponsor, from October, 1944, through the end of his original radio series. THIS EPISODE: February 20, 1944. Red network. Sponsored by: Grape-Nuts, Grape-Nuts Flakes, Grape-Nuts Wheat Meal. "Special Guest Groucho Marx"'s ad libs have Jack cracking up within two minutes of Groucho's appearance. The cast does, "The Gilroy Murder Case." Rochester helps Don deliver one of the commercials. "L.S.M.F.T." is mentioned. Jack Benny, Don Wilson, Groucho Marx, Eddie Anderson, Mary Livingstone, Butterfly McQueen, Dennis Day, Phil Harris, John Brown, Ed Beloin (writer, performer), Mahlon Merrick (conductor). 30:42. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.
