tv 1961

Season 11, Episode 11 – Aired: 1/1/1961
Jack Casting For Television Special
Jack has written his fascinating life story, all typed by Rochester, and goes about the task of auditioning actors to play the parts. He casts a gorgeous young woman to play his first love, with his real first girlfriend playing the role of his mother. The tough part is finding just the right youth to play him as a child. He passes on one young man, instead hiring the pushy, demanding boy who's acting as the kid's agent.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Don Wilson - Himself / Eddie Anderson - Rochester Van Jones
Guest Cast
Jackie Russell - Woman / Dennis Holmes - Jimmy Evans / Barry Gordon - Harry Johnson / Mary Young - Mildred Holmquist
Assistant Director - Ted Schilz / Musical Director - Mahlon Merrick / Director Of Photography - Robert De Grasse
Art Directors - Pato Guzman Ralph Berger / Writers - Sam Perrin George Balzer Hal Goldman Al Gordon / Director and Producer - James V. Kern
Executive Producer - Irving Fein / Production Management - James Paisley / Production Supervisor - Argyle Nelson / Film Editor - Ralph Davis, Jr.

Season 11, Episode 12 – Aired: 1/8/1961
Jack Goes To The Vault
During his monologue, Jack gets a phone call from two Treasury agents who want to meet him at his home in an hour. Jack's sure he's about to be charged with tax evasion, so he leaves the show to Don and races home. The agents are actually from Fort Knox and they've come to study his legendary vault. Jack leads the government men on the dangerous path underground where they encounter his man-eating plant, Edwin. Still watching the vault is the long-suffering guard who tells Jack that he's never seen smog, but hopes President Washington will do something about it.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Eddie Anderson - Rochester Van Jones / Don Wilson - Himself
Guest Cast
Joseph Kearns - Ed, the Guard / Guest Stars - Hayden Rorke Robert F. Hoy
Recurring Roles
Ross Elliott - Recurring Role
Writers - Al Gordon Hal Goldman George Balzer Sam Perrin / Director - Fred De Cordova / Director Of Photography - Robert De Grasse
Musical Director - Mahlon Merrick / Executive Producer - Irving Fein / Producer - Fred De Cordova

Season 11, Episode 13 – Aired: 1/15/1961
Don's 27th Anniversary With Jack
Don Wilson is saluted on his 27th anniversary of working with Jack. Benny gives him a cape, a crown, and a throne, which collapses under Don's weight. The Sportsmen sing "Down Yonder".
In flashbacks, Jack shows how the two met: Jack's radio sponsor, the Universal Corset Co., holds auditions for an announcer for Jack's program. Don is awful--he's only there to complain about a corset he bought--but he's the only one who laughs at Jack's stale jokes.
Jack sends Don to elocution lessons and a dance where he becomes a ballerina.
John Daly presents Don with a plaque for his achievements in broadcasting and congratulates him on saving the Benny show when it was "down". Don agrees the show was a flop without him. An insulted Jack breaks the plaque over Don's head.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Don Wilson - Himself
Guest Cast
Leonid Kinskey - Sergei Finskey / Roy Rowan - Himself / Bill Baldwin - Himself / John Daly - Himself / Nancy Kulp - Teacher / Howard McNear - Mr. Willoughby
Production Supervisor - Argyle Nelson / Production Management - James Paisley / Assistant Director - Ted Schilz / Film Editor - Ralph Davis, Jr.
Editorial Supervisor - Bill Heath / Casting Director - Kerwin Coughlin / Sound Editor - Robert Reeve / Music Editor - Robert H. Raff
Recurring Roles
Sportsmen Quartet - Robert Garsen (1954-1965) Bill Days Jay Moffett (1957-1965) Gurney Bell
Sound Engineer - Dave Forrest / Costumer Supervisor - Bob Christenson / Art Director - Pato Guzman

Season 11, Episode 14 – Aired: 1/22/1961
Jack At The Supermarket
Rochester is out golfing while Jack does the housework, thanks to a crooked game of gin rummy. Jack plays with Don and sticks him with the chores. Dennis drops by and sings "Let There Be Love" before Don cheats him into cleaning. Jack goes to the supermarket and has numerous run-ins with sarcastic clerk Frank Nelson, fruit seller Benny Rubin, and Herb Viagrin at the meat counter. A woman is handing out samples of cake; when she leaves the display unattended, Jack sees the "FREE" sign, takes all the cakes and the tablecloth it sits on. Finally tired of Jack's pestering, Nelson shoves Jack into a cart and takes him to checkout.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Don Wilson - Himself / Eddie Anderson - Rochester Van Jones / Dennis Day Himself
Guest Cast
Audrey Clark - Woman with Free Cake / Karen Norris - Tommy's Mother / Flip Mark - Tommy
Director Of Photography - Robert De Grasse / Writers - Al Gordon Hal Goldman George Balzer Sam Perrin / Director - Norman Abbott
Art Directors - Pato Guzman Ralph Berger / Producer - Norman Abbott / Casting Director - Kerwin Coughlin / Sound Editor - Robert Reeve / Music Editor - Robert H. Raff
Hairstylist - Eva Kryger / Costumer Supervisor - Bob Christenson / Sound Engineer - Dave Forrest

Season 11, Episode 15 – Aired: 1/29/1961
Jack Is Hypnotized
Jack and his secretary, Miss Gordon, go to a nightclub to see the Sportsmen Quartet, who sing "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street". He proceeds to scoff at the next act, a performance of hypnotism by Professor Colini. The professor soon makes Jack a believer when he convinces the old cheapskate that he's Diamond Jim Brady; Jack complies by tipping the waiter $50. Unhappy about his new-found spending skill, Jack comes back to professor Colini who now makes him think he's Bob Hope.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Don Wilson - Himself
Guest Cast
Guest Stars - Jackie Loughery Dorothy Konrad David McMahon Anthony Warde / Christopher Dark - Professor Colini / Rolfe Sedan - Pierre
Lionel Ames - Emcee / Eugene Borden - Henri
Recurring Roles
Charles Cantor - Recurring Role / Maudie Prickett - Ms. Gordon / Sportsmen Quartet - Robert Garsen (1954-1965) Gurney Bell Jay Moffett (1957-1965) Bill Days
Musical Director - Mahlon Merrick / Director Of Photography - Henry Cronjager / Producer and Director - Fred De Cordova / Executive Producer - Irving Fein
Writers - Hugh Wedlock Howard Snyder / Production Supervisor - Argyle Nelson / Art Director - Pato Guzman

Season 11, Episode 16 – Aired: 2/5/1961
Jack Goes To a Gym
To impress an attractive receptionist at the studio, Jack decides he needs some muscles. He joins a gym and, to keep from paying full price for membership, he talks Don into joining with him.
After getting a look at Jack's lousy physique and bird legs, the gym operators aren't sure they can do anything to help him. While Jack struggles hopelessly with the various weight devices, Don sits on a machine that beats his bottom and munches on a big sandwich.
Jack's ultimate solution: football shoulder pads under his jacket.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Eddie Anderson - Rochester Van Jones / Don Wilson - Himself
Guest Cast
Alan Hale - McGuire / Frank Gerstle - Larry Hawkins / Lisa Davis - Studio Receptionist / Guest Stars - Russell Trent William McLean Leon Tyler Norman Alden
Film Editor - Ralph Davis, Jr. / Editorial Supervisor - Bill Heath / Casting Director - Kerwin Coughlin / Sound Editor - Robert Reeve
Recurring Roles
Richard Reeves - Boxer
Writers - Sam Perrin George Balzer Hal Goldman Al Gordon / Director - Fred De Cordova / Assistant Director - Ted Schilz
Make-Up Artists - Norbert Miles Lee Greenway / Set Decorator - Sandy Grace / Hairstylist - Eva Kryger

Season 11, Episode 17 – Aired: 2/12/1961
Death Row Sketch
Guest Mamie Van Doren charms Jack into letting her sing on the show; she and Dennis do "You Make Me Feel So Young."
Don Wilson and Howard McNear do the State Farm commercial.
Jack starts reading a book titled Life in the Death House, or My Last Meal Had No Appeal, leading to a dream where he's a condemned man telling his story to the warden. It seems he had a gorgeous wife (Mamie) who made him do all the housework and care for their idiot son (Dennis) while she lavished her attention on their boarder.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself, Bruce Fink / Dennis Day - Himself, Gus Fink / Don Wilson - Himself
Guest Cast
Mamie Van Doren - Herself, Flossie Fink / Howard McNear - Guest Star / Alan Dexter - Guest Star / Gerald Mohr - Harry
Recurring Roles
Frank Nelson - Recurring Role / Jeanette Eymann - Recurring Role / Ned Miller - Recurring Role
Director and Producer - Fred De Cordova / Executive Producer - Irving Fein
Writers - Sam Perrin Hal Goldman George Balzer Al Gordon / Musical Director - Mahlon Merrick

Season 11, Episode 18 – Aired: 2/19/1961
Musicale
Jack's monologue is about the freeways. The sketch is a flashback to Jack's childhood. Young Jack, again played by Barry Gordon, argues with his father (played by Benny) about money and about playing his violin in a string quartet.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Eddie Anderson - Rochester Van Jones / Don Wilson - Himself
Guest Cast
Guest Stars - Larry Kurkdjie Johnny Fresco Ray Martinez / Barry Gordon - Jack - as a child
Mabel Albertson - Jack's mother / Jack Albertson - Reporter
Production Supervisor - Argyle Nelson / Production Management - James Paisley / Assistant Director - Ted Schilz / Film Editor - Ralph Davis, Jr. / Editorial Supervisor - Bill Heath
Casting Director - Kerwin Coughlin / Sound Editor - Robert Reeve / Music Editor - Robert H. Raff / Hairstylist - Eva Kryger / Costume Supervisor - Bob Christenson
Sound Engineer - Dave Forrest / Make-Up Artist - Norbert Miles Lee Greenway / Set Decorator - Sandy Grace / Property Master - Ernest Graber

Season 11, Episode 19 – Aired: 2/26/1961
Jack Becomes a Surgeon
Jack and Rochester are cleaning Jack's attic, but Jack keeps finding excuses to keep everything. Don arrives, and finds an abstract painting in which he claims to see a man in a car who is happy because he has State Farm Insurance. Rochester finds a box of papers that contains Jack's application to medical school. Rochester daydreams about what Benny would have been like as a surgeon. Dr. Von Struneheimer comes from Vienna to watch the great Dr. Benny perform an appendectomy. After numerous mix-ups, the imminent surgeon gets to work.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Eddie Anderson - Rochester Van Jones / Don Wilson - Himself
Guest Cast
Claudia Barrett - 3rd Nurse / Ruth Brady - 2nd Nurse / Joan Tabor - 1st Nurse / Tyler McVey - Doctor
Recurring Roles
Mel Blanc - Dr. Von Struneheimer
Production Management - James Paisley / Assistant Director - Bud Grace / Film Editor - J.R. Whittredge / Editorial Supervisor - Bill Heath / Casting Director - Kerwin Coughlin
Sound Editor - Jack A. Finlay / Music Editor - Jack Hunsaker / Hairstylist - Jean Udko / Costums - Bob Christenson / Sound Mixer - Frank Webster
Make-Up Artist - Grant R. Keats Norbert Miles / Set Decorator - Ross Dowd / Property Master - Sam Harris (IV)

Season 11, Episode 20 – Aired: 3/5/1961
Detective Story
Dennis Day sings "It's Almost Like Being In Love" and bothers Jack with his squeaky shoes. Jack plays a big ciy police detective with his assistants Don and Dennis. He's hot on the trail of a murderer with a bizarre parade of suspects including John L. C. Sivoney, an old-time gangster, and a shoplifter with a bizarre taste in merchandise.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Dennis Day - Himself / Don Wilson - Himself
Guest Cast
Murvyn Vye - Gangster / Frank Fontaine - John L.C. Sivoney / Joy Monohan - Guest Star
Recurring Roles
Iris Adrian - Shoplifter / Benny Rubin - O'Brien
Production Supervisor - Argyle Nelson / Production Management - James Paisley / Assistant Director - Ted Schilz / Editorial Supervisor - Bill Heath / Film Editor - Ralph Davis, Jr.
Casting Director - Kerwin Coughlin / Sound Editor - Robert Reeve / Music Editor - Robert H. Raff / Hairstylist - Eva Kryger / Costume Supervisor - Bob Christenson
Sound Engineer - Dave Forrest / Make-Up Artist - Norbert Miles Lee Greenway

Season 11, Episode 21 – Aired: 3/12/1961
Children's Version of the Show
Dennis and Don attend the play put on by the third grade class of Beverly Hills Elementary School. The kids perform their version of The Jack Benny Program.
In the state Farm commercial, a man who has just had an accident comes to Jack's door and asks to use the phone. He then makes a long distance call to their home office in Michigan.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Dennis Day - Himself / Don Wilson - Himself / Eddie Anderson - Rochester Van Jones
Guest Cast
Guest Stars - Robert Patton Gregory Irvin Thomas Browne Henry Barry Gordon Lester Smith David Foley John L. Keating Judy Birr Jerry Jacobs Joe Forte
Adrienne Marden - Teacher
Musical Director - Mahlon Merrick / Director Of Photography - Henry Cronjager
Writers - Sam Perrin Al Gordon Hal Goldman George Balzer / Producer and Director - Fred De Cordova / Production Supervisor - Argyle Nelson
Assistant Director - Bud Grace / Production Management - James Paisley / Make-Up Artist - Norbert Miles / Set Decorator - Ross Dowd / Property Master - Ken Westcott
Script Supervisor - Betty Fancher

Season 11, Episode 22 – Aired: 3/19/1961
Jack Goes to Las Vegas
Cheapskate Jack hires only two of the Mills Brothers for his show. The other two come out (for free) and all perform "Opus One" and "Up the Lazy River". They sing for Don's Lipton Tea commercial.
Jack tries to make a reservation in Las Vegas. The hotel clerk tells him they're full because he remembers Jack's previous visit years earlier.
When Jack arrives at the hotel, Don tells him he cleaned up at the tables--the buffet tables. Benny balks at paying $28 dollars a night, objecting that $28 a week is too much. The hotel's manager agrees to rent him Room 13, underground, for $4 a night. Unable to resist temptation, Jack puts a nickle for a slot machine and wins the super jackpot. With his pockets full of nickles, he claims not to have any change for the bellhop.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Don Wilson - Himself
Guest Cast
The Mills Brothers - Themselves / Olan Soule - 2nd Desk Clerk / Dabbs Greer - Desk Clerk / Guest Stars - William Bakewell Eddie Quillan
Richard Deacon - Mr. Thomas, General Manager / Sound Mixer - Cam McCulloch / Make-Up Artist - Gustaf Norin Norbert Miles
Editorial Supervisor - Bill Heath / Film Editor - J.R. Whittredge / Production Management - James Paisley / Assistant Director - Bud Grace
Director Of Photography - Henry Cronjager / Art Directors - Pato Guzman Rolland M. Brooks / Writers - George Balzer Al Gordon Hal Goldman Sam Perrin
Recurring Role
Ned Miller - Recurring Role

Season 11, Episode 23 – Aired: 3/26/1961
Dance Contest
Rochester wants to compete in a TV dance contest, but Jack tells him he's already used his night off the month. However, Jack is excited by the $500 grand prize, so he cancels dinner with the Wilsons and enters with a woman he just met. After the contest, Jack shows up at the Wilsons at 2 AM for dinner, then complains about the food.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Don Wilson - Himself / Eddie Anderson - Rochester Van Jones
Guest Cast
Guest Stars - Jack Boyle Al Jarvis Barbara Heller
Art Director - Rolland M. Brooks / Art Director - Pato Guzman / Choreography - Glenn Turnbull / Musical Director - Mahlon Merrick
Director Of Photography - Henry Cronjager / Executive Producers - Irving Fein / Producer and Director - Fred De Cordova
Writers - Hal Goldman Al Gordon Sam Perrin George Balzer
Recurring Roles
Lois Corbet - Lois Wilson / Dale White - Harlow Wilson / Glenn Turnbull - Recurring Role

Season 11, Episode 24 – Aired: 4/2/1961
Variety Show
Jack introduces newcomer Ann-Margret and George Burns walks out. Since Jack saw her in Burns' Vegas show, he wants to introduce her. She performs "I Ain't Got Nobody." Burns demands a park setting for her next number, so Jack brings out a park bench he found complete with a couple on it necking. She sings "Have a Good Time".
Jack dresses as Ben Franklin to settle a bet for George.
Don Wilson does the Lipton Tea commercial with the couple from the park bench getting into an argument.
Juggler Francis Brunn performs and Jack, in a tight outfit, tries to join the act. Things don't go well and Benny exits on a stretcher.
Stars
Don Wilson - Himself / Jack Benny - Himself
Guest Cast
Guest Stars - George Burns Francis Brunn Ron Hagerthy Olive Sturgess Ann-Margret
Production Supervisor - Argyle Nelson / Production Management - James Paisley / Assistant Director - Bud Grace / Film Editor - J.R. Whittredge / Editorial Supervisor - Bill Heath
Casting Director - Kerwin Coughlin / Sound Editor - Jack A. Finlay / Music Editor - Jack Hunsaker / Costume Supervisor - William T. Zacha / Sound Mixer - Cam McCulloch
Make-Up Artist - Norbert Miles Gustaf Norin / Hairstylist - Dixie-Lee Georgino / Set Decorator - Ross Dowd / Property Master - Ken Westcott

Season 11, Episode 25 – Aired: 4/9/1961
Main Street Shelter
Jack waits for all the tardy channel switchers to tune in before he begins his monologue. In the sketch, Jack returns from a three day hike with the Beverly Hills Beavers to find that Rochester has given an old sports jacket of his to the Main Street Shelter. Jack rushes down to retrieve it since it has $200 sewn in the lining. In his camping clothes, and with a three-day beard, he is taken for a transient himself. When he finally gets his coat and $200 back, his "alter ego" makes him donate the cash to the shelter.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Don Wilson - Himself / Eddie Anderson - Rochester Van Jones
Guest Cast
Guest Stars - Lester Dorr Harry Tyler Frank Scannell Grandon Rhodes Ralph Moody / Gregory Irvin - Beverly Hills Beaver
Assistant Director - Bud Grace / Costumer Designer - William T. Zacha / Sound Mixer - Cam McCulloch / Sound Editor - Jack A. Finlay / Music Editor - Jack Hunsaker
Film Editor - J.R. Whittredge / Editorial Supervisor - Bill Heath / Casting Director - Kerwin Coughlin
Recurring Roles
Herb Vigran - Former Lawyer / Benny Rubin - Drunk
Writers - Hugh Wedlock Howard Snyder / Director - Fred De Cordova / Make-Up Artist - Norbert Miles Gustaf Norin

Season 11, Episode 26 – Aired: 4/16/1961
English Sketch
Benny's guests are Peter Lawford and Diana Dors. Jack's monologue is interrupted by two photographers from "What's New in Television" magazine who want to take his picture. Benny talks with Lawford about being between pictures; for Jack, it's been a long, long wait.
The sketch is an English drawing room farce with Jack playing Cecil Frothingham, England's most handsome and vain movie idol. He attempts to woo Lady Milbeck away from her charming husband with his wilted rose and a wavy, dark toupee.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Don Wilson - Himself
Guest Cast
Guest Stars - Dave Willock Milton Parsons / Diana Dors - Herself, Lady Milbeck / Jack Albertson - Reporter / Peter Lawford - Himself, Lord Milbeck
Art Director - Rolland M. Brooks / Art Director - Pato Guzman / Production Supervisor - Argyle Nelson / Production Management - James Paisley
Assistant Director - Bud Grace / Film Editor - J.R. Whittredge / Casting Director - Kerwin Coughlin / Sound Editor - Jack A. Finlay / Music Editor - Jack Hunsaker
Costume Supervisor - William T. Zacha / Sound Mixer - Cam McCulloch / Make-Up Artist - Ed Butterworth Norbert Miles / Hairstylist - Carmen Dirigo
Set Decorator - Robert Priestley