Jack Benny radio show 2/12/50 Will TV Replace Radio?

In New York, Jack is once again staying at the run-down Acme Plaza. The Ink Spots sing "If I Didn't Care", which morphs into the middle commercial. A parody of the Fred Allen show asks the question, "Will television replace radio?"
www.otrcomedy.com

[@derektownsend3569]

Another good one. The Ink Spots doing the commercial. ...Classic. Thanks for sharing.

[@artroraback8663]

Another great show!

[@shawnmalone9711]

Great parody of Allen's Alley! Google Fred Allen 1894-1956. He was a funny radio comedion and a good friend of Jack Benny. The Benny - Allen feud was an in joke carried out by these two comedians 1937-1950.

[@lesmcc8103]

Any relation to Gracie?

[@fromthesidelines]

Not really. Fred's real name was "John Florence Sullivan". He called himself "Fred Allen" when he went into vaudeville.

[@shawnmalone9711]

@@fromthesidelines I know that was his was real name because there was an article about Fred Allen in a 1940 issue of Time Magazine, and he wrote an article about his vaudeville career. He also revealed his real name and why he chose the name "Fred Allen ", as a radio comedian.

[@ACcountryFan]

Hysterically funny in my opinion!! Although the phrase didn't come along until later, I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone as I listened to this episode. Being a fan of both Jack Benny and Fred Allen it's always fun hearing the spoofs each comic did of the other...but this one has an added touch of surrealism as some of the actual cast members from Fred's radio program (it having left the air in 1949) have special appearances on this episode of Jack's program.

[@fromthesidelines]

The answer to the question was obvious: as more people got TV sets and started watching at night, they listened to radio LESS....and within five years, Benny was off the air-- and most prime-time radio entertainment disappeared as well.

[@5headmedia302]

then full circle he'd have a killer podcast in 2020 and TV is shit

[@annereilley4892]

They should also ask if cigarettes would become less popular too.

[@sidcriminal]

Thank you for providing these great old shows! Mystery Science Theater 3000 makes quite a few Jack Benny references, even throwing in the famous "Yessssss" when appropriate. And of course they have a TV's Frank, and a Micheal J Nelson. so the two shows are spiritually linked. Lol... Are you related to the great "Yes Man"?

[@fromthesidelines]

Phil Kramer is the "Bellboy".

[@ChaniElkin]

Haven't heard this one in a while - is that Jerry Lewis playing the room service waiter? Anyone know? (Thanks in advance for any replies).

[@fromthesidelines]

Phil Kramer.

[@ChaniElkin]

@@fromthesidelines Thank you! 😊

[@fromthesidelines]

You're VERY welcome! 😃

[@howardoller443]

@@fromthesidelines You're the best. :)