Benny and the gang returned for one last radio show in this Christmas special from 1956. Guests are June Allyson and Frances Bergen. Jack and Mary go Christmas shopping.
Dennis and Mel absolutely steal the show in this one I wonder in all the guest spots they did back and forth why Dennis Day and Gracie Allen never had a routine together
The "curious deliveryman" first appeared in the 1951 "Christmas Party" episode, when he was played by Elliott Lewis. It's interesting to compare the two performances. Elliott's is more naturalistic. Mel's is more cartoony. Both are hilarious, but nobody can do a freak-out like Mel.
@@OofusTwillip thanks fellow radio lover Elliot Lewis was genius on both sides of the microphone I always think of him first from the Phil Harris Alice Faye show but his versatility would make a great biography piece
Phil decided to stop doing the Benny show when it expanded then moved to TV focusing exclusively on his personal appearances and his wonderful radio show with his wife Alice, Bob Crosby was very good but not quite as good as Phil I suspect Frank Nelson was otherwise occupied because he continued to be a regular guest on the Benny show throughout anytime there's a shopping episode and you don't have the yeeeeeeees it's mildly disappointing
Phil was under exclusive contract to NBC for his radio show- and that also covered his TV appearances as well. He couldn't appear on Jack's TV program while he was working for NBC. He continued on Jack's radio show because that wasn't a part of his other contract. It was because of a cutback in the radio show's production budget that Jack finally had to let Phil go in 1952 {there were no hard feelings}, and he replaced him with Bob- who was previously seen on a few TV episodes- for less money.
It is funny that Ronald Coleman and his wife who didn't do comedy and was at first scared to do the show. Jack assured them both that they would be fine and taught them. Ronald was thrilled on how he was received. Tells a lot about Bob Crosby.
