The Jack Benny Program/Heartwarming

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


  • A heartwarming and funny moment occurred on the October 20, 1940 broadcast, when Jack finally decides he's going to trade in his old Maxwell. He even puts aside his cheapskate tendencies and goes all out on a new Packard. He's just about to close the deal when...

Man: Hey, what'll I do with the old Maxwell, Mr. Collins?
Collins: Nothing you can do, just take it out and junk it.
Jack: (writing the check) "And... fifty..." (Beat.) ... Junk it?

Jack, sounding almost in tears at the prospect of his little old Maxwell on a scrap heap, becomes so angry at Mr. Collins that he calls off the deal and storms out. Upon returning to the car, Jack is touchingly happy and affectionate to see "Maxie" again... at least until it loses a tire almost immediately. "Trouble, trouble, nothing but trouble with this piece of junk! Someday I'm gonna trade it in!"
  • There are a few from Real Life, as well. At one point, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson was denied a room at the same hotel as the rest of the cast in St. Joseph, Missouri. Jack confronted the hotel manager, stating "If he doesn't stay here, neither will I." The manager relented.