The Night Jack Debuted

[Yhtapmys]

I'm not sure if I've done this before, but here are the programme listings for May 2, 1932 when Jack went on the air. This is from C.E. Butterfield's column in the Associated Press, datelined New York:

Try These on Your Radio Tonight
WEAF-NBC-7:15—Piano and violin recital; 9—Hallie Stiles, soprano guest of the Gypsies; 10:30—Kay Donna, contralto; 11:45—Beal Street Nights.
WABC-CBS-7:30—Easy Aces; 8:15—Singing' Sam; 30—Burns and Allen and Lombardo's orchestra; 11—Howard Barlow symphony.
WJZ-NBC-8:30—Drama, "Death Valley Kid"; 9:30—New program by George Olsen and his music; 10:30—Love songs and waltzes with Frank Munn, tenor; 11:30—Piano Moods.

Poor Jack! No mention. George Olsen got all the credit, even in the WJZ listings (not posted). But WBZ Boston (990 meters on your radio) has the following [spelling mistakes are in the newspaper]:

6.30 p m—Impersonations: Ward Wilson.
6.45 p m—Ray Meyers of the Nautilus, orchestra.
7.00 p m—Amos 'n' Andy.
7.15 p m—Jesters Trio, songs and mandolute; Swedish dialect stories.
7.30 p m—Stebbins Boys, comedy sketch.
7.45 p m—Billy Jones and Ernie Hare, songs, patter.
8.00 p m—Frost Kings, orchestra,
8.15 p m—Boys' orchestra.
8.30 p m—Dramatic sketch: The Death Valley Kid.
9.00 p m—Minstrel Show; Morgan L. Eastman, band director.
9.30 p m—Canada Dry presents George Olsen's Orchestra: Jack Benny; stories and quibs: Ethel Shutte, songs.
10.00 p m—Ship to shore relay from S.S. St. John: Addresses by officials; orchestra music.
[programming continues]

I've checked listings for the same day for southern and central California stations, and I can't see any indication Jack's show was broadcast on the West Coast (L.A. & San Francisco areas). KGO and KFI both broadcast Amos and Andy at 7pm, both ran Jones & Hare at 8:30pm, but there's nothing remotely resembling Jack's show.

Perhaps of interest..
9pm—KTAB, Beverly Hill Billies (no, not *those* ones).
10.15pm—KFI, Jimmie Grier's Orchestra (Grier was a fill-in bandleader for Jack in Hollywood).

I checked a week later, and there was still nothing for the West Coast.

Yhtapmys

[Jhammes]

The tome "Jack Benny: The Radio And Television Work" lists him as not really being the "star" of the Canada Dry program. Found that hard to believe, but guess it is true...of course most of America was still getting aquainted with Jack Benny, he would not be the big draw just yet.

Early listings look kinda boring, but commercial radio was new and such a wicked cool medium. This was the first time ever that entertainers could perform for you, in the comfort of your own home, for free.
During the economic depression of the '30's, this would seriously mean a lot.