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Situation comedy · NBC

A Day in the Life of Dennis Day

April 18, 1946 – January 30, 1955 · 220 broadcasts

Fresh out of the Navy in 1946, Dennis Day -- Jack Benny's wide-eyed Irish tenor -- stepped out on his own with this gentle NBC situation comedy, and made a point of it: his Dennis Day was emphatically not the same bright young man heard on the Benny program. Here he is a soda jerk at Willoughby's drugstore in the small town of Weaverville, boarding at the Anderson house, forever talking himself into a new scheme -- running for mayor, selling insurance, impersonating a railroad boss -- and just as forever talking himself back out of it. His steady girl Mildred Anderson wants to marry him; her mother Clara (the great character actress Bea Benaderet) can't stand the thought; her mild father Herbert (Dink Trout) mostly keeps his head down; and boss Homer Willoughby (John Brown) signs the meager paychecks. Each week Day worked a song or two into the story -- the format ran song, plot, song, plot, song. Colgate-Palmolive sponsored the show across its NBC run from October 3, 1946 to June 30, 1951. Dennis Day later returned to the air in 1954-55 with a Sunday-night NBC variety edition, trading Weaverville for a guest-star line-up that drew the likes of Rosemary Clooney, Jimmy Durante, Peggy Lee, Cab Calloway and his old boss Jack Benny.

Collection status: 76 of 220 held (35% complete)
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Episode Spine

Grouped by year. Jump to the full list below, or open a season on its own page.

1946

April 18, 1946 Masquerade Ball Listen (MP3)
October 3, 1946 How Dennis Got His Radio Program Listen (MP3)
To win a masquerade-ball cash prize and cover the fender Dennis dented, Mildred plots to go as Amber from 'Forever Amber' -- until her mother forbids it and the only costume left fits Dennis.
October 10, 1946 (untitled)
October 17, 1946 (untitled)
October 24, 1946 (untitled)
October 31, 1946 (untitled)
November 7, 1946 Dennis Sells Vaccum Cleaners Listen (MP3)
November 14, 1946 Dennis Writes a Radio Script Listen (MP3)
With Mrs. Anderson away for the weekend, Dennis has the run of the boarding house and decides to try his hand at writing a radio script.
November 21, 1946 (untitled)
November 28, 1946 (untitled)
December 5, 1946 (untitled)
December 12, 1946 (untitled)
December 19, 1946 (untitled)
December 25, 1946 The Boy Who Sang for a King Listen (MP3)
A Christmas story: Dennis takes up for a young caroler the other children won't let sing, and helps the boy find his voice.

1947

January 1, 1947 Dennis Is Guest Speaker at the Ladies Aid Meeting Listen (MP3)
The new year finds nothing changed -- same $8-a-week job, same marriage-minded Mildred, same disapproving landlady -- and now Dennis has been talked into speaking at the Ladies Aid meeting.
January 8, 1947 Income Tax Mix Up Listen (FLAC)
January 15, 1947 (untitled)
January 22, 1947 Dennis Is Mistaken for a Missing Heir Listen (MP3)
Dennis bursts in on Mildred with what he calls the greatest news of his life: he has been mistaken for a long-lost missing heir.
January 29, 1947 (untitled)
February 5, 1947 (untitled)
February 12, 1947 Dennis Becomes Irresistable to Women Listen (MP3)
A romantic night at the pictures leaves Mildred swooning, and Dennis walking home convinced he has become irresistible to every woman in Weaverville.
February 19, 1947 (untitled)
February 26, 1947 Dennis Asks for a Raise and Is Let Go Listen (MP3)
Dennis screws up the courage to ask Mr. Willoughby for a raise -- and manages to talk himself right out of the job.
March 5, 1947 Dennis Is Mistaken for a Bank Robber Listen (MP3)
March 19, 1947 The Anderson's Anniversary Listen (MP3)
March 26, 1947 The Anderson's Want to Buy a New House Listen (MP3)
A brush with the family's wealthier 'connections' sets Mrs. Anderson dreaming of a bigger house, with Dennis drawn into the scheme.
April 2, 1947 (untitled)
April 9, 1947 Dennis Wants to Invest in the Drug Store; Needs $100 Listen (MP3)
Now that Mrs. Anderson tolerates him a little more, Dennis sets out to scrape together $100 to buy a stake in Willoughby's drugstore.
April 16, 1947 Dennis Goes to a Marriage Counselor Listen (MP3)
A surprise offer of a paid summer vacation from Mr. Willoughby throws Dennis's future with Mildred into question -- and sends him to a marriage counselor.
April 23, 1947 Mr. Anderson Writes for True Story Magazine; Dennis Helps Listen (MP3)
Steady, dutiful Mr. Anderson has been acting oddly all week; Mildred sets Dennis to find out why, and turns up her father secretly writing for True Story magazine.
April 30, 1947 (untitled)
May 7, 1947 (untitled)
May 14, 1947 (untitled)
May 21, 1947 (untitled)
May 28, 1947 (untitled)
June 4, 1947 (untitled)
June 11, 1947 (untitled)
June 18, 1947 (untitled)
June 25, 1947 (untitled)
August 27, 1947 Dennis Becomes a Drama Critic and Pans a Local Play Listen (MP3)
Back from a forced summer at home while Willoughby's was closed, Dennis lands the local drama-critic beat and promptly pans a Weaverville play.
September 3, 1947 Dennis Runs for Mayor Listen (MP3)
Breakfast-table sparring at the Anderson house somehow snowballs into Dennis running for mayor of Weaverville.
September 10, 1947 Dennis Inherits a Fortune Listen (MP3)
September 17, 1947 (untitled)
September 24, 1947 Dennis Impersonates a Big Railroad Boss Listen (MP3)
Out of two billion people, only Dennis Day has to be Dennis Day -- which is how he ends up impersonating a big railroad executive.
October 1, 1947 Dennis Tries to Enlist Support for a New Jail Listen (MP3)
Still angling to win over Mildred's mother, Dennis champions the unlikely civic cause of building the town a new jail.
October 8, 1947 (untitled)
October 15, 1947 Mrs. Anderson Opens a Dress Shop Listen (MP3)
A stir of mysterious packages at the boarding house turns out to be Mrs. Anderson going into business with a dress shop, and Dennis caught up in it.
October 22, 1947 Dennis Gets a Second Job Selling Insurance Listen (MP3)
A year and a half of Willoughby's underpay drives Dennis to moonlight -- selling insurance on the side.
October 29, 1947 (untitled)
November 5, 1947 (untitled)
November 12, 1947 (untitled)
November 19, 1947 (untitled)
November 26, 1947 (untitled)
December 3, 1947 Dennis Tries to Get a Job as Society Editor Listen (MP3)
Truth stranger than fiction: Dennis is offered, of all things, the society column at the Weaverville Daily Bugle, and the whole town hears about it.
December 10, 1947 Dennis Helps Mr. Willoughby Obtain a Bank Loan Listen (MP3)
Over refreshments at the new Little Gypsy Tearoom, Dennis takes on the job of helping Mr. Willoughby land a bank loan.
December 17, 1947 Dennis Helps Mrs. Anderson Become President of the Ladies Club Listen (MP3)
Stumped for a Christmas gift for his landlady, Dennis throws himself instead into getting Mrs. Anderson elected president of the ladies' club.
December 24, 1947 (untitled)
December 31, 1947 (untitled)

1948

January 7, 1948 (untitled)
January 14, 1948 Dennis Helps Mr. Anderson Steal His Own Painting Listen (MP3)
When a famous artist's exhibit will feature a canvas the Andersons own, Dennis helps Mr. Anderson scheme to 'steal' his own painting.
January 21, 1948 Dennis Tries to Get a Job with the Post Office Listen (MP3)
A front-page turn in the Weaverville Gazette makes Dennis a genuine hero for once, just as he goes after a job with the post office.
January 28, 1948 Dennis Does a Radio Show Listen (MP3)
Dennis has finally landed a spare-time job -- doing a radio show -- though Mildred is decidedly unimpressed by the news.
February 4, 1948 (untitled)
February 11, 1948 Dennis Finds a Stray Dog Listen (FLAC)
February 18, 1948 (untitled)
February 25, 1948 (untitled)
March 3, 1948 (untitled)
March 10, 1948 (untitled)
March 17, 1948 Dennis Enters Mr. Anderson in a Baby Picture Contest Listen (MP3)
Dennis wins $300 in a baby-photo contest using a snapshot of Mildred's mother as a toddler -- and then the contest asks for more pictures of its 'winner.'
March 24, 1948 Dennis Tries to Save Weaverville from a Land Grab Listen (MP3)
Between a string of short-lived jobs, Dennis stumbles into a fight to save Weaverville from a land grab.
March 31, 1948 (untitled)
April 7, 1948 Dennis and Mildred Try to Keep the Radio Station on the Air Listen (MP3)
With the local radio station about to pull up stakes for another city, Dennis and Mildred mount a campaign to keep Weaverville on the air.
April 14, 1948 (untitled)
April 21, 1948 Dennis Is Misquoted in the Newspaper; Gets in Trouble Listen (MP3)
One of those souls who falls into trouble without ever looking for it, Dennis lands in hot water when the newspaper misquotes him.
April 28, 1948 (untitled)
May 5, 1948 Dennis Must Decide Between an Acting Career and His Girlfriend Listen (MP3)
A touring company brings faded star Evelyn Lovelace to town with a stage offer that forces Dennis to choose between an acting career and Mildred.
May 12, 1948 (untitled)
May 19, 1948 (untitled)
May 26, 1948 (untitled)
June 2, 1948 Dennis Needs Security for a Loan Listen (MP3)
June 9, 1948 (untitled)
June 16, 1948 Bill Calhoun, and Old Shipmate, Visits Listen (MP3)
Dennis finally gets his long-awaited night out with Mildred -- right as Bill Calhoun, an old Navy shipmate, turns up on the doorstep.
June 23, 1948 Dennis Bets on the Horses by Mistake Listen (MP3)
Freshly hired at the Weaverville telegraph office, Dennis manages to place a bet on the horses entirely by mistake.
June 30, 1948 Dennis Donates for a New Gym Listen (MP3)
A 'success is a state of mind' magazine article convinces Dennis to act like a man of affairs -- beginning with a donation toward a new town gym.
August 28, 1948 (untitled)
September 4, 1948 (untitled)
September 11, 1948 Dennis Impersonates a French Count Listen (MP3)
September 18, 1948 Dennis and Mr. Anderson Go Out on the Town Listen (MP3)
September 25, 1948 Dennis Gives Up His Room for a New Border Listen (MP3)
With Mr. Anderson suddenly called away on business, Mrs. Anderson eyes Dennis's room for a new boarder -- and pointedly eyes Dennis for the exit.
October 2, 1948 Dennis Tries to Prevent a Boy from Running Away from Home Listen (MP3)
A last-minute concert ticket reshuffles the Andersons' evening, and Dennis ends up trying to talk a boy out of running away from home.
October 9, 1948 Dennis Tries to Get Football Plays from Another Team Listen (MP3)
With the big Weaverville-Middletown game at hand, loyal alumnus Dennis schemes to get hold of the rival team's plays.
October 16, 1948 Dennis Sells Mrs. Anderson Some Worthless Oil Property Listen (MP3)
On a golden fall morning too fine to distrust, Dennis contrives to sell Mrs. Anderson a patch of worthless oil property.
October 23, 1948 Dennis Thinks Mildred Has a New Boyfriend Listen (MP3)
A duck-hunting morning sets the stage as a jealous Dennis convinces himself Mildred has taken up with a new boyfriend.
October 30, 1948 Dennis Is Accused of Stealing Mrs. Anderson's Earrings Listen (MP3)
Hopeless with dates and anniversaries like most men, Dennis forgets an occasion and finds himself accused of stealing Mrs. Anderson's earrings.
November 6, 1948 (untitled)
November 13, 1948 Dennis Writes an Advise Column Listen (MP3)
Radio's own Fibber McGee and Molly -- Jim and Marian Jordan -- guest as Dennis takes on the town's advice column.
November 20, 1948 (untitled)
November 27, 1948 (untitled)
December 4, 1948 Dennis Helps Mr. Anderson Get Fan Letters Listen (MP3)
One of Weaverville's rare touring theatrical troupes rolls in, and Dennis sets out to help Mr. Anderson collect a stack of fan letters.
December 11, 1948 (untitled)
December 18, 1948 (untitled)
December 25, 1948 (untitled)

1949

January 1, 1949 Stable Boy at Mayfair Riding Acadamy Listen (FLAC)
January 8, 1949 Dennis Gets a Job as City Manager Listen (MP3)
The boy who swore he'd make his mark in Weaverville aims high, going after the job of city manager.
January 15, 1949 Mrs. Anderson Cancels Dennis' Invitaiton to Her Party Listen (MP3)
Mrs. Anderson plans a formal dinner for Weaverville's social elite -- and would dearly love to cancel the one invitation that went to Dennis.
January 22, 1949 (untitled)
January 29, 1949 Dennis Helps Mrs. Anderson Correct a Black Mark She Got in College Listen (MP3)
It's homecoming week at Weaverville University, and Dennis pitches in to help Mrs. Anderson erase an old black mark from her college record.
February 5, 1949 (untitled)
February 12, 1949 Dennis and Mildred Plan to Elope Listen (MP3)
With Lincoln's birthday and St. Valentine's Day back to back, a valentine-making Dennis and Mildred begin plotting to elope.
February 19, 1949 Dennis Is Mistakenly Identified as an Heir by His Photograph Listen (MP3)
February 26, 1949 (untitled)
March 5, 1949 Dennis Imitates Hollywood Stars Listen (FLAC)
March 12, 1949 (untitled)
March 19, 1949 Dennis Is Asked to Pretend to Be a Beneficiary of an Insurance Policy Listen (MP3)
March 26, 1949 Weaverville Art Contest Listen (FLAC)
The museum's $500 amateur art contest turns every home in Weaverville into a studio, his landlady's included, and Dennis into a hopeful entrant.
April 2, 1949 (untitled)
April 9, 1949 The Scoutmaster Listen (MP3)
After twelve loyal years in the troop, Dennis's old scout unit asks him to come back as their new scoutmaster.
April 16, 1949 Dennis and Mrs. Anderson Both Run for Political Office Listen (MP3)
A musing on job security turns literal when Dennis and Mrs. Anderson both wind up running for the same political office.
April 23, 1949 Dennis Helps Mrs. Anderson Get a Part in a Play Listen (MP3)
The women's club mounts its yearly drama festival, and Dennis campaigns to land Mrs. Anderson a better part than last time.
April 30, 1949 The Contest Listen (FLAC)
May 7, 1949 Millie Leaves Town
May 14, 1949 Room Rent Due Listen (MP3)
May 21, 1949 (untitled)
May 28, 1949 (untitled)
June 4, 1949 (untitled)
June 11, 1949 Dennis Discovers Morgan's Treasure Listen (MP3)
June 18, 1949 (untitled)
June 25, 1949 Crook Shakes Down Gikoby Listen (FLAC)
Three years of going steady and Dennis has held Mildred's hand only to demonstrate a scout grip -- but a crook shaking down a local finally has him playing hero.
August 27, 1949 Dennis and Mildred Have a Falling Out Listen (FLAC)
A lean vacation year for the cash-strapped Andersons sets the scene for a falling-out between Dennis and Mildred.
September 3, 1949 (untitled)
September 10, 1949 (untitled)
September 17, 1949 (untitled)
September 24, 1949 (untitled)
October 1, 1949 (untitled)
October 8, 1949 (untitled)
October 15, 1949 (untitled)
October 22, 1949 (untitled)
October 29, 1949 (untitled)
November 5, 1949 The Cigar Slogan Contest Listen (MP3)
November 12, 1949 (untitled)
November 19, 1949 (untitled)
November 26, 1949 (untitled)
December 3, 1949 (untitled)
December 10, 1949 (untitled)
December 17, 1949 (untitled)
December 24, 1949 Christmas Show
December 31, 1949 (untitled)

1950

January 7, 1950 (untitled)
January 14, 1950 (untitled)
January 21, 1950 (untitled)
January 28, 1950 (untitled)
February 4, 1950 (untitled)
February 11, 1950 (untitled)
February 18, 1950 Gloria to Marry Basil Featherstone
February 25, 1950 (untitled)
March 4, 1950 (untitled)
March 11, 1950 (untitled)
March 18, 1950 (untitled)
March 25, 1950 (untitled)
April 1, 1950 (untitled)
April 8, 1950 (untitled)
April 15, 1950 (untitled)
April 22, 1950 (untitled)
April 29, 1950 (untitled)
May 6, 1950 (untitled)
May 13, 1950 (untitled)
May 20, 1950 (untitled)
May 27, 1950 (untitled)
June 3, 1950 Ronald Knicade's Double-Beards Listen (MP3)
June 10, 1950 Dennis Needs an Agent Listen (MP3)
June 17, 1950 (untitled)
June 24, 1950 (untitled)
July 1, 1950 (untitled)
October 7, 1950 (untitled)
October 14, 1950 (untitled)
October 21, 1950 (untitled)
October 28, 1950 (untitled)
November 4, 1950 (untitled)
November 11, 1950 (untitled)
November 18, 1950 (untitled)
November 25, 1950 (untitled)
December 2, 1950 (untitled)
December 9, 1950 (untitled)
December 16, 1950 (untitled)
December 23, 1950 (untitled)
December 30, 1950 (untitled)

1951

January 6, 1951 (untitled)
January 13, 1951 (untitled)
January 20, 1951 (untitled)
January 27, 1951 (untitled)
February 3, 1951 (untitled)
February 10, 1951 (untitled)
February 17, 1951 (untitled)
February 24, 1951 (untitled)
March 3, 1951 (untitled)
March 10, 1951 (untitled)
March 17, 1951 (untitled)
March 24, 1951 (untitled)
March 31, 1951 (untitled)
April 7, 1951 (untitled)
April 14, 1951 (untitled)
April 21, 1951 (untitled)
April 28, 1951 (untitled)
May 5, 1951 (untitled)
May 12, 1951 (untitled)
May 19, 1951 (untitled)
May 26, 1951 (untitled)
June 2, 1951 (untitled)
June 9, 1951 (untitled)
June 16, 1951 (untitled)
June 23, 1951 (untitled)
June 30, 1951 (untitled)

1954

September 19, 1954 Guests: Rosemary Clooney, Jimmy Durante Listen (MP3)
Dennis opens his Sunday-night variety show with guests Rosemary Clooney and Jimmy Durante.
October 3, 1954 Guests: Patti Andrews, Race Gentry Listen (MP3)
Patti Andrews and Race Gentry join Dennis on the variety hour.
October 10, 1954 Guests: Peggy Lee, Willard Waterman Listen (MP3)
Peggy Lee and Willard Waterman guest with Dennis Day.
October 17, 1954 Guests: Cab Calloway, Peggy Constance Listen (MP3)
Cab Calloway and Peggy Constance appear as Dennis's guests.
October 24, 1954 Guests: Rosemary Clooney, Dick Shannon Listen (MP3)
Rosemary Clooney returns, alongside Dick Shannon, to guest with Dennis.

1955

January 16, 1955 Guests: Jack Benny, Margaret Truman Listen (MP3)
Dennis's old boss Jack Benny headlines the guest list with Margaret Truman.
January 23, 1955 Guests: Ken Murray, Carol Richards
Ken Murray and Carol Richards guest on the Sunday variety show.
January 30, 1955 Guests: Dinah Shore, Jack Kirkwood Listen (MP3)
Dinah Shore and Jack Kirkwood round out the guest line-up with Dennis.
The Story

Fresh out of the Navy in 1946, Dennis Day -- Jack Benny's wide-eyed Irish tenor -- stepped out on his own with this gentle NBC situation comedy, and made a point of it: his Dennis Day was emphatically not the same bright young man heard on the Benny program. Here he is a soda jerk at Willoughby's drugstore in the small town of Weaverville, boarding at the Anderson house, forever talking himself into a new scheme -- running for mayor, selling insurance, impersonating a railroad boss -- and just as forever talking himself back out of it. His steady girl Mildred Anderson wants to marry him; her mother Clara (the great character actress Bea Benaderet) can't stand the thought; her mild father Herbert (Dink Trout) mostly keeps his head down; and boss Homer Willoughby (John Brown) signs the meager paychecks. Each week Day worked a song or two into the story -- the format ran song, plot, song, plot, song. Colgate-Palmolive sponsored the show across its NBC run from October 3, 1946 to June 30, 1951. Dennis Day later returned to the air in 1954-55 with a Sunday-night NBC variety edition, trading Weaverville for a guest-star line-up that drew the likes of Rosemary Clooney, Jimmy Durante, Peggy Lee, Cab Calloway and his old boss Jack Benny.

Full story — coming soon while it's being curated.
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