In this episode, it is the evening before Eddie Canter's 55th Birthday. He celebrates with Jack Benny and a few other friends. The show is hosted by Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer. Commercials, as always, are left in for historic and entertainment purposes only.
Eddie Canter. Born 31 January 1882, was one of the huge names in the entertainment business in the first half of the 1900's. He was a singer and performer in Vaudeville, as well as in the Ziegfeld Follies and worked with all the big names of the day. Al Jolsen, WC Fields, Jimmy Durante, Will Rogers and more. He lost all his millions in the Wall Street crash but bounced back as a strong force in films, radio and as an author.
In the late 1930's he had trouble finding work since he openly opposed Adolf Hitler. Networks and sponsors wanted to remain uncommitted on such controversies that could swing either way. He regained popularity, of course, once the war was declared and in full swing. Later he faced similar rejection by the networks when he extended offers for black performers on his television show. The one time spot for Sammy Davis Jr, turned into a long multi show run as Eddie stood his ground on the issue.
