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Day In The Life Of Dennis Day, A

1946–1949 · 55 episodes · 28 listens

A Day in the Life of Dennis Day was an American old-time radio situation comedy that aired on NBC from October 3, 1946, to June 30, 1951. The series is also sometimes referred to as The Dennis Day Show.

For most of the program’s time on the air, Dennis Day played a soda jerk, who with his wonderful Irish tenor voice, sang as he worked. His character was naive, innocent, and prone to making wisecracks, much like the character Day played on The Jack Benny Program. Plots often derived from problems with his girlfriend and her parents. Before the show ended, it changed to a variety format.

The Stars

Dennis Day, (real name Eugene Patrick McNulty) starred as himself in the program, which began after he was discharged from the Navy in 1946. Mildred Anderson (played at different times by Bettie Miles, Barbara Eiler, and Sharon Douglas) was Day’s girlfriend.

Mildred’s parents, Herbert and Clara Anderson (played by Francis “Dink” Trout and Bea Benaderet, respectively), owned the boarding house in which Day lived. Homer Willoughby (played by John Brown) owned the drugstore in which Day worked.

Announcers were Frank Barton, Verne Smith, and Jimmy Wallington. Ken Carson sang for commercials, and the instrumental music was provided by Robert Armbruster and Charles Dant.

The producer was Bill Harding.

Key Dates

  • A Day in the Life of Dennis Day debuted on October 3, 1946, and ran until June 30, 1951.
  • The show was sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive (Colgate Dental Creme, LustreCreme Shampoo) for its entire run.

Other Information

Being the star of his own program was a departure from Day’s previous experience as a regular on Jack Benny’s show. “I’m just as scared as I was in 1939 ,” he said. “You know, you get used to being a stooge. This one I’ll have to carry myself.”

Cast & Crew

BBea BenaderetActorCCharles DantMusicDDennis DayActorSSharon DouglasActorLLustre-Creme ShampooFFrank GalenWriterFFrank O'ConnorDirector · ProducerVVerne SmithAnnouncerAArthur AlsbergWriterJJimmy WallingtonAnnouncerBBarbara EilerActorBBill DavenportWriterFFrank BartonAnnouncerBBetty MilesActorFFrank Fox.WriterFFrancis TroutActorJJohn BrownActor

Ratings & reviews

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Episodes

Apr 16, 1947 · 30:14
April is awfully early in the year to be talking about summer vacations and besides Dennis Day has been working in…
Apr 16, 1949 · 30:30
if you work for an individual it doesn’t take him long to work out if your worth the salary he pays you where as if…
Apr 18, 1946
A breezy slice of small‑town misadventure finds Dennis juggling soda fountain duties, a delicate errand at a fancy…
Apr 21, 1948 · 29:27
As you needn’t be told there are numerous ways for people to get in to trouble. Some folks go out looking for it,…
Apr 23, 1947 · 30:34
Well just about the last person you’d suspect in the whole world of being up to something devilish is the husband of…
Apr 23, 1949 · 30:00
Dennis Day opens the show by singing Cruising Down The River. Every spring the Weaverville women's club in its untiring…
Apr 7, 1948 · 27:33
As you know in the whole town of Weaverville there is no one quite like our young hero Denis Day and most of the town…
Apr 9, 1947 · 30:07
Some months ago when it first became apparent that our young hero Dennis Day and Mildred Anderson were serious about…
Apr 9, 1949 · 31:00
There’s a glow of pride these days in the soft brown eyes of our young hero Dennis Day. It seems his old scout troop…
Aug 27, 1947 · 29:55
Dennis Day, the story of a loveable young boy and his uphill struggle to become average! Last June as you may remember…
Aug 27, 1949 · 31:08
Show opens and closes with a song from Dennis Day. For many of us it's still good old vacation time, for the Anderson…
Dec 10, 1947 · 29:34
One of the pleasant things about Christmas shopping is pause for refreshment afterwards and in Weaverville the…
Dec 17, 1947 · 29:58
Well our young hero Dennis Day is face to face with a dilemma of Christmas presents. There are three questions…
Dec 25, 1946 · 29:44
When some kids turn up at the Andersons singing Christmas carols they come in except for one little boy who is just…
Dec 3, 1947 · 29:28
Well they say truth is stranger than fiction, but maybe you better hold on to your hat for this one, our own Dennis Day…
Dec 4, 1948 · 30:23
Once every couple of years some touring theatrical troupe decides to play the town of Weaverville. The first night…
Feb 12, 1947 · 30:50
It’s the dead of night now as we look in on the little town of Weaverville. It’s nearly 10 pm and our young hero Dennis…
Feb 12, 1949 · 29:00
Today is Lincoln's birthday and the day after tomorrow is St Valentine's Day. Ironic isn't it. Only two days after the…
Feb 19, 1949 · 28:51
This coming week the high school class of our young hero is holding its annual reunion and as this event comes around…
Feb 26, 1947 · 31:00
It’s breakfast time as we look in at the Anderson Boarding House in Weaver Ville where our young hero Dennis Day rooms,…
Jan 1, 1947 · 20:15
The dawn of a new year hasn’t found any changes at the Anderson boarding house in Weaverville where our young hero…
Jan 14, 1948 · 29:44
The main topic of conversation these days in the town of Weaverville is of all things modern art for the eminent…
Jan 15, 1949 · 29:37
Dennis Day opens the show by singing I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm. Tonight Mrs Anderson is giving a formal dinner…
Jan 21, 1948 · 28:55
We refer to Dennis Day as our young hero and it’s true of course that he’s young but never has that other word been…
Jan 22, 1947 · 30:40
It’s late afternoon as we look in at the Anderson Boarding House in Weaver Ville where our young hero Dennis Day rooms.…
Jan 29, 1948 · 29:03
For months Dennis Day has been looking for a job in his spare time in addition to the one he already holds. The wonder…
Jan 29, 1949 · 30:00
This will be a busy week indeed at little Weaverville University for not only are the students taking their midterm…
Jan 8, 1949 · 29:57
Every year countless young men leave small towns to seek their fortune in the cities but when our young hero Dennis Day…
Jun 19, 1948 · 28:59
Last Saturday night when a traveling Vaudeville show opened at the Bijoux thaeter circumstances prevented our young…
Jun 23, 1948 · 29:39
In his relatively short lifetime our young hero Dennis Day has held a great many jobs and up until now no employer has…
Jun 25, 1949 · 28:08
Once upon a time there was a young girl by the name of Mildred Anderson who had a tremendous problem called Denis Day.…
Jun 30, 1948 · 29:46
Success is a matter of psychology, a state of mind. Act like a man of affairs and you’ll soon become a man of affairs.…
Mar 17, 1948 · 29:25
Dennis Day has won $300 in a baby competition. Only trouble is the picture he entered was of Mildred’s mother, his…
Mar 19, 1947 · 30:31
As you know our young hero Dennis Day rooms at the Anderson boarding house in Weaverville and as you also know it isn’t…
Mar 19, 1949 · 30:29
Few of us achieve the prominence of a mention in the public press. Our young hero Dennis made it once when he became…
Mar 24, 1948 · 28:53
Dennis opens the show by singing Zippity Do Da. Since the Willoughby store closed down a month ago our young hero,…
Mar 26, 1947 · 30:16
Did you ever notice a funny thing relating to people who are related to us? When they are poor they are called…
Mar 26, 1949 · 31:00
The town of Weaverville has never been considered an art center but this week there is a potential Rembrandt in every…
Mar 5, 1947 · 28:52
Well they say truth is stranger than fiction, but maybe you better hold on to your hats for this one. Our own Dennis…
May 5, 1948 · 29:08
Culture has come once again to the town of Weaverville. This time in the form of a touring theatrical company now…
Nov 13, 1948 · 30:00
In this great land of ours there are three glorious American traditions shared by nearly every American family, which…
Nov 14, 1946 · 31:00
Well, as you know Dennis Day rooms at the Anderson Boarding House in Weaverville, which is run along with all it’s…
Oct 1, 1947 · 29:46
The show commences with Dennis Day singing the title theme of Edgar Bergan’s new motion picture Fun And Fancy Free. As…
Oct 15, 1947 · 29:56
There’s quite a stir at the Anderson boarding house in Weaverville this morning. We find our young hero Dennis Day in…
Oct 16, 1948 · 29:43
We’ve seldom seen a more glorious fall morning than this one in the little town of Weaverville. Brilliant sunshine…
Oct 2, 1948 · 29:37
Mrs Anderson is going to a cultural soprano concert tonight and Mr Anderson doesn’t want to go. He gets a lucky break…
Oct 22, 1947 · 29:50
As you know our young hero Denis Day has been working at the Willoughby store in Weaverville for the past year and a…
Oct 23, 1948 · 25:00
The show starts with Dennis singing the hit from the score Pale Face entitled Buttons & Bows. Well there’s nothing more…
Oct 3, 1946 · 31:00
Mildred is determined to win the $25 at the masquerade ball that night so that she can help her boyfriend Dennis pay…
Oct 30, 1948 · 29:53
The show starts with Dennis singing the hit song entitled The Matador. Did you ever notice that the average intelligent…
Oct 9, 1948 · 29:00
Excitement mounts at fever pitch in the little town of Weaverville for tomorrow is the traditional football game…
Sep 18, 1948 · 29:42
Dennis Day opens the show by singing Hair of Gold, Eyes of Blue. Announcer: Verne Smith
Sep 24, 1947 · 30:13
A great many people go through life complaining of their bad breaks and some of them quite justifiably but have you…
Sep 25, 1948 · 28:52
When Mr Anderson was called out of town suddenly on business yesterday his wife was heard to remark that now she and…
Sep 3, 1947 · 29:50
It’s breakfast time now as we look in at the Anderson boarding house in Weaverville where our young hero Dennis Day…
Ned, your old-time-radio guide
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If Day In The Life Of Dennis Day, A was your cup of tea, pull up a chair — here's where I'd point you next.

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