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LET YOURSELF GO

Air Date/Released Wednesday, April 18, 1945
Station/Studio CBS (radio)
Host/Star Milton Berle
Featuring Joe Besser (Solo)

Milton Berle was a television pioneer, but had only modest success in radio despite a 13-year run. In the early 1940s, trying to find a sustaining, successful formula, Berle began experimenting with formats, which led to several different programs, and changes in sponsors and networks. One of these was LET YOURSELF GO which ran on CBS from March 1944 thru June 1945. Tending more to slapstick, which did not translate well to an audio format like radio, it used both audience and celebrity participants to set aside dignity and “let themselves go,” engaging in gags often directed at Berle’s expense.

Later in LET YOURSELF GO’s run, Berle began tweeking the format yet again, and much of the show’s gimmick was abandoned for a more typical variety show format. Joe Besser joined the cast beginning on April 18, 1945 as a regular (per Joe’s 1984 autobiography Not Just a Stooge). We also know that he guest-starred earlier on at least one episode, Feb. 7, 1945.

Available broadcast transcriptions of LET YOURSELF GO are currently restricted to its June 6, 1945 broadcast (see listing, below, for that). It's unknown if Besser participated in all, or some, of its episodes. Other than April 18 and June 6, potential 1945 airdates featuring Joe Besser are: April 25, May 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, June 13, 20 and 27.


Cast: Milton Berle (Himself), Ken Roberts (Announcer), Connie Russell (Herself), Ray Bloch & His Orchestra (Orchestra), Joe Besser (Himself)
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