Jack Benny was born 120 years ago today!

http://news.kjosy.com ^ | february 14, 2014

[lowbridge]

Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky; February 14, 1894 – December 26, 1974) was an American comedian,vaudevillian, radio, television, and film actor, and violinist. Recognized as a leading American entertainer of the 20th century, Benny portrayed his character as a miser, playing his violin badly. In character, he would be 39 years of age, regardless of his actual age.

Benny was known for comic timing, and the ability to create laughter with a pregnant pause or a single expression, such as his signature exasperated “Well!” His radio and television programs, popular from the 1930s to the 1960s, were a major influence on the sitcom genre.

[Dr. Ursus]

Yessss, Mr. Benny!

[GreenHornet]

“Train leaving on track five for Anaheim, Azusa and Cu-ca-monga!”

In addition to Rochester, Don Wilson, and Dennis Day, he had great supporting players around him such as Mel Blanc, Frank Nelson, and Benny Rubin.

I remember a Christmas episode where Mel Blanc played a clerk in a department store where Jack was shopping. Jack Benny bought a wallet as a gift for Don Wilson, which Mel Blanc gift wrapped for him. Benny kept bringing the wallet back to Mel Blanc to be re-wrapped, with Blanc becoming more and more upset each time. Benny had to turn away from the camera to keep the audience from seeing how he was cracking up because of the way Mel Blanc was carrying on.

[JimRed]

Thanks for posting that. Jack and Groucho were two classics, among the best.

[Scoutmaster]

Mel Blanc's "Anaheim, Azusa and Cu-ca-monga!" lived on in Warner Brothers cartoons, Johnny Carson skits (one of his car salesman skits gave directions via AA&C, and Carson character Floyd R. Turbo was from Cucamonga), and Jan & Dean's 'Anaheim, Azusa, and Cucamonga Book Review, Sewing Circle, and Timing Association.'

Personally, I spent a month in Rancho Cucamonga one weekend.

[Forgotten Amendments]

Thanks! That was wonderful.

A lot of his stuff really holds up well. And he was just hysterical to watch.

I wonder how many young comics even know of him.

[fhayek]

Yeah. Wildly famous one day, virtually forgotten a generation later. I tried to explain to my kids who Sid Caeser was, and it was hopeless. They don't understand that in an era when there was only two or three channels, and homes only had one TV, there were a few programs that everyone watched. My kids will not watch an old movie or TV program if it is in black and white. They miss a lot of good stuff.

[Ditto]

Yep ! The radio “walk” to Benny’s vault was one of the funniest things ever.

Ditto that. I remember sitting with my dad listening to that. I was just a little kid and thought it was funny as hell.

[MooseKnuckles]

“Modesty is my best quality”

[llevrok]

Jack Benny and Bill Cosby were the greatest at making you laugh with just a look on their face. Bill is still doing it.

I agree. I wish there were an official title of Comedian Laureate. Cos would be mine (works clean, isn't mean, is actually funny....)

[llevrok]

I have to wonder how many people younger than me even remember who he was?

"I'm thinking. I'M THINKING!!"

[llevrok]

and arguably the greatest sketch writers and prop men ever.

[Chuzzlewit]

yep... and hence you have Laurel & Hardy, who visited Britain after their career had ended...

and they met mobs in the streets... they were so touched. I’ve seen photos of them in tears which was their reaction to the love and respect that England showed them. This is from a biography I read about them, and I can’t for the life of me remember the title.

Stan Laurel was pretty much out of the lion share of his money and living in an apartment in Santa Monica in his later years.

strange thing about America...

[lowbridge]

Christmas episode with mel blanc:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhW1GjVxVUA

And the scene alone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4Dw3vvXGUg

[driftless2]

"Benny"

Around 1997 I was talking to a young co-worker about movies and tv. I mentioned John Belushi. She asked me who he was. I began to wonder if any of the young people ever heard of or liked comedians much older than themselves.

As children from the fifties and sixties, we loved Jack Benny, Red Skelton, The Stooges, and any other comedians who made us laugh. The people we laughed at didn't have to be close to our age. Funny was funny.

[GreenHornet]

Thanks for the Youtube links! Classic stuff!

[mrsmith]

http://free-classic-tv-shows.com/Variety/The-Jack-Benny-Program/index.php

Stream or download the episodes. Great stuff.

[Overtaxed]

There were several Christmas episodes with Mel Blanc...on radio anyway. One year he was buying shoelaces for Don (couldn’t decide between metal tips or plastic tips). Another year it was gopher traps (lethal or non?)

And Mel as his violin teacher.....

https://archive.org/details/JackBenny1

[6323cd]

And his perpetually annoyed next-door neighbor, Ronald Colman; some of the most hilarious scenes ever!

[stylecouncilor]

Ping

[Arthur McGowan]

It’s easy to get Benny’s radio shows for a pittance from several companies, or on eBay. The first one, from 1932, with George Olsen and his Music, exists in its entirety. (It’s not funny.) There are fragments of shows from 1933-36, and from then on they are virtually complete.

Fibber McGee and Molly are also available, almost their entire radio career.

Also, “Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar.”

My three favorite OTR programs.