I remember watching one of Jack's last Christmas specials (when it originally aired, ewww I'm old). Anyhoo, Jack was sitting down in a chair surrounded by children and Jack was wearing a Santa cap. Sitting in his lap was a little girl. These kids were not actors but extras. Jack engaged in some small talk and then said "I can't wait until Santa comes down the chimney to sell some toys." The little girl on his lap, NOT acting alarmingly shrieked "SELL SOME TOYS?!?!?!" Jack lost it. Me and my family laughed at that for a good ten minutes.
They do not make 'em like Jack anymore.
"Everybody is born, and everybody dies. Being born wasn't so bad , was it?"
Peter the Hermit
My favorite Warner Brothers cartoon was of Jack Benny and his friends as mice, where they all went to the Kit Kat Klub inside of the cat's mouth. It was funny if you've ever seen it
To Be Or Not To Be is one of the funniest, and yet poignant movies I've ever seen. A true classic in every sense. There was a kid in my fourth grade class who would walk like Benny.
Jack and Myrna Loy!
Last edited by Chunga; 06-07-2008 at 08:02 PM.
In "To be or not to be" Benny's wife leaves the theater each night as Benny begins his long Shakesperian soliloquy in order to have an affair. Benny realizes this but must remain on stage. Very funnt scene.
The episode of the Jack Benny Show with Nat King Cole is one of my very favorites! A young boy completely upstages Jack when he plays the drums to accompany Nat and Jack! Hilarious!
An amazing performer and human being....and to think that he did all he did at the age of "39" *wink* !!!
Here is 1 of 2 Jack Benny Autographs I own (The other is framed and hanging in my office, I'll upload later...)
This (light) signature says "for Peter From Jack Benny" and is on an advert for Israel - Oy!
I have a 78 rpm record set of three records in a beautiful case of the Jack Benny show in the 40s.Got it when I was a kid,still sounds great!!!
Here is a signed note ("Jack") that Jack Benny wrote on Fairmont Hotel and Tower San Francisco stationery to "Barbara" on "Monday" (no date). I reproduced the note in the same format below. A couple of words I couldn't decipher. I apologize for the faintness of the last picture.
*Thanks to Ludigan for figuring out 1 of the words for me!*
Fairmont Hotel and Tower
San Francisco
Monday
Dear Barbara,
I tried to
reach you on the
phone this a.m.
but it was busy or out-of-order
as I called several
times.
Am now in
San Francisco – where
I am going to work
a week – and then
back to Palm
Springs for a
months rest. I
postponed my
London trip, so
I could stay home
for a while –
Thanks very
much for sending
the O_ ? ase
and the articles –
I must say that
I felt – the concert
in Boston with
Leinsdorf was
the best of all
of them. I had
a ball –
Will call you
soon. Thanks
again and
much love
Jack.
Last edited by Pat MaGroin; 01-03-2011 at 09:48 AM.
Jack Benny had an elementary school named after him in his hometown of Waukegan, IL. The kids there planted a tree, and word got to Fred Allen that it had died.
Fred quipped "How can you expect a tree to live when the sap is out in Hollywood?"
Fred and Jack had some classic moments during their "feud" on the radio.
His good friend Isaac Stern said when Jack took the stage in white tie and tails, he looked like the world's greatest violinist.
He added, "It's a shame he has to play!"
Last edited by Ludigan; 01-03-2011 at 09:18 AM.
Erich Leinsdorf (born Erich Landauer) (February 4, 1912 â?? September 11, 1993)
was a naturalized American Austrian conductor. He performed and recorded with leading orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States and Europe, earning a reputation for exacting standards as well as an acerbic personality.
Jack Benny was a genius - a lot of people forget that he made a few good movie too:
Check it out:
http://greatentertainersarchives.blo...-benny-in.html
Did he have children? I wouldn't think his wife would put up with kids around the house.
He had an adopted daughter named Joan. I saw her on his show one time with Mary. They were playing themselves and I remember she was doing her homework.
Mary did want children, but was unable to have any of her own. After several miscarriages they adopted Joan. She had an uneasy relationship with her mother, but I think a lot of that was to do with the fact that Mary was probably an undiagnosed bi polar patient.
When I was a kid my family was driving home from a vacation and we came upon a limo in the middle lane of a three lane freeway near Palm Springs. The limo was driving a few miles an hour under the speed limit and my mom said that she thought it might be Jack Benny as she had read that he always had anyone driving him drive that way. As we passed the limo Jack Benny looked over and waved to us. About a year later we came out of a movie theater and when we turned on the car radio the first thing we heard was that he had just died.
Although this the Jack Benny thread, I read the George Burns book about Gracie Allen, of course he and Jack were the best of friends, Gracie was a gem. Mary Benny wanted what George would give Gracie, but bigger and better, and more of it. Gracie didn't really dislike Mary, but she wasn't overly fond of her either.
I have a copy of the Joan/Jack Benny book, it's a good read. Jack was a tip top man, no ugly surprises with him.
I also love Jack Benny remember the day he died
and later that night Johnny Carson talked about
it.
He was almost crying.
Carolyn(1958-2009) always in my heart.
Is there any truth to the rumor that Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone had an open marriage?
Performing my signature monkey hump move since 10/16/2007...
RIP Dad- 11/14/1947 to 12/16/2013
A great clip I found of Phil Harris' roast of Jack Benny. Phil touched on a lot of what made the Benny show so good.
Thanks for the clip, Jane. Funny Phil Harris...forgot all about him and the art of taking a drag on a cigarette and continue to talk without pausing to blow out the smoke.
I love Phil Harris. He's my favorite.
nice photo of Jack and his daughter Joan.
Delusion. Life's Best Coping Mechanism
Check out Floyd's new Band:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHYA5iAAJg8
Hey Scott, just a heads up: there was a young woman on The Today Show, who has the guest book from Jack Benny's funeral: signed by Ronald Reagan, Groucho Marx, and it is owned by someone named Sherry. She is looking to sell it! The people from Hardcore Pawn gave a price of $10,000 said it was definitely "old Hollywood."
SPAM
Last edited by cindyt; 03-20-2018 at 08:54 AM.
Fiddlesticks! I hadn't seen this old gem in a while and it's spam. Boo.
Stay in Drugs. Eat your School. Don't do Vegetables.