Anybody Remember Jack Benny?

[WI_DEM]

I have gotten interested in classic radio comedy and listened to several episodes of "The Jack Benny Program" and the show is hilarious. The collection also has several Bob Hope radio programs, and frankly the Hope programs are dated because of all the topical references, while Benny's program is still funny because it was more "character" derived comedy. Jack Benny, the perennial tight wad, vain, forever 39 years old and drives an old Maxwell (sound effects by Mel Blanc). And his ensemble cast was excellent: Don Wilson, Mary Livingstone, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Dennis Day. Also, the "YEEESSSS" man, Frank Nelson.

[procrastinator]

1. He was hilarious (n/t)

[corporatemedia]

20. edit n/t

[CO Liberal]

2. A Fellow Lithuanian

His real name was Benny Kublesky. He was one of the classics.

[yeats]

3. burns and allen too!

with burns and allen also were great

[CO Liberal]

12. Welcome to DU, Yeats!!!

:hi:

[Richardo]

4. Excellent stuff... the old Bob and Ray programs are hilarious also.

Understated, like Benny.

[rurallib]

8. One of the funniest bits ever

was Bob & Ray's 'the slowest talking man in the world'. You want to reach out and choke the guy. If you can find it be sure to listen.

[Richardo]

10. I remember that one...

...truly hilarious. :D

[CO Liberal]

13. I Liked Bob & Ray's Fake Sponsors

Like the "innovative" electric light bulb company that developed the 73-watt light bulb.

[HEyHEY]

5. Love Jack Benny

[rurallib]

6. Benny & the violin

When he played he always tried to do his best. You've heard the result.
Burns & Allen (especially Allen) were great,too. As was Fred Allen.

[420inTN]

11. Abbot & Costello n/t

[zbdent]

19. One thing a RW blowhard in CCCleveland has right

"Who's on first?" has to be the best example of timing in the history of recorded comedy.

[420inTN]

28. A fond memory of my youf...

was wathcing "Abbot and Costello" movies on saturday afternoon. The "Who's on First?" routine has to be one of the comedy routines of all times.

[zbdent]

41. I have said that, if someone could get the act down well,

(without changing a thing), then they could write their ticket into nearly any ballpark.

I could just see it, that a duo who perfected the timing would be "invited" to do a "seventh-inning stretch" bit at the World Series - by invitation.

Once they got known for being so good at the bit.

[China_cat]

17. Quick

Name the tune that Benny always butchered.

[timtom]

23. Love in Bloom?

n/t

[China_cat]

25. Yep

[NoPasaran]

7. Well!

[MADem]

9. WOMR on Cape Cod

Has a Saturday Night show called "THE GOLDEN AGE OF RADIO" that sometimes plays the Benny tapes, as well a zillion others. They are on the net, so you can listen over your computer. Huge collection, something new every week.

[cyberswede]

14. listen to "The Radio Time Machine" on live365.com!

I found a great station on http://www.live365.com - search for "The Radio Time Machine"

Here's the blurb for the station:
"Only the BEST Old Time Radio Shows-- Amos & Andy - Jack Benny - Groucho - Inner Sanctum -- Suspense - Whistler - The Shadow -..."

You can stream for free, and there's an option for Premium membership, but the freebie works fine for me! They have TONS of stations. I found this when Spinner turned into Radio@Netscape and limited free streaming to 2 hours/day - bastards. :P

BTW- I'm not associated with the website - just a listener and fan. :)

I wish we had a local AM station that would play old radio shows - I have a great 1938 Philco console radio at home, and it's weird to listen to modern radio on that old machine! :)

[Gothic Sponge]

15. Yes, i have tons of his old radio shows on Mp3

I love old time radio.

[Bjornsdotter]

16. The old ones are great

Here's a link for some old shows you can listen to for free.

http://www.radiolovers.com/pages/haunted_tales_ofthe_supernatural.htm

Cheers,
Kim :toast:

[n2mark]

18. Old Time Radio

My favorites besides Jack Benny were Fibber McGee and Molly and the Great Gildersleeves (think I spelled name correctly). Thanks you just gave me an idea for my Christmas list for my children.

Out of the humor end my favorite mystery was "The Shadow."

[corporatemedia]

21. "Yes, I do" - Rochester

[timtom]

22. Geez! You gotta be kidding!

In the last month or so I bought a collection of 800+ shows on mp3 cds (11 of 'em!) I put the earphones on when I'm going to bed and swim nightly in a sea of Jack Benny.

Funny, timeless, inimitable.

It's interesting to see the characters come and go -- like Shlepperman, who, after leaving the show for many years, was replaced by Mr. Kitzel. They're both great.

Kenny Baker, or Dennis Day? They're both great.

[lumberingbear]

24. Those old shows....

are great to listen to when you are weary from all the nonsense going on in the world!!!

I like , Jack Benny, Our Miss Brooks, George and Gracie, all of them!!!

:-)

[nine23]

26. The Jack Benny Show (50's television)

...is on Sunday mornings on The Comedy Channel in Canada.

I'm of the Dave Chappelle/Chris Rock demographic, but the Jack Benny Show holds up very, very well. It's easy to see why he's a hero to comics of all ages and stripes.

[mac56]

27. Jack Benny was one of the first major comedians

to make jokes out of poking fun at himself, while surrounding himself with eccentrics. Groundbreaking in that regard. I think the "Frasier" TV series was a definite cop to the Jack Benny formula. And Kelsey Grammer has been very vocal about his admiration for Benny.

[mcscajun]

29. Two classics from Jack Benny's radio show...

Mel Blanc doing the sound effects for the old Maxwell.

The trip to Jack's "basement vault" :)

[mac56]

30. "What's the password?"

"A fool and his money are soon parted."
"Oh, it's you, Mr. Benny!"

[Longgrain]

31. Best Jack Benny gag ever...

Robber pulls up behind Jack Benny in a deserted alley way...sticks a gun into his back

Robber: Your money or your life...

Jack Benny: (pauses)

Robber: Well?

Jack: I'm thinking...I'm thinking...


CLASSIC

[SPQR]

33. I read how they came up with that joke.

Two of the writers were sitting around working on the script, and they thought it'd be funny if Jack was held up by a robber saying "Your money or your life." One of them started throwing out punchlines for the gag, while the other just laid on the couch, not responding. Finally the first writer got fed up with the other one not contributing, and said "Come on, there's got to be a good comeback to 'Your money or your life'!" and the second writer said "I'm thinking it over!" They both broke up and the gag was complete.

[MsConduct]

32. I was just talking about Jack Benny today. He was one class act. n/t

[progmom]

34. My two year-old slaps his cheek and says:

"Oh Rochester!"

My husbamd has set this kid up for years of strange looks from his peers.



:eyes:

[FreedomFry]

39. We taught our three-year-old to imitate ...

several personalities. We'd say, "Do Merv Griffin," and he'd coo, "Ooooh ... we'll be wight back." We'd say, "Do Richard Nixon," and he'd frown and intone, "I am not a cwook." We'd say, "Do Jimmy Durante," and he'd waggle his head and go, "HOT-cha-cha!" We'd say, "Do Ed McMahon," and he'd do a growly "Hah-hah-hah..."

We were terrible. But the thing is, he's now 19, does a number of great impressions, and loves making people laugh. So there's hope!

[Tom Kitten]

35. Of Course!

His radio show set the standards for comedy for years and years! He was the epitome of class, always self depreciating and funny as hell! And he had a stellar group of supporting players, too, which helps...

Unlike most other radio era comedys, which do tend to sound dated, his show is still fresh and funny to the discerning listener...

He was an alltime great talent.

[joeybee12]

36. Ever hear Lucy's old radio show? My Favorite Wife. That's hilarious too

The same writers for I Love Lucy worked ont he radio show, so lots of the same jokes and plots. Some twists, thought because there was no physical/visual humor. And no ai-yi-yi-yi-yi!

[FreedomFry]

37. Don't forget Phil Harris and his riot of a spinoff...

I LOVE the Jack Benny program (Jay-ee--ell-ell-OHHHHH!).

You might also like The Phil Harris and Alice Faye Show, which spun off Jack's show (Phil was the bandleader and perennial inebriate with silent partner, Remley). Phil Harris was a nut! His timing was terrific, and many times I've found myself laughing out loud at his antics. And it takes a lot to make me laugh.

Old-time radio is the best antidote to modern living.

[Zomby Woof]

38. yep

And I remember seeing on CBS News when he died...1974. I had watched him on various programs as a guest in his later years.

[WI_DEM]

40. I was just reading in a book about a gag on a late tv special

he did in around 1970 or so, It was the end of the show and he tells the audience he is going to end the show by playing his violin. He takes it out and begins to play, after a moment the camera picks up a couple of people in the audience get up and begin to walk out, then as he continues to play more get up and leave--Jack maintains this deadpan look as these people walk out, and finally at the end of the violin solo--he looks out at an empty audience.

[DonP]

42. Master of timing

If you listen to his shows you begin to notice that he never tells a joke or uses a punchline.

Jack is the ultimate straight man for Phil Harris. Rochester, Mary or the other players.

My favorites are the Chirstmas shopping episodes where he decides to buy Don Wilson a new pair of shoelaces as a gift and agonizes over whether to pay the 3 cents for the plastic tipped ones or go whole hog for the 5 cents for the metal tipped ones.

Mel Blanc is the poor clerk and he goes crazy as Benny keeps changing his mind, then demands free gift warpping.

They ran that gag for five Christmases in a row with Mel Blanc recovering from his stay in a rest home each year after he had a nervous breakdown from Jack's shopping.

For me at least the radio shows are better than the TV shows, because the special effects and sets are much better "between my ears".