Jack Benny - the Satchel Paige of Comedy!
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Jack Benny was born Benjamin Kubelsky in Chicago, Illinois on February 14, 1894 –born, Jack Benny was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and star of radio, television, and movies. Benny’s usual part was that of a 39 year-old, penny pinching miser, and bad violin player.
Benny started playing the violin when he was six. He hated practice. He was a dreamer and poor student and was expelled from high-school.
At age 17, he was playing the violin vaudeville theaters for $7.50 a week.
Jack Benny changed his name twice because two performers thought his name resembled theirs too closely.
Jack Benny and Cora Salisbury were a vaudeville musical duo and later Jack teamed with Lyman Woods.
After five years, Jack left vaudeville in 1917 to join the U.S. Navy and World War I. Jack often entertained the troops with his violin playing. When his violin performance was booed by the troops, he ad-libbed his way out of the jam and left them laughing. And so became one of my all-time favorite comedians.
Jack Benny became a national celebrity with his weekly radio show The Jack Benny Program which ran from 1932 to 1955. It was one of the most highly rated programs of that era.
Jack Benny RADIO SHOW Part 1
Venture into the world of radio with the video above.
Jack Benny - Mel Blanc Classic Routine
Mel Blanc was the voice of Bugs Bunny, Sylvester, Tweety Bird, etc., etc.
Mel Blanc is a national treasure!
The Jack Benny Program television show ran from October 28, 1950 to 1965. Jack Benny never cared who got the laugh on his show. Benny just wanted a funny show.
My favorite character on the Jack Benny television show was the valet-chauffeur Rochester van Jones who was just as popular as Jack Benny.
Eddie Anderson’s popularity was a radical proposition for that time. Rochester was a black man who was allowed to one-up his frugal employer.
Eddie Anderson’s Rochester broke a comedic racial barrier. Rochester was depicted and treated as a regular member of Benny's household. Benny treated Rochester more like an equal partner than as a hired domestic, although gags about Rochester's meager salary were a regular part of the show.
When Benny and his staff stayed at the restricted Robidioux Hotel in St. Joseph, Missouri the desk staff told Benny that "Rochester" could not stay at the hotel. Benny stated, "If he doesn't stay here, neither do I." The hotel relented.
What Kind Of Man Was Jack Benny?
If you have 47 seconds, please watch Rochester as he tries to buy Jack a gift.
In 1973, Dean Martin described Benny as "the Satchel Paige of the world of comedy."
Jack Benny died of an inoperable pancreatic cancer on December 26, 1974. He had chosen to spend his final days at home and was visited by close friends including George Burns, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, and Johnny Carson. Bob Hope delivered the eulogy at his funeral.
JACK BENNY BING CROSBY BOB HOPE
Two minutes will get you Jack Benny, Bing Crosby, and Bob Hope.
Jack Benny had fun with tough guys like Humphrey Bogart.
Jack’s family donated his personal, professional, and business papers, and a collection of his television shows to UCLA.
Johnny Carson was the first recipient of the Jack Benny Award established by UCLA in his honor in 1977. The award recognizes outstanding people in the field of comedy.
Jack Benny, forever played the "miser".
Jack Benny donated a Stradivarius violin purchased in 1957 to the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
Benny commented, "If it isn't a $30,000 Strad, I'm out $120."
Explaining his successful life, Jack Benny said,
"Everything good that happened to me happened by accident. I was not filled with ambition nor fired by a drive toward a clear-cut goal. I never knew exactly where I was going."
In his will, Jack Benny arranged a single long-stemmed red rose, to be delivered to his widow, Mary Livingstone, every day for the rest of her life.
God bless Jack Benny!
Please enjoy some more videos of Jack!
Jack Benny and His Rocky Mountain Boys
Comedy is an art and a science.
I appreciate the joke that is set in advance and its preparation.
Please watch the brilliant skit above.
Keep your eye on the beautiful child - all the way - to the end!
If you've run out of time please come back or find them all on youtube.
But Jack Benny and His Mountain Boys will make your day!
Now mind you - I've seen boys like these "Mountain Boys" in the cities and everywhere. Folks in the mountains can survive in most worlds. This is not to stereotype. People from the mountains are a great people.
Jack Benny and Frank Nelson the Travel Agent
Frank Nelson is certainly a funny man.
I do love that bold voice of his!
There are many Jack Benny videos on youtube.
Unfortunately many have commercials at the beginning.
I didn't want to include them here but please go to youtube by clicking twice on any video to enjoy a wonderful evening of Jack Benny.
I have his DVD collection. I highly recommend it!
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Micky - A great tribute to a great comedian, too bad all the great ones are gone now. I really enjoyed your videos........ God Bless you brother man
Thanks for the great look back!
Killer hub man, Jack was a straight up guy and funny as hell, they don't make em' like that anymore. Rochester was also a stitch and just the mention of Satch..well! Love this hub brother!! Peace!! Tom ***Justin says hey!
Mic, outstanding, brought back some funny days I ain't seen in years. Don't know if I lost my laugh or shit just ain't funny no more. It ain't nothing but a thing, ready to catch a bullet home. Much love and peace,50
I know for a fact that every time I read one of your hub I will get an eductation; whether politics, religion, history, music, or bikes, you always find a way to tell us something new, interesting and useful. Thank you, Sir.
I barely remember Jack Benny as a child. Interesting video. I did enjoy seeing a picture of Dean Martin...I love him! he he he. Oh, did I mention I love you also Micky? I do and I miss you and pray for you often! I see you have been doing some serious writing..wowzie!
I do appreciate every comment. Thank you all very much. I always read and re-read every comment. God bless you all. I'll be by to see you all soon. God bless!
Oh how I loved this! Watched every video and it brought me back to my childhood days of early TV. I also remember my parents listening to the radio which was in our kitchen. My grandparents had a colored TV years before my parents did and for special shows, we kids would be bundled up and we would all go over there to watch the shows with my parents and them.
They just don't make good stuff like this anymore on TV. It's a shame! Hitting every button possible. Did I mention, I loved this? I LOVED THIS!!!
Going to tweet this one also!
My goodness! You just make me love you more and more! God bless you Peggy! You make it all worthwhile!
Jack Benny and I also loved Groucho Marx and all the Marx Brothers movies were so funny. Jack Benny, when I was a kid, was the king of comedy. Great memories from long ago. Thank you so much.
You bet Bobbi! I'll come see you soon! I loved those folks! God bless!
Yo Micky,
You made my day, Jack Benny was the best. Great and Awesome Hub. GOD BLESS!!
Joe
Thanks for sharing the life of this great American comedian. I loved the fact that he supported Rochester when the era was very stereotypical of race. I love your presentation of Jack Benny and his many characters.
What a great article, I learned something because he was tad bit before my time. I never knew that any shows in that day and time tried to diverse.
Thanks Mickey,
This was really enjoyable. Jack was the master of comedic timing and the slow side-long look.
I remember watching him on TV with my folks when I was a kid. His humor spanned the generations, and we sure could use him now.
CP
Micky,
I loved this. I remember Jack Benny and Rochester. The'Rocky Mountain Boys' were hilarious. The little girl was so cute. I had never heard about him having a rose sent to his wife every day, what a true love he must have felt. Thank you Micky for good memories.
Love and peace
I love his everything good that happened to him happened by accident but somehow, with him, I have to believe it. He was such a treasure. Great hub choice, Micky!
Thank you all for loving Jack Benny! God bless you beautiful people!
I had started watching then had to do something. finally after three times, and watching more then the clips you put on hehehe. i got to these comments. I loved this hub so much, watched more of them then you got, I got stuck LOL
This is wonderful. Thank you so much.:D love you :D hugs :D
I love you Sa'ge! I am so delighted you were delighted. That little girl was maybe 8? She sang. She kept "her act" so together! They must have rehearsed that a dozen times. I wonder where she is today! God bless Sa'ge!
Gee thanks for this Micky, one of my all time favorites from my youth. Great tribute, now to watch more vids.
She was better at keeping a straight face then the guys were. you could see them working at keeping a straight face, she was so serious, even past the end of he act. She was so good. :D
God please bless a ralwus today!
God please let Sa'ge have her way.
They both have hearts of gold.
Both give us blessings untold!
Benny wasnt just a funny guy, he was a gentleman.
Great hub!!!
Lovely, my dear friend I adore this hub and rate it way up. I haven't thought about him in years. My parents watched his show all the time when I was a kid, along with Bob Hope and all the others. Rate up up up and I miss you and love you darski
I've sent this to others on my email list that have also loved this. You are making many of us "remember when."
Through thick and thin,
be my friend,
and we will remember when...
Great videos, WOW comedy sure has changed. I like the old civil comedy, it's very funny and now I too will be going back to watch more videos. Peace :)
God bless you Darski! I've missed you too Girl!
God bless you Katie! Peace!
This is great! I didn't know the guy but now I do I know I would've been a fan. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you daydreamer. God bless you Dear. Thank you for loving Jack!
Well . . . I never. Excellent tribute to one of the greatest funniest men on the big and little screen.
Micky Dee you lovable lug thanks for the plug! Who'd a thunk it I rhymed. You are the sweetest hubber on this site and I really appreciate the thought.
I don't deserve this award, but I have arthritis and I don't deserve that either. - Jack Benny
Smooches and hugs friend Micky Dee
A wonderful way to spread cheer over the years.I think we can all learn from the masters.What a world when we can laugh at everything.
Micky, it is so sad to know that those super stars are no longer with us. Life is too short, we've got to grab all opportunities to enjoy it. Take care!
pmccray!!! You know I love you! I like seeing pmccray shine! I love the attention you've given the "oldies but goodies". You are so deserving of so much attention and so much LOVE! God bless you Dear pmccray!
God bless DREAM ON!
God bless you too Martie! Thanks for loving "Jack"!
Jack Benny was great and I loved him in those old movies with Rochester. He was always getting the better of his boss.
I didn't realise he was such an old romantic...a rose a day eh? Aw
Hi Jane! He was/is super. I love his comedy. He was sweet to his wife too.
Wow! What a great tribute - you have done this so well. How well I remember the Jack Benny show as a child - he even appealed to children. It was my mother who told us that he was actually quite generous and could play the violin (we kind of figured he wasn't 39 years old).
He was amazingly limber too because I remember one skit where he decided to run out where two people were turning the rope and he jumped in got tangled and promptly flew up into the air and landed on his back. He was fine - but yikes!
I remember too a whole episode was dedicated to Rochester going out for the evening - and it was totally all Rochester. We were awed - Rochester was human.
What I didn't know is that he had the rose sent to his wife everyday - what a kind act.
Well, another great Micky Dee hub here. Yay! And rated up of course!
Great comment BkCreative! Thank you for loving Rochester (Eddie Anderson) too! God bless!
You can't replace the best, the Hope, Bing, Jack Parr, Jackie Gleason and of course Jack Benny. I watched all these guys growing up and laughed my socks off. Jack was such a deadpan looking comedian, however he possessed timing and that is critical in comedy. Him and Rochester were brilliant and his violin a close second:9) Peace
You know it saddlerider! I miss Jackie Gleason a lot too. The great one! God bless BrotherMan!
I love Jack Benny!!!
Yo Hokey Dude!!! I love that Jack Benny too! Good to see you Brother Hokey!
I do love comedy and I do love Micky Dee! And now I also love Jack Benny! Thanks brotherman.
Love and peace
Tony
You know I love the TonyMac!
Cool Hub, wow so many cool videos of Jack Benny. He was well before my time, Micky, but my granny remembers his shows well. he was a legend in his time, and such stars he had on his shows. I loved the Mel Blanc "Si" sketch. That was so funny! I could hear Speedy Gonzalez breaking through his voice! LOL! Great hub. HubPages are lucky to have you!
Thank you so much Cheeky Girl! You are so kind. Thank you for loving Mel Blanc too!
Thanks for a very good hub. Those were the days.
Eiddwen 18 months ago
I must admit I don't even remember the name Jack Benny but that didn't stop me from enjoying this tribute to him. I obviously remember Frank Sinatra , Humphrey Bogart and a few others.
He seems to have been a sincere character with morals eg, he wouldn't stay at the hotel unless his coloured friend 'Rochester'was also allowed there to stay there.!!An up and an awesome here I think.
I have to come back in a little while to do the hub full justice by listening properly to the video clips.
Thank you for sharing Micky.