It's too bad that we have lost so many real entertainers. A true tribute to Jack Benny would be Johnny Carson. You can see where Carson got his inspiration.
A middle commercial was not "filler", Michael- apparently, the Quartet pre-recorded their vocals so that the live microphones wouldn't pick up any "raw" sounds while they were moving around and "exchanging" their clothes...no matter what they sang, they HAD to sound "letter-perfect"- especially for that all-important Lucky Strike commercial.
The Sportsmen Quartet's musical number/middle commercial at 7:12 was actually pre-recorded; note their lips don't always match their voices- but the idea behind it is so ridiculous, no one in the audience cares!.
This episode originally aired LIVE on November 18, 1956; however, the opening sponsor I.D. {"...presented by LUCKY STRIKE!" ("Be Happy, Go Lucky" instrumental heard)} and first commercial are missing...
Jack's writers originally came up with the idea of him owning a Maxwell in a 1936 radio script- and like every other "running gag" on his program, it unexpectedly "grew" into a tradition {JACK: "This is the first car I ever owned..."/ROCHESTER: "Boss, this is the first car ANYONE ever owned!", FRED ALLEN: "...now I see why the Maxwell people went into the coffee business"}.
The difference between the shows Jack did with an audience, like this live show, and the filmed ones are day and night. Jack really sparkles with real people watching and laughing.
Jack was a radio comedian...that's where his popularity was launched. His show's began in 1932 as strictly musical comedy...he acted as an emcee pretty much. The show's didn't start to take on an appearance of a comedy program until sometime in 1933 and by 1934 the comedy was there to stay. He remained a top radio comedian throughout the 1930's, 1940's, and into the 1950's.
In 1950 he started doing TV work. This is one of his earliest TV shows.
His TV program aired as a series of specials at first...the radio program continued weekly. When TV was seen as something that was definitely here to stay Jack ended his weekly radio show in 1955 after a 23 year run and continued appearing on TV bi-weekly for the next 5 years. He appeared in a weekly format starting in 1960 and this lasted another 5 years.
The TV program ended in 1965 giving him 15 years as a TV star and ending 33 years as a weekly entertainer that began in 1932 on the radio.
The Sportsman Quartet, along with announcer Don Wilson and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, came along with Jack from the radio show. The Sportsman's gimmick was to sing pop songs with a Lucky Strike twist at the end.
Lucky Strike was a cigarette brand and they had a popular acronym at the time: L.S.M.F.T which stood for Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco. I'm somewhat of an amateur student of old-time radio...specifically the works of Jack Benny and to some extent, Fred Allen.
Jack Benny is often given credit for creating character-based comedy. He and his main cast played exaggerated version's of themselves for comedy purposes. One of his character trait's was being a cheapskate...and the Maxwell was his car of choice because new cars cost too much. Mel Blanc did the voice of the Maxwell's engine.
It's manufacturing ceased in 1920s as you pointed out and that was why it was so comical; it enhanced Jack's "character" of being cheap and tight with his money.
It's too bad that we have lost so many real entertainers. A true tribute to Jack Benny would be Johnny Carson. You can see where Carson got his inspiration.
mal4445 1 month ago
i love this video and i love jack he's so great one of the kind!
evita4541 8 months ago
Can't believe I've missed this, well watching now, positively entertaining,
Thank you!! Added.
Rita
AfsAnehAfairytale 1 year ago 2
@AfsAnehAfairytale I'm glad you found it :) -Michael
hwy61media 1 year ago
A middle commercial was not "filler", Michael- apparently, the Quartet pre-recorded their vocals so that the live microphones wouldn't pick up any "raw" sounds while they were moving around and "exchanging" their clothes...no matter what they sang, they HAD to sound "letter-perfect"- especially for that all-important Lucky Strike commercial.
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
@fromthesidelines I forgot the difficulties of live television. It wasn't easy! Thanks Barry. -Michael
hwy61media 1 year ago
The Sportsmen Quartet's musical number/middle commercial at 7:12 was actually pre-recorded; note their lips don't always match their voices- but the idea behind it is so ridiculous, no one in the audience cares!.
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
@fromthesidelines Just filler I suppose.
hwy61media 1 year ago
I think it's a Youtube syncing issue. i have this show on a DVD and the vocals/lip movements are not off at all. I believe they sang live.
Croonr1 9 months ago
@fromthesidelines They also portrayed the singing statues in The Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland.
ClyneDDW 1 month ago
Yes, Jack DID make a mistake (this WAS live television), but he KNEW how to cover himself when that happened...or let it pass.
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
@fromthesidelines Jack was so good with his lines that I just didn't know. Thanks Barry! -Michael
hwy61media 1 year ago
This episode originally aired LIVE on November 18, 1956; however, the opening sponsor I.D. {"...presented by LUCKY STRIKE!" ("Be Happy, Go Lucky" instrumental heard)} and first commercial are missing...
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
@fromthesidelines Hi Barry. When Jack fumbled at the beginning of his monologue did he make a mistake or was that a joke that I just don't get?
hwy61media 1 year ago
Jack's writers originally came up with the idea of him owning a Maxwell in a 1936 radio script- and like every other "running gag" on his program, it unexpectedly "grew" into a tradition {JACK: "This is the first car I ever owned..."/ROCHESTER: "Boss, this is the first car ANYONE ever owned!", FRED ALLEN: "...now I see why the Maxwell people went into the coffee business"}.
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
@fromthesidelines It's a great running gag! Absolutely hilarios.
hwy61media 1 year ago
7:44 – Tell me that's not Jack Nicholson!
greymattersblog 1 year ago
The difference between the shows Jack did with an audience, like this live show, and the filmed ones are day and night. Jack really sparkles with real people watching and laughing.
fabulbabe 2 years ago
For those who don't know...
Jack was a radio comedian...that's where his popularity was launched. His show's began in 1932 as strictly musical comedy...he acted as an emcee pretty much. The show's didn't start to take on an appearance of a comedy program until sometime in 1933 and by 1934 the comedy was there to stay. He remained a top radio comedian throughout the 1930's, 1940's, and into the 1950's.
In 1950 he started doing TV work. This is one of his earliest TV shows.
ACcountryFan 2 years ago 2
His TV program aired as a series of specials at first...the radio program continued weekly. When TV was seen as something that was definitely here to stay Jack ended his weekly radio show in 1955 after a 23 year run and continued appearing on TV bi-weekly for the next 5 years. He appeared in a weekly format starting in 1960 and this lasted another 5 years.
The TV program ended in 1965 giving him 15 years as a TV star and ending 33 years as a weekly entertainer that began in 1932 on the radio.
ACcountryFan 2 years ago
The Sportsman Quartet, along with announcer Don Wilson and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, came along with Jack from the radio show. The Sportsman's gimmick was to sing pop songs with a Lucky Strike twist at the end.
Lucky Strike was a cigarette brand and they had a popular acronym at the time: L.S.M.F.T which stood for Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco. I'm somewhat of an amateur student of old-time radio...specifically the works of Jack Benny and to some extent, Fred Allen.
ACcountryFan 2 years ago
Thank you for all of you comments.
hwy61media 2 years ago
Excellent background. Thanks!
hwy61media 2 years ago
Jack Benny is often given credit for creating character-based comedy. He and his main cast played exaggerated version's of themselves for comedy purposes. One of his character trait's was being a cheapskate...and the Maxwell was his car of choice because new cars cost too much. Mel Blanc did the voice of the Maxwell's engine.
It's manufacturing ceased in 1920s as you pointed out and that was why it was so comical; it enhanced Jack's "character" of being cheap and tight with his money.
ACcountryFan 2 years ago
Yes, the cheapskate character worked very well for Jack. The Maxwell is hilarious. I had never heard of it before I saw this show.
hwy61media 2 years ago