Jack Benny wasn't cheap. He once gave a nickel to a bum. He thought they might even give him a humanitarian award for it. He spent the whole episode planning his speech. So many great episodes.
Is that the manicurist legendary Mildred Flapsaddle?
One of the comments was that Jack Benny was so funny that you could watch and explode with laughter. I agree. That is why I love watching these YouTubes and collecting old films of him and other classic comedians.
Today's comedy is really NOT comedy. They are not funny and full of canned laughter that does not inspire me at all. Plus they cannot help but just use raunchy jokes and bathroom jokes all the time.
In other words, they have lost the true art of comedy.
Perhaps no one. There weren't many open minds back then. Sometimes Eddie Anderson had more than equal footing, getting in some good one-liners with Jack. Thanks Larry!
I just remembered, my Uncle once had a run in, literally, with Jack Benny. This took place in the 1950s in Manhattan, NY. My Uncle was on some errand for his employer, he was running down the sidewalk, turned a corner, and literally ran right into Jack Benny himself. My Uncle went: "Oh! Mr Benny! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Jack Benny brushed himself off while saying to my Uncle: "Thats ok, Sonny. Thats ok, Sonny"
Jack also liked to use certain character actors and actresses, in addition to his semi-regular cast, in his TV series over the years; among them, Iris Adrian, Richard Deacon, Rolfe Sedan, James Flavin, Wil Wright, Hayden Rorke, Joseph Kearns (he was also "Ed", Benny's underground vault guard)...AND his old friend and fellow vaudevillian, Benny Rubin.
I couldn't remember who the barber was who cut Jack's hair was until classicphile told me below. Rolfe Sedan had quite an accomplished career also. Thanks Barry.
This is from a November 1960 episode, inspired by the fact that Jack had actually visited Hong Kong that summer. There were usually real and fictional incidents woven throughout the series (but you'll hear very few topical references in the filmed episodes). Jack's "character" was developed on radio and TV over the years, often by "accident": people expected to him to be a supposedly cheap, vain, lousy violinist and all-around jerk...and he was beloved for it!
There's Iris Adrian again as the manicurist who agrees to do Benny's fingernails.
The most famous cheapskate joke he ever made was on his radio show (then repeated on one of his tv programs) when a mugger holds him up and demands "Your money or your life!". There's a LOOOOOOONG pause before the mugger repeats "c'mon, your money or your life!" to which Jack replies: "I'm thinking it over!"
The barber that cuts Jack's hair is Richard Deacon. He played Mel Cooley on The Dick Van Dyke Show. He also played Fred Rutherford, Lumpy's Dad and Ward's co-worker ("see you at the salt mines, Ward") on Leave It To Beaver. He was also in a TON of movies and tv shows.
The guy who owns the barber shop, the one Jack greets as Andre, is Rolfe Sedan. He has 282 credits to his name. Many of those credits are quite well known tv shows and movies. He goes all the ways back to silent films.
You know, several years ago I was watching this very Jack Benny "hong kong suit" episode, and I noticed how this 50+ years old episode made me laugh out loud quite a few times. Whats more they did it without resorting to foul language or any type of the crude jokes that passes for humor today. Is it any wonder why I prefer these old 1950s (and 1960s) classic tv shows to pretty much almost anything they put out today?
It's no wonder at all Marc. Jack Benny and his contemporaries practiced an art that I think was much harder than what is served up as entertainment today. I can tell you that if I had small children I would be embarrassed to watch television with them. I might not watch at all. I think that's a shame. If Jack Benny were still with us he would still be funny assuming he could stand to be in the business the way it is now. Thank you for your intelligent and frequent comments.
Jack Benny wasn't cheap. He once gave a nickel to a bum. He thought they might even give him a humanitarian award for it. He spent the whole episode planning his speech. So many great episodes.
Is that the manicurist legendary Mildred Flapsaddle?
Hikikomori013 2 months ago
Note that every bit is in 3's. 3's are always funnier.
TheIntruders 4 months ago
I have not seen this one, thank you for sending it to me. Jack Benny is so funny, great upload Michael!
Rita
AfsAnehAfairytale 11 months ago
One of the comments was that Jack Benny was so funny that you could watch and explode with laughter. I agree. That is why I love watching these YouTubes and collecting old films of him and other classic comedians.
Today's comedy is really NOT comedy. They are not funny and full of canned laughter that does not inspire me at all. Plus they cannot help but just use raunchy jokes and bathroom jokes all the time.
In other words, they have lost the true art of comedy.
folsominc2 1 year ago
First time I´ve seen this.
davidperi 1 year ago
who else but jack gave blacks roles with equal footing and didn't have to speak ebonics style?
bigred997 2 years ago 3
Perhaps no one. There weren't many open minds back then. Sometimes Eddie Anderson had more than equal footing, getting in some good one-liners with Jack. Thanks Larry!
hwy61media 2 years ago
I just remembered, my Uncle once had a run in, literally, with Jack Benny. This took place in the 1950s in Manhattan, NY. My Uncle was on some errand for his employer, he was running down the sidewalk, turned a corner, and literally ran right into Jack Benny himself. My Uncle went: "Oh! Mr Benny! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Jack Benny brushed himself off while saying to my Uncle: "Thats ok, Sonny. Thats ok, Sonny"
classicphile 2 years ago 2
That's ok, Sonny :) Jack really was a nice guy. Great story Marc!
hwy61media 2 years ago
Jack also liked to use certain character actors and actresses, in addition to his semi-regular cast, in his TV series over the years; among them, Iris Adrian, Richard Deacon, Rolfe Sedan, James Flavin, Wil Wright, Hayden Rorke, Joseph Kearns (he was also "Ed", Benny's underground vault guard)...AND his old friend and fellow vaudevillian, Benny Rubin.
fromthesidelines 2 years ago
I couldn't remember who the barber was who cut Jack's hair was until classicphile told me below. Rolfe Sedan had quite an accomplished career also. Thanks Barry.
hwy61media 2 years ago
This is from a November 1960 episode, inspired by the fact that Jack had actually visited Hong Kong that summer. There were usually real and fictional incidents woven throughout the series (but you'll hear very few topical references in the filmed episodes). Jack's "character" was developed on radio and TV over the years, often by "accident": people expected to him to be a supposedly cheap, vain, lousy violinist and all-around jerk...and he was beloved for it!
fromthesidelines 2 years ago 3
Later in the show the suit falls apart piece by piece.
tomrdee 2 years ago
Yes, it's very funny. I would like to have shown the whole show but copyright concerns prevented me from doing so.
hwy61media 2 years ago
There's Iris Adrian again as the manicurist who agrees to do Benny's fingernails.
The most famous cheapskate joke he ever made was on his radio show (then repeated on one of his tv programs) when a mugger holds him up and demands "Your money or your life!". There's a LOOOOOOONG pause before the mugger repeats "c'mon, your money or your life!" to which Jack replies: "I'm thinking it over!"
classicphile 2 years ago 2
I love that line! What a classic.
Who is the tall barber who actually cuts Jack's hair? He looks so familiar.
hwy61media 2 years ago
The barber that cuts Jack's hair is Richard Deacon. He played Mel Cooley on The Dick Van Dyke Show. He also played Fred Rutherford, Lumpy's Dad and Ward's co-worker ("see you at the salt mines, Ward") on Leave It To Beaver. He was also in a TON of movies and tv shows.
The guy who owns the barber shop, the one Jack greets as Andre, is Rolfe Sedan. He has 282 credits to his name. Many of those credits are quite well known tv shows and movies. He goes all the ways back to silent films.
classicphile 2 years ago
The Dick Van Dyke Show! How could I forget. That's where I remember him best from. What a "duh" moment for me. Thanks Marc.
hwy61media 2 years ago
You know, several years ago I was watching this very Jack Benny "hong kong suit" episode, and I noticed how this 50+ years old episode made me laugh out loud quite a few times. Whats more they did it without resorting to foul language or any type of the crude jokes that passes for humor today. Is it any wonder why I prefer these old 1950s (and 1960s) classic tv shows to pretty much almost anything they put out today?
classicphile 2 years ago 2
It's no wonder at all Marc. Jack Benny and his contemporaries practiced an art that I think was much harder than what is served up as entertainment today. I can tell you that if I had small children I would be embarrassed to watch television with them. I might not watch at all. I think that's a shame. If Jack Benny were still with us he would still be funny assuming he could stand to be in the business the way it is now. Thank you for your intelligent and frequent comments.
hwy61media 2 years ago