The Jack Benny Program - Jack Gets Robbed (1/3)

[werksdesign]

Fond memories of sitting in my grandparents living room watching the Jack Benny show and the commercials make it seem just like last week. TV shows today just don't make the same grade.

[tjm3774]

LSMFT... LSMFT.... Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco. Yes, Lucky Strike Means FINE Tobacco. So round, so firm, so fully-packed, so free and easy on the draw. In a cigarette, it's the tobacco that counts, and Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco. And fine tobacco means real, deep-down smoking enjoyment for you. So, smoke that smoke of fine tobacco... LUCKY STRIKE!

[jakestilson1947]

thank you ! Jack Benny - brilliant!

[cruiser1947]

I loved the Jack Benny program. Thanks for posting it.

[vinman07]

J.B

Timing - impeccable

Body language and facial expressions - priceless

[bluecollardriver]

this is so great. thanks for your post. i love jack benny and his great cast of talented actors. if only comedy was still this fun.

[fromthesidelines]

Yes, 'WSenator', Jack's radio show was still on {albeit pre-recorded} when this aired in January 1955. On those weeks when the TV show was scheduled, it was possible to hear his radio program at 7pm(et), then watch the TV edition at 7:30 {in fact, Jack often reminded his radio audience when he was on TV the same evening}.

[andrewt4042]

Thanks jenny . . . 

[uhohwhoops]

I miss Lucky Strikes

[WSenator1]

Was this show first on TV when his radio show was still on?

[andrewt4042]

I missed the punch line.  What does the little girl say at the end about her father's job?

[jenny1340]

@andrewt4042 She said, "He's a piano player."

[cloudkill94]

@andrewt4042 she says, "He's a piano player!"

[XTRANSAM2121]

I'M GLAD TOO, THE TV OF TODAY IS NOT AS SPECIAL AS THIS TIME FRAME . KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[XTRANSAM2121]

YOU ARE A WONDERFUL PERSON,TO PRESENT THE ENTIRE PROGRAM!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hwy61media]

@XTRANSAM2121 Thank you. I do the entire program when copyright issues don't get in the way. I'm glad you liked it :) -Michael

[davidperi]

Be interesting to know after all these decades what these actors, if they were living, thought about smoking. Saw a program with Bette Davis on Larry King and she was smoking one a cigarette one after anoher.

[airlair]

This is what comedy should be. Thanks for posting this.

[storrs19]

From back when it was "The Lucky Strike Program" since the sponsor owned the show usually.  This is great classic television. Jack Benny was one of the funniest men of all time. Thanks so much for sharing this show in it's complete form.

[hwy61media]

@storrs19 He was hilarious and this was a good episode. You're welcome.

[fromthesidelines]

..and Benny's writers were the highest paid in the industry- AND the most respected. It was said, "Nobody ever came between Jack and his writers". Perrin, Balzer, Goldman & Gordon continued to write Jack's TV show until it ended in 1965 (also earning an Emmy award). And Jack was an unofficial "fifth writer" and "script editor"- he KNEW what kind of comedy worked for him.

[hwy61media]

@fromthesidelines This is great information. I'm sure you're right about Jack's intuition regarding what worked for him. Lots of loyalty there.

[fromthesidelines]

After his radio show ended in May 1955, Jack also had to pare his writing staff, which had expanded from four to six by the fall of 1954, crafting radio and TV scripts: Sam Perrin (the oldest), George Balzer, Milt Josefsberg, John "Tack" Tackaberry [he and Milt joined Benny during World War II], and Al Gordon & Hal Goldman ("the new kids", Jack called them). Milt and "Tack" later contributed occasional material...

[fromthesidelines]

Yes, he did, 'hwy'. There was a tinge of nostalgia (and regret) in Jack's voice whenever he talked about "the good old days" of radio, and how much more imaginitive it was to perform comedy before a microphone than in front of a camera. I don't think he wanted to "leave" radio in 1955, but he knew more people were watching TV, and that he had to devote more of his time to making his TV show a success...which he did (including his monthly 1955-'58 appearances on "SHOWER OF STARS").

[hwy61media]

@fromthesidelines That sounds very much like Jack. I can't blame him. It's hard to make such a big change but of course he did the right thing. I'm certainly glad that he did!

[fromthesidelines]

...in fact, AT informed Jack in January 1955 they were dropping their sponsorship of his radio show at the end of that season (concentrating on TV). If he wanted to continue on radio, it was okay with them...but not with THEIR money. Jack KNEW it was the end of an era, deciding to end the radio series that May. In fact, Bob Hope ended HIS NBC radio show that April, primarily because of Jack's decision...

[hwy61media]

@fromthesidelines Do you think he preferred radio, financial considerations notwithstanding?

[fromthesidelines]

By the early '50s, Jack's radio show did have "budgetary problems", 'hwy', due to a decline in listeners (after 1950, more people were watching TV in "prime-time" than listened to radio), and American Tobacco contributed less money to the program's production budget as a result of shifting its advertising towards more network TV series....

[hwy61media]

@fromthesidelines Ok, now i understand. Thanks!

[fromthesidelines]

Phil Harris was no longer a member of Jack's radio/TV cast after the fall of 1952 (primarily for budgetary reasons, 'monk'). This is why Bob Crosby replaced him as the show's "orchestra leader" through 1956, while Mahlon Merrick was actually the show's arranger/conductor {and often appeared as himself, when Crosby wasn't available}. And it was January 9, 1955, NOT the 2nd!

[hwy61media]

@fromthesidelines Thanks Barry. Even though I know it's true, it is hard for me to think of Jack Benny having budget problems (no pun intended :).

[fromthesidelines]

Keep in mind that when this originally aired live, on November 30, 1952 [reworked as a filmed episode on January 2, 1955], American Tobacco {Lucky Strike} was sponsoring Jack on radio every week [Sundays, 7pm(et)] AND television every fourth week [Sundays, 7:30pm], in addition to sponsoring "YOUR HIT PARADE" (radio/TV), "PRIVATE SECRETARY" (alternating with Jack's TV show) and "ROBERT MONTGOMERY PRESENTS YOUR LUCKY STRIKE THEATER".

[monkfan72]

I wish Phil Harris were in this. (((sigh)))

[EMCEMITCH]

yea lucky strike is good for you

[nitehawksr]

You misunderstand me, I am surprised that youtube allowed you to keep the commercials in. I grew up in this time period and know all about the history of television and radio.

You are correct, it would be disingenuous to remove the commercials...therefore, don't do it. Always be true to the old radio and tv shows that you have, this is where we really got character.

It would be retarded of all of us to think that cigarettes and alcohol commercials didn't exist. They should be treasured.

[hwy61media]

My apologies. I see we are of one mind on this issue. I am accustomed to defending the position. Hope you understand. Thank you.

[nitehawksr]

I am very surprised that the commercial for Lucky Strike was allowed to remain in the clip...I love Jack Benny and a lot of the old radio programs and television shows.

[hwy61media]

I understand you position. Here is mine:

Tobacco companies were big tv sponsors in the fifties, sixties and later. Tv was still a risky venture in those early days, sponsors were full of uncertainty yet desperately needed. That is part of television history and, in that context, cigarette ads have their rightful place in these shows (IMHO).

I could remove them but I think it would be disingenuous to do so. Cigarette ads may be gone today but tv characters still smoke.

Thanks for commenting :)