Was Jack Benny Cheap?

These outtakes play up Jack's on air reputation for cheapness. This reputation was just part of Jack's act. Off screen he was a very generous man.

Jack goes to the barber shop and nobody wants to serve him because of his stinginess in the past and Jack brags about the suit he bought in Hong Kong for twelve dollars.

These scenes were taken from the Hong Kong Suit episode of The Jack Benny Program. Giselle MacKenzie's performance on the show was removed due to copyright concerns.

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Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• was
• jack
• benny
• cheap?
• hong
• kong
• suit
• comedy
• vintage
• classic
• early
• old
• tv
• television
• shows
• series

[bigred997]

who else but jack gave blacks roles with equal footing and didn't have to speak ebonics style?

[hwy61media]

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!

[classicphile]

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"

[hwy61media]

That's ok, Sonny :) Jack really was a nice guy. Great story Marc!

[fromthesidelines]

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.

[hwy61media]

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.

[fromthesidelines]

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!

[Hikikomori013]

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?

[TheIntruders]

Note that every bit is in 3's. 3's are always funnier.

[AfsAnehAfairytale]

I have not seen this one, thank you for sending it to me. Jack Benny is so funny, great upload Michael!

Rita

[folsominc2]

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.

[davidperi]

First time I´ve seen this.