Superb. Actually, Mr. Benny had much superior violin skills than what he showed on radio and then TV. Of course he had to "play lousy" as part of his comedy act, but he could play very well at the intermediate level. He was the owner of several fine European instruments, including a Strad during his late years.
The young girl playing "Getting to Know You" with Jack was violin prodigy Talia {Toni} Marcus, who used the same arrangement Gisele MacKenzie played with Jack [she personally wrote it out for her to study before she did it with Benny]. Talia appeared several times with Jack on TV (the version shown here is from March 1962) and personal appearances...
The scenes with Jack and his musicians are from a January 1964 episode that featured Nat Cole as guest star; on radio and TV, Benny often jokingly referred to several members of his program's orchestra [under the direction of Mahlon Merrick], inferring they were "drunks" and/or "on parole", and they occasionally appeared with him to perform on camera...the most notable were Frankie Remley [also one of his close friends], Sammy Weiss, Wayne Songer and Charlie Bagby.
@billace90 I'd heard that, too... he was far more talented than he let on!
ScottInVa1760 1 month ago
Magic violin!!! Lets make it dissappear!!!!!
Tilleyass 6 months ago
montague?
kittycatknows 6 months ago
LOL! Now cut that out!
missionrd100 7 months ago
Superb. Actually, Mr. Benny had much superior violin skills than what he showed on radio and then TV. Of course he had to "play lousy" as part of his comedy act, but he could play very well at the intermediate level. He was the owner of several fine European instruments, including a Strad during his late years.
billace90 11 months ago
lolz I've never tried to play the Bee before, that looks insane!!!!!!
chumshot1 1 year ago
FRASIER!!
chumshot1 1 year ago
The young girl playing "Getting to Know You" with Jack was violin prodigy Talia {Toni} Marcus, who used the same arrangement Gisele MacKenzie played with Jack [she personally wrote it out for her to study before she did it with Benny]. Talia appeared several times with Jack on TV (the version shown here is from March 1962) and personal appearances...
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
The scenes with Jack and his musicians are from a January 1964 episode that featured Nat Cole as guest star; on radio and TV, Benny often jokingly referred to several members of his program's orchestra [under the direction of Mahlon Merrick], inferring they were "drunks" and/or "on parole", and they occasionally appeared with him to perform on camera...the most notable were Frankie Remley [also one of his close friends], Sammy Weiss, Wayne Songer and Charlie Bagby.
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
Oh Jack....
makthnife 1 year ago