I watched this live on KNXT in Los Angeles. I grew up in Jack's TV era, and transcripts of his radio shows were being rerun on KNX-AM on Sunday nights. I never missed his shows, and when he passed, there was no one to replace him. No one could...he was one of a kind...the best.
Thank you, thank you. Jack Benny...such an elegant and graceful person and I learned by watching this piece just how true that was. To be loved so by those with whom you work is a goal most of us can't obtain but he most certainly was and by millions more. Beautiful man.
I was visiting my grandparents for Christmas in Chicago. I was going to bed, and had the radio on and that was the lead story that Jack was dying and they interviewed George Jessel. The next day (which was a Friday Dec. 28th) he was gone.
Remember this well.....we went to Kentucky to spend Christmas with my grandparents and came back to find out about Mr. Benny....watched the whole thing December 29, 1974
I've never gotten over the passing of Jack Benny. But the closer I get to Jack's age when he past, I don't feel so bad because I'm looking forward to seeing him in heaven.
Thank you for this precious upload! I have never seen it before, and I am shocked at the low number of views - this is the essence of an entire age, and of innocent, clean, and uproarious humor. It is, as Kuralt said so wisely, a humor of which we are in such great need at this time. That was in 1974. What can we say of our deep need today, in 2020, in the midst of a life killing pandemic! Jack, up in heaven, teach us to put on our skull caps and to pray!
The contrast between how Jack's death was covered compared to that of Bob Hope is telling. Jack died at a point when he was still fairly active and seemingly strong even at age 80 and still was a regular fixture. You had this whole hour special on CBS and a few days before the Tonight Show was delayed to pay tribute to Jack. Bob Hope by contrast lived too long to be fully appreciated when he died. He was seen as a relic of a bygone era who had also at the end of his performing not stayed fresh.
YES- I recall when NBC paid a two minute tribute to Bob upon his death at 8pm(et) on July 27, 2003.......and then NBC's president, Jeff Zucker, couldn't WAIT for the start of the show that was scheduled: "FEAR FACTOR". To be fair, a full hour-long tribute WAS scheduled on MSNBC that evening- but NOT on NBC.
18 months later, NBC did do a pretty big tribute to Johnny Carson in the wake of his bucket kicking on the Today show and Leno did an episode tribute to Carson. I don't think Uncle Miltie in 2002 got much attention when he croaked. Carson, Bob Hope, and Berle are the three celebrities most closely associated with NBC
Jack Benny was always looking to the future. When he saw vaudeville was being replaced by movies and radio, he went into both. When he saw radio was being replaced by TV, he went into that. While others of his era kept looking back at radio, he said there was no point in looking back at the golden age of radio, and wishing it would come back, because the past can never come back.
The next day (December 30th), WGN in Chicago aired on their 10:30 PM "When Movies Were Movies" time slot, Benny's 1945 feature "The Horn Blows at Midnight"-the first time this writer had seen that film, and the last time this writer had seen that film! It's a Warner Bros. release, so I'm sure that TCM has since aired that title over the years!
Indeed, they have. I remember when WNBC-TV in New York used to show it on "THE GREAT GREAT SHOW" (after "THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON") on New Year's Eve [at 1am] in the late '60s and early '70s.
Thanks for posting! Im only about 20 min. Into this video but I gotta say that the 1st time I saw Jack he was in this classic movie called George Washington Slept Here with beautiful Ann Sheridan. A very funny comedy. Then I heard his radio n TV shows with the guy who did Bugs Bunny voice n 100 others. He's at 21:45 he's so funny he made Jack laugh every time. ..Also Carson shows n Rich Little and Dean Martin Celeb. Roasts ..I recommend all of the above.
Jack Benny had something in common with Johnny Carson and Don Imus (Yes THAT Don Imus). They were all talented, confident, and smart enough to know that you can always let the other guy get the laugh. They all knew that the audience was there both the guest and for him and they all knew that as long as the show was good, they would be back the next day with some new talent. That is why you see that Johny was always looking for great comedians and had no problem with guest hosts. This is as opposed to Jay Leno who never had guest hosts. Jack had such a talented cast of characters and worked with so many talented guests and kept up with the changing times, including Golden Age Actors in the Fifties and Folk Singers in the Sixties.
This should've aired on December 29th--three days after Mr. Benny's death. Ironically, there's a post from a few years ago that mentions the same preemption--but with a different slide for Apple's Way. Presumably, that was for the Eastern feed.
I'm glad this is back up on YT. It's a piece of history, honoring the greatest comedian who ever lived!
I'm watching this in 2023. What a man!
Me, too! I was four when he died but I loved listening to old radio when I was a kid and enjoyed his show so much. He was the master of his craft.
@@billandglorycraig8990 Absolutely!
I watched this live on KNXT in Los Angeles. I grew up in Jack's TV era, and transcripts of his radio shows were being rerun on KNX-AM on Sunday nights. I never missed his shows, and when he passed, there was no one to replace him. No one could...he was one of a kind...the best.
Jack Benny was the greatest talent in show business of all time Period !!!!!
Thank you, thank you. Jack Benny...such an elegant and graceful person and I learned by watching this piece just how true that was. To be loved so by those with whom you work is a goal most of us can't obtain but he most certainly was and by millions more. Beautiful man.
I am young but I love this beautiful part of American history ❤ ... R.I.P. Mr. Jack Benny 🌟🙏
I was visiting my grandparents for Christmas in Chicago. I was going to bed, and had the radio on and that was the lead story that Jack was dying and they interviewed George Jessel. The next day (which was a Friday Dec. 28th) he was gone.
Remember this well.....we went to Kentucky to spend Christmas with my grandparents and came back to find out about Mr. Benny....watched the whole thing December 29, 1974
I've never gotten over the passing of Jack Benny. But the closer I get to Jack's age when he past, I don't feel so bad because I'm looking forward to seeing him in heaven.
I remember watching this in 1974. I didn't know who Jack Benny was then but appreciate him now.
Great 😃👍 Memories from 1974. RIP Mr Benny ☺️😊🙂🥰
Thank you for this precious upload! I have never seen it before, and I am shocked at the low number of views - this is the essence of an entire age, and of innocent, clean, and uproarious humor. It is, as Kuralt said so wisely, a humor of which we are in such great need at this time. That was in 1974. What can we say of our deep need today, in 2020, in the midst of a life killing pandemic! Jack, up in heaven, teach us to put on our skull caps and to pray!
Mr. Benny was a brilliant comedian, violinist, and entertainer. Thank-You for sharing.
Originally telecast on Sunday, December 29, 1974 at 7:30pm(et).
On my dad's 46th birthday
The contrast between how Jack's death was covered compared to that of Bob Hope is telling. Jack died at a point when he was still fairly active and seemingly strong even at age 80 and still was a regular fixture. You had this whole hour special on CBS and a few days before the Tonight Show was delayed to pay tribute to Jack. Bob Hope by contrast lived too long to be fully appreciated when he died. He was seen as a relic of a bygone era who had also at the end of his performing not stayed fresh.
YES- I recall when NBC paid a two minute tribute to Bob upon his death at 8pm(et) on July 27, 2003.......and then NBC's president, Jeff Zucker, couldn't WAIT for the start of the show that was scheduled: "FEAR FACTOR". To be fair, a full hour-long tribute WAS scheduled on MSNBC that evening- but NOT on NBC.
18 months later, NBC did do a pretty big tribute to Johnny Carson in the wake of his bucket kicking on the Today show and Leno did an episode tribute to Carson. I don't think Uncle Miltie in 2002 got much attention when he croaked. Carson, Bob Hope, and Berle are the three celebrities most closely associated with NBC
We'll be lucky if there's a five second slide on CBS.
Jack Benny was always looking to the future. When he saw vaudeville was being replaced by movies and radio, he went into both. When he saw radio was being replaced by TV, he went into that. While others of his era kept looking back at radio, he said there was no point in looking back at the golden age of radio, and wishing it would come back, because the past can never come back.
@@zachhoran Even today The Tonight Show is a staple show on NBC and it is largely because of Johnny
Charles Kuralt just turned 40 in this video. He looks like he is 60.
The next day (December 30th), WGN in Chicago aired on their 10:30 PM "When Movies Were Movies" time slot, Benny's 1945 feature "The Horn Blows at Midnight"-the first time this writer had seen that film, and the last time this writer had seen that film! It's a Warner Bros. release, so I'm sure that TCM has since aired that title over the years!
Indeed, they have. I remember when WNBC-TV in New York used to show it on "THE GREAT GREAT SHOW" (after "THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON") on New Year's Eve [at 1am] in the late '60s and early '70s.
My Dad met him in Bangor Maine when he did his radio show.
Thanks for posting!
Im only about 20 min. Into this video but I gotta say that the 1st time I saw Jack he was in this classic movie called George Washington Slept Here with beautiful Ann Sheridan. A very funny comedy. Then I heard his radio n TV shows with the guy who did Bugs Bunny voice n 100 others. He's at 21:45 he's so funny he made Jack laugh every time. ..Also Carson shows n Rich Little and Dean Martin Celeb. Roasts ..I recommend all of the above.
Ironic that Benny would die only two months and 11 days after Ed Sullivan whose radio series he wold make his debut on.
Rest in Peace Jack
So nice to see Mary in the Sullivan audience
The "Apple's Way" pre-emption notice was V/O'd by Bill Martin.
Thank you for this wonderful upload!
Interesting. The prop radio is very similar to the one used on Captain Kangaroo...
Jack Benny had something in common with Johnny Carson and Don Imus (Yes THAT Don Imus). They were all talented, confident, and smart enough to know that you can always let the other guy get the laugh. They all knew that the audience was there both the guest and for him and they all knew that as long as the show was good, they would be back the next day with some new talent.
That is why you see that Johny was always looking for great comedians and had no problem with guest hosts. This is as opposed to Jay Leno who never had guest hosts.
Jack had such a talented cast of characters and worked with so many talented guests and kept up with the changing times, including Golden Age Actors in the Fifties and Folk Singers in the Sixties.
Jack Benny found johnny Carson too
"Challenge To Be Free"- starring the most unexpected "hero" to grace ANY movie......MIKE MAZURKI!!!!!!!!!!
I think so.
His radio show was beyond Great 👍🏻
Funniest performer ever.
This should've aired on December 29th--three days after Mr. Benny's death. Ironically, there's a post from a few years ago that mentions the same preemption--but with a different slide for Apple's Way. Presumably, that was for the Eastern feed.
Eric Jon Magnuson interesting -- I'd always thought Benny died in 1975.
It WAS telecast on December 29th. And this IS the West Coast telecast.
Which I figured.
Ed Sullivan passed away in October of 1974 before Jack Benny passed
Wow ... may Mr. Sullivan & Mr. Benny R.I.P. 🌟 🌟 🙏