When I was a kid, maybe ten or eleven, I remember my grandparents talking about when they vacationed in Las Vegas in the mid 1960s. (At least, I'm pretty sure they said it was the 60s.) They spoke of seeing two comedians perform on stage. One night they saw Buddy Hackett and both of my grandparents recalled that he was so crude that they walked out of the show. The next night they saw Jack Benny. I remember this story specifically because it was the first time I had ever heard someone use the phrase, "rolling in the aisles." "Jack Benny had us all rolling in the aisles!" my Grandad would say. They told me that Jack had the audience in absolute stitches; they were all doubled over laughing and Jack's humour was 100% clean.
Anyone who knows of these two comics, knows that there will never be a moment where Buddy Hackett will ever come anywhere close to outshining the likes of Jack Benny. Jack is in a class all his own.
(photo kidnapped from ordinaryfinds)
Your grandparents had taste!
ReplyDeleteI have a deep, deep love for old radio shows from the time I first encountered them as a kid around the late 70's. While the first radio show I ever heard was technically Orson Welles' WAR OF THE WORLDS broadcast some teacher played in grade school class, it was only years later when my friend Ed told me the local PBS radio station was airing old radio shows every weeknight and I should check them out. While the first show I ever heard was FIBBER MCGEE & MOLLY, I'm certain almost immediately after that was Jack Benny. Then I discovered Radiola records (who put out old radio shows on vinyl) and the very first LP I bought from them was JACK BENNY & FRED ALLEN (THE FEUD CONTINUES)...which I still own. Thanks for jogging up memories of Jack Benny . . . and probably causing me to do a post about all this on my blog!!!
Hooray to me for stirring up fond memories of your past! I think everyone had a teacher in grade school that played War of the Worlds - I remember listening to it in fifth grade and adoring it. I'll be checking your bloggie to see if you've done your own Jack Benny post, so get to steppin' if you haven't already!
ReplyDeleteHooray for you indeed! The post is finished and scheduled to appear tomorrow on the first of the year. It's only because of you that I wrote it and it's nice to have a post to appear on THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF MY BLOG!!!!
ReplyDeleteAre you freakin' serious??? Ten years? That's astonishing. Can't wait to read the post!!
ReplyDelete