Old Time Radio: Jack Benny vs. Fred Allen...

[Dan C]

I've been listening a lot to the old time radio channel on XM. I've noticed a lot of slams at Benny on Fred Allen's show. I'm assuming it was all an act, right? Does anyone know how the feud started?

These old shows are really fun. Unfortunately, I don't get many of Fred Allen's jokes. He was more topical then Benny it seems. The audience will be roaring in fits of laughter and I'll go "huh?". But I love his comic timing and delivery.

The Benny show is great because most of the humor comes at his expense, so once you know the characters it's easy to follow.

dan c

[guy incognito]

Yes, the "feud" was entirely fictional. Off the air, Benny and Allen liked and respected each other a great deal.

Most OTR historians mark December 30, 1936 as the beginning of the feud. Allen's show of that night featuered a performance by a ten-year-old violinist, after which Allen made a few cracks about Benny's attempts to play that instrument. Listening at home, an amused Benny decided to fight back, and on January 3, 1937, he did so on his own show. The "feud" would continue, off and on, for most of the next decade, as the two men would crack jokes about each other and even occasionally appear as guests on each other's shows.

[vanmeterannie]

They were in movies together, like It's In The Bag and Love Thy Neighbor, playing the feud out there as well.

[pdenny]

Great friends and a hilarious "war" over the years. Two of the funniest men to ever walk the planet. Fred's sense of humor was quite a bit drier than Benny's; check out his book "Treadmill To Oblivion" if you can find a copy. He left us much too soon but I suspect watching the effect of TV on our society would have killed him anyway; he saw the danger and it came true.

Myron Proudfoot :D

[Gary]

Another great Jack Benny friend was George Burns. Ever read "Gracie"? It's a great monologue about his vaudeville days up until Gracie died.

Burns and Allen also had a radio show. Is this also on XM?

[guy incognito]

Burns and Allen also had a radio show. Is this also on XM?

Yep, several times per week. Check out the current schedule (http://www.xmradio.com/pdf/radio_classics_011005.pdf) for the channel.

[Gary]

Finally, a reason to get XM! :)

Thanks, Mike!

[Michael]

Jack had a poker face like no other!:laugh: I have a 25 compact disc "old radio" set...lots of Benny, Abbott & Costello...all the biggies...I get much enjoyment while in the car...that stuff is priceless...

[Jamie Tate]

The Jack Benny radio show was so great. He developed such a great character and it didn't rely on costumes or other gimmicks. I've collected hundreds of his radio shows. They're great to listen to on long drives. They really keep you awake.

[Michael]

...anyone have any good quality DVD's of the Jack Benny Show?...I remember reading someone's posting of having a decent 2 disc PD set on DVD? What I have sucks!

[Jamie Tate]

Michael,

I have most of those Jack Benny DVD's and none of them look good. Some are better than others. The worst is that $1 DVD Target sells.

These companies just don't understand they have valuable stuff sitting in their vaults. I was talking to a friend today (cnath) about his frustrations producing DVD's. He's been trying to license some really great stuff but the people just aren't interested in releasing them for sale. :confused:

Now's your time to jump in Chip! :wave:

[Michael]

Michael,

I have most of those Jack Benny DVD's and none of them look good. Some are better than others. The worst is that $1 DVD Target sells.

These companies just don't understand they have valuable stuff sitting in their vaults. I was talking to a friend today (cnath) about his frustrations producing DVD's. He's been trying to license some really great stuff but the people just aren't interested in releasing them for sale. :confused:

Now's your time to jump in Chip! :wave:

...many times we miss a few nuggets that slip out on PD DVD!..very rare though...It's driving me crazy trying to remember the post that I was referring to...it was mentioned that the DVD was great quality and they were quite surprised at the quality...maybe it was police officer John?...maybe just my imagination!

I've been meaning to ask you, did you ever complete the Addams Family? I recall you were trying to record the compete the series...if so, how did they come? I praying for that to show up on DVD!

[Jamie Tate]

I've been meaning to ask you, did you ever complete the Addams Family? I recall you were trying to record the compete the series...if so, how did they come? I praying for that to show up on DVD!

Got it! :righton:

Funny thing is that after I took the time to edit out the commercials and put them onto about a trillion DVD's I don't really have much desire to watch them. A friend of mine is borrowing them right now.

[Michael]

Got it! :righton:

Funny thing is that after I took the time to edit out the commercials and put them onto about a trillion DVD's I don't really have much desire to watch them. A friend of mine is borrowing them right now.


Yup, I've had the same thing happen...can't wait to get it, put it aside and forget it! Then the bug hits ya and your off to the races...It's just the inner security knowing you have 'em and can watch 'em at your leisure...

[Michael]

Oh...Jamie, I forgot...how many disc did it take to get the whole series?

[Jamie Tate]

I can't remember but I was able to get 5 episodes on most of the DVD's. 64 total episodes so it was probably 13 discs.

[Michael]

I can't remember but I was able to get 5 episodes on most of the DVD's. 64 total episodes so it was probably 13 discs.


I'll bet it was tiring...:)

[Jamie Tate]

It took me months and became rather tedious. All I have is that Panasonic HD DVD recorder.

[Michael]

It took me months and became rather tedious. All I have is that Panasonic HD DVD recorder.

...but worth it, as we see no Addams Family box set in the near future...I do believe it will be coming out down the road a bit...I can't wait! I've been getting much delight at the wave of 60's TV that's been coming out on DVD lately!

[Dan C]

XM also airs "The Stan Freberg Show" on that channel. :goodie: Now and then I catch a radio sit com that I've never heard of. Some of them are still quite funny.

dan c

[Dan C]

Michael,

I have most of those Jack Benny DVD's and none of them look good. Some are better than others. The worst is that $1 DVD Target sells.

These companies just don't understand they have valuable stuff sitting in their vaults. I was talking to a friend today (cnath) about his frustrations producing DVD's. He's been trying to license some really great stuff but the people just aren't interested in releasing them for sale. :confused:

Now's your time to jump in Chip! :wave:

I've seen some of those shows, they were basically the radio shows done with visuals. Hardly even rewritten, very few visual gags IIRC. I still think the "theater of the mind" was better, but it's cool to see the actors. Benny was brilliant on and off screen.

BTW, were those TV shows done live and captured on kine, or were they done to film like "I Love Lucy"?

Didn't Benny's TV show run into the 60s? Any nice video tapes still exist?

Just curious. :)

dan c

[John Oteri]

Fred Allen made a few ventures into early television, but was very uncomfortable with the set up. In the early days the cameras were huge and were set up between the talent and the audience. Fred Allen played to his audience and never like the set up. He was way ahead of his time. The networks couldn't find "the right" format for him, but if he'd survived further into the television era he might've found his niche in a Tonight Show-like format. Or maybe something in the way of Groucho's Bet Your Life. He was indeed very topical, and it's understandable why audiences today don't understand most of his jokes. Ironically enough, his paradoy of a certain southern Congressman, Senator Claghorn who was a regular character on Allen's Alley was the inspiration for WBs Foghorn Leghorn. Benny and Allen also appeared on each other's radio shows, carrying "The Fued" to greater heights. It was one of the highlights from the Golden Age of Radio.

[guy incognito]

Fred Allen on TV--I guess he was less than enthusiastic:


"Imitation is the sincerest form of television."

"Television is called a 'medium' because anything well-done is rare."

"Television is a device that permits people who haven't anything to do to watch people who can't do anything."

"Television is a triumph of equipment over people, and the minds that control it are so small that you could put them in the navel of a flea and still have enough room for a network president's heart."

[Steve D.]

Jack Benny's TV shows started as occasional specials on CBS in 1950. Benny lived in Beverly Hills but might have originated the tv from N.Y. Starting in late 1952 the show was aired once a month. These probably from CBS in Hollywood and sent live to the east, kine in the west. In 1953 he presented a show every other week until 1960. From 1960 to 1965 it was a weekly show. Jack Benny changed networks to NBC in the '64-'65 season. He continued with various specials on NBC until his death in 1974. Benny switched from live/kine in the late 50's to tape and then to film some time in the early 60's. His radio show ran from 1932 until 1955.

[billdcat]

Those who have GSN (Game Show Network) on their cable or sat,
Can see Fred Allen as a panel member of "What's My Line?",
starting with episode #226 (Sept.26,1954) that should be airing around Feb.6,2005.

Mr.Allen was a regular from Sept. '54 until his death in spring 1956.

I am a fan of Fred Allen and while I have a lot of his radio shows on mp3,
I have nothing of his TV work (what little of it survives) on video.