Appreciating Mary

[Drear Pooson]

Hello there. I'm 33 and I've been a Jack Benny fan for many years now. Probably my first exposure was seeing his TV shows in syndication when I was a kid. Honestly I don't remember how it got started, but my general interest in old time radio quickly turned to an infatuation with the Jack Benny program. It's become not just my favorite radio show but one of my favorite shows period.

Anyway I just wanted to give a little attention to the most under-appreciated cast member, Mary. To paraphrase some comment by George Burns, "I wonder if Jack ever knew she had no talent." Maybe she wasn't the most loveable person in real-life but I think she was a very fresh and original character in radio. Listening to the Jello era programs again she's just terrific in those early shows. Smart and smart alecky, she's a perfect foil for Jack. Her timing and delivery are just great and she really seems into the show, laughing along with the cast and enjoying herself.

It's a shame it had to end whether it was her stage fright or she just got tired of it all but I don't think the show would've been the same without her.

[Jack Benny]

I'm right there with you! Much is made of the fact that Mary wasn't in the business before she met Jack. She is wonderful. Her reading of the lines and her inflections are some of the best in radio, and to tell you the truth to my modern ears her work holds up today even better than Gracie's. I know I'm walking on thin ice here, but I truly believe that
I would not be as enamoured with Jack's show if Mary wasn't a huge part of it.

[Roman]

I agree completely. Mary was outstanding and her timing was terrific. She was an absolutely essential part of the program because only she could puncture Jack's fragile ego with such great effect. It was precisely because we knew she was Mrs. Jack Benny that she could add that extra zing to her barbs without it seeming cruel. You knew and could always tell that she loved Jack no matter how awful the thing she was saying about Jack and you always knew the feeling was very mutual from Jack.

[shimp scrampi]

This has come up a few times before, and I'll echo the sentiments here - Mary is great on the radio show. I think she's noticeably uncomfortable in a couple of her TV appearances, but even then she is still quite good.

Here's a little parallel - Audrey Meadows once said that in playing "Alice Kramden" on The Honeymooners - it was very important to her to be very, very still and immobile while Gleason would bluster and pace and run about the set. It's such a seemingly small thing, but think of The Honeymooners with Ralph and Alice both being so animated - it wouldn't work - it would be too much.

Mary gives that same kind of "anchor" quality to the Benny show - she's the conscience, the voice of reality that pops Jack's balloon before the situation or conceit at hand goes over the top.