Jack Benny: Comedy in Bloom HBO special

[mackdaddyg]

Just found this on youtube. Looks pretty good, so I'm gonna check it out.

Here's the link to part 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27jy7d0LBnY

[Mandolynn]

Thanks for the link. I enjoyed that immensely!

[shimp scrampi]

It's a really good documentary on Jack; great mix of "classic" clips and rarer stuff, and some good choices on who they interviewed (the writers, especially). I also like how it gets a little more at how Jack worked as opposed to only concentrating on the pervasive "wasn't Jack wonderful!" sentimental approach. It's a bit sad that so many of those people are no longer with us, 1992 doesn't seem that long ago!

[Maxwell]

It's a really good documentary on Jack; great mix of "classic" clips and rarer stuff, and some good choices on who they interviewed (the writers, especially). I also like how it gets a little more at how Jack worked as opposed to only concentrating on the pervasive "wasn't Jack wonderful!" sentimental approach. It's a bit sad that so many of those people are no longer with us, 1992 doesn't seem that long ago!

To us maybe not, but here's something to chew on: The high school seniors I teach were BORN in 1992.

[mackdaddyg]

I was really impressed with the show. They did a great job. Two of the clips in there really blew me away:

1. The clips that showed an actual Benny radio broadcast with all the cast members. Since it was in front of servicemen, I'm guessing it was from the early 40s. Seeing them all put on the radio show was a rare treat. Does anybody know if the entire show was filmed?

2. It was all too brief, but the clip they showed near the end of Fred Allen (who wasn't mentioned at all, surprisingly) cracking up Jack was something I've wanted to see for a long time, and I wish they had used more of the clip. I'm assuming it's the bit where Fred is breaking down bit by bit whether Jack's personal appearance is worth the 50 cent admission.

The quality of all the clips was fantastic. Whoever put that show together did an A+ job in my opinion.

[JohnM]

Mackdaddy, the filmed radio show in front of servicemen was the Camp Hahn shown in 1942. There's about 15 minutes of it that you can download from this site (under Programs, then Film Clip). You can also find it on Youtube if you don't want to download the files.