New DVD from Shokus

[LLeff]

I got to see a pre-release copy of the new Shokus Benny DVD, and it's very good. Excellent video quality...surprising to see a 1951 show look as good as a 1963 show. Remember, IJBFC members get 10% off of Benny purchases at Shokus.

+ 11/14/1951 - Dorothy Shay guest
+ 2/5/1963 - Jack rents his house
+ 3/14/1957 - Shower of Stars, with Lawrence Welk, Gale Storm, and Hedy Lamarr

[Jack Benny]

I got to see a pre-release copy of the new Shokus Benny DVD, and it's very good. Excellent video quality...surprising to see a 1951 show look as good as a 1963 show. Remember, IJBFC members get 10% off of Benny purchases at Shokus.

+ 11/14/1951 - Dorothy Shay guest
+ 2/5/1963 - Jack rents his house
+ 3/14/1957 - Shower of Stars, with Lawrence Welk, Gale Storm, and Hedy Lamarr

Both of the Benny shows are on the 15 episode two DVD set put out by Diamond Entertainment, that sells on ebay all the time for around $10. I would love to get more Benny Shows, but it would be wonderful if someone could put out other episodes. It seems like the same 15-20 episodes get released over and over again. Is this because these are the only ones that still exist, the only ones in the public domain, or is there some other reason?

[alain]

Here in Canada, JB TV episodes were running for a while on the "Comedy" network (each sunday at 6AM and repeated at noon)......i may have missed a few episodes at the beginning of the run, but it seemed like it didn't last for much more than half a year, and probably less than one year......

I had thought that it ended due to routine non-prime lineup changes, but now i'm thinking that they only showed the few, easily available "public domain" (AND not expensive) episodes.

[Jack Benny]

Here in Canada, JB TV episodes were running for a while on the "Comedy" network (each sunday at 6AM and repeated at noon)......i may have missed a few episodes at the beginning of the run, but it seemed like it didn't last for much more than half a year, and probably less than one year......

I had thought that it ended due to routine non-prime lineup changes, but now i'm thinking that they only showed the few, easily available "public domain" (AND not expensive) episodes.

From what I've heard and what seems to make sense, those would have been the syndicated package. They just chose not to air them all. I wish that there was some equivellent to "XM" available in television. I would love to see a station devoted 24/7 to 50's comedy, Benny, Honeymooners, Colgate Comey hour, Your show of shows and such. A western TV Shows channel would be great too, Cheyanne, Sugar Foot, Maverick... Unfortunatly the audience for these great shows is getting smaller and smaller. It seems our best hope for 50's television is in the DVD market, and luckily they are burning through all of the hits of the '70's, 80's, and 90's, so soon we might see some of the 50's shows preserved in this format. The Hooneymooners has already seen a nice collection of the great 39 filmed episodes for under $1 an episode! Hopefully Benny and others will follow.

[Mike]

I got the flyer today. Does Bob Crosby sing on the '51 show? (I like him better than Bing). And Frank Nelson on the '53 show. I love him. I have to get this video! How do I get the 10% off? Do I just write in "IJBFC member" on the order form, or what? Mike in L.A.

[LLeff]

It seems like the same 15-20 episodes get released over and over again. Is this because these are the only ones that still exist, the only ones in the public domain, or is there some other reason?

I think it's a combination of which ones are public domain, and also having a copy of them. The first show in 1950 should be public domain (MCA doesn't own the copyright on it), but who has a copy that can also distribute it? Hopefully someone someday.

[LLeff]

From what I've heard and what seems to make sense, those would have been the syndicated package. They just chose not to air them all.

I don't think so, because when "Frank Nelson" was posting upcoming Canadian episodes on the Forum, I know that I saw MCA shows there. I also got a list from someone who had recorded some of the shows from Canadian TV, and there were other MCA shows on that list. I never made a point of cross-referencing each show to copyright registration, but I know they had at least a few that I know are not currently in commercial circulation.

[LLeff]

I got the flyer today. Does Bob Crosby sing on the '51 show? (I like him better than Bing). And Frank Nelson on the '53 show. I love him. I have to get this video! How do I get the 10% off? Do I just write in "IJBFC member" on the order form, or what? Mike in L.A.

Bob does sing on the 1951 show, and Frank Nelson is in the 1963 show. I think there's a space for comments on the Shokus Web site, and you can put that you're an IJBFC member there.

[Mike]

Was the 11-4-51 show really Jack's first TV show as he stated on the program?
It was a nice surprise to see the renowned dancer Jacques D'Amboise on the Shower Of Stars show.

[LLeff]

Was the 11-4-51 show really Jack's first TV show as he stated on the program?

It was his first TV show of that season. His first-first was October 28, 1950.