Betty Garde As "Babe"

[Gerry O.]

There are a couple of Jack Benny shows from the early 1950's where radio actress Betty Garde plays Mary's sister Babe. These were episodes where Mary is absent, and Babe fills in for her.

The strange thing about these shows is that when Betty Garde plays Babe, I think that she sounds EXACTLY like Bea Arthur! In fact, as I listen to the show, I picture Bea Arthur saying Babe's lines. (Actually, Bea Arthur pretty much fits the visual image of Babe that was conveyed on the Benny program).

Has anyone else heard these "Betty Garde as Babe" episodes and if so, do you think that there is a voice resemblence between Betty Garde and Bea Arthur?

[shimp scrampi]

Are you sure it was Betty Garde? I thought it was actually the real Babe! At least in one of the shows I'm thinking of, "Babe" sounds totally unlike a professional actress, and Jack coaches her along with a couple of ad-libs referring to the fact that acting isn't her real forte. That being said, there is a slight resemblance to Bea Arthur, in that it's husky and low. Actually she sounds a lot like Mary in her later years (voice cameo on a "Here's Lucy" as a reference point).