What would you take?

[Frank Nelson]

I had to evacuate for hurricane Rita last weekend. I didn't have room in my truck to take my DVD collection or books. I did squeeze in the Radio & TV museum's book on Jack's work since it was the most difficult for me to get.

All day Friday the storm was predicted to pass over my house. Fortunately, for me anyway, the storm went farther east and I still have a house although I don't have as many roof shingles as I did.

This leads up to the question, if you could only take one thing from your JB collection, what would it be?

[mrdj]

My ipod. I have over 1,500 radio shows on it. Of course most of the Jack Benny shows are there, but also a large number of my other favorites like 'Gunsmoke', 'Suspense', 'X Minus One', 'Charlie McCarthy'. 'Lux Radio Theater', and 'The Black Museum'. I guess if the electricity was going to be out for a long while, I would have to switch to my battery operated mp3 player, because the ipod is limited to 10 hours give or take. One way or another though, Jack will always be with me.

[David47Jens]

Wow, what a great question! I suppose it would be a cop-out to reply "I'm thinking it over!"

I'm lucky in that most of my Jack memorabilia consists of paper items (books, ads, magazines, etc.) or recorded material. None of it's exceptionally valuable (outside of sentimental value), and most of it would be replaceable if I were patient. There are a couple of vintage Variety pages which I'd be hard-pressed to find again, but they're not among my favorite Benny pieces. My favorite piece is a color RCA ad featuring my two favorite comedians, Jack Benny (of course) and Johnny Carson. And that turns up constantly on eBay.

I guess I'd grab either my 1972 Jack Benny Americare "vault"... or my color photo of Jack from a 1963 issue of McCall's. The photo features Jack, his violin, the Maxwell, an old CBS-TV camera, and a painted backdrop of the infamous vault! If you'd like to see a slightly cropped version, click here: http://davidzrantz.diaryland.com/images/jbmccalls.jpg. (Glitches in the scan were caused by the shrinkwrap which protects it.)

And I know, I know... I listed two choices, and you asked for one, but as I stated above, "I'm thinking it over!"

And by the way, "Frank," it's truly good to hear that Rita spared you and yours... except for those roof shingles which you mentioned.

[Frank Nelson]

And by the way, "Frank," it's truly good to hear that Rita spared you and yours... except for those roof shingles which you mentioned.

Thanks, we were fortunate to have a place to return to unlike many people in the county next to us. I'd like to live farther inland anyway, so I'm starting to check on relocation possibilities.

[LLeff]

The photo features Jack, his violin, the Maxwell, an old CBS-TV camera, and a painted backdrop of the infamous vault! If you'd like to see a slightly cropped version, click here: http://davidzrantz.diaryland.com/images/jbmccalls.jpg. (Glitches in the scan were caused by the shrinkwrap which protects it.)

Is it just me, or does that vault backdrop look like a 60s fireplace with chains in front of it?

And your timing is perfect...I have two people now with very similar Maxwells who claim that THEIRS is the one used in the TV shows. I'm much more sure of one than the other, and the color photo is particularly important evidence!