Iris Adrian

[shimp scrampi]

She doesn't get much discussion around here, but Iris Adrian is one of my favorite lesser-known Benny supporting players, both on radio and TV. Sometimes she gets lost in the sea of female nasal blowhard waitresses, chicken sisters, manicurists, cheap dates, etc - but I'm sure most here would recognize her aggressive "what'dya want, Mac?" from many lunch counter shows. I recently caught her on an Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode, did a little searching and found this quote re: her work with Jack:

JAG: Tell me about Jack Benny. You worked with him for years.

IA: Oh God, he was the sweetest thing. He was the greatest thing to ever hit this planet. You know? He really was. He loved everybody and everybody loved him. He loved the whole world. He never lost his temper. He was just like he is in the TV shows and the pictures, that's the way he was. I knew him, I guess, for thirty years. I worked in television with him and I worked in radio with him, and then he wanted to do this act and I worked in that act for 20 summers. 20 summers!

from: http://www.nbrmp.org/features/IrisAdrian.cfm

[LLeff]

then he wanted to do this act and I worked in that act for 20 summers. 20 summers!

I can just about confirm that...I went through a TON of contracts that Irving Fein set up with her, one for each show over those summers. And "this act" was, pretty much, the Chicken Sisters (albeit with new names).

[shimp scrampi]

Yep, if you click on the link, there is a little more on Jack, and, what, I guess at that time was the "Smithers Sisters" (Chicken Sisters v.2.1.3?). Adrian worked with a LOT of the big comedy names, interesting interview.