Blanche Stewart

[FrankNelson]

I recently obtained a book that has a pic of the 1937 Jack Benny cast which includes Andy Devine, Don, Mary, Phil, Kenny Baker and a woman named Blanche Stewart.

I was not familiar with that name and wondered--what kind of parts did she play?

Does anyone know any biographical data about her?

[LLeff]

I recently obtained a book that has a pic of the 1937 Jack Benny cast which includes Andy Devine, Don, Mary, Phil, Kenny Baker and a woman named Blanche Stewart. I was not familiar with that name and wondered--what kind of parts did she play?

The answer to that is practically "what kind of parts DIDN'T she play?" She was almost as instrumental to the Benny show in the early days as Mel Blanc was in later years, playing everything from animals to supporting roles. She also rejoined the show again in the late 40s after several years' absence. Her credits loom large in the index of 39 Forever Volume 1, and will again in Volume 2.

[Shemp]

Elvia Allman and Blanche Stewart teamed as two beauty-challenged man hunters, "Brenda & Cobina," and costarred on Bob Hope's radio show as those characters during the early 1940s.

"Brenda & Cobina" also costarred with The Three Stooges in the 1941 Columbia feature film TIME OUT FOR RHYTHM. Blanche, Elvia, Moe, Larry & Curly (dressed up as Carmen Miranda) perform a hilarious Latin rhumba number during the film's musical finale. Also starring Ann Miller, Rudy Vallee, Dick Lane, Rosemary Lane, Joan Merrill and Allan Jenkins. Recommended musical/comedy viewing.

[FrankNelson]

I think I found the answer to my "whatever-became-of" question elsewhere. It seems Blanche Stewart was born May 31, 1903 and died July 24, 1952.

[FrankNelson]

Just in case anyone's interested on the further details---this is the obit the NY Times carried for Blanche Stewart on 7/26/52 (also posted at the JB Livejournal community):

Blanche P. Stewart

Special to the New York Times

LOS ANGELES, July 25--Mrs. Blanche P. Stewart, who won fame in the early days of radio, was Brenda of the team of Brenda and Cobina, died today at her home here. She gave up continuous broadcasts after being injured in a fall ten years ago, but she had been active intermittently in radio until a few days ago.

Mrs. Stewart began her radio career in New York on the Jack Benny shows and later came to Hollywood. She also appeared with Bob Hope, Fred Allen and
George Burns and Gracie Allen.

She leaves a sister, Mrs. Ann Miller, and two brothers, Anthony O'Mellan, a sea captain of New York, and Leo J. O'Mellan, operator of a radio station at Erie, Pa.

Tried to find out what the circumstances of her being "injured in a fall" may have been but came up empty. Does anyone else know what that might refer to?

[LLeff]

Tried to find out what the circumstances of her being "injured in a fall" may have been but came up empty. Does anyone else know what that might refer to?

Not sure, but that would certainly explain her absence from the Benny show for a few years.