The Final Flapsaddle

[shimp scrampi]

OK, so it's really the final Gearshift - but that's not such a great title. The Petticoat Junction first season DVDs brought up in another thread have a real treat for Jack Benny fans - a 1966 Art Linkletter interview of Bea Benaderet. In it, she graciously does an encore of "Gertrude" - probably for the last time in public before her death in 1968. Here's a screen grab:



Ah Bea - what a class act. She died before I was born and I still miss her!

Also of note, in the documentary on the disc, actress Shirley Mitchell (who is happily still with us and lookng great) talks about Bea and the telephone operators bit. Mitchell occasionally played "Mabel" to Bea's Gertrude (e.g., the Liberace TV episode - not sure about radio), and has some nice reminiscences. Both segments have some sweet things to say regarding Bea's real-life friendship with Gracie Allen as well.

[Gerry O.]

The great thing about Bea was that she was so darned versatile (especially on radio). She could play a little old lady, a tough, gum-smacking babe from Brooklyn or a Margaret Dumont-type society matron....and be convincing in each role!

George Burns and Gracie Allen were obviously aware and appreciative of Bea's excellent comedy talent because in many of the Burns & Allen TV episodes, George and Gracie would step aside for a few minutes and give Bea some time alone with her "husband" Harry Morton (whoever was playing him at the time). The Mortons would have a scene (usually with Blanche serving Harry his lunch) where it would just be the two of them doing a "Bickersons"-type routine.....Very funny stuff and a chance for Bea to really shine.

[LLeff]

The great thing about Bea was that she was so darned versatile (especially on radio). She could play a little old lady, a tough, gum-smacking babe from Brooklyn or a Margaret Dumont-type society matron....and be convincing in each role!

And, like Frank Nelson, she played some absolutely straight roles where you'd be challenged to even recognize her. Dramatic actresses or voices on the radio when Jack's trying to tune in something else (but not the nasal singer...that was Sara Berner).

[Gerry O.]

And, like Frank Nelson, she played some absolutely straight roles where you'd be challenged to even recognize her. Dramatic actresses or voices on the radio when Jack's trying to tune in something else (but not the nasal singer...that was Sara Berner).

I think that one of Bea's most interesting radio roles was that of Eve Goodwin on "The Great Gildersleeve" from around the WWII period.

Eve was the school principal and also Gildersleeve's romantic interest for a while. Bea gave Eve an interesting combination of soft-spoken, refined classiness and very subtle sexiness.....sort of a "Grace Kelly" type of character.

Bea also played straight dramatic roles on "Lux Radio Theatre" (as did Frank Nelson). In fact, for a while they were both members of the "Lux" stock company of very talented supporting players.

[Maxwell]

And let's not forget that Bea was also a member of the "Mercury Players," appearing in many of Orson Welles' broadcasts. I heard her last month in a Campbell Playhouse broadcast of "A Christmas Carol" (12/24/39).

[shimp scrampi]

If you thought the "Livingston(e)" problem was bad...

You'll often see Bea's last name spelled Benadaret rather than the correct way, "Benaderet". One anecdote - though I've never read a direct quote from Bea confirming it - is that Bea's name was mistakenly spelled this way in the Burns and Allen credits and she requested it be kept misspelled as a kind of "good luck" superstition. In fact, B&A also mangled Bea's first name in the early 1952 filmed show credits where she was credited as "Bee" for about a half season.

Then... Bea divorced her first husband, Jim Bannon - and married Gene Twombly - yes, the sound effects man from Jack Benny's radio show (though he was played by Mel Blanc on air, memorably in the final episode). Gene Twombly compounded the problem, since Gene's last name is also frequently spelled "Twombley". The final word (in more ways than one) would appear to be their tombstone, however, where Gene's last name is spelled without the "e" and Benaderet is spelled correctly. Gene sadly, and strangely died of a heart attack about four days after Bea passed.

Though it isn't a very flattering picture of Bea - here is a picture of her and Gene Twombly - if you were ever wondering about the face behind the Benny sound effects (from "Beetle's Petticoat Junction Pages" : http://www.cafes.net/beetle/PJpages.htm - a rather saucy article written by Bea about her divorce!)