Associate radio programs

[Brad]

Just to break the ice a bit, how about a thread on Benny associate radio shows?

I'm not that interested in "A Day In the Life of Dennis Day", but I enjoy the "Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show" a great deal. Not at all like his work with Jack Benny, it actually sounds like a very early TV sitcom (rather like "I Love Lucy" in many respects).

Eliott Lewis (Remley) is a master comedian and a joy to listen to. One can only imagine what the real Frank Remley must have thought. Robert North is a little too goofy as Willie, but Walter Tetly is hilarious as Julius, the delivery boy. His unrequited love for Alice is a running gag through the program.

The show ran from 1946-1953 with at least three sponsors, Fitch Shampoo, Rexall (arguably the best era of this program), and RCA/Victor. Many of these shows are floating around the net. Unfortunately most of the program from 1952 seem to be missing. Maybe we'll get lucky and more of this fine show will surface.

Start checking your attics!

[jerry]

i'm a fan of Mel Blanc as well. i've heard some of his shows and i liked what i heard. Mel, in addition, to his own show "The Mel Blanc Fix-It Shop", also had roles in a lot of radio show: Jack Benny, Burns and Allen, Judy Canova, Great Gildersleeve, Point Sublime, The G.I. Journal, Joe Penner show, plus his cartoon voice work...Mel Blanc lived from 1908-1989. His story is told in the 1988 book "That's Not All, Folks".

[Brad]

I know Mel Blanc briefly had a show - have never had the opportunity to hear it. The man was so talented I can't believe it wasn't a hit - but maybe Mel's talent lent itself to memorable supporting roles? (At least in live action fare).

[benny-allen fan]

that's correct. Mel Blanc was better as a supporting player because of his unique talent. just like Rich Little, if you were sit and watch an hour of his impersonations i'd be spell-bound but it would wear thin if he did a 2 hour show. same goes for Mel and probably Bill Thompson or anyother voice actor. Mel played himself on his own show as well as his "helper" in the fix-it shop, a man named Zookie who sounded like Porky Pig. Joseph Kearns {Mr. Wilson from Dennis the Menace and Ed the Vaultkeeper from Jack's radio show} played Mr. Colby. but, apparently Blanc's talent was better as a supporting player where it wasn't over-used and that's why some say his show didn't last. personally, i've heard a few of his shows and i liked them.

[alain]

While i only enjoyed certain bits from the Harris and Faye show, i agree with it having "an early sitcom feel." I like the Harris with his "buddies" parts, and some of the interaction within the family, but the "Julius" and other 3rd party scenes are just too corny and dated



While i know of (some of) his movie and TV credits, did Eddie Anderson ever appear on other radio shows?

[Jack Benny]

I've just started lisening to the Dennis Day Show, and haven't formed an opinion yet . I do love the Phil Harris Show , one of the reasons is it is great to hear him sing and he sings a song in every episode. I've been going through the episodes and cutting out the songs, so I can create a mini Phil Harris album. The Mel Blanc Show is also very good. The show I'm the most impressed with though is the Jack Paar Show that replaced the Benny show in the summer of '47. It basically sounds like a clean version of the Connan O'Brien show, it's way,way,way ahead of it's time!

So far this is what I've got, please tell me if you have more you would be willing to trade:

Phil Harris Show 115 Episodes

Dennis Day Show 55 Episodes

Mel Blanc Show Complete 42 Episodes

Jack Paar Show 12 Episodes out of 18

[benny-allen fan]

well, my modest Jack Benny collection consists of 34 radio programs; the autobiography Irving Fein wrote about Jack; A&E's Biography; the "Sunday Nights at Seven" book; a vinyl album of Jack and Fred Allen called "Fight of the Century"; a further reference book called "The Radio and Television Work"; 12 TV programs on VHS plus 15 more on a DVD equals 27 in all. as mentioned previously, i have Mel Blanc's autobiography and if i count the cartoons i've taped over the years, that's where my Mel Blanc items expand greatly. i also have the Fred Allen biography written by Robert Taylor {not the actor!!} plus quite a few of Fred's radio shows. Fred is so intertwined with Jack historically that i included those items in this post. another item i've got features Jack Benny among others too, a documentary called "The Great Radio Comedians" hosted by radio announcer Ken Roberts. i'm afraid that's all that i've got with regards to Jack and his associates...oh, one more thing, something i bought off eBay: the 1981 TV special "Love Letter to Jack Benny" with George Burns, Bob Hope, and Johnny Carson. the seller also included the 1981 TV Guide that shown all four people on the cover! i'll never part with any of this stuff...

[Michael]

While i only enjoyed certain bits from the Harris and Faye show, i agree with it having "an early sitcom feel." I like the Harris with his "buddies" parts, and some of the interaction within the family, but the "Julius" and other 3rd party scenes are just too corny and dated



While i know of (some of) his movie and TV credits, did Eddie Anderson ever appear on other radio shows?

Personally I rather like the scenes between Phil and Willie... and I always love it when Phil and Franky give Julius what for (I suppose because Julius is too much of a brat for my liking)

Eddie Anderson was on (along with Jack) in a Very funny episode of Amos & Andy dated 11/10/44

[Michael]

Eddie Anderson was on (along with Jack) in a Very funny episode of Amos & Andy dated 11/10/44

I also know that Eddie Anderson did a turn on the Bill Stern Colgate Sports Newsreel too

[Brad]

If you enjoy the Ronald Colman episodes of "Benny", you might enjoy "Halls of Ivy". It's sort of a light comedy / drama, and much more subtle then Jack's show.

[alain]

"Halls of Ivy" series comparable to Colman episodes of JB!?

High praise indeed....i will have to check out this series......do any otherJB fans have comments on this series?

[alain]

I realize its just a matter of navigating this board, but a couple of posts back, "Michael" erroneously attributed/cut+pasted a quote stating that "Alain wrote"=.``.an episode of A&A....``

For the record, ``Amos and Andy`` makes me cringe in absolute disgust. I have never been able to listen to that racist horror, let alone make a reference to it.

Alain.

[Brad]

"Halls of Ivy" series comparable to Colman episodes of JB!?

High praise indeed....i will have to check out this series......do any otherJB fans have comments on this series?

Perhaps I was unclear - HOI is nothing like Benny in terms of format or style. However, if you enjoy Colman and understated humor, HOI is a good choice.

Personally - I think that the Colman episodes are among the funniest in the series. From what I understand of Colman's film career, it was probably unthinkable to use him in a comedy role - which is why it worked so well.

Ronald Colman is forgotten by just about everyone under 60 (present company and film students excepted). I just read somewhere that he is buried in Santa Barbara, CA - perhaps I'll take a digital photo the next time I'm there on business.

[alain]

One thing that might give Colman a bit of continued recognition beyond film students..etc... would be late-nite TV showings/classic movie channel broadcasts of his "classic" films (Lost Horizon...).

I wonder what the OTR fan base will be in 30-40 years?

My worst-case guess is that 80% will be the currently 35-55yo fans (like myself), who for now, only comprise a minority of the total.

After "my generation", OTR would become fairly limited -a few experts and diehard fans, and some people who stumble upon it with some staying becouse they enjoy it........

Then again, there is present-day dramatic radio, satellite radio stations, non-prime time AM radio "OTR" shows, audiobooks......all of which are a source of new fans

[scottp]

Some jokes about Dennis having two shows, and Phil having two shows, while Don had (I believe they said) four shows... made me wonder: when did Don last announce on any other show but Jack's?