IJBFC Chat - April 2, 2006

(Name of message originator in [] brackets at the beginning of each line)

Welcome

Laura_Leff has joined the chat.

[Brad_from_Georgia] Hi, LL!

[Steve_(shimp)] Hi LL

[Laura_Leff] Hi folks

[Laura_Leff] How's everyone doing tonight?

[Mike_Amo] Hi Barbara, LL

[Kay_Lhota] Hi Barbara Hi Laura

[Laura_Leff] Dang...I've met almost everyone here!

[Brad_from_Georgia] Doing well, but relatively broke after paying taxes.

[Barbara] Hi everyone. Took me a minute to figure out how to do this.

[Steve_(shimp)] Broke Brad .... mountain?

[Brad_from_Georgia] Now cut that out!

[Laura_Leff] Steve - :P

[Mike_Amo] Dori says hi LL

[Laura_Leff] Mike - Ah, hi to Dori! Hope you're both doing well.

[Brad_from_Georgia] Actually, could've been worse. We wound up owing about $1300, mainly due to the two King Kong books I wrote last year.

[Laura_Leff] Hi Kay - How's the weather out your way?

[Kay_Lhota] gorgeous!

[Mike_Amo] Doing well, thanks

[Laura_Leff] Kay - We could use some of that out here! It's been a wet year thus far.

[Kay_Lhota] Unbelievable for this time of year. It was 73 degrees and sunny on Friday

[Kay_Lhota] we need the rain.

[Laura_Leff] Brad - Is that a good problem to have?

[Mike_Amo] Beautiful day here, low70s, nice breeze

[Brad_from_Georgia] Been kinda cool here--in the 50s last week, but up to 80 today. LL--Yep, at least there was income on which to pay the taxes!

[Kay_Lhota] 59 degrees and sunny today.

[Steve_(shimp)] Been nice in the lower half of Virginia too, Mike!

[Laura_Leff] There's a big storm moving in here tonight, so cold and rainy for the next three days.

[Brad_from_Georgia] The Carrolls told me our temps were almost the same as those in LA.

[Laura_Leff] And Barbara will get that too

[Laura_Leff] So who listened to the show for tonight?

[Kay_Lhota] I did

[Brad_from_Georgia] I did!

[Barbara] Yes. We usually get your weather a few days later.

[Steve_(shimp)] I did indeed...

[Barbara] I did.

[Laura_Leff] Barbara - Yeah, we get it off the ocean and send it on to you.

[Mike_Amo] I listened to it today...today...today

[Laura_Leff] So thoughts? Comments on the show?

[Barbara] Thanks a lot.

[Kay_Lhota] LOL Mike

[Mike_Amo] It was great...grea

[Laura_Leff] Barabara - My pleasure...

[Brad_from_Georgia] The more I listen to the earlier shows, the more I think it's better that some of them are missing instead of the ones from the

[Steve_(shimp)] This one's not a big favorite of mine, have to say...

[Brad_from_Georgia] forties and fifties.

[Laura_Leff] Yeah, someone needs to do a little judicious editing on this MP3. But not bad sound overall for early 1936.

[Barbara] I thought the show was a bit corny. Mary's joke about the mouse running up the clock wasn't good.

[Kay_Lhota] really? I thought for an early one, it was pretty funny.

[Brad_from_Georgia] Jack's character just isn't fully formed.

[Laura_Leff] Kay - Well, here's the big kicker on this script...

[Brad_from_Georgia] Bad Jack is better than good most anything else from that era, though.

[Laura_Leff] This show is the very first Beloin-Morrow script, filling in for AWOL Harry Conn.

[Barbara] I was going to say that Brad. His persona hadn't been established in 1936.

[Steve_(shimp)] Ah, that makes it more interesting, historically speaking....

[Kay_Lhota] that is interesting, Laura.

[Brad_from_Georgia] I was gonna say a historic broadcast, but shimp beat me to it.

[Laura_Leff] Yes. They sound like they're trying to write like Harry Conn, with jokes like "Spring"

[Laura_Leff] Or Kenny's something or other winning the Pulitzer Prize.

[Barbara] There seemed to be more music than usual. Were they trying to fill in the time?

[Brad_from_Georgia] Thank God they grew out of imitating Conn.

[Laura_Leff] But there's the knocking interjection, which is pure Beloin-Morrow.

[Steve_(shimp)] I recall they did better Fred Allen parodies later.

Ann_Linderman has joined the chat.

[Brad_from_Georgia] Hi, Ann!

[Mike_Amo] I thought it was a really good show, less stilted than I'd heard from the early shows

[Laura_Leff] Barbara - There was more music in the shows then.

[Kay_Lhota] Hi Ann

[Steve_(shimp)] Hi Ann

[Laura_Leff] Hi Ann!

[Kay_Lhota] Johnny Green seemed to be an excellent musical director.

[Mike_Amo] and jack had fred down better than i would have expected

[Brad_from_Georgia] The Allen parody was good. Jack could mimic Allen pretty well...and later on TV, Jackie Gleason, too.

[Kay_Lhota] I wish there were more surviving episodes from that era

[Barbara] Hi Ann. When did the feud start, Laura?

[Ann_Linderman] Hi everyone! Really enjoyed this particular show.

[Laura_Leff] Barbara - Technically, 12/30/36. So this is pre-feud.

[Barbara] I could hear the beginnings of it, tho.

[Laura_Leff] 12/30/36 was when Stuart Canin first played the Bee on Fred's show.

[Brad_from_Georgia] LL, I'm on Weight Watchers. Don't mention feud...

[Mike_Amo] Hi Ann

[Kay_Lhota] Jack keeps asking Fred if he's listening

[Kay_Lhota] Aww, Brad.

[Laura_Leff] Barbara - See, that's the thing. There's even a lost show from 1935 where Jack, Fred, Mary and Portland play feuding families

[Laura_Leff] ala Hatfields and McCoys

[Brad_from_Georgia] Ah, an embryonic Allen/Benny feud!

[Laura_Leff] Brad - How about feudalism? Serfs up...

[Barbara] They knew a good thing when they saw it.

[Kay_Lhota] ouch

[Brad_from_Georgia] LL - Please! My writers aren't here.

[Laura_Leff] Brad - That's why I picked it. It's interesting to hear the beginning of the writing transition and pre-feud feuding.

[Steve_(shimp)] We really need a *rimshot* on the audio button...

[Barbara] Jack has impersonated Fred a number of times, and he does it quite well.

[Brad_from_Georgia] Wonder if some of those scratches and repeats could be cleaned up digitally.

[Laura_Leff] *whip*

[Kay_Lhota] you can see the affection there, too.

[Laura_Leff] Brad - Definitely. Some MP3 encoders do that...I've heard one really amazing clean up.

[Barbara] I remember Jack on TV talking about Allen right after he died, and he was close to tears.

[Brad_from_Georgia] I always wondered if Jack REALLY put a clothespin on his nose when he did his Allen impersonation!

[Laura_Leff] I just don't have the time (or the high-end technology), so I leave it as is for the masters to do.

[Laura_Leff] Brad - I think he did, because he talks about that and you can often hear audience reactions to something visual.

[Steve_(shimp)] That's gotta hurt after awhile.

[Laura_Leff] Barbara - Yes, I've heard that too.

[Barbara] I think he must have used a clothespin. Of course, his voice had a slight nasal quality anyway.

[Brad_from_Georgia] LL - Understood. I listen to Benny as I walk, and on the older ones sometimes I think my Walkman's malfunctioning!

[Laura_Leff] Barbara - May be partially due to the nasal polyps

[Laura_Leff] Brad - LOL

[Kay_Lhota] Brad, I'm doing a lot of walking and listening to radio shows too. And I've been losing weight.

[Steve_(shimp)] Laura Leff is the world's most foremost expert in Jack's nasal polyps...!

[Laura_Leff] Jack's comment about the "pin" being too high on his nose also leads me to believe he really did that.

[Laura_Leff] Steve - I know...I've gotta get a life.

[Barbara] That's right, Laura, although he didn't have the surgery for them until around 1949, something like that.

[Kay_Lhota] LOL good one Steve!

[Steve_(shimp)] Just a fringe benefit of all the fantastic other knowledge!

[Laura_Leff] Ann - Feel free to jump in with any comments...we're a lively group and enjoy hearing from new people

[Brad_from_Georgia] LL - I'll get around to sending you the newspaper story and program for the Eddie Carroll show this week. IJBFC is mentioned!

[Laura_Leff] Barbara - Yes, it's even mentioned on the show.

[Ann_Linderman] I'm a bit shy...just need a bit of time to get acclimated.

[Brad_from_Georgia] Kay - I'm losing weight, too, after a slobby winter when I packed on 20 lbs!

[Laura_Leff] Ann - That's fine. I just don't want you to feel shut out because we're barrelling ahead.

[Barbara] He could have had it done as an outpatient, but Mary thought he should go to a hospital and get some rest.

[Laura_Leff] Steve - Just call me a post-nasal drip.

[Kay_Lhota] keep up the good work, Brad.

[Laura_Leff] Brad - Cool! Thanks!

[Steve_(shimp)] LOL.

[Brad_from_Georgia] I was impressed by the differences between Kenny Baker and Dennis--they're more different than I remembered.

[Barbara] You can hear the importance of Rochester and Phil on the early shows.

[Laura_Leff] Barbara - Did I tell you about hearing that show where they mention his surgery and then pausing it to go down to my files?

[Laura_Leff] I had a personal letter of Jack's where he tells a friend about the surgery, and I wanted to insure it was the same date.

[Laura_Leff] It was.

[Mike_Amo] LL, I have an incoming newbie

[Steve_(shimp)] I had forgotten Kenny calls Jack "Jack" instead of "Mr. Benny" - subtle, but it changes the character versus Dennis

[Laura_Leff] Brad - Say more about that. I always think of them as roughly the same, in the beginning.

[Laura_Leff] Mike - At your location, or logging on separately?

[Steve_(shimp)] INCOMING!!!!

[Brad_from_Georgia] Kenny seems more grownup in this show, anyway--Dennis is "the kid."

[Mike_Amo] Kenny had a very strong delivery on that show...LL, from her home

[Laura_Leff] Mike - Ah! Well, we'll give her a warm welcome.

[Brad_from_Georgia] Mike - I agree. Kenny seems more adult, more assertive.

[Barbara] Mary was still playing a dumb roll, something like Gracie Allen.

[Laura_Leff] Brad - Hmmmm. Interesting. He still has a similar naivete to Dennis, but there was never a mother character

[Brad_from_Georgia] Of course, Kenny can be the dimwit - but Dennis was a superior dimwit!

[Laura_Leff] Barbara - She did that throughout the 30s, maybe a little less under Morrow-Beloin

[Laura_Leff] Brad - Almost like Gracie Allen

[Brad_from_Georgia] LL - I had the nasal surgery done when I was 30. It wasn't fun even then!

[Ann_Linderman] Kenny somehow seems less comfortable with the naivete to me than Dennis did.

[Kay_Lhota] I think you are right, Ann.

[Steve_(shimp)] There are a couple of cross-pollinating B&A and Benny shows where Gracie interacts with Dennis, those are fun.

[Brad_from_Georgia] Ann - I think so, too. There's sort of an "I'm only pretending to be dumb" air about Kenny.

[Kay_Lhota] He wasn't the actor that Dennis was, I guess.

[Laura_Leff] Ann - Kenny may still have been "finding his voice" at this time. He had only joined the previous November.

[Barbara] Dennis badly needed the money when he started on the show so he would have been agreeable to anything.

[Laura_Leff] Steve - Oh yes, Gracie thinks Dennis is very smart.

[Brad_from_Georgia] LL - good point. Dennis was also a lot younger when he joined the show, no?

[Kay_Lhota] Kenny Baker has a sweet quality as well, but Dennis has such an energy that comes across well.

[Steve_(shimp)] LOL. True. Jack thinks there must be something really wrong with the Irish...

[Laura_Leff] Brad - Hmmm....not sure about that, but you may be right. Jack was his first "real" professional job.

[Ann_Linderman] I've heard a few of Kenny's shows over the years and he just never seemed to fit into the "silly kid' character as Dennis did.

[Laura_Leff] I sometimes wonder if Dennis was told to "take over" that character, because Kenny was so popular.

[Barbara] Dennis said the show paid his way out here, but didn't pay for meals, so he had to write home for money.

Dori has joined the chat.

[Kay_Lhota] Hi Dori.

[Laura_Leff] Dori! Welcome in!!!!

[Brad_from_Georgia] Ann - Yes, I know what you mean. And, face it, Dennis WAS a better actor than Kenny.

[Brad_from_Georgia] Hi, Dori!

[Dori] Hello

[Mike_Amo] Hi Dori!!!

[Ann_Linderman] Hi Dori!

[Dori] Friend of Mike's

[Laura_Leff] Dennis was also much more versatile. Kenny could never have impersonated Ronald Colman, etc.

[Kay_Lhota] that's certainly true.

[Laura_Leff] And a quite beautiful friend of Mike's as well.

[Brad_from_Georgia] True. There's an amazing TV show where Dennis does Frank Fontaine as Crazy Guggenheim...flawlessly!

[Laura_Leff] Has anyone here seen the "What's My Line" episode with Dennis (and Fred Allen)?

[Steve_(shimp)] Brad, is that a Benny show?

[Brad_from_Georgia] Not I.

[Kay_Lhota] no, I haven't

[Barbara] Dennis also produced 11 kids. I don't think Kenny did that.

[Kay_Lhota] LOL Barbara

[Dori] TY Laura

[Brad_from_Georgia] Shimp - Yes, Jack is doing Gleason as Joe the Bartender, and he does a creditable impression.

[Laura_Leff] Barbara - And Kenny was a Christian Scientist, I think...

[Steve_(shimp)] That must be interesting considering Frank Fontaine was on the Benny radio show for so long.

[Dori] 11 kids?

[Laura_Leff] Brad - Ohhhhhhhhh...yes I think I've seen that.

[Barbara] Yes, I knew he was quite religious.

[Mike_Amo] I'm not sure I've even seen on of the ones Fred Allen was on...marvel that he did it, given his love for TV, but I expect he

[Laura_Leff] Steve - Not quite that long...he was on now and again.

[Mike_Amo] iked the group he was on with

[Brad_from_Georgia] Does anyone else have as much trouble reading this chat screen as I seem to have? The old one seemed easier...

[Laura_Leff] Brad - Are you seeing it in a separate frame or on the IJBFC window?

[Kay_Lhota] no, I don't think it's harder to read. I like the colors too.

[Brad_from_Georgia] LL-No, full screen.

[Steve_(shimp)] Brad, press the "plus" magnifying button.

[Barbara] I thought this one was easier, Brad.

[Steve_(shimp)] A lot.

[Laura_Leff] Brad - Yeah, what Steve said.

[Brad_from_Georgia] It's as big as it gets! I guess I was just used to the old one.

[Laura_Leff] Brada - About the plus

[Mike_Amo] And I'd forgotten it has a limit on how many characters you can type

[Brad_from_Georgia] Mike - that bugs me. I'm too long winded!

[Laura_Leff] Verio pulled away the Volano capability, so I had to shop around for some time to find this one.

[Mike_Amo] Dori is mostly away dealing with kids and her yard, but will be back

[Brad_from_Georgia] It's OK, LL - just me being crotchety.

[Laura_Leff] A lot of the chat programs don't allow you to cut/paste to preserve the chat, but this one is quite good about that.

[Laura_Leff] Brad - No problem. I think you'll get used to it.

[Mike_Amo] Hopefully, the kids will have Jello in six delicious flavors...won't tell y'all that Dori doesn't like Jello {:oO

[Laura_Leff] Besides, we can do this here *whip*

[Kay_Lhota] I'm glad that you can save the logs, Laura.

[Steve_(shimp)] LL has a peculiar penchant for that whip...

[Mike_Amo] Ya did fine, LL

[Laura_Leff] Kay - Me too. I know a lot of people like to read the chats on their own time.

[Laura_Leff] *beep*

[Kay_Lhota] sometimes it goes by so fast

[Laura_Leff] Just call me the Jack Benny dominatrix

[Brad_from_Georgia] And spring is here *bird* and the cats are out birdwatching *meow* .

[Laura_Leff] *meow*

[Laura_Leff] So what other thoughts on tonight's show?

[Steve_(shimp)] *)

[Brad_from_Georgia] I found a dead robin in our yard today. Hope it isn't avian flu...Oh, the show? Let's see...

[Laura_Leff] The question of "who's the better comedian, Jack or Fred" was revisited at least three times on the show.

[Kay_Lhota] I thought that it showed the affection between Jack Benny and Fred Allen

[Laura_Leff] And that "poll" predated Allen's Alley.

[Brad_from_Georgia] Jack was very bouncy. I think later he came across as more laid back until he blew up at Dennis or Phil or Rochester.

[Kay_Lhota] I'm going to have to listen to more Fred Allen shows eventually.

[Laura_Leff] Oh and the amateur section was where Stuart Canin would later play "The Bee".

[Steve_(shimp)] I should really listen to more of Fred Allen's shows too.

[Laura_Leff] You've got to hear them from this time to really appreciate what a good parody this was.

[Kay_Lhota] A friend of mine just bought 6 books on Fred Allen.

[Laura_Leff] Kay - Is he a masochist? :)

[Brad_from_Georgia] If Jack were around today, he'd play a recording of Canin's "Bee" backward to prove it says "Allen stinks."

[Ann_Linderman] I enjoyed how they managed to condense the "Town Hall Tonight" parody and still get as much of the flavor of THT as they did.

[Barbara] I think Fred had a sharper wit than Jack and he could be quite caustic. He was close to being a genius.

[Mike_Amo] I was surprised the feud hadn't already started from the sound of things

[Laura_Leff] Brad - LOL

[Kay_Lhota] She is a she, and really adores Fred Allen.

[Laura_Leff] Barbara - Amen.

[Laura_Leff] Kay - I hope she got Treadmill and Much Ado. They're both phenomenal books.

[Brad_from_Georgia] Allen's humor appeals to me, but it doesn't give me as many laughs per square foot as Jack's.

[Kay_Lhota] Yes, she did get those.

[Laura_Leff] Mike - Exactly. People say the feud started with "The Bee", but that only really started it in earnest, week after week.

[Kay_Lhota] I found "Fred Allen's Letters" for her at a used book store, and she got so

[Barbara] I also think that Jack needed his writers to keep the feud going while Allen was more "off the cuff."

[Brad_from_Georgia] Jack's jokes stay crunchy even in milk, and they're full of whole-joke goodness.

[Kay_Lhota] excited that she came to my house and looked the rest up on Amazon

[Laura_Leff] Brad - That's a big reason why Fred wasn't as popular. He was a writer. Jack was an editor.

[Steve_(shimp)] And, they come in six delicious flavors.

[Barbara] Was it Fred who said Jack couldn't ad lib a belch after a Hungarian dinner?

[Brad_from_Georgia] This diet is driving me mad. Mad, I tell you! *evil*

[Laura_Leff] Kay - That's a good book, too. Did she find the letter about Mr. Ramshaw?

[Laura_Leff] Barbara - Sure was.

[Kay_Lhota] I'll have to ask her.

[Brad_from_Georgia] Meant to ask Eddie Carroll why he changed "Hungarian dinner" to "Mexican dinner" in his show.

[Laura_Leff] Kay - It's a stitch. But you've got to have heard the show and the chaos with the eagle to appreciate it.

[Kay_Lhota] Brad, brave it out. I went from 147 pound in October to 124 pounds in March.

[Laura_Leff] Brad - Maybe familiarity? No one knows what's in a Hungarian dinner any more?

[Brad_from_Georgia] Kay - I've dropped five pounds so far, and I'm gonna stick with it!

[Kay_Lhota] you have my sympathy and support.

[Mike_Amo] Goulash!

[Brad_from_Georgia] See, I think "Hungarian" is funnier than "Mexican." I don't know why, I just do.

[Barbara] Eddie was being more topical, I guess.

[Laura_Leff] Mike - Yes, but how many people have eaten that and remember if it made them greps or not?

[Steve_(shimp)] Brad, Maybe it was protests from the Gabor community.

[Laura_Leff] Brad - But "Mexican" has the "K" sound in it.

[Barbara] I also think Hungarian is funnier.

[Mike_Amo] lol, second reference to greps today

[Steve_(shimp)] Gabors don't belch, dahling.

[Brad_from_Georgia] shimp - "Dahlink, about zhat joke" -- slap! *slap*

[Ann_Linderman] "Hungarian" makes you think a bit.

[Laura_Leff] I agree. Eddie has played loosely with various things to make them play better.

[Laura_Leff] Hungarian becomes Mexican

[Brad_from_Georgia] LL - I think Eddie even checked with you before the show. Something about Syracuse/Rochester...?

[Laura_Leff] Jack and Bob Hope singing "Thanks for the Memory" isn't real.

[Barbara] I don't know how you can improve on Jack.

[Laura_Leff] Brad - Ha...was just going to mention that.

[Steve_(shimp)] Si (belch). Sigh (belch)...so sue me.

[Kay_Lhota] I've heard about how rich Hungarian food is, and I wish I could taste more of it.

[Laura_Leff] Brad - As far as I've been able to find, Rochester was never called Syracuse on the air.

[Brad_from_Georgia] LL - I went to pick them up at their hotel, and they were online, I think asking you about "Syracuse".

[Barbara] Benita called him Manchester.

[Laura_Leff] Kay - I'd think you'd have a better shot at that on your coast than mine.

[Laura_Leff] Brad - That's right...they sent me a couple E-mails from the road. I gave them the goods.

[Kay_Lhota] Hungarian and Polish food are about the only types I can't find within a mile from my home

[Brad_from_Georgia] Eddie seemed very happy. Full house and a HUGE audience response. One laugh went so long the techie jumped a light cue.

[Laura_Leff] He was called "Pierre" in a Buck Benny skit before becoming Rochester, but that's it.

[Barbara] Jack called him Roch in person.

[Laura_Leff] Brad - That's very cool. I've never seen him in front of a full theatre house, but that's mainly because I've seen him in

[Laura_Leff] smaller venues.

[Mike_Amo] Brad, where was the show?

[Laura_Leff] Barbara - Like Sadye becomes Mary, I suppose...

[Steve_(shimp)] Something about calling Rochester 'Pierre' cracks me up.

[Mike_Amo] LL, oops, I didn't you pics from the show in Venice

[Laura_Leff] Steve - There are even gags in that exchange that were used years later.

[Mike_Amo] 90% sold for the show I was at and he did a few

[Brad_from_Georgia] Mike - The show was in Pearce Auditorium, a theater built in 1894 in my home town of Gainesville, GA. 600+ seats and a sellout.

[Laura_Leff] Mike - Did he do it in a gondola?

[Laura_Leff] Brad - Rock and roll, Brad. Wish I'd been able to be there!

[Brad_from_Georgia] Eddie spoke to an acting class and had the girls in tears as he described how he got the gig as Jiminy Cricket.

[Brad_from_Georgia] "Here I was a grown man...and I'd finally met the character I'd loved at five...and I was that character..."

[Laura_Leff] Brad - Telling about re-recording "When You Wish Upon a Star" I bet.

[Brad_from_Georgia] LL - You got it!

[Laura_Leff] Brad - Retell that story as best you can...it's a good one.

[Mike_Amo] A gondola...:D

[Brad_from_Georgia] Eddie's first assignment as Jiminy Cricket was to re-sing "When You Wish Upon a Star." He broke up as he started to sing it.

[Laura_Leff] Mike - See, I've got a picture of the Ponte Rialto on my screen at work, so Venice means something different to me.

[Brad_from_Georgia] He tried again, and cried again. He didn't know why, so he asked for a break and thought about it.

[Brad_from_Georgia] He realized that the first movie he'd ever seen was "Pinocchio," and he'd loved Jiminy Cricket. He recalled telling his mom

[Dori] good nite folks, gardening calls, as do children. TY for letting me peek in!!!!

[Brad_from_Georgia] "One day I'll meet Jiminy Cricket." And he realized that five-year-old inside him was crying with joy because it happened.

[Laura_Leff] Take care, Dori!

[Steve_(shimp)] Bye Dori

[Brad_from_Georgia] He'd met Jiminy...and he was Jiminy.

[Brad_from_Georgia] Bye, Dori!

[Laura_Leff] The Jiminy in all of us...

[Kay_Lhota] Bye Dori

[Steve_(shimp)] That's a great story Brad!

[Ann_Linderman] Bye Dori!

[Dori] Good nite

[Barbara] By Dori!

[Laura_Leff] We have met the Jiminy...and he is us.

Dori has left the chat.

[Steve_(shimp)] I'm partial to Jiminy's

[Steve_(shimp)] ENCYCLOPEDIA

[Steve_(shimp)] song, that's how I learned to spell that word..

[Kay_Lhota] I still think that song when I need to spell that word

[Brad_from_Georgia] A local radio announcer met Eddie and was just overcome because he'd spent a week broadcasting from Disney World.

[Brad_from_Georgia] He'd heard Eddie all over the place!

[Laura_Leff] It's a real kick whenever I hear a Disney ad with Jiminy cricket, and I think, "Hey, he's a friend of mine!"

[Brad_from_Georgia] LL - Yes! I drove my wife nuts just before the Carrolls came because I saw the "House of Mouse" where Jiminy gives "Advice."

[Laura_Leff] Eddie has a great observation that when you impersonate someone for a significant amount of time,

[Brad_from_Georgia] "There is NOTHING to see in the elephants' graveyard. End of story.

[Laura_Leff] some of their..."atmosphere" is visited on you.

[Kay_Lhota] that's quite nice, Laura.

[Laura_Leff] And Jack was such a beloved person, and Eddie and Carolyn are such wonderful people.

[Laura_Leff] You couldn't have a jerk playing Jack. Not well, anyway.

[Brad_from_Georgia] LL - I could tell that after the show, Eddie had a great deal of Jack left in his voice. And he truly seems like a sweet guy,

[Brad_from_Georgia] just like Jack.

[Ann_Linderman] I think Eddie has somethng there--I know someone who does Jack in his act and seems to have some of his aura as well.

[Kay_Lhota] Some of their goodness has rubbed off.

[Laura_Leff] Ann - Anyone we'd know?

[Ann_Linderman] Maybe...does the name Rich Little sound familiar?

Brad_from_Georgia has left the chat.

[Laura_Leff] Ann - Of course...I met him briefly back in 2002 at a Director's Guild event.

[Mike_Amo] I expect he has him down perfectly

[Barbara] Rich Little doesn't a pretty good impression of Jack.

[Laura_Leff] Barbara - Could you reword that?

[Mike_Amo] doesn't or does?

Brad_from_Georgia has joined the chat.

[Ann_Linderman] Jack once said that Rich was the first impressionist who really did him well.

[Mike_Amo] wb Brad

[Laura_Leff] Ann - What's Little's approach/attitude toward the people he impersonates?

[Brad_from_Georgia] Well, that was odd! We're having weather here.

[Barbara] Sorry about that. He DOES a good impression of Jack. It must be the time change.

[Laura_Leff] I know Eddie is really trying to embody Jack in a way that can let people forget that they're *not* seeing Jack himself.

[Ann_Linderman] It has to be someone he can get a grip on, but the ones he likes to do the best are the people he admisres most.

[Laura_Leff] Brad - The rain has started here too.

[Brad_from_Georgia] Rich Little does a hilarious bit as Jack giving him advice: "When you impersonate me, don't say 'ya see' or 'ya know.' 'Cause I

[Brad_from_Georgia] never say that, ya see.. and ya know."

[Laura_Leff] Ann - Eddie had said on many occasions that an impersonator takes the traits of a person and "amplifies" them

[Brad_from_Georgia] Ann - Eddie says that his attempt is to act the role of Jack, not do an impression.

[Laura_Leff] Ann - Is Little consciously trying to amplify mannerisms, or is he trying to do a direct copy?

[Brad_from_Georgia] I suggested to Eddie that he and Jamie Farr ought to do the Sunshine Boys on stage as Jack and George Burns.

[Laura_Leff] Just curious from his point of view, not judging from a third-person opinion of the work.

[Laura_Leff] Brad - Oh, that would be great.

[Steve_(shimp)] Brad, that would be quite the head trip.

[Brad_from_Georgia] 'Course, Jack or George would have to change roles for that...

[Kay_Lhota] But George would have to be the Willie Clark character as he's the gruffer of the two

[Ann_Linderman] LL - It depends on the voice and the situation. In his act, it's more amplifying, but he has done shows where he is going more

[Brad_from_Georgia] Kay - Yep, I think so.

[Ann_Linderman] for a direct copy.

[Brad_from_Georgia] Ann - Didn't Rich Little do David Niven's voice for one of the Pink Panther movies?

[Laura_Leff] Ann - Gotcha. I'm sure it's hard not to really "play up" someone like Nixon, who is almost a parody of himself already.

[Mike_Amo] I'd heard he had to dub Niven's voice for the last one

[Kay_Lhota] I heard that he did do that. David Niven had ALS, and his speech had slurred

[Laura_Leff] Kay - Now, that's an interesting point. Maybe Jack and George could do the Odd Couple. Eddie did that

[Laura_Leff] with a guy doing Groucho for Oscar.

[Ann_Linderman] Brad--Yes, the last one (not counting the Steve Martin), "Cruse of the PP." He also did a word or two in that as Clouseau.

[Kay_Lhota] I don't see Groucho as Oscar.

[Ann_Linderman] Bad night - that's "Curse"

[Laura_Leff] Kay - You sure it wasn't the after effects of the streaker incident?

[Brad_from_Georgia] Billy West, of "Futurama" fame, launches into a weird Richard Nixon at the drop of a hat - "I am not a crook. Arooo!"

[Laura_Leff] Kay - Eddie said it worked extremely well, and they didn't really have to change any of the dialogue.

[Kay_Lhota] LOL Laura. David Niven had such a good line for that.

[Laura_Leff] Kay - Indeed! I wish there was more humor like that today.

[Kay_Lhota] David Niven had a quick wit and a lot of charm.

[Laura_Leff] Brad - Arooo? :\

[Brad_from_Georgia] Maybe I should write to Eddie's agent and suggest my idea!

[Brad_from_Georgia] LL - Aroo. It's a nonsense sound that, to Billy, "encapsulates" Nixon, he says!

[Laura_Leff] There was so much love and chemistry between Jack and George that it would be hard to see them in parts at odds.

[Steve_(shimp)] It'd be cool to have Farr and Carroll playing Benny and Burns playing Matthau and Lemmon playing Klugman and Randall...

[Brad_from_Georgia] LL - But think of the curtain calls, when they have their arms around each other's shoulders!

[Laura_Leff] Brad - I'm an Anthony Hopkins fan, but I don't remember him saying "Aroo" as Nixon. Not to say it wouldn't work...

[Laura_Leff] Steve - There will be a quiz on this later...

[Brad_from_Georgia] I remember Nixon, and I don't think he ever said "Arooo" in a speech. But that's Billy West, the big ole nut....

[Steve_(shimp)] That's the end of "Checkers", where Checkers dies.

[Laura_Leff] Brad - makes me think of Jolson telling Jack that he doesn't say "nyahhhhh" when he sings

[Ann_Linderman] I have to pop out for a bit, but hope to be back before you all finish up.

[Laura_Leff] OK, glad to have you stop by Ann! Do come again.

[Kay_Lhota] come back soon ann

[Brad_from_Georgia] LL - That reminds me--Jolson's tomb is quite imposing, ain't it?

[Laura_Leff] Brad - To say the least.

Ann_Linderman has left the chat.

[Laura_Leff] Brad - I think European royalty would be happy to have such a monument.

[Laura_Leff] Very fitting of Jolson. And his ego.

[Laura_Leff] And his talent.

[Kay_Lhota] indeed.

[Brad_from_Georgia] I visited a magicians' graveyard once. One stone said, "Now the only one I have to fool is God."

[Kay_Lhota] good one, Brad

[Laura_Leff] Eddie Cantor is also at Hillside, just steps away from Jack

[Laura_Leff] And I was recently reminded that he proposed his epitaph (which he does not have)

[Laura_Leff] "Here in nature's arms I nestle

[Brad_from_Georgia] It's true! The cemetery is of all places in Colon, Michigan. LL - yes, we visited Cantor's site.

[Laura_Leff] Safe at last from Georgie Jessel"

[Kay_Lhota] yes, I read that, Laura

[Mike_Amo] lol Brad and LL

[Laura_Leff] And of course, Jessel is a few more steps away out in the courtyard.

[Laura Leff] Colon, Michigan?

[Laura Leff] That's a shitty place to be buried... ;)

[Laura Leff] Pardon the language...

[Brad_from_Georgia] Yes, Colon, Michigan. The site of the Abbott Magical Products Company!

[Laura Leff] Funny that I've never heard of it, being from Michigan.

[Brad_from_Georgia] It's about forty miles away from Battle Creek.

[Laura_Leff] So what else Benny-wise is on your minds tonight?

[Laura Leff] Which way?

[Steve_(shimp)] Any other news on current Benny happenings? Stamps, DVDs, that kind of thing?

[Brad_from_Georgia] To the west, if I recall correctly--toward Kalamazoo, but a little more south.

[Kay_Lhota] Laura, can you tell me about SPERDVAC? I'm thinking of joining it.

[Laura Leff] Gosh, then it's in my general vicinity.

[Mike_Amo] Y'all had me pondering the cemetary...that was quite a place

[Barbara] I guess I'd better go out and get something to eat before Laura's rain comes down here. See you next month everyone!

[Laura Leff] Huh. Go figure!

[Kay_Lhota] see you Barbara

[Steve_(shimp)] Bye Barbara!

[Mike_Amo] Take care Barbara

[Laura_Leff] Kay - It's mainly in Los Angeles

[Brad_from_Georgia] Colon is a tiny town, lots of Mennonites (?) there.

[Laura_Leff] Take care, Barbara!

[Brad_from_Georgia] Bye, Barbara!

[Barbara] Take care all.

Barbara has left the chat.

[Laura_Leff] Kay - Their newsletter isn't bad. I was going to give some to a couple friends of mine, but I can give them to you to check

[Laura_Leff] them out

[Laura_Leff] I think the friends may subscribe already anyway

[Mike_Amo] Washington Jewish Week ran a photo of the march on Page 2 in late February, a friend sent it to me last week

[Laura_Leff] Mike - They did????

[Brad_from_Georgia] Eddie left a couple SPERDVAC newsletters for me. I have to confess that I still haven't found time to read them!

[Kay_Lhota] I got to thinking that I don't have many friends that are deeply into OTR

[Laura_Leff] Mike - I'll be doggoned! And I didn't even send them anything.

[Mike_Amo] yes, I forget the guy's name from NJ, but it was of the two of us while walking

[Steve_(shimp)] Hey, fun. Am I in Washington Jewish Week?

[Laura_Leff] Kay - You should look into attending FOTR in Newark, NJ in October

[Kay_Lhota] I've heard about the event, but I've never gone to it.

[Mike_Amo] Sorry Steve, they left out the other 37 marchers

[Brad_from_Georgia] Whoa, we've got thunder 'n lightning! I think maybe I'd better get off the computer. LL, some of my friends will be at the FOTR

[Steve_(shimp)] Well, what do you expect for a lapsed Catholic?

[Brad_from_Georgia] meeting in NJ.

[Laura_Leff] Kay - It's the pre-eminent OTR convention, and well worth attending. You'd have a great time.

[Brad_from_Georgia] I'd go if I didn't have to teach.

[Kay_Lhota] I'm sure that I would. My friend Richard went in 1984 and

[Laura_Leff] Brad - OK, take care! Always good to talk with you...

[Mike_Amo] Cya Brad

[Kay_Lhota] brought back an autograph of Frank Nelson for Frank and I

[Brad_from_Georgia] So long, all!

[Kay_Lhota] night Brad

[Steve_(shimp)] Bye Brad

Brad_from_Georgia has left the chat.

[Mike_Amo] I'll go find the caption, Laura

[Laura_Leff] FOTR is a phenomenal event. I'll be interested to see what they do with it this year since Jay Hickerson isn't at the forefront

[Laura_Leff] as much with his move to Florida.

[Laura_Leff] I have some complicated reasons as to why I can't attend, but I'd recommend it to just about everyone else.

[Kay_Lhota] I can't say that I can go this year, but we'll see as this year progresses

[Laura_Leff] Kay - Oh, no pressure. Just that if you're looking to network with OTR people, that's a good way.

[Laura_Leff] Kay - Do you subscribe to the OTR Digest?

[Kay_Lhota] no I don't\

[Mike_Amo] Wow, found it in this mess! It's a long one...will try to give you the main stuff

[Laura_Leff] Kay - Go to the bottom of our Links page and click on the button to subscribe. I think you'll get a lot out of it.

[Laura_Leff] Pretty much most of the top experts in OTR are there. It's a huge group and very diverse.

[Kay_Lhota] thank you. I'll share it with Frank later on tonight and see if he agrees.

[Laura_Leff] Mike - Who's in the photo?

[Laura_Leff] Kay - If you drop me an E-mail, I can forward you an issue or two so you can get the flavor of it.

[Kay_Lhota] thank you, Laura.

[Laura_Leff] Rain gets heavier...

[Mike_Amo] Mike A. carries a placard and Bob Smith walks beside him during the Valentine's Day "39-Man March" in the District, as fans of

[Kay_Lhota] We bought a set of Burns and Allen MP3s in Feb from OTRCAT

[Laura Leff] The Terror of Tiny Town

[Kay_Lhota] I've been concentrating on the episodes that feature Hans Conried

[Laura_Leff] Kay - Was he a semi-regular on the series?

[Laura_Leff] He was in a couple Benny shows as well.

[Steve_(shimp)] Kay, they've also got a lot of Mary Kelly episodes on those new discs they're offering.

[Mike_Amo] legendary comedian Jack Benny show support for honoring him on a 39-cent postage stamp. Laura Leff - prisdent of the

[Kay_Lhota] during 1943 and 1947

[Kay_Lhota] Steve, I'll be listeing to the earlier episodes soon

[Steve_(shimp)] Hans Conried shows up fairly often, I'd guess as a semi-regular on B&A.

[Mike_Amo] International Jack Benny club that organized the demonstration on Benny's birthday - conceded that fewer than 39 people turned

[Steve_(shimp)] But they really rotated their supporting characters a lot more than Jack Benny.

[Laura_Leff] Steve- Jack was very loyal to his support staff.

[Steve_(shimp)] And, it benefitted the show too.

[Kay_Lhota] the Burns and Allen show is very different in style to Jack's

[Mike_Amo] out for the march from the Washington Monument to the Capitol. However, she is buoyed by support she witnessed during meetings

[Laura_Leff] Steve -Or vice-versa

[Mike_Amo] with four senators and members of the House

[Steve_(shimp)] B&A is kind of a headache with supporting characters coming and going so frequently.

[Mike_Amo] Whew...

[Laura_Leff] Mike - Well, wahoo!

[Laura_Leff] So now that it's just us here...

[Laura_Leff] Can y'all keep a secret?

[Kay_Lhota] okay

[Steve_(shimp)] Not if it goes in the chat transcript!

[Laura_Leff] Steve - ;)

[Laura_Leff] So here's the deal...

[Laura_Leff] I've got confirmation that the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee will be reviewing our proposal

[Laura_Leff] for a Jack Benny 39-cent stamp

[Mike_Amo] cool!

[Laura_Leff] I know I've got the support of at least a couple members.

[Steve_(shimp)] Great!

[Laura_Leff] Still got that 50-year problem, but we'll see what happens with that debate.

[Kay_Lhota] 50 year problem?

[Laura_Leff] So we've finally punched through a good bit of bureaucratic red tape to at least get it considered.

[Laura_Leff] Kay - There's a rule that no subject can be on a stamp twice in a 50-year period

[Laura_Leff] Kay - But Judy Garland and John Wayne (and maybe more) have been on multiple stamps.

[Kay_Lhota] I didn't know that

[Laura_Leff] Kay - Yeah, but it's apparently not a hard-and-fast rule. And here's the other thing...

[Kay_Lhota] besides, the other was Hirschfeld and this would be serious

[Laura_Leff] The Reagan 37-cent stamp is being reissued as a 39-cent stamp

[Mike_Amo] Well!

[Laura_Leff] So I suggested that the Committee might consider doing much what Steve has on the chat room,

[Laura_Leff] And reissuing the 29-cent stamp as a 39-cent stamp

[Laura_Leff] We'll see what happens.

[Steve_(shimp)] That'd be funny.

[Kay_Lhota] I think it would be nice

[Steve_(shimp)] But, I'd honestly prefer a nice new design. Hey, I'll take anything!!

[Laura_Leff] Steve - That's exactly where I am on it. Jack - 39 cent stamp - whatever else is immaterial.

[Laura_Leff] I'm still waiting for follow-up from my Congress connections.

[Laura_Leff] But other than that, I think we've gotten it as far as we can. The rest is up to the Committee.

(loss due to technical problem)

Welcome

Laura_Leff has joined the chat.

[Mike_Amo] wb LL

[Kay_Lhota] welcome back

[Laura_Leff] Oops...don't know what happened ther.

[Laura_Leff] there

[Laura_Leff] Anything I missed?

[Kay_Lhota] nope

[Laura_Leff] So anything else, or should we call it short and sweet for this month?

[Steve_(shimp)] My Peter Pan impression. Not much.

[Steve_(shimp)] Yeah, I think I'm about to call it quits anyway. Need to attend to some junk. Night, all!

[Laura_Leff] Night, Steve! Take care.

[Mike_Amo] Good show LL and good luck on the stamp

[Mike_Amo] Night Steve

[Laura_Leff] Mike - Thanks much. And thanks for your continued support!

Steve_(shimp) has left the chat.

[Kay_Lhota] I'll look forward to checking out that OTR subcription

[Laura_Leff] Kay - OK, I'll make a mental note to forward you one or more of the Digests.

[Kay_Lhota] I thought you would be a good person to ask

[Laura_Leff] If you don't get any tonight, remind me.

[Kay_Lhota] thank you

[Laura_Leff] Kay - The Digest is a massive kickstart on networking in the OTR community.

[Laura_Leff] OK, take care folks! See you next month!

[Kay_Lhota] I have sort of plunged into this hobby headlong.

[Kay_Lhota] night Laura

[Laura_Leff] Kay - You're not alone.

[Mike_Amo] I've still got the poster and some of Steve's flyers...might try in a week or so to post a note to folks in this condo complex

[Laura_Leff] Mike - That would be great. The more the merrier.