IJBFC Chat - May 1, 2011
(Name of message originator in [] brackets at the beginning of each line)
[Laura
Leff] Hi folks!
[Brad
from Georgia] Hi, Laura!
[KayLhota]
hi Laura!
[Maria]
Hi Laura
User
Judy R has entered this room.
[Brian
Baker] Ditto
[Brad
from Georgia] Hi, Judy!
[KayLhota]
Hi Judy
[Judy
R] Jello again!
[Laura
Leff] Hi Judy
[Brian
Baker] Me too
[Laura
Leff] Good crowd tonight...
[Frank
Lhota] Hi Laura Hi Judy
[Laura
Leff] How's everyone doing?
[Judy
R] hiya eveybody!
[Judy
R] just got off work
[Brad
from Georgia] Well, we survived the tornadoes!
[KayLhota]
I'm glad to hear that, Brad.
[Laura
Leff] Brad - Yeah, any damage sustained?
[Judy
R] I have family in Alabama. No word from them.
[Brad
from Georgia] Not around here. My wife's home county got hit
hard--fifty houses destroyed, a couple of deaths.
[Brian
Baker] I'm on the brink of a very swollen Ohio River
[Laura
Leff] Wow
[KayLhota]
oh my! I hope your family is okay
[Brad
from Georgia] Yes, everyone's checked in. Both our children live in
the Atlanta area, and the storms went right around Atlanta.
[Laura
Leff] So let's see...we've got Georgia, Massachusetts, Ohio, and
California on line...
[Maria]
Colorado.
[Brian
Baker] Indiana
[Laura
Leff] Brian - Oh sorry...Ohio *River* and I assumed the state
[KayLhota]
Yes, Frank and I live just outside of Boston and the weather has been cool and
quiet for a long time.
[Judy
R] I've seen may here in Oklahoma. One of my Uncle's survived the May
3, 1999 mess
[Laura
Leff] What other parts of the globe are covered tonight?
[Judy
R] hmm? any good weather forcasts?
[Brad
from Georgia] We're in the high seventies during the day, about sixty
at night.
[Brian
Baker] That's about perfect
[Laura
Leff] So it sounds like you all know about our honored guest for this
evening.
[Judy
R]
[KayLhota]
Very honored to have Maria with us!
[Judy
R] *applauds*
[Laura
Leff] Yes, with the show for discussion tonight, it's fun to have the
third generation with us!
[Brad
from Georgia] Yes, and I just told everyone I interviewed Joan for
the book last week. Don't tell Joan, but I plugged my recorder in wrong and
didnt' record her! But I took notes.
[Maria]
Except that I haven't seen the show!
[KayLhota]
Yes, very much so!
[Maria]
I won't tell.
[Judy
R] oops!
[Brad
from Georgia] Darn earphone plug and mike plug are the same size....
[Judy
R] I do have a copy of "Sunday Nights at 7" It's wonderful
[Laura
Leff] So any comments on the show for this evening, or questions for
Maria directly? Happy to go either direction.
[Brad
from Georgia] Joan got lots of laughs in tonight's show. In fact, she
far outshone some of the regulars.
[Brian
Baker] Brad, you self-publishing, or going with Bear Manor Media?
[Brad
from Georgia] Bear Manor. Contract's all signed!
[KayLhota]
Oh, I can share that several years ago I got to be a reading partner with a book
for the blind audio of "Sunday Night's at Seven"
[Brad
from Georgia] That must have been an interesting experience, Kay.
[Brian
Baker] Good move, Brad!
[KayLhota]
Very enjoyable, Brad.
[Laura
Leff] Hello cj...if you're having any issues talking on the chat,
just double-click on my name in the right-hand list of names.
[KayLhota]
Strictly volunteer reading for a little radio station in Marshfield, MA
[Laura
Leff] And the audio is part of the IJBFC audio library now.
[Brad
from Georgia] I recently read a book for my blind brother-in-law (it
isn't scheduled to be on Books for the Blind, and he loves the series).
Unfortunately, I didn't care for the book myself....
[Laura
Leff] Maria - Do you feel like your mother ever seriously aspired to
being an actress?
[KayLhota]
Thank you for including it, Laura.
[Maria]
No.
[Maria]
She has never mentioned it in any context so I don't think it ever appealed to
her.
[Laura
Leff] There are a lot of stories about some performers (I'm thinking
of Groucho Marx specifically) pushing their children into performing
[Brad
from Georgia] Groucho really wanted Melinda to be in show business.
[Laura
Leff] but that doesn't seem like something your grandparents would
have done.
[Maria]
Definitely not in our family.
[KayLhota]
Groucho pushed Melinda, not Arthur or Mirium Marx
[Brad
from Georgia] BTW, we lost Arthur Marx not very long ago.
[Judy
R] oh?
[Laura
Leff] Yes, that's true.
[Brad
from Georgia] Yes, he died on April 14.
[KayLhota]
About a week ago. He was 89 years old
[Judy
R] is he at find a grave?
[Brad
from Georgia] Don't know, Judy.
[Laura
Leff] Maria - I don't get the sense that you or any of your siblings
ever tended toward the performing arts either.
[KayLhota]
I never thought to look Judy.
[Maria]
I got the closest -- have a cinematography degree from the AFI. No one else had
any interest and, unfortunately, none of us had any talent.
[Judy
R] i'll give a look later.
[Brad
from Georgia] Gee, Maria, that's never stopped a whole host of stars!
[Maria]
Brad, good point!
[Laura
Leff] Have you ever used that degree, even as a hobby?
[Maria]
I worked in the industry or around 5 years after getting the degree and then
bagged it. Too much work.
[Judy
R] you could help with restorations of old shows.
[Frank
Lhota] ... and the only talent that stars like Paris Hilton have
cannot be shown on TV.
[cj]
Maria does your mom ever come here to chat?
[Maria]
I have started writing though so that's my latest endeavor.
[Maria]
I don't think Mom has ever joined a chat.
[Laura
Leff] Nope, Joan has not joined here.
[Brad
from Georgia] A friend of mine was supposed to join us tonight. I
think he forgot.
[Laura
Leff] What are you writing? Can you share?
[Maria]
Right now, I'm writing about what being Jewish means to me and was starting to
write a bit about Hillcrest. That's kind of what got me thinking about joining
the chat tonight -- kind of nostalgic for that period of my life.
[KayLhota]
Oh, the history of Hillcrest would be wonderful!
[Maria]
I have started a piece about what it's like to be related to a very famous
person, but it keeps shifting.
[Judy
R] yes
[Brad
from Georgia] Hillcrest is a great subject.
[Maria]
It's not so much about the history of Hillcrest as what part that played in my
childhood.
[KayLhota]
Maria, that kind of story is right up my alley! I would love to read it and
learn your perspective!
[cj]
How old are you Maria? If you don't mind me asking?
[Brad
from Georgia] I'd buy it in a minute.
[Laura
Leff] Your grandfather took you there I assum?
[Laura
Leff] assume?
[Judy
R] me too
[Frank
Lhota] Keep in mind that the standard answer to "How old are
you?" is 39.
[Laura
Leff] Does Hillcrest still exist? I was in LA some time back and
turned on Hillcrest figuring I'd find the golf club, but then never did.
[Maria]
I'm 53. And yes, Hillcrest is still there. Played tennis there the summer before
last.
[Maria]
Both sets of grandparents were members and I went there far more often with my
paternal grandparents. I remember playing tennis there one day and looking down
through the fence and seeing Granddad walking by with his golf clubs.
[Laura
Leff] Good for you! Too bad Irving Fein isn't still up for playing
tennis there...
[Maria]
Granddad Benny.
[Brad
from Georgia] LL--you can find it at 10000 W. Pico Boulevard.
[Maria]
I was afraid to ask if Irving is still alive. Sounds like he is.
[KayLhota]
Oh my! Maria, I had guessed that we might be around the same age, but I will be
54 in July. I'm still 53!
[Judy
R] he is?
[Maria]
Grad, it's not the sort of place you can just walk into.
[Laura
Leff] Yes he is. He's going to be 100 this year!
[Brad
from Georgia] Even if you're a grad?
[Maria]
Wow!
[Maria]
Meant Brad, sorry.
[Judy
R] man!
[Brad
from Georgia] 'Sokay.
[Laura
Leff] Brad - Ah, I was in the wrong direction!
[Judy
R] we've lost so many radio greats and their staff over that past few
years.
[Laura
Leff] Not surprising, considering the relative era.
[Brian
Baker] They lived FULL lives!
[Laura
Leff] Norman Corwin seems to still be going strong, though.
[Maria]
Btw, if I ever DO write about being related to a famous person, I will be sure
to mention y'all and how weird it is to have people know so much about me and my
family.
[Laura
Leff] Maria - is the Hillcrest more of an article or a book?
[Judy
R] i'm glad my dad introduced me to old time radio. he brought home
many recordings from armed forces radio when he was in the navy.
[Laura
Leff] Maria - I can understand that. I do try to be respectful, since
I know it would be strange having a complete stranger doing such deep research
on one of my grandparents.
[Judy
R] or is that ON the Navy? Hmm...
[KayLhota]
I hope our knowing doesn't make you uncomfortable, Maria. I hope you understand
the love and appreciation that goes with the knowing!
[Laura
Leff] V-Discs!
[Maria]
LL -- not either. I've talked about it a bit in a piece I wrote about playing
tennis since that's where I learned to play and spent countless days there
playing.
[Maria]
Now, it's just referenced as a place where Jews could go when other clubs
wouldn't take them.
[cj]
I just listened to The Easter Parade Episode last night. I must have heard it
twenty times. That one and Snow White and the Seven gangsters are my favorites.
[Maria]
LL and Kay, I understand the love and appreciation and know that it is
respectful.
[Brad
from Georgia] They did make an exception for Danny Thomas, though!
[Maria]
Yes, but I think that was a bit later.
[Maria]
Plus, according to Granddad, he looked Jewish.
[Judy
R] i recieved "Jack Benny's Neighbors" cd set last
christmas. it is hilareous
[Brad
from Georgia] I always liked Groucho's response to a restricted
swimming pool: "My daughter's only half Jewish. Can she go in up to her
waist?"
[Judy
R]
[Maria]
Brad, it's a great line, but I don't recall there being a pool there.
[Laura
Leff] Judy - Glad you liked it. Obviously the credit goes to Jack and
the cast, but I did some consulting on that set.
[Laura
Leff] Brad - Actually, that's a flip of a story...
[Brad
from Georgia] It was supposed to be a Gentiles-only club, Maria, not
Hillcrest.
[Judy
R] that's how I found this site.
[Brad
from Georgia] Okay, Laura, flip it!
[Brian
Baker] Maria, if you're in the Chattsworth area, look up Stu Shostak.
He hosts an Internet radio show for Baby Boomers. He can do a 2-hour interview
with you, make you feel at ease, you can promote your book there. And he's
Jewish, as a bonus.
[Laura
Leff] Groucho wanted his son to swim somewhere that didn't take Jews,
so he said, "My son is only half-Jewish, can he go in up to his
waist?"
[Brad
from Georgia] Son, daughter, it's still funny....in a painful sort of
way.
[Maria]
Brian: thanks. If I ever have a book, I'll look him up. Right now, I'm a long
way from there.
[KayLhota]
It's stories like the restrictions that make you proud of the pioneers, and glad
to live in today times.
[Laura
Leff] Brad - OK...thought you were inferring it was Hillcrest!
[Brian
Baker] Look him up anyway. He's on Facebook.
[Brad
from Georgia] No, I wasn't implying that.
[Judy
R] besides hillcrest, many went to golf down at palm springs. it was
a beautiful place when i went there over 20 years ago.
[Laura
Leff] Brad - Yah...I'm back with the program now.
[Brad
from Georgia] Jack seemed to love his vacations in Palm Springs.
[Laura
Leff] They had a house there
[Judy
R] i could see why.
[Laura
Leff] Maria - Did your grandparents spend as much time in Palm
Springs later in life?
[Judy
R] my maternal grandmother lived over in palm desert.
[Maria]
I was there a couple of months ago with Michael. A friend of his knows the man
who bought Granddad's old house there and he was kind enough to let us go and
check it out.
[Brad
from Georgia] Yes...Mary went there, telephoned Jack back in
Hollywood, and said, "Close the window. I can still hear you practicing
your violin."
[Laura
Leff] I think of your grandfather as being on the road all the time,
and your grandmother didn't travel much.
[Laura
Leff] Maria - Very cool!
[Maria]
I don't recall them going to PS after they sold the house. It was wonderful when
they had it though. Spent a lot of time there with Janet and Freddie DeCordova.
[Laura
Leff] Brad - Ah, that's Eddie Carroll's joke.
[Brad
from Georgia] Yeppers, LL!
[Maria]
The only travel I recall was for work: Las Vegas, Reno, etc.
[Laura
Leff] Maria - When did they sell the house? The Palm Springs house, I
presume.
[Frank
Lhota] Yeppers?
[Maria]
LL, I can't believe you don't know. I actually don't recall but was still a
teenager.
[Brad
from Georgia] That's Southern for "you're right, Ma'am."
[Laura
Leff] Maria - Oh, I've got plenty to learn.
[Laura
Leff] I have a postcard with a photo of their Palm Springs house,
though.
[Judy
R] my grandmother did mention one time that when she was going to UC
Santa Barbara, Jack did a show there.
[Maria]
Michael made a complete ass of me. He had set it up in advance that we could go
in and look around but didn't tell me that. We drove into PS and I actually
suggested that we stop there.
[Brad
from Georgia] Maria--Joan said what she liked best about Eddie's show
was it gave a good sense of what Jack was like informally, at home...his stage
presence wasn't that different from his everyday personality.
[Laura
Leff] Yes, your grandfather's schedule late in life is just crazy. I
keep thinking that I'll be able to fill a database with where he was day-to-day
because he was always filming something or travelling somewhere or performing on
stage.
[Judy
R] I don't recall exactly when, but it was the 1930's or 1940's
[Maria]
Michael agreed and when we got there, I suggested we ring the door bell.
Meanwhile, he had already set it up and made it seem like it was all my idea.
Regardless, it was amazing to be there again.
[Laura
Leff] Judy - Really? He performed at UC Santa Barbara that early?
[Laura
Leff] I think they did a radio show from Santa Barbara...
[KayLhota]
Is Michael a practical joker, or just a tease, Maria?
[Judy
R] I can't remeber exactly when, but she did remember seeing him.
[Laura
Leff] Maria - How funny...Michael is always so quiet that it's hard
for me to think of him playing a joke like that!
[Maria]
Kay, normally not either, but I guess more of a tease. He definitely got me on
that one. I can't believe I fell for it.
[Maria]
LL: He's come out of his shell quite a bit lately -- actually quite a lot of
fun.
[KayLhota]
That's wonderful!
[Laura
Leff] Maria - I guess I'll just have to get a few drinks in him some
time.
[Maria]
He doesn't drink.
[Laura
Leff] OK, then Shirley Temples.
[Maria]
That's my favorite drink.
[Laura
Leff] The gathering at Hillside didn't seem like the time for light
banter.
[Maria]
No. Sorry I wasn't there. Dont' know if you knew, but my father is there -- not
far from Granddad. Too hard for me to go there, I'm afraid.
[Maria]
He sent me the pictures though. Thanks so much for doing that.
[Judy
R] Maria, do you keep in touch with the Burns family? I love George
and Gracie as well.
[Laura
Leff] Maria - You know, I didn't know that. Is he in the mausoleum?
[Laura
Leff] Maria - Absolutely.
[Maria]
LL: Yes, just down the hall from Granddad.
[Maria]
Judy: No. Saw George in 1986 before I moved from LA to Colorado to say good-bye,
but never really knew Sandy and Ronny (their kids).
[Laura
Leff] Maria - The hallway towards the central garden, or the hallway
when you're coming in from the front door?
[Maria]
I think from the front door. Been a long time since I've been there.
[Judy
R] brb
[Laura
Leff] Maria - OK. I'll have to look for him next time. There are some
enclaves off that hallway, and he's probably in one of them.
[Maria]
Okay. If you do, put a rock down for me please.
[Laura
Leff] I was just there last month dropping off a couple items that
people had sent for the "Penny for Benny" gathering, but there was
construction and I didn't get there until the mausoleum was closed.
[Maria]
I'm sorry I got everyone off topic. Do you want to go on to the show now? I
really should get back to my writing.
[Laura
Leff] Maria - Hey, when you're here, *you're* the topic.
[Brad
from Georgia] And we're honored to have you with us.
[Maria]
Thanks.
[KayLhota]
Very much so!
[Laura
Leff] (Fortunately, the Hillside folks are great and they got the
stuff to the right location.)
[Laura
Leff] Maria - I will absolutely put a rock for you next time I'm
there.
[Laura
Leff] I need to take Dorothy Ohman there one of these days.
[Laura
Leff] She hasn't been there since the funeral.
[Judy
R] find a grave #81. It's kind of hard to see where the other
corridores are from the photos
[Maria]
I don't know who that is.
[Judy
R] For Jack
[Laura
Leff] Maria - Dorothy? She was your grandfather's secretary after
Bert Scott.
[Judy
R] it's a memorial web site I use for genealogy.
[Laura
Leff] And she's a lovely, lovely lady.
[Maria]
Oh -- didnt recognize her last name.
[Laura
Leff] Judy - Is that Buddy Rudolph's grave?
[Judy
R] let me check.
[Laura
Leff] Maria - What else is going on in your life these days?
[Laura
Leff] Is the ice cream store getting ready for the season? Or am I
out of date in that?
[Maria]
Still have the ice cream store. Added a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory to it.
We're just coming into the ice cream season but have had horrible weather on the
weekends for the past few weeks, which really hurts.
[KayLhota]
The weather has been really nuts this year across the US
[Laura
Leff] Is Rocky Mountain Chocolate a local chain?
[Maria]
They're out of Durango but there are tons of them in CA.
[Laura
Leff] Interesting...I'll have to keep an eye out for them.
[Maria]
Yeah, now that you know the name, you'll come across one pretty quickly I think.
[Brad
from Georgia] Try the Granny Smith caramel apple.....
[Laura
Leff] When I connected through Denver a couple months ago, I picked
up some huckleberry chocolates. But it was touristy stuff. I'm sure you've got
much better material.
[Judy
R] now you're making me want ice cream!
[Maria]
The caramel apples are outstanding!
[KayLhota]
yeah, I'm getting hungry for it too!
[Brad
from Georgia] Sure are. Yum.
[KayLhota]
Fortunately, I live across the country, so I am able to stick to my diet for
now!
[Brad
from Georgia] I love blueberries so much that I set out two blueberry
bushes in our backyard. We're going to have a small crop this year!
[Laura
Leff] Dang...and all I've got is a tray of moussaka that came out of
the oven a bit ago and some chorizo empanadas I made yesterday...
[Brad
from Georgia] NOW we're sidetracked....
[Judy
R]
[Laura
Leff] Maria - There are some cute stories about your grandfather and
kids late in life
[Laura
Leff] where he'd want something sweet, like ice cream, and
"share" it with them.
[KayLhota]
awww
[Maria]
Yeah, but he was diabetic so he wasn't supposed to eat sweets.
[Laura
Leff] He was trying to manage his diabetes, but still wanted the ice
cream or chocolate.
[Laura
Leff] Did he ever do anything like that with you?
[Maria]
Not that I recall.
[Laura
Leff] OK, he may not have been trying to manage it as much when you
were that age.
[Brad
from Georgia] Maria, a lot of comedians are always "on."
Did Jack often make you laugh?
[Laura
Leff] Was there ever an outing with just the two of you? Or was it
always with Michael as well?
[Maria]
Brad: Granddad was NOT funny in person. He never made me laugh. I did, however,
make him laugh.
[Maria]
LL: We never did anything with just the two of us.
[Judy
R] he seemd to crack up easily
[Brad
from Georgia] Give us an example, please, Maria.
[Maria]
He definitely cracked up easily.
[Maria]
LL: Thanks.
[Maria]
Brad: Once, when he was doing a show in Vegas, he had an act of three sisters on
with him. He would introduce them, ask a few questions and then go off stage
while they would do their act.
[Judy
R] I'd listen to some of the radio shows, and sometimes it was easy
to hear Jack laugh in the back
[Laura
Leff] The Chicken Sisters
[Judy
R] Oh yes
[Maria]
I became friendly with one of the sisters and started changing her lines to try
to crack him up.
[Laura
Leff] (the original name...probably the Smothers Sisters by the time
you saw it)
[KayLhota]
Oh, this story sounds like a doozy!
[Maria]
Don't remember the name, but Iris Adrian was one of the actresses.
[Laura
Leff] Yes she was. Let me see if I can get a couple more for you...
[Judy
R] enlighten us
[Maria]
One time, I had the woman, whose name was Peggy, say her name was Maria instead.
It stopped Granddad short and he said, "Maria? That's a nice name."
[Laura
Leff] Peggy Mondo
[Maria]
Another time, I got her to change a line. Unfortunately, I can't remember what I
had her say, but Granddad started laughing so hard, he started slapping his
knee, then almost hit the ground then walked off stage because he couldn't
contain himself.
[Maria]
Yes, Peggy Mondo. She was great -- really loved her and she was a blast --
totally went along with me on trying to crack him up.
[Laura
Leff] In the Frank Remley article in the Times, they commented that
if he slapped his knee three times, you knew you had a hit!
[Maria]
I felt kind of guilty so stopped doing it after he had to walk off stage. But
I'm sure the audience thought it was great.
[KayLhota]
I love hearing stuff like this.
[Brad
from Georgia] Sounds like Jack's reaction to Frank Nelson's
"Drear Pooson" ad-lib.
[Judy
R] Yea!
[Brad
from Georgia] I know it wasn't really an ad-lib, btw.
[Laura
Leff] Maria - Do you know Peggy Mondo's role's "pedigree"
in that routine...that is, who originally played that role?
[Maria]
Don't know -- hadn't realized that wasn't the original act.
[Laura
Leff] BTW, Peggy Mondo plays the large woman in the television re-do
of the Marilyn Monroe episode with Jayne Mansfield.
[Maria]
Although now that you mention it, I think I did know that but don't know who the
original was.
[Laura
Leff] Maria - That act was originally written in the early 30s by
your grandfather's first radio writer, Harry Conn.
[Laura
Leff] It was called the Chicken Sisters then, but later updated to
the Landrews Sisters, then finally the Smothers Sisters.
[Maria]
I think it probably was the Smothers sisters when I saw it. I didn't realize it
had been written by Granddad's writers.
[Laura
Leff] And the role of the "large girl" was originally
played by Mary Kelly, who was your grandfather's sweetheart in vaudeville and
Gracie Allen's roommate. She was much less heavy back then.
[Maria]
Granddad would do two-week runs in Vegas and Reno and we would be there for a
week of it, so I had a lot of time to get friendly with his "side
acts."
[Judy
R] There was the episode "Honolulu Trip" where heJack was
on a cruise ship. Wasn't that Peggy on there as well?
[Laura
Leff] Judy - That's her.
[Judy
R] I thought so. I knew she was familiar
[Brian
Baker] I liked the shows where the large girls weren't afraid to
flaunt their comedy chops.
[Laura
Leff] Yeah...picked up her name in my notes on a run from 5/23 to
6/10/72 at the Sahara--they were doing that act then.
[Maria]
So I was 15 at the time -- that sounds about right.
[Laura
Leff] You probably know that an abusive marriage (the one she went
into when she broke up with your grandfather) and related alcoholism contributed
to her weight problem, and she needed a job. So she auditioned for his radio
show.
User
cj has logged out.
[Maria]
When Granddad would play there, we would be put up in the penthouse of the
hotel, which was the entire top floor of the hotel. You needed a key in the
elevator to get to that floor. Always loved walking onto the elevator and
putting the key in.
[Maria]
LL: I assume you're talking about Mary Kelly? Sad story there -- for both her
and Granddad.
[KayLhota]
that does sound like the ultimate of special\
[Laura
Leff] Looks like Caterina Valente was also on the bill...
[Maria]
Yeah, I was a total snot about it too.
[Laura
Leff] Maria - Yes, that's right.
[Laura
Leff] Hey, you were 15...a lot of us were snots about things at that
time!
[Maria]
Yep.
[Judy
R] Staying at 39. Although going to be 41
[KayLhota]
I'll be 54 in July
[Maria]
I really do have to get back to my writing assignment -- it as due yesterday.
Does anyone else have any questions or comments before I check out?
[Laura
Leff] I've got a "Pshanon" as the third person in that
act...Maria, does that ring a bell for you?
[Brad
from Georgia] Ah, I'm older than the whole two of yez.
[Maria]
LL> No.
[KayLhota]
I remember seeing Jack Benny when he was still on CBS
[Laura
Leff] Maria - OK. I may have the full name elsewhere and just
abbreviated it there.
[Maria]
LL: If I recall, the third person wasn't very important -- it was mostly Peggy
and Iris.
[Maria]
I think the third person was the straight person.
[Laura
Leff] Right...the "tough girl" and the "large
girl". The third one is usually pretty and quiet.
[Laura
Leff] There was a line to her something like, "Well, you don't
look like them. Are you really sisters?"
[Laura
Leff] And she'd say, "I don't know if they are, but I am."
[Laura
Leff] Or something similar to that.
[KayLhota]
Funny
[Maria]
Sounds right.
[Laura
Leff] Pop quiz for the room...
[KayLhota]
yes?
[Brian
Baker] go
[Laura
Leff] Name the song that the sisters always sang.
[Brian
Baker] dang
User
Frank Lhota has logged out.
[Laura
Leff] I don't think they ever varied that, even when they changed the
name of the act.
[KayLhota]
nope.
User
Frank Lhota has entered this room.
[KayLhota]
Oops we lost Frank
[Judy
R] whoops
[KayLhota]
that wasn't supposed to happen! He's on a better computer!
[Judy
R] banana peel on floor
[Frank
Lhota] Oops. Sorry
[Laura
Leff] Wow...I thought that was an easy question.
[Maria]
Something about strolling?
[Maria]
Daisies?
[Laura
Leff] Maria - Yes, "walking" is part of the name.
[Frank
Lhota] Actually, I was tossed out by the idle time timer.
[Brian
Baker] All I'm hearing is that bad singer Jack always tunes to across
the radio dial.
[Judy
R] oh man.
[Brad
from Georgia] I know it wasn't "Walking after Midnight."
[Laura
Leff] Brad - No, it wasn't that!
[Maria]
That's pretty good that I got the walking part. Must be in a vestigial part of
my memory.
[KayLhota]
Sara Berner, Brad
[Laura
Leff] "Did You Ever See a Dream Walking"
[Brian
Baker] ah, yes
[Maria]
YES! I remember it!
[KayLhota]
So, they used to sing that?
[Brad
from Georgia] Now I always think of the Popeye cartoon with Olive Oyl
caught in a building under construction when I hear that title.
[Laura
Leff] Maria - I'm sure after you've seen it so many times, you kind
of know what's coming and tune out!
[KayLhota]
I know, Brad. I had to sing that song straight, and I had a hard time keeping
Popeye out of my mind!
[Judy
R]
[Laura
Leff] Anything else for Maria? Really glad you could join us.
[Brad
from Georgia] Thanks, Maria!
[KayLhota]
I'm so thrilled to have Maria join us, and I hope you will feel welcome to come
again
[Brian
Baker] Thank you, Maria!
[Judy
R] Thanks! I can't wait for the book
[Maria]
Okay, I'm outta here. Thanks to everyone for keeping Granddad alive. I'll see if
I can get Michael to join sometime.
[Laura
Leff] That would be great
[KayLhota]
that would be wonderful\
[Laura
Leff] You know, play a joke on him
[Judy
R] yea!
[Laura
Leff] Trick him into coming into the chat room...
[Brad
from Georgia] Hah!
[KayLhota]
hey, just chatting is fun
[Maria]
Ooh -- good idea. I'll have to work on something.
[Laura
Leff] Make it look like it's his idea
[KayLhota]
good Laura
[Judy
R]
[Laura
Leff] We'll go easy on him, I promise.
[Brad
from Georgia] We will be polite.
[Laura
Leff] For a change.
[KayLhota]
hey, he is among friends and nice people
[Brad
from Georgia] As opposed to the way we usually are....
[Brian
Baker] Oh?
[Laura
Leff] Thanks again, Maria, and all the best!
[Maria]
I'll see what I can do. He's pretty busy but I think he'd enjoy it.
[Maria]
Okay LL, talk to you soon.
[KayLhota]
thanks for joining us Maria!
[Laura
Leff] If I know in advance, I bet we could get quite a crowd.
[Maria]
You're welcome. Bye bye.
[Brian
Baker] *applause!"
[Maria]
LL: I'll let you know next time.
[Brad
from Georgia] You know, when we're in Califonia, I gotta get me one
o' them caramel apples....
[Laura
Leff] Maria - Looking forward to it.
User
Maria has logged out.
[Judy
R] *Applause* Standing ovation
[Brad
from Georgia] Very nice of her!
[Judy
R] BRB
[Laura
Leff] Wooooooooo!!!
[KayLhota]
wow, that was a nice surprise tonight
[Laura
Leff] Yeah, sorry that I was late...was on the phone.
[Brian
Baker] Glad my first attendance got this special guest for free!
[Laura
Leff] Well, a special welcome then Brian!
[Brian
Baker] Thank you!
[Laura
Leff] So...thoughts on the show for discussion tonight?
[Laura
Leff] Almost a let-down after that.
[Brad
from Georgia] Joan Benny surprised me during the interview--she said
she didn't think Eddie's vocal performance was close to Jack (Rich Little nailed
him, she said), but overall she liked Eddie's performance for giving a true
sense of Jack's personality.
[KayLhota]
I will say that her book about Hillcrest sounds like such a neat idea. I hope
she follows through.
[Laura
Leff] Someone asked for a show about the May Company for May, so
that's why we got that one.
[Brian
Baker] The show is bursting with domestic comedy.
[Brad
from Georgia] Poor Pauline...she didn't get many laughs. But Joan
rocked!
[KayLhota]
She's adorable in the radio broadcast
[Brian
Baker] Who played Pauline?
[Laura
Leff] Doris Singleton
[Laura
Leff] I have to look up if this is Blance Stewart's last
appearance...she died not that long thereafter...
[Brad
from Georgia] The "sign a new lease gag" just...died.
[Brian
Baker] D'Oh! I forgot. She was a guest on Shokus. Shame on me!
[Laura
Leff] Brad - Yes, that surprised me too!
[Brad
from Georgia] Now I'd bet you'd never get the Dennis Day suicide gag
on most TV shows today.
[Brian
Baker] OMG! How true!
[Brad
from Georgia] Wonder what Philsie was up to during that show? Don
mentioned him in the intro, but he wasn't in the show.
[Laura
Leff] OK not...she was on until 3/23/52.
[Brian
Baker] Loved how Benny tried his darnedest to avoid Dennis' routine!
[Brad
from Georgia] Unless that was Phil singing the Lucky Strike
commercial.
[Brad
from Georgia] Joe Kearns as the druggist, right?
[Laura
Leff] Brad - It almost sounds like him laughing at certain points,
but I think that's Remley.
[Brad
from Georgia] LL--I thought that too at one point!
[Laura
Leff] Brad - Right.
[Brad
from Georgia] Good punch line--"Here's your bottle of
arsenic--on the house."
[Laura
Leff] And Mel Blanc as a very downplayed man buying Luckies.
[Brad
from Georgia] Yes, I noticed Mel.
[Brad
from Georgia] Gee, though, the thought of Dennis dating Joanie....
[KayLhota]
Yes, Mel was very straight for him
[Laura
Leff] Brad - Talk about robbing the cradle.
[Brad
from Georgia] Well, Dennis was always the "kid" as long as
he was on the show.
[KayLhota]
well, it made the sketch more sketchy
[KayLhota]
he sounded like a very nice boy for Joanie to go out with
[Brian
Baker] And he looked the part to a T.
[Laura
Leff] I'm trying to remember who played the role on TV
[KayLhota]
It's been a few years since I last saw the TV episode
[KayLhota]
5 or 6 years, I think
[Brian
Baker] May I jump tracks to Mary's stage fright?
[Laura
Leff] Leon Tyler
[Laura
Leff] No wonder I couldn't remember it.
[Brad
from Georgia] I did like the Rochester "got caught bending the
cans" gag.
[Laura
Leff] Brian - By all means yes.
[Brian
Baker] If Mary was afflicted with stage fright, by that I presume
television, how was she able to cope with as many TV shows as she did?
[Laura
Leff] Brian - Because she only appeared on ones that were filmed in
the studio without an audience.
[KayLhota]
I think because the shows were filmed
[KayLhota]
Laura said it
[Brad
from Georgia] So it wasn't stage fright, it was audience fright.
[Laura
Leff] And she had stage fright on radio too.
[Brian
Baker] Did her aging contribute to that?
[KayLhota]
She got more anxious as she got older
[Brad
from Georgia] Sort of like Isaac Asimov, who wouldn't fly. He said,
"I'm not afraid of flying at all. It's crashing and burning that terrify
me."
[Brian
Baker] Ok. That covers it.
[KayLhota]
Joan said in her book that Mary's hands would grow beet red in nervousness as
the time approached for her to go on
[Laura
Leff] There you go. What other Benny topics on the docket tonight?
[Brad
from Georgia] Kind of a radio thing...the Atlanta Radio Theatre
performed "The Dancer in the Dark" this afternoon. I was the, um,
lead.
[Brian
Baker] I dunno. I've compartmentalized Benny. It's tough to pull any
one.
[KayLhota]
mary also did her share of fainting after a show
[Laura
Leff] One of the steno women at CBS recalled that Jack would hold his
cigar under Mary's nose sometimes during the broadcast. I wonder if the
secondhand smoke relaxed her a little.
[Brian
Baker] Steno?
[KayLhota]
stenographer
[Brad
from Georgia] Stenographer.
[Brian
Baker] Got it... too late.
[Brad
from Georgia] Shorthand note-taking expert.
[KayLhota]
the smoke may have been a little like a smelling salt
[Laura
Leff] I can always tell pages of Jack's scripts that she typed...they
have her initials in the lower right corner!
[Brad
from Georgia] I wondered the other day if you can still buy carbon
paper....
[Laura
Leff] Brad - You need some?
[KayLhota]
I fainted once, and smelling salts are ammonia. The ammonia just sent the blood
up into my head!
[Brad
from Georgia] I don't see why, but I was curious if it was still even
made.
[Laura
Leff] I have an old typewriter that needs Rochester to dip the ribbon
in grape juice again.
[Frank
Lhota] The last typewriter factory in the world just closed. It was
in India.
[Brad
from Georgia] I fainted once after surgery. Got up, started to the
bathroom, woke up with a black eye and a bloody nose.
[KayLhota]
ouch!
[Laura
Leff] What a shame. Someone's doing a documentary on the typewriter
and is using a clip from Jack's TV show.
[Laura
Leff] Brad - Someone apparently didn't want you in there!
[Frank
Lhota] When was the last slide rule made?
[Brad
from Georgia] That's what I get for having my tonsils out at age 30.
[Brian
Baker] You got a pic of Jack on the typewriter.
[Laura
Leff] Brian - The one of him in the hat? I love that shot. I also
love the winning caption!
[Brad
from Georgia] Frank--I still have my slide rule from college. It has
Roman numerals, though. I went to college a LONG time ago.
[Judy
R] have to go. have an emergency. catch y'all next time!
[Brad
from Georgia] Bye.
User
Judy R has logged out.
[Laura
Leff] That's like Jack's joke about being born in Waukegan so long
ago that the mohel (ritual circumciser) was an Indian. He used a tomahawk.
[Brian
Baker] tee hee
[Brad
from Georgia] Like Mel Brooks in Robin Hood: Men in Tights.
[Frank
Lhota] He only took tips.
[Brian
Baker] The mini-guillotine
[Laura
Leff] I want to say the punchline of a classic mohel joke, but it
probably wouldn't mean much to a lot of you!
[Laura
Leff] And it would take too long to explain it.
[Laura
Leff] Anyway...
[Brad
from Georgia] Jack also had a Roman numeral gag: He's in the
supermarket and finds a can of soup for ten cents. But the expiration date is
"MCLXV." "Gee, soup that old can make you sick...but at a dime a
can, I'll risk it."
[Brian
Baker] Love it.
[Laura
Leff] That reminds me of looking for tea in my friend Joe's kitchen
(Kay/Frank - You've met him) and finding stuff that had expired in the 80s. This
was maybe six years ago.
[Laura
Leff] At least I never got sick on his tea.
[Laura
Leff] So what other Benny topics for tonight?
[Brad
from Georgia] I have a Coca-Cola, unopened, from 1964.
[KayLhota]
tea just dries out
[Laura
Leff] Brad - Don't have a Coke and a smile.
[Brad
from Georgia] Joan gave me all of her children's e-mails so I can
interview them for the Eddie Carroll bio.
[Brad
from Georgia] They all saw the show and all have positive things to
say, she told me.
[KayLhota]
that's nice
[Laura
Leff] Brad - Ah, that will be good. Especially the ones in the Boston
area...they had a good time at Eddie's show.
[Brian
Baker] How, if at all, did Mary's stage fright affect her radio
tenure. Such as on-the-road shows?
[Brad
from Georgia] She was fun to talk to.
[Laura
Leff] Maria first saw him at the Waukegan statue unveiling.
[KayLhota]
I wish I had known about Eddie Carroll's shows in time. I would have liked to
have seen him perform.
[Laura
Leff] Brian - I talk about that in some depth in the introduction to
Volume 2 of "39 Forever." But in summary...
[Brad
from Georgia] Oh, I'm excited about going to California for the
interviews next week--I get to interview Goofy!
[Laura
Leff] There were little stretches of time where she doesn't appear at
all, then comes back.
[Laura
Leff] Most of the road shows (except for New York and some during the
war)
[Brian
Baker] But enough about your state of mind, who will you talk to,
Brad (Bob Hope-ism)
[Laura
Leff] were close to home and didn't require much travel. Or were
travel to places that Mary wanted to go, like Palm Springs.
[Brad
from Georgia] Marian Jordan used to miss "Fibber McGee and
Molly" performances now and then, and it was blamed on "a cold,"
but sadly, she had alcohol problems.
[Laura
Leff] Ultimately there are a couple shows that she recorded from
home, but I think more of the time when she didn't want to appear, they just
didn't include her.
[Brian
Baker] P-A-L-M-S-P-R-I-N-G-S Vacuum cleaner, raak!
[Brad
from Georgia] LL--Am I remembering correctly that Mary hated to fly
on planes?
[Laura
Leff] Brad - Mary didn't like to travel much, period. I can't recall
if she had a specific plane phobia, but I don't think of her flying much.
[Laura
Leff] As opposed to Jack, who happily jumped in the car and would
drive accross country.
[Brian
Baker] P-A-L-M-S-P-R-I-N-G-S Palm Springs. PALM SPRINGS? RAAAAAK!!!!
[Frank
Lhota] Does she share Issac Azimov's fear of crashing and burning?
[Brad
from Georgia] Jack seemed to get a kick out of little things--like
discovering a little town that had "the biggest ball of twine in
America."
[Laura
Leff] Mary is more like a fear of other people...or general
insecurity...
[KayLhota]
I'm more under the impression that Mary had fear of leaving the house
[Laura
Leff] Or the best chicken-fried steak.
[Laura
Leff] Kay - She became increasingly reclusive, wanting to stay in her
bed ordering everyone around and having her drinks brought to her on a silver
tray.
[Laura
Leff] Not getting out of bed until the afternoon...if then.
[Brad
from Georgia] Dick Cavett tells a story about being with Jack when a
whole crowd kidded him about being cheap, underpaying Rochester, etc. Jack just
smiled and went along with the gag....
[Laura
Leff] Her little sphere of power.
[Laura
Leff] Brad - Oh, is this the one I put in the President's Message a
few issues ago?
[KayLhota]
the staying in bed kept her from having to deal with the people outside, and the
being waiting on was a comfortable pampering that kept her in control
[Brad
from Georgia] Until they were alone, then said, "Ya know, kid,
sometimes you just wanna tell these people to go XXXX themselves."
[Laura
Leff] That's it.
[Brad
from Georgia] Cavett cracked up. He said he'd never heard Jack use
that word before.
[Laura
Leff] Oh, Jack used that word plenty when he was comfortable with
someone!
[Brad
from Georgia] (though I think he did later)
[KayLhota]
I feel sorry for Mary. She was pretty and had enough talent to co star on radio
with Jack Benny and get solid laughs as a comedienne
[Brad
from Georgia] Cavett said in the bit I heard that this was his first
long meeting with Jack.
[Laura
Leff] I mean, he wasn't Dennis Hopper in "Blue Velvet" or
anything, but he was quite comfortable with that word.
[Brian
Baker] Beverly Washburn told a Jack curses story.
[Brad
from Georgia] Well, Jack used a few choice Yiddishisms too, in
private.
[Laura
Leff] Kay - As someone pointed out to me, there was something
interesting in the house where she grew up. All three of the kids had odd
histories.
[Laura
Leff] Brian - Please share!
[KayLhota]
please
[KayLhota]
Babe and hillyard seemed okay as far as I had heard
[Brian
Baker] Beverly was the child actress who played Margret Truman on the
TV show.
[Brian
Baker] I think she was also a Beverly Hills Beaver
[Brian
Baker] During a rehearsal, and I'm paraphrasing
[Laura
Leff] Kay - Babe was somewhat colorful, got arrested a couple of
times (or at least once). Poor Hilliard has a lot of vocal detractors.
[Laura
Leff] Brian - That's right.
[Brian
Baker] She asked Jack, What if I screw up?
[Laura
Leff] Kay - But from all the stories I've heard, Hickey earned his
detraction very well.
[Brian
Baker] Jack said some diplomatic words and concluded, "And if
you screw up, F--- it!"
[KayLhota]
wow.
[Laura
Leff] He said that to her when she was a little girl?
[KayLhota]
yes.
[Brian
Baker] Maybe when she was a young adult. They were long time friends.
[KayLhota]
I see.
[Laura
Leff] Brian - Yes...I have a harder time envisioning him saying that
to her at "Margaret Truman" age, but maybe in a later role.
[Laura
Leff] But that's not to say it couldn't happen!
[Brad
from Georgia] I like the attitude. This afternoon one of our actors
completely missed his cue...and we were reading from scripts! So I covered the
line and we went on. He was embarrassed later, but we said essentially,
"Forget it."
[Laura
Leff] Thanks for sharing...I don't think I'd heard that story before
[KayLhota]
No. I remember hearing the story of the little girl on his radio show, that he
shook up so much in telling her how to perform that she threw up before the show
[Brad
from Georgia] I'll be that made Jack feel awful!
[Laura
Leff] Kay - Was that Beverly or someone else?
[KayLhota]
I forget the little girl's name, but I have it written down somewhere.
[KayLhota]
This was about 1945
[Brian
Baker] I hate to keep sounding like a commercial, but I learned that
from Stu Shostak's weekly Internet radio show, which are available at his
archives at shokusradio.com. Look for the interviews with Beverly Washburn, and
also with Eddie Carroll. somewhere in
[Laura
Leff] There weren't a lot of young girls on the show...maybe it was
the actress playing Phil's daughter.
[Brian
Baker] the 2008, 2007 pages.
[KayLhota]
let me look it up.
[Frank
Lhota] Kay is indeed looking it up.
[Brad
from Georgia] Coming up on ten p.m. here and my doggy is begging me
to let him out. Guess I'd better go! Had a great time, all.
[Laura
Leff] Brian - Wonder if he's got the one of Eddie Carroll and me on
his show, where I essentially say, "Good to be here" at the start and
"Hey, my pleasure!" at the end. The rest was Eddie telling stories.
Why mess up a good thing? I know my place.
[Laura
Leff] Any requests for a show for next month?
[Brian
Baker] Yes, he does. That's the Eddie show. I save almost all his
shows.
[KayLhota]
episode 4/1/45 little girls name is Joan Dehner
[Laura
Leff] I'm sure Stu would be happy to know that!
[Brian
Baker] At least I'm reasonably sure it's Eddie.
[Laura
Leff] Kay - Good job! And hey...I don't have a name credit on that
role. But I do now!
[KayLhota]
she understood that Jack Benny didn't mean to upset her, but being the star of
the show he was concerned that it all go perfectly
[Brian
Baker] The B Washburn interview is 3/26/08
[Laura
Leff] Wait...Joan Dehner or Joan Delmar?
[KayLhota]
Delmar
[Laura
Leff] I just pulled my working copy and had that written in
[Brian
Baker] The E Carroll interview is 8/1/07
[KayLhota]
Icouldn't read my own scribble'
[Laura
Leff] So maybe I *have* heard that story before!
[KayLhota]
yes, i told it a few years ago
[Laura
Leff] Kay - My apologies.
[Laura
Leff] So any requests for a show for next month? Or my call? (You
know that's dangerous)
[KayLhota]
I figured you may have forgotten it, and I don't mind telling it again since I
learned about it
[Laura
Leff] Sounds like it's my call...
[KayLhota]
yes, I think so
[Laura
Leff] OK, no problem.
[Brian
Baker] How about the program where Don first hires the Sportsman for
Jack?
[Laura
Leff] Brian - Hmmm!
[Laura
Leff] OK, I'm game for that.
[KayLhota]
okay
[Laura
Leff] Thank you!
[Brian
Baker] Yes. Loved their early Hmm....
[Laura
Leff] Anything else, or are we good for May?
[Brian
Baker] Later Hmmmmms seems rushed, and lost their novelty.
[KayLhota]
it has been a lot of fun and an unexpected surprise tonight
[Frank
Lhota] I have nothing more to add.
[Brian
Baker] Sounds like a good time to call it a might.
[Laura
Leff] Brian - Probably because it had become a "catch
phrase" by then.
[Laura
Leff] Yes, we might.
[Laura
Leff] Thanks for stopping, folks! It's been great. See you next
month!
[KayLhota]
bye bye