IJBFC Chat - May 19, 2019
(Name of message originator appears above the line)
garth_johnson
[2:57 PM]
Another
day dreaming about the gas man.
kathy_fuller_seeley
[4:59 PM]
hello,
anybody signed in yet?
R.
Hookie [4:59 PM]
I
did.
kathy_fuller_seeley
[4:59 PM]
howdy!
Steve_Smith
[4:59 PM]
hello
folks
kathy_fuller_seeley
[4:59 PM]
how's
your Penny doing, Hookie?
garth_johnson
[4:59 PM]
I'm
here just sunning myself
Tom
V. [5:00 PM]
Hello
everyone!
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:00 PM]
I
LOVE that Carmichael picture, Garth!
R.
Hookie [5:00 PM]
The
way you asked if anyone signed in made me think of What's My Line... Penny's
doing fine
Steve_Smith
[5:00 PM]
my
jello's not ready ..
garth_johnson
[5:01 PM]
Don's
post made me look through my archives - that's 1969 - and probably the same bear
that Jack saw 10 years earlier
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:01 PM]
glad
to hear it! Jack Benny used that greeting a lot in 1932, can't wait to get
volume 1 of the 1932 scripts out! yay
Jack:
Hello anybody, this is Jack Benny, You know, J as in Joke, a as in assinine,
etc....
Perri
[5:02 PM]
Hello
folks!
R.
Hookie [5:02 PM]
HI!!!
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:02 PM]
Jello
again!
garth_johnson
[5:03 PM]
What
Jolly Good Company
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:03 PM]
haha
yes, Garth!
garth_johnson
[5:04 PM]
Kathy
I understand you found your missing script - To Ayer in filing is human, to find
the missing script - Devine?
Steve_Smith
[5:05 PM]
cool
photo to share...
Where's
our boss?
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:06 PM]
haha!
yes Garth, I swore that I found it at the library of congress microfilms, a
terribly frustrating collection., But maybe I had given it up for lost. Martin
Grams is a wonderful, obsessive researcher and I hoped that if I praised his
work enough, he would help me. And yay he did!!!!!
I
am using Martin's collection of Sam Spade scripts, published by BearManor media,
as a good model for our project, yay
Laura
Leibowitz [5:07 PM]
Hey
folks!
Steve_Smith
[5:07 PM]
yay
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:08 PM]
ta-da!
glad you are here, Laura
Steve_Smith
[5:08 PM]
hi
boss
R.
Hookie [5:08 PM]
Hi
Laura!
Laura
Leibowitz [5:08 PM]
Sorry,
a bit late getting back from the store!
Tom
V. [5:08 PM]
Hello
Laura!
Laura
Leibowitz [5:08 PM]
My
apologies.
How's
everyone doing?
R.
Hookie [5:08 PM]
What'd
you buy us?
Laura
Leibowitz [5:08 PM]
Kathy
- Sounds like you've announced the upcoming book!
Hookie
- Kombucha. Want some?
R.
Hookie [5:09 PM]
I
don't know... what is it?
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:09 PM]
close
to it! Still working out a few details, but volume 1 I hope comes out soon. It
may be MANY volumes, haha
Laura
Leibowitz [5:09 PM]
Kathy
- Hooray!
Steve_Smith
[5:09 PM]
me
and Brother Bruce... with gifys he gave me .. wish he could join us
garth_johnson
[5:09 PM]
Happy
Sunday, Missus President
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:09 PM]
I
heard a funny story about kombucha, made with filtered water, then all the funky
bacteria put back in it : ) but that
is Austin TX
Laura
Leibowitz [5:09 PM]
Hookie
- It's a tea fermented with a big fungus in it
R.
Hookie [5:10 PM]
pass
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:10 PM]
WOW
great Acme Plaza swag!
Laura
Leibowitz [5:10 PM]
Steve
- Love it! And shoelaces!
Hookie
- Cool, more for me.
Steve
- Plastic tips or metal tips?
Steve_Smith
[5:10 PM]
and
metal tipped shoe
laces..
Laura
Leibowitz [5:11 PM]
Kathy
- I used to make it myself. We'll
have to compare notes.
So
what did I miss?
Steve_Smith
[5:11 PM]
jellp
o
:slightly_smiling_face:
Laura
Leibowitz [5:12 PM]
Jellpo...dog-food
flavored Jell-O?
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:12 PM]
hahaha
Laura
Leibowitz [5:12 PM]
Hey
Garth
garth_johnson
[5:12 PM]
A
flavour only Ed McMahon would like
Laura
Leibowitz [5:12 PM]
Hi
Annie!
Garth
- And Johnny Carson when the dog doesn't like it
R.
Hookie [5:13 PM]
That
Alpo spot is included in my boxed set
Laura
Leibowitz [5:13 PM]
Hookie
- It should be a canned set
R.
Hookie [5:13 PM]
One
of my boxed sets...
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:13 PM]
Thanks
for the new TIMES, Laura, that was an amazing scrapbook of Jack's trip to Africa
and the Middle East
R.
Hookie [5:14 PM]
And
all of the transcribing too
Laura
Leibowitz [5:14 PM]
I
have to say that I was absolutely thrilled with this issue, and can really not
take credit for any of it other than layout.
When
I first got that and started reading through it, I said aloud, "There's my
next issue."
Perri
[5:14 PM]
good
Times, good Times!
Laura
Leibowitz [5:14 PM]
There's
still a little more from the collection, but that's the extent of the 1943
diary.
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:15 PM]
yay!
Do you know if Joan Benny has things like this, scrapbooks or letters he wrote
just to her?
Laura
Leibowitz [5:15 PM]
Oh,
I'm sure she's got letters to her. I
think most of the scrapbooks went to UCLA and AHC
By
the way, that was a stop on my errand to the store...issues are sitting in a
post box outside the post office now.
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:16 PM]
Oh
I meant special things he made for her. I hope she does, just because Jack was
that kind of dad
Laura
Leibowitz [5:16 PM]
He
made for her...like what? He wasn't
much of a tradesman....
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:17 PM]
I
just meant little diaries or scrapbooks like this one for Florence Fenchel
garth_johnson
[5:17 PM]
You
opened the door on that one Kathy
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:17 PM]
doh!
we
won't even start on scrapbooks ABOUT Jack Benny, haha
of which I hope we all can do more with
Laura
Leibowitz [5:18 PM]
Hm...I'm
actually not sure. I'll have to ask.
Kathy
- Ah yes, just have to figure out the most efficient way to do it!
To
let the room in on it, I have the voluminous and far-ranging Benny scrapbooks of
our own Barbara Thunell. It's quite
overwhelming (in a good way) to even the most seasoned Benny researcher.
I
have been
Viktoria!
You made it in...welcome!
Viktoria
Irving [5:20 PM]
Thanks
for the invite, Laura! Whew, made it after all! Hello to everybody, I am a young
lass from overseas and am very happy to hang around here with fellow Benny
enthusiasts : )
Laura
Leibowitz [5:21 PM]
I
have been considering ways of being able to crowd source the work of sorting
through all the articles and clippings, identifying their sources, and
digitizing everything. Still
thinking at the moment.
R.
Hookie [5:21 PM]
Welcome
Viktoria!
Viktoria
Irving [5:21 PM]
Thanks,
Hookie!!
Laura
Leibowitz [5:22 PM]
I
apologize that the chat happens in the middle of the night for you!
Viktoria
Irving [5:22 PM]
Sometimes
one has to simply stay up a little longer xD I'm thrilled to be part of the
experience, so it's ok, really.
michael_golek
[5:23 PM]
The
Horn Blows Past Midnight
Viktoria
Irving [5:23 PM]
Yes
well said, hehe
Laura
Leibowitz [5:23 PM]
I
know how it is. In my early Benny
days, they used to run Jack's shows on a cable network at 3AM.
Steve_Smith
[5:23 PM]
Years
ago I was following a car with a license plate that said "Cheapo" ...
I happened to be listening to Jack on cassettes .. pulled along side and showed
them the large cover with Jack's photo ... they busted out laughing .. it was
pretty cool
Viktoria
Irving [5:23 PM]
TV
seems to have a tendency to move the good stuff to the hours when nobody watches
Laura
Leibowitz [5:23 PM]
Like
a crazy kid, I would devotedly get up in the wee hours, which motivated my
parents to buy a Betamax.
Steve_Smith
[5:24 PM]
beta
Laura
Leibowitz [5:24 PM]
Steve
- My "KUBLSKY" license plate gets a lot of looks and questions.
R.
Hookie [5:24 PM]
Betamax
instead of VHS?
Viktoria
Irving [5:24 PM]
A
devoted fangirl you are, Laura, very relatable.
Laura
Leibowitz [5:24 PM]
It
was 1982. We heard Beta was better.
And
it was.
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:24 PM]
Thank
goodness Betamax could record one hour.... if Benny's shows had been 90 minutes,
you would have been frustrated!
R.
Hookie [5:24 PM]
In
1982 it probaly was....
Viktoria
Irving [5:24 PM]
Awesome
license plate, btw
Laura
Leibowitz [5:25 PM]
People
gasp when they see hundreds of Beta tapes in my archive downstaira.
Steve_Smith
[5:25 PM]
OH
... I love it. :slightly_smiling_face:
Laura
Leibowitz [5:25 PM]
Kathy
- Actually on BII, I could get two hours on a tape.
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:25 PM]
it
was second only to LaserDisc!
R.
Hookie [5:25 PM]
You
should my currnt collection of... everything
Laura
Leibowitz [5:25 PM]
And
you know, come to think of it...Laser Disc may be the one form of media I've
never tried.
People
say that I have every form and a way to play it.
Cylinders,
78s, wire recordings, transcriptions, reel-to-reel, etc.
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:26 PM]
nothing
else can play a motion picture frame-by-frame : )
Laura
Leibowitz [5:26 PM]
Kathy
- It's very true.
R.
Hookie [5:26 PM]
8-track?
Laura
Leibowitz [5:26 PM]
Oh
people go crazy when they walk in my office and see my 8-track player.
Then
they start taking selfies with it.
Still
works too.
R.
Hookie [5:27 PM]
I
still have an unopened Donny & Marie 8-track tape
Laura
Leibowitz [5:27 PM]
In
fact, my very first Benny radio shows came on 8-track.
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:27 PM]
wow
Hookie, open it up and let them out!
R.
Hookie [5:27 PM]
I
have a Benny 8-track I believe...
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:28 PM]
apologies
to Prince Albert
Steve_Smith
[5:28 PM]
:rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:
Laura
Leibowitz [5:28 PM]
Kathy
- Har har
Is
your 8-track running? Well you
better catch it!
OK,
on that note...
Let's
enjoy some shows.
In
the spirit of last month, we have a comparison of a radio and television version
of effectively the same show.
Viktoria
Irving [5:29 PM]
Bring
'em on!
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:29 PM]
yay!
R.
Hookie [5:29 PM]
DOUBLE
FEATURE!!!!!!
Laura
Leibowitz [5:29 PM]
And
since it's May, it involves the May Company...
kathy_fuller_seeley
[5:29 PM]
I
have done something like this for my 18 year old freshmen and they LOVE it
R.
Hookie [5:29 PM]
Punny
Viktoria
Irving [5:30 PM]
Have
not much experience with the radio shows so far, so this promises to be one
interesting experience.
Laura
Leibowitz [5:30 PM]
https://www.watch2gether.com/rooms/ijbfc-mbrm7osc3l5p85x3t9?lang=en
watch2gether.com
Let's
meet on Watch2Gether
Watch2Gether
lets you watch videos with your friends, synchronized at the same time.
Anyone
joining the chat after this, please go to the link above.
After
we'll come back here for discussion.
Everyone
in?
garth_johnson
[6:05 PM]
michael_amowitz
[6:09 PM]
It
finally let me in!
Laura
Leibowitz [6:09 PM]
Welcome!
We're still watching the show
michael_amowitz
[6:13 PM]
I
can't even access the show tonight ... only a still of the opening image. Unless
Garth's post is the link ... will try that now ... even having troubler staying
here :confused:
Laura
Leibowitz [6:13 PM]
Try
this
https://www.watch2gether.com/rooms/ijbfc-mbrm7osc3l5p85x3t9?lang=en
michael_amowitz
[6:14 PM]
That
worked, or at least it's loading
Started
where everyone seems to be. About 13 in
Laura
Leibowitz [6:15 PM]
Yep,
you've got it!
Steve_Smith
[6:28 PM]
back
now
michael_amowitz
[6:28 PM]
Back!
Jello everybody!
Laura
Leibowitz [6:28 PM]
Welcome
back, folks!
garth_johnson
[6:28 PM]
Don't
take #4
Viktoria
Irving [6:28 PM]
Thank
you for streaming these, Laura, I'm smiling from ear to ear : D
R.
Hookie [6:28 PM]
Well,
here we are back at the chat...
Laura
Leibowitz [6:28 PM]
Mike
joined us while our program was already in progress.
Viktoria
- So glad you enjoyed it!
Perri
[6:29 PM]
Yes,
thank you, Laura!
Laura
Leibowitz [6:29 PM]
So
what thoughts on either of those shows, or a comparison?
michael_amowitz
[6:29 PM]
That's
okay, I'll catch up :slightly_smiling_face:
R.
Hookie [6:29 PM]
I
never heard the radio version and I enjoyed it
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:29 PM]
Jack's
visual personality was a great addition to his radio persona, adorable charm
belies the "mean old man"
Tom
V. [6:29 PM]
Great
show. Is that one seen in
syndication?
Laura
Leibowitz [6:30 PM]
Yes,
it's part of the syndication package.
R.
Hookie [6:30 PM]
We
had it on Antenna TV
Laura
Leibowitz [6:30 PM]
It
was one of the earliest, but not THE earliest, filmed shows.
So most of those got copyrighted by J&M Productions when that formed
a couple years later
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:31 PM]
Mary
looks so nervous, even in a skit filmed without an audience, I feel sorry for
her stagefright. As opposed to how she could rip anyone to shreds with her
ripostes in the 1940s
Tom
V. [6:32 PM]
I
always wondered, what does "J & M" stand for?
Laura
Leibowitz [6:32 PM]
Um...Jack
and Mary?
Viktoria
Irving [6:32 PM]
To
be fair, in my case, I haven't heard many of the radio shows yet, so I find it
difficult to keep up with the dialogue sometimes because they talk much faster
and English is my second language, so I actually prefered the visual version
(though the radio one had many funny gags). As Kathy says too, Benny's visual
charm just adds to everything. His faces just make me crack up.
Steve_Smith
[6:32 PM]
yup
way
more radio to love
you
are missing most of the best stuff
Laura
Leibowitz [6:33 PM]
Viktoria
- That makes sense. In fact, if
you'd like, I have some copies of radio scripts so you can read along.
Viktoria
Irving [6:33 PM]
Laura,
what a great idea! Yes, I'd love that!!!
Laura
Leibowitz [6:33 PM]
There
are probably also expressions of the time, like "Oh brother" that may
not translate
michael_amowitz
[6:33 PM]
Back,
I never bought an 8-Track :slightly_smiling_face:
Laura
Leibowitz [6:34 PM]
Cool.
Making a note to send you the script of this show and a link to it.
Viktoria
Irving [6:34 PM]
i'm
rather familiar with many archaic americanisms, so that might not be too much of
a problem. When I understand them xDD
michael_amowitz
[6:34 PM]
How
different was the radio version, other than the flying hat? I've seen the TV
version many times, not so sure about the radio version.
Viktoria
Irving [6:35 PM]
Thank
you, Laura!
Laura
Leibowitz [6:35 PM]
You're
most welcome.
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:35 PM]
Viktoria,
I ENVY the position you are in, to know the TV versions first. That way when you
listen to the radio shows (eventually) you will have so many facial
characteristics and visualizations to put with them. I never got to see the TV
show growing up, just the radio shows on cassette, so I didn't have Jack's
facial mannerisms to put with the older radio stuff, yay for I hope you have a
great time!
Laura
Leibowitz [6:35 PM]
I'm
going to let the rest of the folks here answer Mike's question!
michael_amowitz
[6:35 PM]
If
Hookie hasn't heard it, maybe I haven't either
Steve_Smith
[6:36 PM]
LL-
how about horse racing shows next time? (triple crown going on now and all)
Laura
Leibowitz [6:36 PM]
Ah,
that's a good thought!
Viktoria
Irving [6:36 PM]
I
have, Kathy, thank you!! You are right, I closed my eyes during much of the skit
and could see all the expressions he probably pulls during familiar moments.
R.
Hookie [6:36 PM]
Tonight
was a first timer for me for the radio version
Laura
Leibowitz [6:36 PM]
Do
you want a double-header again, or just one?
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:36 PM]
TV
had to be slower-paced than radio, so if you compared the scripts, there's
significantly more dialog on radio
Tom
V. [6:37 PM]
Double
headers are great fun!
Viktoria
Irving [6:37 PM]
Seconded
Steve_Smith
[6:37 PM]
Radio
has soooo much more going on... the laughing gets a bit tinny tho
R.
Hookie [6:37 PM]
Yep.
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:37 PM]
yes
please (as Dennis might say)
Laura
Leibowitz [6:37 PM]
Done
then.
So
what other thoughts on the shows?
R.
Hookie [6:37 PM]
But
I'd still like some GE Theaters sometime too
michael_amowitz
[6:37 PM]
Kathy,
I knew only the TV versions first. I grew up with them as a child, until Gomer
Pyle finally took them away. Probably never heard a radio show until about 1970.
Laura
Leibowitz [6:37 PM]
Benny
Rubin is in both, but does a different bit
Hookie
- Oh that's right! OK, I'll make a
note for July
R.
Hookie [6:38 PM]
DARN
JIM NABORS!
Viktoria
Irving [6:38 PM]
Who
is Rubin in the radio skit?
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:38 PM]
Jack
in the 1950s TV shows impresses me as still so young and vital and full of life.
Not the "old man" they claim he is on radio in 1950. That must have
been amusing to radio fans who followed him over to TV
Steve_Smith
[6:38 PM]
Idunno
michael_amowitz
[6:38 PM]
LL,
what was the airdate for the radio version?
Viktoria
Irving [6:39 PM]
Yes
Kathy, Great energy
Laura
Leibowitz [6:39 PM]
1945,
but let me get you a better date
michael_amowitz
[6:39 PM]
I'll
run it later ... thanks!
Laura
Leibowitz [6:39 PM]
3/18/45
michael_amowitz
[6:39 PM]
:slightly_smiling_face:
Laura
Leibowitz [6:40 PM]
Rubin
on radio is the guy who needs a job
Viktoria
Irving [6:40 PM]
Also
at the beginning then!
Laura
Leibowitz [6:40 PM]
Does
a mild double-talk..paintinin,
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:41 PM]
which
would not have worked well on TV, when we are not paying such close attention to
the sounds!
Laura
Leibowitz [6:41 PM]
Also,
I think his "I dunno" gag was pretty well-established by the time of
the television episode
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:41 PM]
he
would have had to add a lot of physical shtick to make the doubletalk work on TV
Laura
Leibowitz [6:41 PM]
Oh
and the Sportsmen are on both shows
garth_johnson
[6:41 PM]
If
that was "double talk" that Rubin did I'm Cliff Nazarro!
Viktoria
Irving [6:41 PM]
A
question: Is the double talk based on something or a reference?
Laura
Leibowitz [6:41 PM]
Kathy
- Completely agreed
Viktoria
- Well, they actually had a guy who did double-talk in vaudeville on Jack's
radio show in the 30s
Cliff
Nazarro
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:42 PM]
Yes
Garth, you are right that we are confusing things oops
Laura
Leibowitz [6:42 PM]
But
he did more of a pure-on gibberish
Sorry,
I'm stepping on Garth's point.
That's
why I'm calling it "mild double talk"...more of an affectation
Viktoria
Irving [6:43 PM]
So
it's just a funny routine, I see ; )
garth_johnson
[6:43 PM]
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:43 PM]
word-play
would have much harder time on TV
Laura
Leibowitz [6:43 PM]
Yes,
although a Marx Brothers routine with Groucho and Chico never misses
So
short answer, Rubin's affectation just sounds funny
Viktoria
Irving [6:44 PM]
Ah,
thank you!
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:44 PM]
although
to think it worked well in vaudeville when they were not MIKED well! Our
ancestors had much sharper listening skills
Viktoria
Irving [6:44 PM]
Or
better trained voices
Laura
Leibowitz [6:44 PM]
He
also seems to be doing the immigrant impersonation, kind of a sendup of the
various ethnic accents of the day
You
know, does anyone here really "get" Cliff Nazarro's attraction?
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:44 PM]
no
hahaha
garth_johnson
[6:45 PM]
And
I like Rubin much more than siliwitafalashc
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:45 PM]
its
works once or twice, but like the 23rd "wanna buy a duck?" it gets
weary
Laura
Leibowitz [6:45 PM]
Yeah...I
get questions about him now and again.
And
that's why only we remember Joe Penner today
Viktoria
Irving [6:45 PM]
Are
there listening samples of Cliff Nazarro? When he does that talk?
Laura
Leibowitz [6:46 PM]
I'll
find you a show that has him
I'm
thinking of "Snow White and the Seven Gangsters"
Viktoria
Irving [6:46 PM]
sounds
good : DDD
Laura
Leibowitz [6:46 PM]
Anyone
know a better Nazarro representation off the top of your heads?
R.
Hookie [6:46 PM]
(crickets)
Steve_Smith
[6:47 PM]
blondie
movie ... collage one i think
Laura
Leibowitz [6:47 PM]
Hey
Kathy, there was a recurring character around the time they were doing Grind
Hotel over and over
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:47 PM]
blech,
isn't he in the Hollywood Revue of 1929 film?
Laura
Leibowitz [6:47 PM]
Trying
to remember his name
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:48 PM]
a
favorite! I am Lionel Barrymore as Kringlein and I
only have five minutes to live!
Laura
Leibowitz [6:48 PM]
We're
talking 1933-34 or so
Kringlein!
That's it!
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:48 PM]
at
least they killed him hahahaha
Laura
Leibowitz [6:48 PM]
Is
that why he never came back.
michael_amowitz
[6:48 PM]
Cliff
Nazarro: Double-Talk Comedian!
Laura
Leibowitz [6:49 PM]
This
will all make more sense when Kathy's book comes out and you can read the
scripts from that time
Viktoria
Irving [6:49 PM]
thank
you so much!
Laura
Leibowitz [6:49 PM]
There
ya go...perfect Cliff Nazarro
Viktoria
Irving [6:50 PM]
This
chap is like a comedy language-barrier on legs xDDDD Thanks so much for the clip
: D
Laura
Leibowitz [6:50 PM]
Oh
look...I dated him (Mason not Nazarro) once
Steve_Smith
[6:50 PM]
:+1:
michael_amowitz
[6:50 PM]
lol
Laura
Leibowitz [6:51 PM]
At
least we have the same confusion that you do!
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:51 PM]
yay!
I have am amusing story from yesterday.... I go to look at all the scripts that
the hired typist has transcribed..... and they are all gone. Heart attack! Thank
goodness for Dropbox and its "deleted files -- restore" function. The
typist had deleted everything on May 13. I got it all back and saved it in a
dozen other places that he has not access to..... sounds like the revenge of
Harry Conn
Laura
Leibowitz [6:51 PM]
LOL!!!!!!
The
typist deleted everything and went to Palm Springs.
Viktoria
Irving [6:51 PM]
Or
to Rio
Laura
Leibowitz [6:52 PM]
You
should send a telegram and fire the writer
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:52 PM]
P
..a...l..m..s..p..r...
michael_amowitz
[6:52 PM]
Only
confused about Kringlein ... was that his name, or is that Lionel Barrymore?
Viktoria
Irving [6:52 PM]
Happy
to hear you restored the files, Kathy!
Laura
Leibowitz [6:52 PM]
Kathy
- You've seen the scripts way more than I have.
Explain...
Viktoria
- Harry Conn was Jack's first writer. Much
longer story, but he got his ego going and left Jack without a script and went
off to Palm Springs, IIRC
michael_amowitz
[6:53 PM]
Oh!
Grand Hotel! Lol, I saw Grind Hotel and was lost :stuck_out_tongue:
Viktoria
Irving [6:54 PM]
Amazing.
Like in a soap opera or comedy film.
Laura
Leibowitz [6:54 PM]
Yes,
Conn called their spoof of Grand Hotel "Grind Hotel."
R.
Hookie [6:54 PM]
That's
something different
Laura
Leibowitz [6:54 PM]
Viktoria
- Yes, his association with Harry Conn became the stuff of legends.
Well, maybe small legends known mostly to academics.
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:55 PM]
Kringelein
is a character in the film Grand Hotel, and he is played by Lionel Barrymore.
He's a good guy, career in accounting (underpaid) working for evil Wallace
Beery's company. Finds out that he has cancer and employer won't give him health
insurance, Kringlein helps the secretary (Joan
Crawford) who is also working for Beery....ends up with Beery's fortune and
Kringy and Crawford go off to spend his last days in Paris...
Viktoria
Irving [6:55 PM]
I
see, merci for explaining : D
michael_amowitz
[6:55 PM]
I
just looked it up :slightly_smiling_face:
Laura
Leibowitz [6:55 PM]
Thus
"I'm Kringelein and I have only five minutes to live!"
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:56 PM]
ta-da!
Laura
Leibowitz [6:56 PM]
So
what else Benny-wise is on your mind?
Thanks...I
needed someone to cut my act. :slightly_smiling_face:
michael_amowitz
[6:57 PM]
Just
sorry I never met him.
Laura
Leibowitz [6:57 PM]
BTW
for anyone who doesn't know the expression, "cutting the act" is like
having a drummer hit a cymbal when an acrobat does a trick, or doing a drumroll
to build suspense.
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:57 PM]
Kringy?
but after all, he only had five minutes to live
(haha sorry for the joke Michael)
Laura
Leibowitz [6:58 PM]
LOL
Shall
we call it good for this month? This
has been great!
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:58 PM]
Jack
has been showing up in my dreams lately, he seems very happy
: )
michael_amowitz
[6:58 PM]
Glad
to see y'all!
R.
Hookie [6:58 PM]
Yes,
fun night tonight!!!
kathy_fuller_seeley
[6:58 PM]
thanks
Laura for a great chat!
Laura
Leibowitz [6:59 PM]
Kathy
- Lucky you...I've not dreamed of him very much in my life, surprisingly!
R.
Hookie [6:59 PM]
I'm
so glad we had this time together... (ear tug)
Viktoria
Irving [6:59 PM]
I
enjoyed myself trememdously. You are such a kind and funny bunch : ))
Laura
Leibowitz [6:59 PM]
Thanks
for joining, hope you can make it next month!
Tom
V. [6:59 PM]
I'm
so glad we had this time together.......oops, wrong show!
Good night, folks! :grinning:
michael_amowitz
[6:59 PM]
I
know how that goes, Kathy; if I deal with a subject a lot, they turn up in my
dreams.
Viktoria
Irving [6:59 PM]
Actually,
would you mind two Benny related questions before you drop off?
Laura
Leibowitz [7:00 PM]
Sure,
go for it.
kathy_fuller_seeley
[7:00 PM]
now
if I could just get Francis Ford (John Ford's other brother) in my dreams, hubba
hubba and another story'
garth_johnson
[7:00 PM]
And
that was the last number of tonight chat -- tune in next month at this same time
when you will hear LL say We are a little late so good night!
jbpg_-_elements_-_radio_-_philco-2.jpg
michael_amowitz
[7:02 PM]
I'm
sticking around for Quiz Kids, unless Viktoria poofed.
Laura
Leibowitz [7:02 PM]
She's
still typing last I saw...
A
hush falls over the room
Viktoria
Irving [7:02 PM]
Recently
saw this photo of him and the octopus adorned swimming pool and wondered.. did
he have a flair for strange decoration (do you know of other outré stuff in his
living spaces) or was that just a one-off?
Laura
Leibowitz [7:02 PM]
Cue
the drumroll
Viktoria
Irving [7:02 PM]
apologies
everyone :smile:
Laura
Leibowitz [7:02 PM]
Ah!!!!
The octopus!
Viktoria
Irving [7:03 PM]
it's
great
Laura
Leibowitz [7:03 PM]
You
got a bunch of researchers who can tell you all kinds of stories about that
octopus
garth_johnson
[7:03 PM]
The
Eyes story --- please tell
Viktoria
Irving [7:03 PM]
lovely
little octopus (although i would be scared if i had to swim in it xDD)
Laura
Leibowitz [7:03 PM]
Who
wants to tell it?
Viktoria
- And Joan shared your feeling!
Viktoria
Irving [7:03 PM]
Please
bring them on!!
kathy_fuller_seeley
[7:03 PM]
love
the octopus swimming pool! My guess is that it was the imaginings of an
interior/exterior decorator. Certainly little Joan was frightened by its staring
eyess
Laura
Leibowitz [7:04 PM]
Jack
wasn't very outre, and Mary did most of the designing.
And redesigning. And
re-redesigning.
I
agree with Kathy that it probably was the vision of the architect
Whose
name I believe is mentioned on the radio show
michael_amowitz
[7:04 PM]
I
may never have heard of that before! From Mary, makes more sense than Jack
:smile:
Laura
Leibowitz [7:05 PM]
I
may be confusing that with the building of his Palm Springs home
garth_johnson
[7:05 PM]
Jack
was not much of a swimmer
kathy_fuller_seeley
[7:05 PM]
entertainers
with money in the mid-1930s paid for lovely large houses in Beverly Hills with
every amenity; not just a plain swimming pool, but ones with decorations. After
little Joan got upset, they took out the eye tiles and gave it a blank
expression
Viktoria
Irving [7:05 PM]
hahahahaah
Laura
Leibowitz [7:05 PM]
And
I had the fortune or misfortune of touring the house the DAY AFTER they ripped
out the octopus because they were removing the pool.
I
asked, and the foreman said, "Nope, the octopus is gone."
Viktoria
Irving [7:06 PM]
oh
i'm sorry
would've
been something to see!
Laura
Leibowitz [7:06 PM]
:sweat:
kathy_fuller_seeley
[7:06 PM]
wow
and rats! But that is how it goes in Hollywood and Beverly Hills, they blithely
rip down anything with a historical background
michael_amowitz
[7:06 PM]
Not
a big fan of Octopus pools
garth_johnson
[7:06 PM]
I'd
like to be - under the sea ...
Laura
Leibowitz [7:06 PM]
Fortunately
a good number of photos exist.
Kathy
- The one good thing about that was that I got to see the Jell-O flavors and
Buck Benny names painted on the I-beams over the living room!
Kathy
- I may have told you that Barbara and I went together for that tour!
Viktoria
Irving [7:07 PM]
Oh
boy, thanks for all these AMAZING details!!
Laura
Leibowitz [7:07 PM]
So
you said a couple questions...what else?
kathy_fuller_seeley
[7:08 PM]
WOW
Laura, that's amazing. And with Barbara! Did she snitch any souvenirs? haha just
joking
michael_amowitz
[7:08 PM]
Is
there anything still to see there, and do they even have tours?
Laura
Leibowitz [7:08 PM]
And
feel free not to limit it to two
Michael
- No, and mine had to be kept hush-hush for a long time.
Kathy
- I'd be surprised if she didn't, but I didn't see her do it!
michael_amowitz
[7:08 PM]
:slightly_smiling_face:
Never
tried, content to drive by all the homes
Laura
Leibowitz [7:09 PM]
Kathy
- Actually, she was carrying the book of photos of Jack's house (the little grey
one) and doing on-the-spot comparisons
kathy_fuller_seeley
[7:10 PM]
I
understand how meaningful it can be to have a physical representation/connection
to the object of one's fandom, I love Barbara's collections!
Viktoria
Irving [7:10 PM]
This
is straightforward: What's the best video clip to judge his violin skills -- not
the concert ones, since he noticeably plays slower than he should and struggles
somewhat at the Bach et al. repertoire.
Laura
Leibowitz [7:10 PM]
Mike
- I think seeing the front is the nearest you can get.
I'm pretty sure they left the circular staircase intact.
Oo...good
question!
Actually,
I would say it's the bit right at the end of the show with Stuart Canin
They
do a duet, and Stuart said "I did the hard bits," but they play it
pretty straight.
michael_amowitz
[7:11 PM]
My
favorite has always been him with Gisele.
Viktoria
Irving [7:11 PM]
Hmm,
Stuart Canin, noted!
kathy_fuller_seeley
[7:11 PM]
those
are two great examples, when all Jack's heart and affection are at play
Laura
Leibowitz [7:11 PM]
And
actually, I think many of the folks in the room have heard me tell that when
Stuart and his wife Virginia were over here for dinner one time, I showed him a
show that isn't in circulation: "60
Piece Orchestra"
R.
Hookie [7:12 PM]
I
enjoy Jack's violin playing in the hillbilly sketches...
Laura
Leibowitz [7:12 PM]
And
he was leaning forward, mouth open, saying, "He's REALLY playing that!
I didn't know he could play that well!"
kathy_fuller_seeley
[7:12 PM]
what
a wonderful experience, Laura! So glad that you could make that happen for
Stuart!
Laura
Leibowitz [7:13 PM]
Fair
warning, the skit on the Stuart Canin show about Stradivarius is awful in my
book. You can skip it and thank me
later.
Viktoria
Irving [7:13 PM]
Heard
about the 60 piece orchestra and cried at it not being on the net ahahah
Laura,
noted!
Laura
Leibowitz [7:13 PM]
I
should really fix that one day, but I promised my source.
It's
actually my favorite episode.
michael_amowitz
[7:13 PM]
I
just came across this, so running it now:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCBJVfhPpsk
YouTubeAngus
Rare
recording of Jack Benny with Heifetz
Laura
Leibowitz [7:14 PM]
You
can also look for "Hollywood Canteen," but that's Jack playing
comedically.
Viktoria
Irving [7:14 PM]
He
does more 'clowning' than straightforward playing in this, sadly
thanks
for the link nevertheless, Michael!!
Laura
Leibowitz [7:15 PM]
Actually,
the bit in the color specials with the Tijuana Strings is pretty good of
"My Honey's Lovin' Arms"
Yes,
Jack didn't get serious about his playing until Danny Kaye introduced him to
Isaac Stern
Viktoria
Irving [7:15 PM]
Will
have to look that up as well!
Laura
Leibowitz [7:15 PM]
One
day I may release the audio of my interview with Stern where I'm reading him
excepts from Jack's autobiography
I
went down to pull the book the night before, and it flipped open to that page,
and I saw the words "I just worship Stern."
kathy_fuller_seeley
[7:16 PM]
what
a a great story! Oh wow, I would love to hear that interview, Laura! Must go,
this has been a great occasion, thanks all!
Laura
Leibowitz [7:16 PM]
Take
care, Kathy! Thank you!
Viktoria
Irving [7:16 PM]
aws,
Laura, it sounds as if your house is full of teasures!
R.
Hookie [7:16 PM]
Good
night Kathy!
Viktoria
Irving [7:17 PM]
Cheers!
Laura
Leibowitz [7:17 PM]
Ask
Kathy...she's seen it!
And
apparently there are photos of parts of my house that are in circulation on the
Internet!
Garth
probably has them. :wink:
Viktoria
Irving [7:18 PM]
:
D
michael_amowitz
[7:18 PM]
Still
running Haifetz and Benny ... marveling that I missed this up to now :smile:
Y'all have a great week!
Laura
Leibowitz [7:18 PM]
OK,
sounds good. Thanks all for making
this a wonderful chat!
Steve_Smith
[7:18 PM]
bedtime
..
night
all
R.
Hookie [7:18 PM]
Fun
chat tonight! Good night folks!
garth_johnson
[7:19 PM]
Night
all - have to find a gas man
jpk_-_stanley_park_bear_Image-77.jpg
Steve_Smith
[7:19 PM]
:+1:
michael_amowitz
[7:19 PM]
Maybe
horse racing and baseball double header next month!
Viktoria
Irving [7:19 PM]
Night
Steve!! As to violining.. do you know whether it is Benny playing in the skit
with LeBlanc having a nervous breakdown?
Laura
Leibowitz [7:19 PM]
Generally
I believe not. Jack couldn't juggle
his violin and his script at the same time.
But my opinion has changed on that over time.
I'm
pretty sure that's Larry Kurkdjie, the violin player in the band and sometimes
Jack's violin teacher, who does that.
michael_amowitz
[7:20 PM]
Who
could stand in for the maestro?
Viktoria
Irving [7:20 PM]
Huh,
makes sense. : )
Laura
Leibowitz [7:20 PM]
But
I'm not 100% positive on that.
michael_amowitz
[7:20 PM]
:middle_finger:
Viktoria
Irving [7:21 PM]
Seems
prerecorded anyway, so I was wondering.
Laura
Leibowitz [7:21 PM]
Are
you giving us the finger, Mike?
Yes,
I'm pretty sure it was done live.
michael_amowitz
[7:21 PM]
lol,
well I was trying for thumbs up ... this was next to thumbs down :smile:
Laura
Leibowitz [7:21 PM]
At
least on radio
Sentiment
accepted, Mike!
Viktoria
Irving [7:21 PM]
Ahh
-- jeez, it's way too late here.
Laura
Leibowitz [7:22 PM]
OK,
let's all wrap it up then.
michael_amowitz
[7:22 PM]
Hope
to be able to catch y'all next month!
Laura
Leibowitz [7:22 PM]
Agreed!
Viktoria
Irving [7:22 PM]
Thank
you for being so welcoming, I'll try to drop by again. Hopefully next time. Had
a great time!
Laura
Leibowitz [7:22 PM]
Thanks
so much. Have a great month!
Viktoria
Irving [7:23 PM]
Much
warmth to all! and cheers!