IJBFC Chat - December 15, 2019
(Name of message originator appears above the line)
garth_johnson 4:54
PM
Season's
Greetings
kathy_fuller_seeley 4:54
PM
hello,
anybody, are there folks gathering tonight around the radio or computer hearth?
Tom
V. 4:55 PM
Good
evening, one and all!
kathy_fuller_seeley 4:56
PM
I
am looking forward to the latest film version of "Little Women," and
happy to recall that Jack did a parody of the film (1934? or was it 33?)
garth_johnson 4:56
PM
Anybody
find any other presents under the tree?
Tom
V. 4:57 PM
Why
can't Santa bring those helpers to my house! LOL
garth_johnson 4:59
PM
Well
? Have you?
Tom
V. 5:00 PM
Great
pictures, Garth!!
roger 5:00
PM
Hello
everyone !
Neil
Ottenstein 5:00 PM
Good
evening
Rodrigo
Araya 5:00 PM
Hell-lo,
shtraynger!
R.
Hookie 5:01 PM
Hi
folks!hi Laura! (edited)
Laura
Leibowitz 5:02 PM
Hey
folks!
Rodrigo
Araya 5:02 PM
Hey,
where did that photo of the Rochmeister and Carmichael come from?
Laura
Leibowitz 5:02 PM
Good
crowd already tonight!
Neil
Ottenstein 5:03 PM
noticed
the reminder this time
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:04
PM
wonderful
image!!!!!
Laura
Leibowitz 5:04 PM
Excellent.
So how's everyone doing?
Tom
V. 5:04 PM
I
remembered what time zone i live in this time!!
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:04
PM
Hi
Laura, love the FB photos of your home furnishing upgrades
R.
Hookie 5:05 PM
Cold
here...
Rodrigo
Araya 5:05 PM
Did
you read today's post on the Tralfaz blog?
Laura
Leibowitz 5:05 PM
LOL...now
all I need to do is get them together.
No,
what did Don post?
Kathy
- You've seen my library first hand. I'm transforming it
Rodrigo
Araya 5:05 PM
About
a 1938 "broadcast" made for an auditiorium in San Francisco.
Steve_Smith 5:06
PM
Good
Eeeeevahning folks
Laura
Leibowitz 5:06 PM
Post,
Don. Er...Grape Nuts!
Rodrigo
Araya 5:06 PM
https://tralfaz.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-show-never-heard-on-radio.html
tralfaz.blogspot.com
The
Show Never Heard on the Radio
Once
the Jack Benny radio show settled in Los Angeles in the mid-1930s, he
occasionally took it on the road (not counting war-time location ...(17 kB)
Laura
Leibowitz 5:06 PM
Hi
Steve!
R.
Hookie 5:06 PM
Hi
Steve
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:06
PM
YAY
for library transformation., Now to digitize Barbara's scrapbooks
Laura
Leibowitz 5:06 PM
Oh
yes, they recently reopened that place!
5:06
PM
Kathy
- Fully agreed. Just need the hours in the day.
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:06
PM
so
many hours!
garth_johnson 5:06
PM
Rodrigo,
its from a 1939 Fawcett publiction, I don't know which of their magazines, but
possibly Radio Mirror.
Laura
Leibowitz 5:06 PM
Can
someone please hit the lottery, donate it to the IJBFC, and then I can work on
this stuff full-time?
5:07
PM
Kathy
- Have you ever seen the animated image of ball bearings that is called "a
woman's mind?"
Steve_Smith 5:07
PM
I
saw that posted on FB but haven't listened to it yet
R.
Hookie 5:07 PM
I'd
have ti 'fix' the lottery
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:07
PM
oh
no, will look for it
Rodrigo
Araya 5:07 PM
'39?
There's a reference to the gasman!
Laura
Leibowitz 5:08 PM
Kathy
- Suffice it to say that digitizing Barbara's scrapbooks is one of those ball
bearings.
5:08
PM
Yes,
Carmichael goes back a ways!
garth_johnson 5:09
PM
All
part of the "Buck Benny Rides Again" film publicity
Rodrigo
Araya 5:09 PM
I
swear they didn't come up with the gas man until 1941.
Laura
Leibowitz 5:09 PM
How
a woman's brain works
For
Kathy ^
garth_johnson 5:10
PM
...
Fred Allen --- in person!
Laura
Leibowitz 5:10 PM
Hmmm...that
sounds like a challenge for my log (when was the gas man introduced)
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:10
PM
wonderful
photos!!!!
Laura
Leibowitz 5:11 PM
Hmmm...I
didn't track that as a running gag...
Steve_Smith 5:12
PM
I
was wondering when that one had started... hmmm
Rodrigo
Araya 5:12 PM
I
remember that photo of Carmichael as a deliveryman posted on the FB group.
Laura
Leibowitz 5:13 PM
First
mention of the gas man that I recorded was 4/6/41
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:13
PM
wow
the women's brain video clip will now be posted to as many places as possible,
with thank yous to you all!
Laura
Leibowitz 5:13 PM
Carmichael
was a character before then
Who
remembers how Jack got Carmichael?
garth_johnson 5:14
PM
LL
- I can't remember , but we should as this guy
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:14
PM
Carmichael
was a bizarre present from Fred Allen?
Rodrigo
Araya 5:15 PM
On
a related note, when did Mel Blanc debut?
Laura
Leibowitz 5:15 PM
As
Carmichael?
Rodrigo
Araya 5:15 PM
In
the show.
Laura
Leibowitz 5:15 PM
Jack
got a polar bear, but it wasn't until 2/19/39 that the character was named
Carmichael
So
NO ONE here remembers how Jack got Carmichael?
Rodrigo
Araya 5:16 PM
"Remember,
we have a non-agression pact."
Steve_Smith 5:16
PM
not
me...
the
gas man deliver him?
Laura
Leibowitz 5:17 PM
Not
quite
Did
we lose Kathy?
Neil
Ottenstein 5:17 PM
Cute
story from Mel Blanc's wikipedia page about the Maxwell sound: "The first
role came from a mishap when the recording of the automobile's sounds failed to
play on cue, prompting Blanc to take the microphone and improvise the sounds
himself. The audience reacted so positively that Benny decided to dispense with
the recording altogether and have Blanc continue in that role"
Steve_Smith 5:17
PM
that
i knew
Laura
Leibowitz 5:17 PM
OK,
show of hands...who thinks that's how it happened in reality?
Steve_Smith 5:18
PM
watched
a MB interview the other day
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:18
PM
hey
I am here
Rodrigo
Araya 5:18 PM
Mel's
story adds that there was a heat wave and that the air conditioned was faulty.
garth_johnson 5:18
PM
I
think that Mel's story is beans - Pinto Beans
Laura
Leibowitz 5:18 PM
Garth
- As opposed to Pinto Covig
Colvig
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:18
PM
Oh
I think that Pinto whatever his name was, did the first Maxwell sounds
Laura
Leibowitz 5:19 PM
He
did some characters for the show
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:19
PM
before
Mel joined the show in 1942 or 43
Laura
Leibowitz 5:19 PM
No,
Mel goes back further than that
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:19
PM
Pinto
Colvin? there are a couple newspaper articles attesting to this
garth_johnson 5:19
PM
1937
- Evansville Courier - Pinto Colvig, left, veteran Hollywood sound effects man,
helps Jack Benny demonstrate the ancient Maxwell that Benny has been bragging
about during his Sunday night broadcasts over the NBC-Red network in recent
weeks. It's Colvig who makes the realistic maxwell sounds that have
"taken-in" more than one Benny fan.
Rodrigo
Araya 5:19 PM
Mel's
first appearance as an SPEAKING character was on the "Camel Comedy
Caravan" special in 1943.
Laura
Leibowitz 5:19 PM
Mel
first appeared in 6/7/36
Neil
Ottenstein 5:20 PM
NICE
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:20
PM
well,
I would say that extra folks on radio earned just pennies on the west coast and
worked their butts off, uncredited, in the 1930s and early 1940s
Laura
Leibowitz 5:20 PM
Pinto
Colvig was on Jack's show on 11/14/37, 11/28/37, 6/5/38, and 10/9/38
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:21
PM
we
know that Mel was a west coast guy, working dozens of radio jobs to makes ends
meet
Laura
Leibowitz 5:21 PM
And
you are correct...11/14/37 he was the Maxwell!
And
11/28. But that's it.
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:22
PM
perhaps
many part time bits were uncredited. I have so much respect for how hard folks
had to work back then, in tiny parts
Laura
Leibowitz 5:23 PM
And
actually, Mel's first appearance was in a speaking role on 6/7/36 ("Gensler")
garth_johnson 5:23
PM
I
would love to see Frank Nelson's date book with all his AFTRA entries, probably
the best document of OTR
Laura
Leibowitz 5:23 PM
And
God bless Harry Conn for occasionally pencilling in the supporting actors' names
on the script.
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:24
PM
I
just love how Mel brought his Benny characters back and forth to Warners' Looney
Tunes cartoons, we can hear voices move back and forth in the 1940s
Steve_Smith 5:24
PM
Mel
kept trying to get into cartoons but he couldn't get an audition until there was
a management change at Fleischer...
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:24
PM
yay
for Harry Conn's scribblings!
Steve_Smith 5:24
PM
THAT
changed everything for him (I think that's what I remember anyway)
Rodrigo
Araya 5:25 PM
Mel
never worked at the NY-based Fleischer.
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:25
PM
WOW
Garth, does Frank Nelson
garth_johnson 5:25
PM
1940's
- AFRS - Mel Blanc with Pinto Colvig, Clarence Nash and unidentifed woman
Steve_Smith 5:25
PM
not
what Mel said in that interview I watched
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:26
PM
excuse
me, does Frank Nelson's document exist? Where can we find it?
Rodrigo
Araya 5:27 PM
Gee!
In his memoirs he mentioned knocking tirelessly on the doors of the Schlesinger
studio until Norman Spencer left (or dropped dead according to him).
Laura
Leibowitz 5:28 PM
Oh,
I see why no one knows how Jack got Carmichael. It's a lost ep.
Steve_Smith 5:28
PM
oh
... maybe that's what I heard then... hell my memory sinks..
OH...
do you have it?
Laura
Leibowitz 5:28 PM
Stinks
like a Stone
No,
I read the script.
garth_johnson 5:28
PM
Kathy,
I don't know where it may be -- Frank is reading parts of it in an audio
telephone interview that I found somewhere. Either Schaden of Dunning or
someonels circa the mid 1980s
Laura
Leibowitz 5:28 PM
Jack
got Carmichael as a birthday present on 2/12/39.
Rochester
calls and says a large box arrived containing the polar bear
The
next week Jack intimates that he thinks Fred Allen sent it.
Rodrigo
Araya 5:30 PM
Ev'rybody
remembers Carmichael and Polly, but does anyone remember Trudy the ostrich,
Leona the horse, or Jack's pet camel?
Laura
Leibowitz 5:31 PM
I
do, but I'm crazy.
(I
have a feeling I stole that line from Mr. Billingsley.)
Rodrigo
Araya 5:31 PM
It's
almost 80 years since his debut (early 1940)
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:31
PM
speaking
of lost episodes, I hope to have good news for everyone soon.....publisher Ben
has moved the Benny scripts manuscript to a faster typesetter. I hope we hear
good news soon from Joan B. about reprinting the Sunday Nights mss and other
goodies
Laura
Leibowitz 5:31 PM
Yay!!!!!!!
Yes,
so noted, Kathy.
garth_johnson 5:32
PM
Named
for Trudy Wellman found the day after Carmichael was found
Laura
Leibowitz 5:32 PM
To
be really candid, I spend my whole day at work sitting on my bum in front of the
computer and in meetings, and it makes it hard to come home and do the same...
garth_johnson 5:33
PM
I'd
walk a mile to get away from this guy
Laura
Leibowitz 5:33 PM
But
wait till you see the gorgeous photo I just got for the next cover.
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:33
PM
Rodrigo,
thanks for mentioning Trudy!!! In Mark Sandrich's papers at the Motion Picture
Academy archives, he mentions being so pleased that Trudy is named after his own
film production assistant Trudy, from when they were filming Buck Benny and Love
Thy Neighbor at Paramount
Laura
Leibowitz 5:33 PM
No
kidding!!!!!
OK,
should we go to the show for this evening?
Actually,
I just added one based on our conversation.
garth_johnson 5:35
PM
Somebody
pass the popcorn
kathy_fuller_seeley 5:35
PM
Garth
, you win for the jokes, I just got the "walk a mile" one, hahahaha
Laura
Leibowitz 5:36 PM
OK,
let's go! https://w2g.tv/mbrm7osc3l5p85x3t9
(was Jack Benny program with guest star Rod Serling)
garth_johnson 5:39
PM
1935
- Jack Benny Program cast - Phil Harris, Jack Benny, Mary Livingston, Don
Wilson, Frank Parker
Rodrigo
Araya 6:08 PM
The
bandleader at the time was Don Bestor (who debuted alongside Don for Gen. Tire).
Philsie didn't join until the show moved to L.A. in '36.
Laura
Leibowitz 6:08 PM
Thought
with the comment of "GREED" you were having a Von Stroheim attack...
6:08
PM
I
adore that episode.
R.
Hookie 6:09 PM
Fun
stuff!
Steve_Smith 6:09
PM
a
puntypo
Laura
Leibowitz 6:09 PM
Anyone
seeing that for the first time tonight?
Steve_Smith 6:09
PM
I
saw some of it before
R.
Hookie 6:09 PM
Same
Neil
Ottenstein 6:09 PM
I
think it was the first time, but there is a chance I saw it ages ago with my
parents
Steve_Smith 6:09
PM
got
side tracked ....
Laura
Leibowitz 6:10 PM
It
came back to me several weeks ago when I was debating with a classical viola
player friend if Dennis could sing opera.
Steve_Smith 6:10
PM
Rod's
summary was killer
Laura
Leibowitz 6:10 PM
Told
her I thought I'd heard him do Vesti la Giubba, and she didn't believe it. So I
proved my point.
Neil
Ottenstein 6:10 PM
there
you go
Laura
Leibowitz 6:11 PM
I
just think that's a beautifully crafted show.
Steve_Smith 6:11
PM
agreed
.. = )
Tom
V. 6:11 PM
Firsttime
I've seen that with the State Farm commercials intact. It was very well done!
First
time *
Laura
Leibowitz 6:12 PM
Yes,
makes you appreciate how much would be lost by trying to edit that out!
Steve_Smith 6:13
PM
never
cared much for those State Farm spots ... give me Jello of Lucky's...
Laura
Leibowitz 6:13 PM
Lucky
Strike-flavored Jell-O...
garth_johnson 6:13
PM
A
fine example of how the writers could weave in the guest star - I think the
Bogart show as a bit better.
Laura
Leibowitz 6:13 PM
It
was also 10 years earlier
Steve_Smith 6:14
PM
or
.. not of ... fat fingers
Laura
Leibowitz 6:14 PM
and
done live
So
what else about the show for tonight?
Requests
for next time?
New
Tenant...quickly ducks under the desk
Steve_Smith 6:15
PM
Guest
shows maybe
garth_johnson 6:16
PM
A
mystery guest would be nice ...
Laura
Leibowitz 6:16 PM
Aha...that
gives me an idea
Neil
Ottenstein 6:16 PM
how
much did they rehearse those shows before broadcast?
Laura
Leibowitz 6:16 PM
Neil
- Radio or TV?
Neil
Ottenstein 6:16 PM
TV
Laura
Leibowitz 6:17 PM
That's
a really good question...the radio show was very regimented, but the TV less so
They'd
record a bunch of them at a time.
This
one was recorded 11/16/62
Steve_Smith 6:17
PM
guest
like spots from other shows..
Laura
Leibowitz 6:18 PM
So
I'm not 100% sure.
OK.
I think I've got a good idea.
Anything
else Benny-wise on anyone's mind?
garth_johnson 6:18
PM
My
suggestion
Laura
Leibowitz 6:18 PM
Everyone
got quiet after the show
Can
do that
Rodrigo
Araya 6:19 PM
Yeah.
Neil
Ottenstein 6:19 PM
nice
photo
Steve_Smith 6:19
PM
it's
just nice to be around other Jack fans...
Laura
Leibowitz 6:19 PM
Agreed
Rodrigo
Araya 6:20 PM
When
did Jack buy that elephant foot at the auction?
Laura
Leibowitz 6:20 PM
Hmmm...40s...let
me get a better date...
radio
or tv?
TV
was 11/12/61
Rodrigo
Araya 6:21 PM
Thanks.
garth_johnson 6:21
PM
We
need a post-show pick-me-up -- who's buying the Ovaltine
Laura
Leibowitz 6:21 PM
OK...shall
we call it good for this month?
Ah
neat...lost treasures
Steve_Smith 6:21
PM
Thank
you Laura and Happy Christmas to you guys.
R.
Hookie 6:21 PM
Good
night, folks!
Laura
Leibowitz 6:21 PM
Have
a wonderful holiday! See you next year!
Steve_Smith 6:22
PM
Good
nigh so you next time
Tom
V. 6:22 PM
Merry
Christmas and Happy Holidays to one and all!!
Rodrigo
Araya 6:22 PM
Merry
X-mas
garth_johnson 6:22
PM
From
my house to yours - Merry Christmas
roger 6:22
PM
Happy
Holidays to all!
Neil
Ottenstein 6:22 PM
Yes,
Happy Holidays to one and all.
Laura
Leibowitz 6:22 PM
Only
two?
And
good night, Mrs. Calabash...wherever you are!
Neil
Ottenstein 6:23 PM
10
children! Wow!
had
to look that up
garth_johnson 6:24
PM
And
to play us out tonight ...
