The Blue Fairy Lady

[BobR]

Who played the Blue Fairy actress on the Benny shows. Was her name Mary Kelly? On a previous message she was reportedly described as portly with alot of "fat" innuendos especially made by Mary and occasionally by Jack toward her.. Was she an old girl friend of Jack's in the past? What I find curious is why Jack would hire a former girl friend acting with his own wife and then curiously enough his wife making sarcastic remarks about her. To me it seems like a very strange arrangement. Was it perhaps because Jack felt sorry for her but if that were the case why personally throw "humorous" insults at her? What are others'opinions? This makes for a very interesting psychological discussion. Any opinions how Mary Kelly would feel about this?

[LLeff]

Who played the Blue Fairy actress on the Benny shows. Was her name Mary Kelly?

Yes, that was Mary Kelly. I'll let others tell the detailed story about her history with Jack, but do take a look on our old Bulletin Board (Forum, then Old Board Posts) for some discussion about her, the fat jokes, etc.

[Gerry O.]

Jack hadn't seen Mary Kelly for years after their breakup. Since the breakup Mary had gotten married and the marriage was a bad one, resulting in her developing a drinking problem and gaining a lot of weight. (She had been a svelte beauty when Jack dated her).

She and Jack met again when Mary auditioned for the part of the "Fat Sister" in Harry Conn's famous "Three Singing Sisters" act, which Jack was using as part of his stage act. At first he couldn't bear the thought of casting Mary in the "Fat Girl" part, knowing that she would have numerous "fat jokes" hurled at her. However, Mary pleaded with Jack to give her the part....she was down on her luck, really needed the money and assured Jack that she could take the "fat" jokes and insults. He reluctantly gave her the part and she was a HILARIOUS hit!

Jack eventually gave her parts on his radio program, and they almost always involved "fat" jokes. I'm not sure how Jack felt about this during the radio years, but apparently Mary Kelly was always a good sport about it....and apparently Mary Livingston didn't consider Mary Kelly a threat to her marriage due to her changed appearance from when Jack dated her....but there seems to have been a certain love/affection between Jack and Mary Kelly that was still there, even if it wasn't physical.

During the late 1930's Mary Kelly also made radio appearances on Burns & Allen's program. (Mary was Gracie's former real-life roomate in the vaudeville days).....and the "fat" jokes on George and Gracie's show were even crueler than the ones on Jack's show:

Mary: "Hello, I'm Mary Kelly."

George: "Mary? She looks more like the QUEEN Mary!".