Don Bestor Speaks

[Yhtapmys]

The most famous firing in television must have been Arthur Godfrey's on-air gassing of Julius LaRosa in 1953. It hung over Julie's career. And, of course, the changing course in music a few years later didn't help his career, either.

Newspapers scrambled to get reaction about it and the Sunday Herald in Bridgeport, Conn. of Oct. 25, 1953 did a bunch of stories and interviews. Among the people who was interviewed was local radio personality Don Bestor.. the same one who worked with Jack Benny.

The interview touches on the changes in personel on the Benny show and goes more in depth into Bestor's departure than I've read elsewhere.

Leaving Star Frequently Fatal
Three countyites, once great names in the broadcasting business, have rued the day they unhitched their wagons from a star.
They are former bandleader Don Bestor of Norwalk, tenor Frank Parker, formerly of Newtown, and tenor Kenny Baker, former president of Stamford.
Parker hit the skds after he was severed from the Jack Benny radio shows and it was only in the past year that he’s made a comeback with the help of his dear old friend Arthur Godfrey on the latter’s multiple TV and radio shows.
Kenny Baker, another fine singer, dropped out of sight and sound after leaving the Benny shows.
Bestor is first to admit that parting with Benny was the most sorrowful event in his life.
Long retired from the band business, Don and his beautiful wife Beulah live with their two infant children in Norwalk where the pair conducted “Mr. and Mrs.” Radio show on WNLK for a time.
During the past year they have clicked with their daily morning shows on WICC.
Don told The Herald yesterday:
“I am first to admit I made a great mistake when I left Jack Benny’s show.
“But, unlike Archie Bleyer and Julie LaRosa, who were axed by Godfrey, my parting with Benny was a most amiable finish.
“I called it quits with Benny in 1935. We were on the West Coast and had just finished the Jello series. I had my own set back in Los Angeles, at the Palomar, and after the season’s end, I took the band East to play engagements here.
“Jack Benny asked me to sign for the next season’s broadcasts from the West Coast, but I made the mistake of my life by thinking the comic would not retain his popularity and so I turned him down and stayed East with my band.
“In August of that year, Benny met me and my manager in Saratoga and while at the races, Jack urged me to come back to California with him alone and baton his next radio shows. But I thought I could do better with my band in the East and said no to Benny.
“But I’m happy for one thing. I recommended a young musician to Benny, to succeed me as the band leader.
“Benny took my suggestion and hired Phil Harris.”
PRAISES BENNY
Bestor is lavish in his praise of Jack Benny:
“Jack made me He put my in the public eye with his “Play Don” utterances. I’ll never forget him and I’ll adore the guy all the rest of my life.”
Bestor was reluctant to comment on Frank Parker’s exit from the Benny show.
“Frank was featured singer on the Jello show at the time I was leader of the band but something happened, I don’t know what, and Parker and Benny split. It was an unfriendly parting, that’s all I know.
Bestor said he doesn’t know the story of Kenny Baker’s parting with Benny but said it was “too bad, because Kenny was a marvellous singer.”
“You can’t stop talent,” Don said. “Someone will find it. Someone big.”
Bestor lauded LaRosa as “a kid with talent,” but “he has Godfrey to thank for his popularity.”
About Archie Bleyer, Don said: “Archie was well known in the music business before Godfrey and he’ll be doing okay after leaving Godfrey’s shows.”
Don said he knows Godfrey “way back when” in Washington, and that four years ago Bestor and his beautiful wife Beulah brought a handsome young unknown to sing on Godfrey’s TV radio Talent Scout program, and the lad won first prize. He is Dave Ballantine of Boston.
“Dave could have gone on and made a big name for himself, but he was content to go back to the Bean City, take bows in front of his friends for having won the Godfrey test, and remained in Boston to rest on this laurel.”
Another singing protégé of Bestor’s who did became famous is Vic Damone.
“I saw great possibilities with Vic and started him off on station WHM, now WMGM. He certainly made good.”

transcribed by Yhtapmys

[Yhtapmys]

Forgot to attach the photo with the story.

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