Jack's relationship with the cast

[lano500]

I have noticed that Jack was kidding around most of the time and I think he was very good friends with everyone.
What I am wondering is, was he friends with ALL of the cast in real life?
Was he really cheap?
How did he treat regular people?
Did he really HATE Fred Allen?

[Maxwell]

I know he was friends with Frankie Remley, but he wasn't really a cast member.

From all sources, he was a wonderfully generous man.

Don't know how he treated regular people.

He and friend Allen were friends from their vaudeville days until the day Fred died.

[TheSportsmenQuartet]

Bill Days and Max Smith had nothing but great things to say about Jack Benny. In fact, Bill Days stated that the highlight of his long career was the first time the Sportsmen hummed on the show because after that their careers took off and it made them famous.

[Moose Hatrack]

Much could be said! I read or heard in a Joan Benny interview that the Bennys occasionally vacationed with Mel Blanc's family. Joan fondly remembered the hilarious stuff Mel would come up with while playing guitar on the beach.

[TheSportsmenQuartet]

I also know for a fact that Jack wrote part of his autobiography at Mahlon Merrick's Palm Springs home.

[Brad from Georgia]

I taught with a music teacher once who in his younger days was a member of an orchestra for which Jack played a benefit. He raved about how kind and good-humored Jack was with the guys in the orchestra--very down to earth, very approachable, and, even though Jack was in his seventies at the time, he rehearsed with the musicians, complimented them, and even told them where they could find a good egg sandwich!

[Mister Kitzel]

Mel Blanc wrote about spending time boating with Jack Benny and included photos in his autobiography. Joan Benny mentioned that the cast would reguarly attend Jack and Mary's parties with the exception of Phil Harris because Phil and Alice were in a different circle of friends. Jack and Phil were still good friends.

Jack and Fred Allen were friends.