Mary's taped peformances.

[1426]

I was wondering if anbody knew just when Mary Livingston began taping her parts on the radio show due to her stage frieght. In her book on Jack she says it took place when Jack moved over to CBS. This does not seem so when listening to the show. On later shows toward the end of its run it appears evident that she had been taped but not in 49 of 50. Anybody know when she quit being on live?

[bboswell]

It was in 1954.

I'm not sure, but I think it was just the final season that was dubbed. (In other words, the first show of the 1954-55 season, not January 1954.)

[LLeff]

I was wondering if anbody knew just when Mary Livingston began taping her parts on the radio show due to her stage frieght. In her book on Jack she says it took place when Jack moved over to CBS. This does not seem so when listening to the show. On later shows toward the end of its run it appears evident that she had been taped but not in 49 of 50. Anybody know when she quit being on live?

I think it was spotty...just when she "felt like it" or more aptly "didn't feel like" doing the broadcast. I'm hoping to be able to trap on which shows she's dubbed for Volume 2 of 39 Forever, but don't hold your breath just yet. I've been working on three volumes at once, have just started a new job, and seem to be battling a case of pneumonia at the moment. It's definitely in progress, but quality takes time.

[Roman]

This is just speculation on my part but it seems to me that, after Jack made his deal with CBS leaving him very wealthy, Mary no longer had the same desire to be working on the show. I don't think she was possessed of the same drive to perform that motivated Jack, and, fortunately for her, Jack's ability to successfully entertain was not ultimately dependent on Mary's constant presence in front of the microphone.

George Burns shared Jack's passion to entertain but, unlike Jack, he felt that he was dependent on Gracie Allen's continued participation. The sad result was that Gracie kept performing years after she began experiencing heart trouble and this may have contributed to her early death. The irony, of course, was that George Burns later discovered that he could continue his career quite spectacularly as a solo act.

[Jack Benny]

The sad result was that Gracie kept performing years after she began experiencing heart trouble and this may have contributed to her early death.

It has always been my impression that with the historic medical practices of the time, she would not have lived long in any event. I would also point out that the love between George and Gracie, was one of the deepest i've ever seen. They were an amazing couple, and I am quite sure that George would have stopped pushing her so hard if he had any incling of what was to come.

[shimp scrampi]

I've heard this line of reasoning brought up in "hushed tones" as well - George shoulda/woulda/coulda "let" Gracie retire earlier to ease, but it was never discussed openly to avoid tarnishing George's image or giving him a guilt complex while he was alive.

To me, this take on the situation seems to not really give full credit to Gracie as being a full participant in her own choices.

I would note that Gracie from all accounts was stubborn as a mule whenever she really didn't want to do something. She might have performed a bit longer than she truly desired for George's sake, but ultimately it was her decision to retire or continue - and when she called it quits, George acceeded with great Grace (pun intended)