What do you think of the Mary Livingstone character?

[Kathy FS]

Here is another question that has been bugging me for some time -- what do you all think about Mary's character on the show? It seems to me that in reading all the books about Benny and the program, Mary seems to come out on the short end of the stick. I understand that daugher Joan had some issues with her mother (oh and what child doesn't, haha). And it seems that the Fein book has a kind of negative attitude toward Mary (she didn't contribute that much to the show, she lavishly spent Jack's money in real life, she fainted a lot, she was increasingly reluctant to be a part of the show, etc). I found George Burns' book about all his best friends to have a bit of the same attitude, mostly focusing on how much money Mary spent.

But concentrating on what listeners to the Jack Benny program heard, I kind of want to "stand up" for Mary and say that her character was important to the show and its story. And important to ideas of what women were supposed to be doing or could do in US society in the 1930s/1940s/1950s.

I like her laugh, and Jack and his writers certainly used it often on the shows (more frequently in the 30s?). I like that she can be brave enough to tell Jack to "shut up" even when she is just an employee (I can't imagine Rochester, Phil or Don doing that). I would argue that Mary IS Jack's girlfriend in a way, despite the presence of Gladys Zabisco, the telephone operators, and Jack's crushes on movie stars. They have a kind of understanding or a fall-back-kind of relationship on the show? Jack makes a great deal out of kissing her when he is returning from his WWII show tours, and once in the later 1940s they walk by a jeweler's shop window and she asks is he going to buy her an engagement ring?

I also like that she is "just one of the gang," with a pretty equal kind of relationships with Phil, Don and Dennis. She has an easy commeraderie (sp?) that was rare among the ususal relationships I find in movie and radio shows of the 30s/40s/50s? She is not ditzy/stupid (well I will give you her bad jokes in the early 30s) but a smart-alecky, sexy working girl and friend to these fellows. Kind of like an Eve Arden or Rosalind Russell type of character?

Or do you think I am barking up a totally wrong tree? I am very curious what the members think! thanks, Kathy

[shimp scrampi]

I agree that many people who wrote about Jack and knew Mary - most of whom were not, shall we say, as enamored of Mary as they were of Jack -sometimes could not separate out their personal feelings for "Mrs. Jack Benny" in their estimation of Mary's talent. When even George Burns knocks you, you can't be the easiest person to get along with in real life!

For having little experience anywhere outside of Jack's act and show, Mary became a dynamite performer. It's hard to imagine the radio show without her. Like the rest of the cast, she had unequaled timing, plus that wonderfully deflating delivery. And, I also agree her character comes across as bold and fearless, definitely not the norm for female roles in that time period.

Mary's instability and the "why these two?" mystery of her relationship with Jack are some of the most intriguing aspects of Jack's personal story, in my opinion. Also, not that you implied this, but I also think Joan's book gets a bad rap sometimes because she addresses the Mary's alienation/depression/neuroses/whatever honestly and openly. I always get the sense Joan trying to "understand" Mary rather than being out to slime her. It's hardly "Mommie Dearest!"

[Alan]

I tend to agree with the preceding comments/perceptions; she seemed to be widely regarded as having some flaws, but that she quickly became an amazing performer (especially in the context of the era).

Re:fainting=While i had been long aware of her famous stage fright, i was still surprised when (about a year ago) i read (show writer) Josefsburg's comments on her fainting dead-away after many shows...i felt that showed some nice tenacity in continuing to make an effort.

[Gerry O.]

Another "plus" about Mary as a performer: As nervous as she reportedly was doing those radio shows, you'd never know it to listen to her. The only time Mary sounds KIND of nervous is when she's getting ready to sing...and even THAT seemed to get under control after a while.

Yes, certain "Ladies Of Radio Comedy" overcame a lot to make their performances sound effortless. Listening to them perform, you'd never know that Mary suffered from severe stage/mike fright, Gracie Allen suffered from frequent, blinding migraine headaches (often while on the air!) and Marian "Molly McGee" Jordan suffered from various emotional problems. These ladies always sounded like they were having a pleasant...even FUN...time!

[shimp scrampi]

Re:fainting=While i had been long aware of her famous stage fright, i was still surprised when (about a year ago) i read (show writer) Josefsburg's comments on her fainting dead-away after many shows...i felt that showed some nice tenacity in continuing to make an effort.

In George Burns' book "Gracie", he (rightly or wrongly) implies that Mary's fainting spells might have been an attention-getting ploy. I'm not judging, but he recounts the story of Mary requesting the ambulance driver, picking her up after a faint, drive past the windows of Magnin's to see the new fashions. Gracie got to sit up front and work the siren.

Can't you just picture that scene?

Now, what kind of health insurance can I get that covers THAT?

[Gerry O.]

In George Burns' book "Gracie", he (rightly or wrongly) implies that Mary's fainting spells might have been an attention-getting ploy. I'm not judging, but he recounts the story of Mary requesting the ambulance driver, picking her up after a faint, drive past the windows of Magnin's to see the new fashions. Gracie got to sit up front and work the siren.

Can't you just picture that scene?



[/quote]

All that scene needs is Jack in the ambulance yelling, "MARY, for Heaven's sake, LIE DOWN!".

Some of those true "real life" situations that happened to Jack and his gang over the years were wilder than made-up stuff that happened on the show!

[Brad from Georgia]

I generally like Mary's performances. Her laugh is infectious, and her quick timing is impressive. Of course, I have to admit she's funniest when she flubs a line and Jack teases her about it....

[Alan]

Skimmed thru Dunne's "Way we lived then" autobiography at library.

Perhaps best known as insider Hollywood reporter for VanityFair mag.

This autobio is as much a record of his minglings with 50's-70s Hollywood elite as his fall from social graces and 2nd career as novelist/reporter.

The book was half filled with "candid" pics from that era.

While he was in his self-confessed downturn in life stage, he received a same-day invitation to a dinner party by Mary (it seemed to be post-JB 70s).

Per him, she gave him a quick nod greeting, moved past him to J.Carson and didn't speak with him again.

He said that he soon realized that he was only a desperate last minute guy to fit in for boy-girl-b-g dinner seating.

This was apparently the-straw-that-broke-the-back moment that lead to his giving up on being a Hollywood player to novelist/reporter.

.The thing of note was the photo of "Mary Benny":

Most all of the many photos seemed to be non-pro/non-mag "candid" shots....not glamor, but not "isn't he/she wasted/fat/bad pic..."

"Mary Benny" pic was possibly just a sneeze in progress, but was obviously meant to be VERY unflattering.