Kenny Baker leaves Jack Benny radio show

[akomic2]

Can anyone tell me why Kenny Baker left the Jack Benny radio program. I heard a tenth rado anniversary radio show in which someone says it's because of differences with someone named Harry Kahn. AND also because he worked for J-ello? I was also wondering if he went to the Fred Allen Show after that.

[BobR]

I believe Kenny left the show for strictly monetary reasons.I do not think it was due to any personal reasons either with Jack or the writers.

[alain]

I also read somewhere that it was strictly a career move....i believe that source also noted that the grass wasn't greener for him post-JB.

Alain

[Jack Benny]

I believe Kenny left the show for strictly monetary reasons.I do not think it was due to any personal reasons either with Jack or the writers.

Leaving the Jack Benny Show for monetary reasons, was kind of like leaving Microsoft in the early '80s for a company with more upward mobility.

[akomic]

Thanks for anwering my question. I always wondered why someone would leave a top rated show like that! I've always thought Kenny Baker was a slightly better singer than Dennis Day, but I think Dennis is better than him in comedy. Thanks.

[LLeff]

Take a look at our Links page, then Benny links, and click on the very first one (lofcom.com). This will take you to another Benny forum, where there was some discussion about possible ego reasons for Kenny leaving the show. Getting into this territory is very dicey, because we can never be completely sure what is really going on in a person's head (sometimes not even if we ask them).

[akomic]

Thanks for the link. I'm glad I found this site because I don't know anyone who has even heard of Kenny Baker, much less answer questions about him!

[Jack Benny]

Thanks for the link. I'm glad I found this site because I don't know anyone who has even heard of Kenny Baker, much less answer questions about him!

Please come back often because we like to talk about..well...me, and the whole gang! Remember eat your Jell-o, smoke your grape nuts, get Lucky, and don't get overly general tired, drinking Canada dry, in your Chevrolet!

[Shemp]

I'm glad I found this site because I don't know anyone who has even heard of Kenny Baker...

Most Marx Brothers fans would disagree with that statement. Although certainly not their best film, but Baker costarred with Groucho, Chico & Harpo in AT THE CIRCUS (1939).

[akomic]

I'll have to check out that movie! Speaking of movies, my friend told me he thinks this Kenny Baker is the same Kenny Baker that was actor inside the robot R2-D2 on Star Wars. If that's so, he must have very young while appearing on The Jack Benny show.

"That's why I have 2 shows, and the old man only has one." Dennis Day

[LLeff]

I'll have to check out that movie! Speaking of movies, my friend told me he thinks this Kenny Baker is the same Kenny Baker that was actor inside the robot R2-D2 on Star Wars. If that's so, he must have very young while appearing on The Jack Benny show.

LOL...he's not the first one to make that mistake. No, Kenny Baker who played R2D2 is very different from the one on the Benny program in the 1930s. R2D2's voice is much lower.

[LLeff]

Remember eat your Jell-o, smoke your grape nuts, get Lucky, and don't get overly general tired, drinking Canada dry, in your Chevrolet!

You're going to need State Farm insurance by the time you get done with all that.

[Shemp]

R2D2's voice is much lower.

So's his height.

[Jack Benny]

Remember eat your Jell-o, smoke your grape nuts, get Lucky, and don't get overly general tired, drinking Canada dry, in your Chevrolet!

You're going to need State Farm insurance by the time you get done with all that.

Oh, it is to laugh...you are a card, Laura...

[Jack Benny]

I'll have to check out that movie! Speaking of movies, my friend told me he thinks this Kenny Baker is the same Kenny Baker that was actor inside the robot R2-D2 on Star Wars. If that's so, he must have very young while appearing on The Jack Benny show.

"That's why I have 2 shows, and the old man only has one." Dennis Day

Your right! Did you know that Dennis was originally cast as C-3PO, and he was to use his wonderfullly acurate fake german accent. If you look closely at the lightsabers, you may see either a small "JB," or in some shots a large "NBC," demonstrating that they were actually old mikes from the Jack Benny Show circa 1940. George Lucas has often stated that he was a huge Benny fan, and sometimes would read Mary's lines if her stage fright was acting up, of course they would be dubbed over later, can't have a baritone Mary for goodness sake.