The Jack Benny Authorized DVD Collection!?!?

[midwave]

Laura and with regards to Joan Benny,
I wonder if there would be any way possible for you, Laura, to work together with Joan, and possibly Passport Video, to build a collection of the best surviving television episodes of the Jack Benny Program, that would be legally possible at this time?
I think most of us would agree that having a DVD company being able to use their resources to compile the sets, and with the possibility of some re-mastering, with input and commentaries from both Laura and Joan, would be a wonderful project for the Jack Benny legacy.
I think such a project would help this group grow, plus would bring the legacy of the existing shows to the general populous, as well as the existing fans knowing they have a unique product that has both rare and a more complete collection than what exists right now on mostly low-end DVD sets.
Laura, could this be a possible venture?
Passport Video did a wonderful job with the Abbott & Costello families on their recent boxed sets, and I would like to see something similar with the Jack Benny program.
I know the biggest issue would be what is considered licensed property, 'public domain' and what is licensed to Joan herself, but that could mean some hidden gems might be seen on DVD that would see the light of day.
Passport Video's website is http://www.passportdvd.com

[LLeff]

Actually, I've been working on trying to get a distributor for the TV specials for some time, although I have been too busy with work for a while to stay on top of it. But I just closed another deal for them, so this is my next priority.

[Yhtapmys]

I think most of us would agree that having a DVD company being able to use their resources to compile the sets, and with the possibility of some re-mastering, with input and commentaries from both Laura and Joan, would be a wonderful project for the Jack Benny legacy.

I realise such a collection would have limited appeal, but considering some of the stuff that's on DVD, it surely would be marketable.

On one blog I read, a chap who worked in TV was lamenting about the number of people who were connected with various shows who are dead, but had been available to do DVD commentary and were never asked. Their reminiscences are now lost and we have to rely on second-hand commentary from "experts." (for want of a better term). If such a project were to go ahead, I'd hope as many people who worked with Jack's show could be brought together to offer their memories.

Yhtapmys
"Drive Your Blues Away!"

[Jhammes]

> Their reminiscences are now lost and we have to rely on second-hand
> commentary from "experts." (for want of a better term).

Thanks to film and video tape, all is not lost: Jack Benny made countless appearances on late night and afternoon talk shows. His opening remarks on radio ("...there will be a slight pause while you say, 'Who Cares?'") may be lost, but Jack did recite those very words to Johnny Carson (I THINK it was Carson?). His feeling toward "Love In Bloom",
the difference between his and Bob Hope's "walk", so many countless stories were reprised for Steve Allen, Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin, Dinah Shore...this list will go on forever.

Phil Harris did color commentary (there is such a thing) for the Bing Crosby Pro-Am Golf Tournament, circa late '80s early 90's, that would be a find!! Mel Blanc was on a 1980's version of "This Is Your Life"; also the original "Late Night With David Letterman". Don't forget Bob Crosby had his own daytime talk show.

Some of this is already fairly available on DVD, some not. No doubt there would be copyright issues (aren't there always?) but these would make great JB DVD "extras".

[Yhtapmys]

Some of this is already fairly available on DVD, some not. No doubt there would be copyright issues (aren't there always?) but these would make great JB DVD "extras".

JH, I was thinking more in lines of original, new material from first-hand participants. Obviously that'll get more and more difficult to obtain as time rolls along.

Thanks to almost instant access to dozens upon dozens of radio shows, there are people today who have become so well-versed on the Benny programme they can ask intelligent questions of the participants. That gives the chance to present fans with new information we don't already know, instead of hearing the same old stories covered in several dusty books or on faded talk show appearances. That, to me, would be a real benefit to any commentary on the shows. Laura, I'd think, would be a perfect person to conduct those kinds of interviews, though we have others who appear in the monthly chat room who would be excellent interviewers, imo.

On the other hand, I agree if there's rare, unreleased video out there relating to the show, that would be good, too. But I'd prefer to hear some new, first-hand stories about the radio and TV broadcasts, and the people connected with them, first.

Yhtapmys

[Brad from Georgia]

The collections of "Looney Tunes" have commentaries by cartoon experts like Jerry Beck, interspersed with clips of the various talents--directors, writers, voice actors, and so on. The expert puts the comments in context, and that would work here, too:

LAURA: Although everyone knows "Love in Bloom" was Jack's theme song, some aren't aware of Jack's true feelings on the subject. Here's what he told Johnny Carson on the subject:

JACK (ARCHIVE MATERIAL): Now, I never liked "Love in Bloom" as a theme for me. I mean, I like it as a SONG, but I never thought it was a suitable theme for a comedy show...listen to the lyrics: "Can it be the trees that fill the breeze with rare....." etc.

[Jhammes]

Indeed, time marches on (Fred Allen would add "...on a treadmill...").
Therefore, the very young guest actors would be a good source for interviews... for instance, Jimmy Bradley (the Nat King Cole episode),
Barry Gordon, Talia (Toni) Marcus, Bill Mumy are just a few that come to mind.

There are the Beverly Hill Beavers: membership included one Harry Shearer. Didn't Jack Benny have a radio and television script than ran as usual, except the Beavers portrayed the grown-ups?

[krledu]

There are actually there are 3 different times when the Beavers did the show. One when Phil Harris was on the show. ( I think this one is the funniest) And then twice when Bob Crosby was on the show. I don't know if they did the same routine on TV or not.