Super Photo Challenge

[shimp scrampi]

OK, not to distract from the "Where's Jack" thread - but in the course of scrounging photos from that one, I came across this awesome shot of the whole cast and crew from circa 1947. Trouble is, I can't ID everyone, so I thought I'd toss it out to see if we can collectively complete the list. I've added numbers to the photo for consistency. Here's what I have so far:




1. Artie Auerbach (pretty sure)
2. ? Mahlon Merrick (not so sure) edited: Bob Ballin - Thanks Jeanette and Laura!
3. Don
4. Phil
5. Jack
6. Hilliard Marks (I think)
7. Mary
8. Dennis
9. edited: Frank Nelson - thanks JohnM!
10. Eddie Anderson
11. George Balzer
12. Milt Josefsberg
13. John Tackaberry
14. edited: Gurney Bell (Sportsmen) - thanks TSQ!
15. edited: Burt Scott (Jack's secretary) - thanks Jeanette and Laura!
16. edited: Marty Sperzel (Sportsmen) - thanks TSQ!
17. Sara Berner
18. edited: Bill Days (Sportsmen) - thanks TSQ!
19. Sam Perrin
20. edited: Max Smith (Sportsmen) - thanks TSQ!
21. ? edited: possibly Peter Leeds?
22. Mel Blanc
23. edited: Jeanette Eymann - Thanks Jeanette and Laura!

I've got a couple of guesses in there I am happy to hear contrary opinions on.

Also, I feel bad about just putting "Sportsmen" placeholders in there. I know they were Bill Days, Max Smith, Marty Sperzel and Gurney Bell, but I never put their names to faces in my head. And, I believe this was before Jay Meyer's time. so where are you, TheSportsmenQuartet?

Anyway, here's an unnumbered version, for clarity:



And a link to a ginormous version here

[JohnM]

Cool picture.

I think 9 might be Frank Nelson.

[shimp scrampi]

Oh, good call on Frank Nelson JohnM! I think you're right, got it from a third of a face!

[JohnM]

I just thought about who should be in the picture but wasn't yet named, and he was one of the few whose face I know pretty well. I know it's only his eyes and forehead, but I'm pretty sure that's him.

[shimp scrampi]

I agree, I think you're right.

I really wonder about the woman on the end, just because there weren't a lot of female staff on the Benny show, I thought perhaps Jeanette Eymann. However, aside from the dark hair, the woman in this picture doesn't resemble her from her TV appearances I know (though those are about a decade later - see p. 12 of the "Where's Jack" thread).

[LLeff]

I agree, I think you're right.

I really wonder about the woman on the end, just because there weren't a lot of female staff on the Benny show, I thought perhaps Jeanette Eymann. However, aside from the dark hair, the woman in this picture doesn't resemble her from her TV appearances I know (though those are about a decade later - see p. 12 of the "Where's Jack" thread).

I'm sitting in Whole Foods waiting on my car to be serviced, so I don't have my data resources at my disposal. But I was thinking something similar about the woman on the end. She doesn't quite look like Jeanette to me. But this is about the time that the script secretary switched over from Jeanette's predecessor to her.

Take a look in 39 Forever for the first appearance of the Jeanette. Then look in some of the shows for the 6 months prior to her and find the woman in very small supporting roles (very much as Jeanette)...I can't remember her name right off, but thinking that if I'm not off on the timing, it's probably that woman.

The one guy two down from Sam almost looks like Sam's overly-serious brother (no, I have no idea if he had one...just physical resemblance). Good for you for not pegging him, just because he's closer to the rest of the writers. I don't think the guy next to Artie Auerbach is Mahlon Merrick although it's a very good guess...take a look under Biography-Other Stuff for a link to a photo of Mahlon from about 10 years later and you decide.

[helloagain]

Great picture! Number 1 is definitely Artie Auerbach. He appeared on a few Benny TV shows. I can think of at least 2 people that are not in the picture but should be: How about Benny (I don't know) Rubin and Sheldon (Hey, bud) Leonard.

[shimp scrampi]

Side-by-side...guess I could be persuaded either way, but looks like it could be Mahlon. The hairline and nose seem to jibe. I wish there were more pictures of him around!

I had a quick skim in 39 FOREVER for the pre-Jeanette "Jeanette", but couldn't figure out who she was among the minor role female cast names.

OK, SOMEONE's got to ID those sportsmen. This is embarassing!

Edited to add one more verified pic of Mahlon - I agree the one in the middle may not match

[helloagain]

I have the same problem with the Sportsmen, matching the names with the faces. I do believe that #14, the one who sang base, was the voice of Tony the Tiger ( 'They're Great! ) on the Kelloggs TV commercials.

[shimp scrampi]

helloagain, you're thinking of Thurl Ravenscroft (voice of Tony the Tiger and much more) - who WAS in the Sportsmen Quartet, but had left the group by the time they came on board the Benny show. It's a frequent mixup I think we've gone through on the board before. So Thurl's definitely not in the picture.

[shimp scrampi]

OK, just did some more Sportsmen searching. I am pretty sure 18 is Bill Days and 20 is Max Smith.

Some great dish on the evolving lineup of the Sportsmen and Jack's role with them here: http://www.allthingsthurl.com/sportsmen.htm

[helloagain]

shimp scrampi, thanks for clarifying that for me. I guess any bass singer can do Tony the Tiger.

[TheSportsmenQuartet]

14 - Gurney Bell
16 - Marty Sperzel
18 - Bill Days
20 - Max Smith

[TheSportsmenQuartet]

I have the same problem with the Sportsmen, matching the names with the faces. I do believe that #14, the one who sang base, was the voice of Tony the Tiger ( 'They're Great! ) on the Kelloggs TV commercials.

That's funny...I have no problem with their names and faces and can even pinpoint their individual voices. Such is my obsession

[shimp scrampi]

Whoohoo, TSQ comes through for us! I was waiting for you. Thanks!!