Jack Benny - Christmas Carol?

[Phil Harris]

Did Jack and company ever make a version of the Christmas Carol? It seems like a "no brainer" to me for this to have happened. Can you imagine if a comedy movie version were made in say 1938-1950 with Jack as Scrooge, Fred Allen as Marley, Don as the ghost of Christmas Present, Phil as Christmas Past, and Mary as Christmas that is yet to be. Dennis would make an excellent Bob Cratchet. Andy Devine could be the jovial Feziwig. How wonderful it could have been. I wonder why no studio thought of it? Does anyone know if this was considered? Or when is was done on radio or TV and if it was done?

[Brad from Georgia]

Hiya, Philsey.

In fact, I remember seeing Jack do a version of "Christmas Carol" on TV. He came on as...wait for it...Bob Cratchit. Jack gave a look to the camera and commented, "I'll bet you thought I was gonna play Scrooge. You see how we fool you?"

The gag was that when Scrooge visited Bob's house, Bob, far from being poor, was rolling in dough. Jack's version of Cratchit was very careful with a shilling!

[David47Jens]

Hiya, Philsey.

In fact, I remember seeing Jack do a version of "Christmas Carol" on TV. He came on as...wait for it...Bob Cratchit. Jack gave a look to the camera and commented, "I'll bet you thought I was gonna play Scrooge. You see how we fool you?"

The gag was that when Scrooge visited Bob's house, Bob, far from being poor, was rolling in dough. Jack's version of Cratchit was very careful with a shilling!

Well! (to coin a phrase... ) That I'd like to see! One of my favorite authors given a send-up by Jack and... who else? Brad, can you (or anyone else reading this, for that matter) shed more light on this treatment of the Dickens classic? And more importantly, does anyone out there have a copy?

[Brad from Georgia]

Wish I could! I believe it was part of one of the late special shows, not the regular series. I remember watching it when I was a mere youngster, and of course I've never seen it again! Can't remember who did play Scrooge, though, sadly enough.

And there's also the HBO special starring Rich Little as...well, everybody. Scrooge was Little's take on W.C. Fields, but Jack and a host of other luminaries show up, via impression, to take part. Of that I most keenly remember Truman Capote as Tiny Tim.