'The Jack Benny Program: New Year's Eve' (1956)

Jack Benny New Year #1 Jayne Mansfield

Jack Benny New Years Show #2

Jack Benny New Year's show #3

The Miracle of the Benny

"The Miracle of the Socks" and "The Miracle of the Birdie" were certainly unusual incidents, and this next coincidence is equally, if not more, improbable. It involves a little-known, seldom-shown half-century-old episode of "The Jack Benny Program," one of the longest-running radio and television comedy series.

To introduce the classic clip featuring "The Landrews Sisters," a spoof of the popular Andrews Sisters singing trio, here's a background note found at YouTube, written by fromthesidelines.

This was from Jack's "New Talent" show of December 31, 1956. The routine goes all the way back to Benny's stage appearances in the '30s, and he frequently revived this "bit" on radio and TV in later years {the last time he did, they were called "The Smothers Sisters"!}. Iris Adrian played the "cynical" one ... Muriel Landers [is the soloist].

I stumbled upon the obscure video Sunday evening. I forwarded it to a fellow Jack Benny aficionado, Frank Thompson.

Here comes the supernatural part.

Shortly, Frank emailed back from the other side of the continent.

How weird is this? Every Sunday night one of the PBS stations here shows a local, rather cheaply made show called "I Remember Television." They'll show either a one hour drama or variety show or two half hour shows from the 50s.

I watched the Landrews Sisters clip you sent me, walked straight to the TV and that very episode of Jack Benny came on. By the way, it's a riot throughout, with a great appearance from Jayne Mansfield (I just noticed she was busty) and a terrific bit with Mel Blanc. The Landrews Sisters bit is probably twice as long as what's on YouTube ("Are you really sisters?" "I am -- I don't know about them.")

Anyway, odd, huh?

I'll say! It was a solid odd weekend. The day before, the famous Don Ho died in the midst of the infamous Don "Ho" Imus career demise.

Jack Benny and Mel Blanc

Previously, I shared several of the classic Jack Benny and Mel Blanc "Si" sketches, here and here. I love those spots, which have been tickling me since childhood.

In this 1974 clip, Benny's final appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," Jack reminisces with Mel about their work together.


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Related: "The Miracle of the Benny"

'The Jack Benny Program' - Christmas 1960

Watch The Jack Benny Program #084: Christmas Shopping (Season 8, Episode 7) in Entertainment  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

'The Jack Benny Program: New Year's Eve' (1954)

Watch The Jack Benny Program #24: Reminiscing About Last New Year's (Season 04, Episode 06) at Veoh.

See

Once again, Jack Benny and Mel Blanc, from "The Jack Benny Program" in the early 1960s.


More "See?" Si.

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Cattoon Carnival

Jack Benny in "The Mouse That Jack Built" (Robert McKimson, 1959)
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The Pink Panther in "The Pink Phink" (Friz Freleng, Hawley Pratt, 1964)
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Hubie and Bertie in "Mouse Wreckers" (Chuck Jones, 1948)
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Sea

"The Jack Benny Program: Horatio Hornblower Parody" with Mel Blanc via YouTube 
Specific clips of note at :00-1:11 and 3:51-5:07

Off the Wall

Saving Facebook: My Confessions: 

On the Elections: 

Friend Frank Thompson
Once again, as I've done each year since I got to voting age, I wrote in Ruth Buzzi for every single office. This year it's really gonna happen. I feel it!

Mike
It grieves me to find myself on the opposite end of the political spectrum from you, Frank. I shall continue to write in Tyrone F. Horneigh.

On Identity Theft:

Friend William
Good news - my identity was NOT stolen. Just a sloppy background check service problem.

Mike
Could I steal your identity? I'd really like to be taller.

On the Day After the World Series:

Friend Ray
Can't wait for the World Series to start!

Mike
Can't wait for gum that squirts!

On Television:

Yesterday, on THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM: Guest waitress Iris Adrian takes Don Wilson's order....

IRIS: What about you, Titanic?

DON: Aw, just bring me what I usually have.

IRIS: I can't. The fella who helps me carry it in is off today.

DON: Now, look, Miss, every time I come in here, you make remarks about my size. I'm sure you've seen somebody fatter than me.

IRIS: Yeah. But I had to buy a ticket.

On Nostalgia:

I have reached the point in my life where EVERYTHING is a 50th anniversary and I was there. "Psycho" and "The Bellboy" this summer. Next, the wonderful world of Bedrock, and in January: "One Hundred and One Dalmatians." It was the best time ever to be 8 (I didn't see "Psycho" until 14, but I recall the hoopla). Third grade ruled!

Oh, yeah, "La Dolce Vita." I remember inviting Anita Ekberg to Career Day. She ate my fish sticks in the cafetorium, but "Pollyanna" was more my speed. In those days, I thought of Hayley Mills as leggy.

On the Question:

Friend John
Do you have a fish called Wanda in your aquarium?

Mike
No. I have a cat called Fork.

Mikellaneous

More Confessions
and Observations

My recent postings on Twitter, where everything must be said in 140 characters or less.

Settling in for tonight's nightmare, thinking maybe something with crunchy mayo or me as a creek-to-creek salesman of fanny packs to trout..

I did have a nightmare. I dreamt giant ants ate me alive. Few had the class, while drinking my fluids, to leave their pinkies pointing out.

Just in: "Tatum O’Neal Arrested For Cocaine Purchase." Her Oscar makes a really lousy roach clip.

The most jaw-dropping bad major Hollywood movie ever, SKIDOO, is on TCM in July. Didn't some critic refer to it as SKIDON'T? If not, I will.

TiVo tells me today's episode of THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM is a rerun. Well, that saves me tons of disappointment. Thanks, TiVo! Get one today.

Headline: "Men use women's thongs as masks during robbery." -- I dunno. Smells fishy to me.

Ah, the end of May. This is the weekend I recrinkle my seersuckers.

Seen on Twitter: "boor boor zaag pulk pulk spuit boor haak plak blaas plak..." Don't know what it means, but apply Gumout®.

I'll see WALL-E. I dated a robot once. I'm a li'l bit Metallica. Her favorite singer is a sewing machine. I was sobbin', caught 'em bobbin..

Rapper 50 Cent reportedly in a bitter dispute with his girlfriend. If community property laws prevail, we'll be calling him Quarter.

Off the Wall

Saving Facebook: My Confessions:

See

via YouTube
Seen in this 1966 spot, the great Jack Benny and Mel Blanc performed several variations of the non-musical material over the years, dating back to 1940s radio. That simplicity and these masters never fail to impress and crack me up.

Swell.

Pillow Talk

Previously, I shared a little teaser from our epic vacation. Now, I'm ready to confess the entire tale. Here's how it all began:

Donna: Are you awake?

Mike: Si.

Donna: Would you like to go on a trip?

Mike: Si.

Donna: You would?

Mike: Si.

Donna: When?

Mike: Soon.

Donna: Soon?

Mike: Si.

Donna: Where would you like to go?

Mike: Silt.

Donna: Silt?

Mike: Si.

Donna: Silt, Colorado?

Mike: Si.

Donna: What's to do?

Mike: See.

Donna: See?

Mike: Si.

Donna: See what?

Mike: Slim.

Donna: Slim?

Mike: Si.

Donna: Silt Slim?

Mike: Si.

Donna: You don't know any Slim.

Mike: Sad.

Donna: That would be--

Mike: Silly?

Donna: Si.

Donna: NOW CUT THAT OUT!

Mike: Si.

Donna: What do you imagine this Slim does?

Mike: Silage.

Donna: Silage?

Mike: Si.

Donna: I'm afraid to ask this next one. You're talking silage, the fermented, high-moisture fodder that can be fed to cud-chewing animals like--

Mike: Sheep.

Donna: Sheep?

Mike: Si.

Donna: Steer?

Mike: Sure.

Donna: So--

Mike: Si.

Donna: Silage?

Mike: Si.

Donna: Silt?

Mike: Si.

Donna: Where in Silt?

Mike: Silo.

Donna: A silo!

Mike: Si. See.

Donna: Chances?

Mike: Slim.

Donna: Sleep.

Mike: Sleep?

Donna: Zs...

With apologies to Jack Benny, Wikipedia, and, of course, Slim.

'The Jack Benny Program: New Year's Day' (1956)

Men Who Look Like Bea Arthur

Recently, I wrote about the "Men Who Look Like Kenny Rogers" Web site, recommending its collection of photographs. Seems many gentlemen do indeed resemble the superstar crooner, including myself, if I were to wear a beard. Since I shave, I explained, "the problem is now I am one of those Men Who Look Like Bea Arthur."

Well, I received a surprising amount of email, including this one:

"Prove it, Chins."

Okay, I will, but let me preface my gallery of photographs with several comments.

1. I don't mean to startle anyone. Natural phenomenons do occur. Audible gasping is to be expected.

2. I adore Bea Arthur. She is a lovely woman and, for my money, one of our greatest comic actresses. Ms. Arthur walks hands in hands with Jack Benny and Jackie Gleason as the funniest, most reliable "reaction" comedians of all time.

3. Chins?

The pictorial evidence will be posted in small doses, presented piecemeal over the week by request of cardiac honchos and Anxiety Ward candy stripers. Public frenzy is, of course, their paramount concern. The phrase "code orange" was whispered. Someone else worried about Turtles Who Look Like Cher.

I have no regrets. If I'm destined to look like a celebrity, Bea Arthur is a fine honor. There are worse things than being lovely.


By the way, I'm on the right.


Men Who Look Like Bea Arthur Photo Gallery: Next

See

"The Jack Benny Program" with The Tijuana Troubadours via YouTube