Customer Reviews

Jack Benny Show, Volume 3

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Yes it does! One of the small pleasures of watching old-time television shows is seeing the commercials and the products we have come to know in American culture. Unlike the first two DVDs in this series, the commercials have been left in in their entirety for these episodes. It is amazing to think of how these were marketed to us, but I digress.

The Jack Benny Show Vol 3 contains another four episodes and runs just under two hours. The back of the DVD is incorrect as Episode One is actually Episode Four on the DVD and the other Episodes are moved up one number (This critique takes that into account). While there are no "Bonus" features per se on this DVD there are two options. One is for previews and the other is for a catalogue of movies available on DVD from Alpha Video. The previews are horid! Can I make it any more blunt than that? They do not have any remoteness at all to the demographic that would watch this DVD. The Catalogue, on the other hand, is pretty good. It is simply pictures of DVD covers. I stopped about 60 DVDs in and most would be of interest to old-time TV/Movie/Radio fans.

Episode One: Johnnie Ray is to guest star on Jack's program until Jack sees he wants $10,000 to appear! Jack goes and sees Johnnie with a "revised" contract and Johnnie sings a song. A really good show.

Episode Two: A CLASSIC! Jack has a jam session at his house with fellow musicians, such as Kirk Douglas, Dick Powell, and Fred MacMurray. They're all hungry and choose different things to eat from the vending machines in Jack's house.

Episode Three: A classic radio bit from 2/6/49 with Vincent Price and Irene Dunne. On the radio show Ms Dunne's part was played by Claudette Colbert. Jack invites himself to audition against Price for a part Price already has in the Mercury Theatre. Another great episode.

Episode Four: New Year's Day 1956. Jack begins a monologue and then invites the two head coaches of the competing Rose Bowl teams, Michigan and UCLA, to join him in a chat. Then Jack reprises the role of "The Old Tenant - or goodbye '55 hello '56" Not one of my favorite sketches, probably because they are more emotional and serious then they are funny.

This is a wonderful video! I especially love the "The Beverly Hillbillies" (long before the one with Jed Clampet) episode. Mr Benny really could play that violin and fiddle! loved it.