Customer Reviews

Jack Benny Show: Vol. 1-3 [VHS]

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I'm 51 and an entertainer who does a form of comedy ... and I LOVE watching videos of great comedians. I always loved Jack Benny growing up -- but to me this was the older Jack Benny. My memories were more the Jack Benny who was around 70, who died in 1974 at the age of 80. So I turned to Amazon (as usual) and (as usual) checked out the reviews. I ordered this tape set, expecting to get a few tapes with some dated comedy, dated guests but I wanted to analyze Jack Benny's timing. I had already learned that his radio shows were much funner than the stuff he did on TV towards the end of his great career. SO: I got the tapes...and what a revelation! These are PRICELESS shows. Some were shot live, others when Benny went to film (with canned laughter but impeccable timing on his part). Even if you don't completely understand his vain, tightwad character, his timing,his delivery and his likeability are so wonderful you can't but be charmed and captivated. There were some belly laughs and gem-like appearances by folks like Mel Blanc (the great voice of Bugs Bunny and zillion other cartoon characters). Even on an an episode with long since departed (and in some cases now somewhat unknown) guest stars, it remains FUNNY. The writing, cast, and Benny's energy are captured at the height of their powers -- in the early to mid fifties. As a lover and student of comedy this now ranks among my most prized posessions, along with my Laurel and Hardy films, the Abbott and Costello live Colgate Comedy Hour shows and -- of course, the Honeymooners. If you like to laugh and want to rediscover an incredible comedy talent who influenced Johnny Carson, Kelsey Grammer and others (even though you must suffer through unintentionally funny cigarette commercials) this three-hour tape set is the perfect collection...and an incredible value. If you want to LEARN about comedy and timing this is a MUST for your collection. I love it so much, in fact, that I will be collecting videos of Jack Benny tapes in the future. I had never SEEN him at this point in his career (in his sixties, looking like he is in his early 50s)...though I had enjoyed the radio shows done around this time. Unfortunately, they don't show his stuff on cable and he may be one of those greats who sort of fade away when it comes to videos on the market. Uncle Joe's advice: get this bargain video tape set now, while you can.

As a baby boomer who grew up in the fifties and sixties, it was delightful taking a stroll down Memory Lane with Dennis Day, Rochester, etc. The 6 shows in the Volume 1-3 transported me to a kinder, gentler lifestyle, and yet the humor packed a lot of the uniqueness, sophistication and especially the warm, unmatched classy style that made Mr. Benny without peer. Having seen his shows as a youngster and re-watching them now, really made me appreciate even more his great wit and kindness as a human being. While no one is indispensable, I'm reminded that "Jack" was truly irreplaceable. (I also purchased several of these volumes as birthday gifts and they were a huge hit for people who otherwise would not be able to find them.)

If you're an avid fan of the late, great Jack Benny (1894-1974), then this three-tape VHS boxed set from Marathon Music & Video should definitely be occupying some shelf space in your video library.

This set contains six funny episodes from Jack's long-running TV series, "The Jack Benny Program" (two shows per tape; approx. 25 minutes per episode on Tapes 1 and 2, with longer running times on Tape # 3). The tapes run in "SP" (Standard Play) mode. Audio is Hi-Fi Mono. Quality isn't too bad, considering that this is VHS and not DVD (and also when you take into account the age of these decades-old programs). But, even if the screen were blank and just the audio was turned on, these shows would be funny in my book. Mr. Benny is funny under *any* circumstances! :)

"The Jack Benny Program" (occasionally also referred to on screen as "The Jack Benny Show") ran on network TV for 15 seasons (1950-1965). This video collection is but a small sample of Jack's greatness, but a very worthy sample nonetheless.

Here's a look at all the episodes contained in this 3-Tape VHS Set ....................

VOLUME 1:

1.) "The Lettermen Show" (Original Air Date: March 31, 1964) --- No, this episode doesn't feature "David Letterman" as a guest (David was only 17 when this Benny show was aired; anyway, his name is spelled differently; LOL!). This episode, instead, offers up the great sounds of the singing trio "The Lettermen". There's a humorous sketch depicting Jack as a "19-year-old" college student, and a classmate of "The Lettermen". Plus: the show features a terrific rendition of "Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing", sung by "The Lettermen".

2.) "Four O'Clock In The Morning" (Original Air Date: February 6, 1955) --- This show, from Jack's fifth TV season, is one of my favorite Benny entries. Jack is awakened at the ungodly hour of 4:00 A.M. by "Hank, The All-Night Disc Jockey", and he can't get back to sleep. The episode revolves around Jack's "sleepiness" during the day that follows his late-night phone call. It's a very funny show that guest stars the hilarious "Yessssssss!" man (Frank Nelson), plus Jack's real-life wife, Mary Livingstone -- who was a staple every week on Jack's radio show from 1932-1955, but rarely popped up on the TV version of the show. Mary retired from show biz in 1958.

VOLUME 2:

1.) "Bedroom Burglars" (Original Air Date: January 9, 1955) --- Mel Blanc (and partner) break into Jack's house in the middle of the night, and get more than they bargained for. Because when someone tries to rip off Benny, they don't get much!

2.) "Jack Goes To A Concert" (Original Air Date: December 11, 1960) --- Jack takes his bubble-headed date (Mildred) to a fancy concert and notices Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Stewart sitting below them in the audience. While Jack tries desperately to garner the Stewarts' attention from his balcony seat, hijinks (and hilarity) are bound to ensue. An excellent episode indeed! James and Gloria Stewart appeared in multiple installments of the Benny Program, and are always a treat to watch.

VOLUME 3:

1.) "Humphrey Bogart Show" (Original Air Date: October 25, 1953) --- In a very rare television appearance, movie icon Humphrey Bogart guest stars in this 4th-season episode of the Benny series. The comedy sketch in this show is a real winner, with Humphrey portraying dangerous killer "Baby Face Bogart". Jack plays a police detective who tries to get "Baby Face" to spill his guts about the crime. A portion of Bogey's "gut-spilling" turns into an advertisement for the show's sponsor, "Lucky Strike Cigarettes". Hilarious stuff! Plus -- Both of this show's original 1953 commercials are also included here (also for "Lucky Strikes", just like Bogey's hysterical "integrated" ad). Because the commercials are included, the running time on the tape for this "Baby Face" episode is longer (29 minutes).

2.) "Liberace Show" (Original Air Date: January 17, 1954) --- Jack's guest, "Liberace", wants Jack to play his violin at a concert. (Hard to believe, I know -- but he wants him to.) When Jack comes out on stage with a mini-candelabra attached to his violin, no dialogue was needed to get the audience roaring with laughter! Classic scene! This episode, like the "Bogart Show", has the original network "Lucky Strike" commercials included (plus the "integrated" ad, which has announcer Don Wilson checking to see what brand of cigarette everybody is smoking in the lobby of the theater just prior to the "Benny/Liberace" concert). The run time for this episode = 29 minutes. This final volume also contains two short CBS-TV promos (one at the end of each Benny episode).

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Six good reasons for obtaining a copy of this VHS boxed set are shown above. But here's another -- JACK BENNY IS JUST PLAIN FUNNY (and fun to watch on TV)! The more Benny shows I can collect, the better. But this first-rate assortment of programs from Jack's beloved TV series should do nicely....for starters. :-)