"Oh, Rochester!"
Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 06/18/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"MILL CREEK ENTERTAINMENT's JACK BENNY: LAUGH OUT LOUD is a repackaging of the first two DVDs from last year's quadrapack, BEST OF JACK BENNY. This manufacturer consistently offers good-to-average-quality audio and video transfers of public domain material at a most reasonable price.
The Jack Benny Program aired on radio from 1932 to '55. Many of that show's scripts were recycled for television, beginning in 1950. Benny's CBS-TV series ran until 1965. The core cast (on radio and TV) changed little over the decades: Dennis Day replaced tenor Kenny Baker early on; Bob Crosby (Bing's younger brother) took over for bandleader Phil Harris in 1952.
At one time or another, almost every Hollywood, radio and TV star guested on Jack's show. This 2-disc set offers only a fraction of Benny's 258 television episodes, yet the viewer is provided an excellent illustration of his popularity within the "Showbiz" community.
Program list includes episode numbers, airdates and guests (where available):
DISC ONE--
(#17) Fred Allen Show (4/19/53) - Fred Allen/Eddie Cantor
(#19) Honolulu Trip (9/13/53) - Marilyn Monroe
(#21) Humphrey Bogart Show (10/25/53) (Bogie as "Babyface")
(#22) Johnnie Ray Show (11/15/53) - Johnnie Ray/Danny Thomas
(#23) Irene Dunne Show (12/6/53) - Irene Dunne/Vincent Price
(#25) The Liberace Show (1/17/54) - (Jack visits Lee's house)
(#26) Jack Dream's He's Married to Mary (2/7/54)
(#28) Goldie, Fields and Glide (3/21/54) - Bing Crosby/George Burns/Bob Hope
George Burns and Gracie Allen Show - Guest Star: Jack Benny
(#31) The Road to Nairobi (5/23/54) - Bob Hope/Martin & Lewis (spoof of Hope's "Road" movies)
(#33) Jam Session At Jack's (10/17/54) - Dan Dailey/Kirk Douglas/Fred MacMurray/Tony Martin/Dick Powell
DISC TWO--
(#34) How Jack Met Mary (10/31/54) - Joyce Randolph/Frank Wilcox/Sheldon Leonard
(#84) Christmas Shopping Show (12/15/57) - Mel Blanc/Frank Nelson
(#41) Four O'Clock in the Morning Show (2/6/55) (Jack has insomnia)
(#69) Talent Show (12/30/56) - Jayne Mansfield (cameo)
(#87) Honeymooners Show (1/26/58) - Audrey Meadows
(#103) Ernie Kovacs Show (1/25/59) - Ernie Kovacs/Ray Kellogg
(#127) Hong Kong Suit (11/6/60) - Gisele MacKenzie
(#130) Lunch Counter Murder (12/4/60) - Dan Duryea
(#134) Jack Casting for Television Special (1/1/61) - (Jack reminisces on "The Life Of Jack Benny")
(#136) Don's 27th Anniversary with Jack (1/15/61) - John Daly/Nancy Kulp/Howard McNear
(#193) Jack Rents His House (2/5/63)"