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JACK BENNY’S 20th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL

November 16, 1970

Produced by: Irving Fein, Stan Harris

Directed by: Stan Harris, Paul Heslin

Written by: Hal Goldman, Al Gordon, Hilliard Marks, Hugh Wedlock Jr.

Starring the Cast of “The Jack Benny Program”

Jack Benny (Himself) was a Beverly Hills neighbor of Lucille Ball’s and the two were off-screen friends. Benny appeared on “The Lucy Show” as Harry Tuttle (a Jack Benny doppelganger) in “Lucy and the Plumber” (TLS S3;E2), later did a voice over cameo as himself in “Lucy With George Burns” (TLS S5;E1), and played himself in “Lucy Gets Jack Benny’s Account” (TLS S6;E6). He was seen in four episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Benny and Ball appeared on many TV variety and award shows together. He died in 1974, a few weeks after taping “An All-Star Party for Lucille Ball.”

Mary Livingstone (Herself) married Jack Benny in 1927 and the pair remained together until his death in 1974. Initially an actor who appeared on Benny’s radio and television programs, she retired from show business in 1958, at the same time as Gracie Allen, wife of George Burns. Her voice (lip synched by Lucy) was used in “Lucy and Jack Benny's Biography” (HL S3;E11). She died in 1983.

This is Livingstone's first appearance on her husband's television show in fifteen years.

Don Wilson (Announcer. Himself) was a portly man with a deep resonating voice that made him very popular with sponsors in the early days of radio. He teamed with Jack Benny on radio and when Benny made the move to television, Wilson made the move as well, until 1965, when “The Jack Benny Program” ended.

Dennis Day (Himself) was an Irish singer who’s name and career were synonymous with Jack Benny’s, working with the comedian on radio and TV. It was Benny who gave him his big break in 1939 and Benny who kept him employed as a singer and naive comic sidekick. His “Gee, Mr. Benny!” became a well-known catchphrase. Day would play second banana to the comedian until Benny’s death in 1974. Day played an elderly bachelor hunting on a 1967 episode of “The Lucy Show” (S6;E7). Day died at age 72 of Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Day's real-life wife, Peggy Almquist, and his ten children Tommy, Pat, Margaret, Eileen, Danny, Therese, Cathy, Mary Kate and twins Michael and Paul. The childrens' surname was McNulty, Day's birth name. None of the family are credited.

Eddie Anderson (Rochester) was Jack Benny’s valet and sidekick first on radio and then on television. He co-starred with Lucille Ball on “Stars in the Eye” (1952) and one other Jack Benny special in 1969.

Mel Blanc (Sy / Airport Voice) is best known as the voice of Bugs Bunny and other Warner Brothers characters, but had acted with Lucille Ball on radio and in the 1950 film The Fuller Brush Girl. He did some voice dubbing (ADR) on “Lucy Goes To The Air Force Academy: Part 2” (HL S2;E2) in 1969.

Frank Nelson (Ticket Clerk) is the only actor to play two recurring roles on “I Love Lucy”: Freddie Fillmore and Ralph Ramsey. He also appeared as six other characters. He appeared in the first of the "The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hours” as well as a 1963 episode of “The Lucy Show.”

Benny Rubin (Information Desk Clerk) played the snarky Hollywood Bus Driver in “The Tour” (ILL S4;E30). His first “Lucy Show” appearance was in “Lucy and the Runaway Butterfly” (S1;E29) and he was also seen in “Lucy and Viv Open a Restaurant” (S4;E20) in 1964.

Guest Stars

Lucille Ball (Janet, Benny's Maid) played all of the women in Jack Benny's life (including Mary Livingstone) on her own show in “Lucy and Jack Benny's Biography” (HL S3;E11) which aired just one week after this special. Benny paid tribute to Lucy on “An All-Star Party for Lucille Ball” (1974) just prior to his death.

Ball receives no screen credit but gets a verbal thank you from Benny at show's conclusion. Lucy has three lines and 30 seconds screen time!

Frank Sinatra (Himself) had appeared on “The Jack Benny Program” in 1951. Benny returned the favor by appearing on “The Frank Sinatra Show” that same year. Sinatra inadvertently appeared on “I Love Lucy” when a clip from his film Guys and Dolls was inserted into “Lucy and the Dummy” (ILL S5;E3) in 1955.

Sinatra is billed as 'Special Guest Star' in the opening credits.

Bob Hope (Himself) was born Lesley Townes Hope in England in 1903. During his extensive career in virtually all forms of media he received five honorary Academy Awards. In 1945 Desi Arnaz was the orchestra leader on Bob Hope’s radio show. Ball and Hope did four films together. He appeared as himself on the season 6 opener of “I Love Lucy.” He did a brief cameo in a 1964 episode of “The Lucy Show.” When Lucille Ball moved to NBC in 1980, Hope appeared on her welcome special. He died in 2003 at age 100.

Dinah Shore (Herself) was born Fannye Rose Shore in 1916. She was a singer, actress, and television personality, and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1940s. She rose to prominence as a recording artist during the Big Band era, but achieved even greater success a decade later, in television, mainly as hostess of a series of variety programs. She later changed her named to Dinah after her success with the song of the same name. She was famous for blowing a kiss to her audiences (“Mwah!”) at the end of each show. She appeared on “Here's Lucy” as herself in 1971. Her passions were golf, cooking, and painting. Shore died in 1994.

Dean Martin (Himself) was born Dino Paul Crocetti in Steubenville, Ohio, in 1917. He made his screen debut in a short playing a singer in Art Mooney’s band, but his first big screen role was 1949’s My Friend Irma with Jerry Lewis. This began a partnership that would be one of the most successful screen pairings in cinema history. Later, he also worked frequently members of “the Rat Pack”: Frank Sinatra, Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford, and Sammy Davis Jr. His persona was that of a playboy, usually seen with a glass of booze and a cigarette. Martin and Lucille Ball appeared on many TV variety and award shows together and made the TV movie “Lucy Gets Lucky” in 1975. He played himself (and his stunt man double) on “The Lucy Show” on Valentine's Day 1966. He died on Christmas Day in 1995 at age 78.

Martin receives no screen credit but gets a verbal thank you from Benny at show's conclusion

Red Skelton (Western Union Messenger) was born Richard Skelton in 1913. He left school after the third grade to join a traveling medicine show and from there entered vaudeville. His first film was Having Wonderful Time in 1938, which is where he first met Lucille Ball. The pair went on to appear together in Du Barry Was a Lady (1943), Thousands Cheer (1943), Ziegfeld Follies (1945), and The Fuller Brush Girl (1950). Skelton played himself on “Lucy Goes To Alaska” (LDCH 1959). He did two episodes of “The Jack Benny Program” in 1956 and 1958. He died in 1997 at the age of 84.

Skelton receives no screen credit but gets a verbal thank you from Benny at show's conclusion

George Burns (Voice of the Talking Telegram) was born Nathan Birnbaum in New York City in January 1896. He married Gracie Allen in 1926 and the two formed an act (Burns and Allen) that toured in vaudeville. They had their own hit show “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show” first on radio then on CBS TV from 1950 to 1958, airing concurrently with “I Love Lucy.” He appeared as himself on “The Lucy Show” (S5;E1) in 1966 as well as doing a cameo on “Lucy and Jack Benny’s Biography” (HL S3;E11) in 1970. After Allen’s death in 1964, Burns reinvented himself as a solo act. In 1976 he won an Oscar for playing one of The Sunshine Boys. He was also known for playing the title role in Oh, God! (1978) and its 1984 sequel Oh, God! You Devil. Burns and Ball appeared on many TV variety and award shows together. He died at the age of 100.

Burns receives no screen credit but gets a verbal thank you from Benny at show's conclusion

David Westberg (Helicopter Pilot)

Verbal credit from Don Wilson at show's conclusion.

Trained Penguins (courtesy of Sea World San Diego) formerly worked for Jack Benny in “Jack Benny's Birthday Special” (February 17, 1969).

TRIVIA

This is the last television show that reunited the entire cast of the Jack Benny radio show. Most of the cast made appearances on Jack Benny's television show as well.

Jack Benny had his own radio program since 1932. He brought the program to television (along with his radio regulars) on October 28, 1950. Jack remained thirty-nine-years-old, kept his money in his basement, and drove his old Maxwell car, just as he had done on radio. The television show ran until 1965. For the first five years, the show aired concurrently on radio and television. The TV program produced 931 episodes. It won an Emmy Award for best comedy show in 1961.

In October 1964, Lucille Ball was featured on a program where she played Mrs. Paul Revere. After the regular half hour show was canceled, Benny embarked on a series of bi-annual specials. Lucille Ball appeared on three of these specials.

This show was sponsored by Timex.

As always, Jack Benny's theme song is “Love in Bloom.”

In the subsequent special “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Jack Benny But Were Afraid to Ask” (March 10, 1971), Phil Harris thinks he's arrived in time for Benny's “20th Anniversary” show, but Benny tells him that it was four months ago.

Lucy, Benny, Bob Hope, Dean Martin, George Burns, and Red Skelton, all appeared in the patriotic TV special “Swing Out, Sweet Land” which aired two weeks after this special on November 29, 1970.

THE SHOW

Announcer Don Wilson introduces Jack Benny, live on stage. He gets sidetracked saying how ungrateful Benny is. Jack watches from the wings and finally comes on stage to rebuke Wilson.

Benny: “You were just supposed to introduce me!” Wilson: “Introduce yourself!” (He walks off)

After a few opening remarks about his years on television and radio, Benny introduces Dinah Shore, who was also a guest on his very first TV show in 1950. They reminisce about that show. Dinah sings “All of a Sudden My Heart Sings” by Harold J. Rome, Henri Laurent Herpin, and Jean-Marie Blanvillain.

Dean Martin knocks on Jack's dressing room door to wish him a happy anniversary and dance “The Anniversary Waltz” with him. They sing and dance out the door. The bit lasts less than 30 seconds.

After a commercial message from Timex, Red Skelton skips on dressed as a Western Union messenger to give Jack Benny a telegram. He makes Benny laugh when he says “I'm a dreamer, aren't I?” while holding his hand out for a tip. He is on screen / stage for less than a minute.

Skelton has delivered a talking telegram from George Burns, which instructs Jack to hold it up to his ear to hear the message.

Voice of George Burns: “Only an idiot would stand before 40 million people holding a telegram up to his ear.”

Benny has recruited Rochester to drive him to the airport for his trip to Mexico City.

Wondering about the departure time, he asks at the information booth, manned by Benny Rubin. Whatever Benny asks him, his answer is “I dunno.”

The ticket clerk is played by Frank Nelson, who greets him with his trademark “Yeeeeeeeeees?”

At the airport, Benny runs into Dennis Day, his wife Peggy, and their ten (!) children.

Rochester gives Benny's overweight luggage to a Mexican man (Mel Blanc) on the same flight.

In response to everything Benny asks, he says “si”. The man's name is “Sy”. He has a sister named “Sue.”

Blooper Alert! Despite this familiar old “si / Sy / Sue” routine, Benny mistakenly calls Rubin “Sue” then corrects himself saying “si” before Rubin chimes in “Sy”.

Benny hears hears a flight announcement that says his trip is delayed. Another voice comes on the public address system to say:

Voice (Mel Blanc): “Attention please. Attention! Plane leaving at gate five for Anaheim, Azusa, and Cucamonga!”

This is one of Mel Blanc's earliest routines from the Jack Benny radio show. Instead of a train station, here it is an airport.

Blanc's voice announces a flight for Alaska and three penguins come toddling toward the gate. These three penguins were also featured in “Jack Benny's Birthday Special” (February 17, 1969), which also starred Lucille Ball, Benny Rubin, Don Wilson, and Dennis Day.

Bob Hope does a monologue about Jack Benny. Benny joins him onstage and Hope sings “Thanks for the Memory” (his theme song) with special lyrics about Benny's age. In response, Benny sings a few bars of “Love in Bloom” (his theme song) with special lyrics about Hope.

A helicopter lands in the studio and Frank Sinatra steps out of it! Frank invites Benny to go to the movies after the show. The double feature is The Kissing Bandit (1948) and The Horn Blows at Midnight. The Kissing Bandit is a film starring Sinatra that he loathed. The Horn Blows at Midnight is widely considered Benny's worst film. Sinatra sings “I Get A Kick Out of You” by Cole Porter. Sinatra substitutes the alternate lyric “Some like the perfume from Spain” instead of “Some get a kick from cocaine.” However, instead of following with “I'm sure that if I took even one sniff” he sings “I'm sure that if I took one look.”

After a commercial, the scene is set in Jack Benny's home, where Mary Livingston picks up the telephone. It is Jack calling from the studio. He asks her to join him after the show for supper.

Mary calls her maid, Janet (Lucille Ball). Ball gets a huge round of applause from the studio audience.

Janet reveals that Mary's been on TV the whole time because Jack has hidden a camera behind a painting of Betsy Ross!

Back in the studio, Benny introduces film clips from his past 20 years. Stars include Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe, Ed Sullivan, Humphrey Bogart, Fred MacMurray, Kirk Douglas, Liberace, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Nat King Cole, Ginger Rogers, Charles Boyer, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Milton Berle, Danny Thomas, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, David Niven, Carol Burnett, Raymond Burr, Johnny Carson, Andy Williams, Rock Hudson, Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, Tom Smothers, Dick Smothers, Cary Grant, Billy Graham, Lawrence Welk, Dan Blocker, Robert Goulet, and Phyllis Diller.

Jack Benny thinks ahead to what the next twenty years will bring. Flash forward to Rochester with white hair and a cane answering the door to a bald Don Wilson and a stooped over Dennis Day. A creaky Bob 'Road-To-Medicare' Hope joins them, supporting himself with a walking stick. A gray-haired Dinah Shore comes through the door and blows everyone one of her famous kisses “Mwaah!” The kiss sends her reeling across the room. Jack skips down the stairs energetically, not having age one iota since 1970 and distributes scripts to his ancient co-stars. Even though Jack Benny died in 1974, only four years after this special, he will forever be only 39 on TV.

After the last commercial break, Jack takes a moment to thank his co-stars, and all of his viewers throughout the world. The camera pulls back to reveal an unfurled stack of computer printout and Benny starts reading the names of his viewers – alphabetically! “Mr. and Mrs. Tony Ames, Miss Terry Arco, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Aaron, Mrs. Andrew Aaronson...”

This Date in Lucy History – November 16th

"The French Revue" (ILL S3;E7) – November 16, 1953

"Lucy Becomes a Father" (TLS S3;E9) – November 16, 1964

"Lucy the Diamond Cutter" (HL S3;E10) – November 16, 1970