User Reviews

This was a really sharply written and performed filmed episode "The Jack Benny Program," which, with big roles from Rochester, Don Wilson, and longtime Benny associates George Burns and Bing Crosby (and an implied Mary Livingston at the other end of the phone, facilitating a good cheap gag) has the family kind of feel that added so much to his best radio seasons.

The premise of world famous singer Crosby having been in a singing group with world-famously bad singers Benny and Burns is somehow inherently hilarious; at the same time there's a nice honesty behind the idea of these three reminiscing about Vaudeville days. Also in the mix is a funny running bit involving a hammock and Rochester's method of automating it -- and a great surprise cameo at the end.

This was one of Jack Benny's classic shows where Bing Crosby and George Burns as his guests. The premise of this show was Jack's reminiscing about those old days in vaudeville with his two partners Bing and George.

As we all know that just didn't happen, but it's certainly a nice thought to turn over in your minds. Bing and Jack knew each other and did guest appearances on each other's radio show. There's a famous one where Bing was involved as Jack was trying to find a replacement Oscar for the one that he filched and lost from Ronald Colman's house. This allowed for a series of guest stars who were Oscar winners every week.

As for George Burns, he and Jack were best friends for over 50 years. I still remember George breaking down at Jack's funeral in 1974. He and Bob Hope were supposed to deliver the eulogy jointly, but this was the only time in history Burns couldn't go on.

Bing of course got a solo number which old time radio fans will remember as the Barbasol Shaving Cream theme, Gypsy In My Soul. And Benny kept trying as he did his whole life to crack Burns up and never succeeded. Well.

Three show business immortals doing their thing, entertainment doesn't get better than this.

Well, it don't get much better than this. Three major stars of their day, having conquered vaudeville, radio, movies, popular music and lately television; visionaries of the entertainment industry, having a little dance together. Bing Crosby, voted by American GI's as the most popular wartime entertainer, a Best Actor Oscar under his belt. George Burns, straight man to the funniest woman of his day, due for even greater success in the future. What were their secrets? Well, surely that's evident here, showing willingness to learn and practice an old soft-shoe dance routine. The premise is a fictitious vaudeville routine, and the story is American folklore.

Two versions of this excellent show exist. The original broadcast from 1954 (violin opening card) opens with Jack laying in his hammock and closes with jack wearing a belted jacket saying the show will be back in 3 weeks and to watch Ann Southern the next week. The second version (drawing of Jack opening card) opens with Jack introducing the show wearing a suit & tie and telling a joke about his date with a mechanic. Jack closes this show in the same suit & tie saying it was the last show of the season and would return Sept 23rd. That would put this second version at the end of Season 6, as Season 7 was the only season to start on that date.

Reviewer hte is right—the writing in this entry is sharp, much funnier than in the Bogart and Liberace episodes. I notice Benny had added several new writers, which may be the reason. Anyway, this half hour is on film, creating the opportunity for visual tricks, such as the Rube Goldberg hammock contraption.

The cheesy vaudeville act with Burns, Crosby and Benny is really quite charming, nothing fancy, just nicely easy-going. Bob Hope is unbilled, but makes a surprise cameo appearance that ends the skit on an unexpected note. I get the feeling that the four of them not only get along well on-screen, but off-screen as well. All in all, this is the kind of half-hour that kept the show on the air for all those great years.