Jack Benny papers 1894-1993

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Benny, Jack, 1894-1974
Title
Jack Benny papers 1894-1993   ( inclusive)
Quantity
120.14 cubic ft. (135 boxes)
Collection Number
08922
Summary
The papers of Jack Benny, a vaudeville, radio, and television comedian from the 1920s-1970s.
Repository
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions
Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
The creation of the EAD-version of this finding aid has been made possible through a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Jack Benny (1894-1974) was an American comedian, vaudeville, and radio, television and film actor. Born Benjamin Kubelsky in Waukegan, Illinois, Benny first honed his talents as a comedian on the vaudeville stage, then found that his style was uniquely adapted to the new medium of radio, where he became a national celebrity with his Jack Benny Show (1943-1958). His wife, Mary Livingstone, often starred on the Jack Benny Show. Benny took his show to television and continued to appear in his own show, in specials, and in guest appearances until his death in 1974.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Jack Benny papers cover all aspects of the popular entertainer's personal and professional life and business affairs. There are photographs, personal memoirs, early programs, advertisements and reviews from his beginnings in vaudeville, scripts, contracts and correspondence from his radio shows, and film footage from his career in television. The papers include sheet music, clippings, correspondence and financial records, as well as condolences and memorials from the time of his death.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Alternative Forms Available

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital reproductions of select portions of this collection are available at: http://digitalcollections.uwyo.edu:8180/luna/servlet/uwydbuwy~85~85.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Related Materials

Related Materials

Additional papers of Jack Benny can be found at the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

This material was received from Joan Blumofe (the daughter of Jack Benny) in February 1985.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Emily Christopherson in March 2011

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. Scripts, 1931-1975Return to Top

This series consists of three sub-series: Jack Benny Radio Program, Jack Benny Television Program, and Miscellaneous.

Container(s) Description Dates
Sub-series 1. Jack Benny Radio Program
Arranged chronologically. Includes Jack Benny’s original scripts in bound leather volumes, which contain his marks and notations. Also includes scripts sent to Irving Fein, Benny’s manager.
1943, 1947-1957
Box
48
Episode 5 - Marine Corps Air Station
1943
50
Episodes 1-39 (Jack Benny's original scripts)
1947-1948
48
Episodes 1-39 (Irving Fein's original scripts)
1947-1948
50-51
Episodes 1-35 (Jack Benny's original scripts)
1948-1949
48
Episodes 1-35 (Irving Fein's original scripts)
1948-1949
51
Episodes 1-38 (Jack Benny's original scripts)
1949-1950
51
Episodes 1-19 (Jack Benny's original scripts)
1950-1951
58
Episodes 20-39 (Jack Benny's original scripts)
1950-1951
48
Episodes 1-39 (Irving Fein's original scripts)
1950-1951
51
Episodes 1-19 (Jack Benny's original scripts)
1951-1952
49
Episodes 1-38 (Irving Fein's original scripts)
1951-1952
49
Episodes 1-39 (Irving Fein's original scripts)
1952-1953
49
Episodes 1-19
1953-1954
56
Episodes 20-39 (Jack Benny's original scripts)
1953-1954
50
Episodes 19-35
1954-1955
50
Reruns - episodes 1-38
1957-1958
50
Reruns
1956-1957
Sub-series 2. Jack Benny Television Program
Arranged chronologically. Includes scripts from the regular Jack Benny Television program, as well as scripts from his various television specials. Included is an incomplete script for his television special for 1975, which was never completed due to his death.
1950-1975
Box
54
Program indexes and synopses
1957-1965
54
Program cast lists
undated
52
Episodes 1-8
1952-1953
52
Episodes 1-16
1954-1955
52
Episodes 1-16
1957-1958
52
Episodes 1-15
1958-1959
52-53
Episodes 1-16
1959-1960
53
Episodes 1-26
1960-1961
53
Episodes 1-26
1961-1962
75
Episodes 14-26 (duplicates)
1961-1962
75
Episodes 1-28
1962-1963
75
Episodes 1-24
1963-1964
59
Episodes 19-29
1963-1964
54
Episodes 1-29
1963-1964
54
Episodes 1-28
1964-1965
56
Jack Benny Road Show
1950
57
Jack Benny Show Tour of Japan and Korea
1951
57
Jack Benny and His Variety Revue - Curran Theatre, San Francisco
1953
57
Jack Benny Show on BBC
1956
52
Shower of Stars (episodes 1-8)
1956-1957
56
Shower of Stars (episodes 1-5)
1957-1958
56
Jack Benny Hour
1959-1960, 1965-1968
57
Jack Benny Hour III floor plans
1966
56
Jack Benny Television Specials
1965-1969
56
Jack Benny Television Special - "Jack Benny's New Look,"
1969
56
Jack Benny Television Special - "Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary Special,"
1970
56
Jack Benny Television Special - "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Jack Benny (But Were Afraid to Ask),"
1971
57
Jack Benny Television Special - proposal by Milt Josefsberg
1972
56
Jack Benny Television Special - "Jack Benny's First Farewell Special,"
1973
56
Jack Benny Television Special - "Jack Benny's Second Farewell Special,"
1974
56
Jack Benny Television Special - Unfinished
1974-1975
Sub-series 3. Miscellaneous
Arranged alphabetically by program or file name. Includes scripts and speeches for Jack Benny’s performances and events, as well as scripts for guest appearances Benny made on other shows. General jokes and gag ideas by Benny are also included in this sub-series.
1931-1975
Box
57
Ann-Margret TV Special
1973
57
"Annie and the Hoods" spot
1974
57
"Beauty for Rent" by Pat C. Flick and G. Herczey
1942
57
Bits of scripts not used (little girl violin act and sister act)
1972-1973
57
"Boomtown 1972,"
1972
57
"Bracelets or Drums" - incomplete short story by Jack Benny
1931
57
Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas
1966
57
Carousal Theatre, West Covina
1965-1966
57
Chicago - Mill Run Theatre
1970-1971
57
Chicago - Palmer House
1969
57
Chicago - Whitehall Hotel (opening)
1974
57
Colorado Springs, Colorado - Broadmoor Theatre
1972-1974
57
Colorado Springs, Colorado
1970
57
"Command Performance,"
1945
57
Commercial - Americare 39 Life Plan
1971
57
Dean Martin Show - Roasts of Jack Benny, Johnny Carson, Ronald Reagan
1973
57
Denver, Colorado - Columbia Savings and Loan
1968
57
Des O'Connor Show
1971
57
Dinah Shore Special
1972
57
"Duffy's Tavern" radio program
1946
57
Educational film narration - "Great Comedies,"
undated
57
Fred Allen radio shows
undated
57
Garden State Arts Center; Saratoga Springs, New York; Merriweather Post Pavillion
1971
57
Golden Award - Ed Sullivan Show
1971
57
Greek Theatre - Hollywood
1959
57
Green Bay Shriners Affair
1965
57
Harrah's - Lake Tahoe
1960-1967
57
Holiday Lodge TV Show
1961
57
Houston - Southwest concerts
1968
57
Houston Music Theatre
1972
57
Indianapolis, Indiana
1969
57
Jackie Gleason Show
1970
58
Jimmy Durante Presents The Lennon Sisters Hour
1969
58
John Wayne Special
1970
59
Jokes and gags
1951-1969, undated
84
Jokes and funny stories
undated
58
Kraft Music Hall Presents Jack Benny - "Fiddler on the Loose,"
1967
58
"The Last Trip,"
1971
58
"Laugh-In,"
1975
58
"The Life of Riley" radio program
1946
58
Long Beach fireworks
1971
58
Lux Radio Theatre - "The Man They Couldn't Kill" ["Killer Kates"]
1946
58
"The Man" screenplay
1971
58
"The Markses of Detroit Street,"
undated
58
Material for future television shows
undated
58
Material for Las Vegas and next special
1970
58
Melodyland Theatre
1969
58
Miscellaneous
undated
58
"My Kind of Town - Waukegan Is,"
undated
54
Newspaper columns by Jack Benny
undated
58
Nyack, New York - Tappan-Zee Playhouse
1965
58
"Old Rocking Chair" radio show proposal
undated
58
Outside television shows
1953-1955
58
Paramount Presents TV special
undated
58
"Patsy's Coffee Pot" by Pat C. Flick
undated
58
Phoenix Star Theatre
1967, 1970
59
Program lists (routines)
1937-1951
58
Radio transcription - wants Jack Benny to clear up race track mystery
undated
54
Regent Theatre vaudeville program
undated
58
Sahara Hotel - Las Vegas and Tahoe
1968-1972
59
San Antonio, Texas - Hemisfair
1968
58
San Carlos, California - Circle Star Theatre
1971
58
Savings and loan commercial spots
undated
58
Share party for Jack Benny JELLO Program
1971
58
Show of the Year radio proposal
undated
58
Skits
circa 1940s
55
Speeches
circa 1940s
55
Speeches
1946-1974
55
Speeches - cards and notes
1963-1974
57
Speeches - Governor's convention
1966
55
Speeches - index
1952-1974
58
Speeches - Israel Bonds, San Francisco
1966
58
Speeches - Master of Ceremonies
1948-1949
58
Summer theatre tour routines
1966
54
Television and personal appearances schedule
1958-1971
58
Texaco Star Theatre TV program
undated
58
Toronto, Canada - Imperial Tobacco convwntion
1971
58
Toronto, Canada - Ziegfield Theatre
1963, 1968
58
Tropicana Hotel
1973-1974
58
"Twigs" by George Furth
1971
58
Unidentified radio program
undated
58
Unidentified screenplay by H. Wilde
1951
58-59
Waldorf Astoria
1968
59
Washington, D.C. - Shoreham Hote
1968
58
"What Ho!,"
undated

Series II. Correspondence, 1932-1982Return to Top

This series consists of two sub-series: Events and General.

Container(s) Description Dates
Sub-series 1. Events
Arranged alphabetically. Includes correspondence relating to events, shows, and concerts at which he appeared. Contents include requests, travel arrangements, and press sent to Benny regarding the events.
1955-1979
Box
41
$64,000 Question
1957
44
4A-AD convention
1973
43
4th of July fireworks, Long Beach
1971
44
Al Malaikah Shrine Temple
1972
43
American Heart Association
1970
44
American Republic Insurance Company
1971-1975
41
Banshees luncheon
1956
41
BBC 21st anniversary
1957
44
Brandeis award dinner
1973
44
Breakers Hotel, West Palm Beach, Florida
1973
43-44
Broadmoor International Theatre, Colorado
1970-1974
44
Burlington House
1973-1974
44
Candlewood Theatre, Connecticut
1974
44
Capitol Records
1972
41
Carousel Theater
1965
42
Carousel Theatre, Framingham, Massachusetts
1967
44
Century Plaza convention
1974
44
Charity dinner, Dallas, Texas
1974
41
Charlie Chan parody
1959-1962
44
"Christmas at 79 Wistful Vista,"
1974
43
Circle Star Theatre, San Carlos, California
1971
41
Civic Light Opera, Pittsburgh, Penslyvania
1967
42
Colgate Comedy Hour
1967
37
Concerts (A-Z)
1959-1974
38
Concerts - Calgary, Alberta, Canada
1974
38
Concerts - Aspen, Colorado
1969
38
Concerts - Atlanta, Georgia
1965
38
Concerts - Austin, Texas
1966
38
Concerts - Baltimore, Maryland
1962
38
Concerts - Beverly Hills, California
1963
38
Concerts - Birmingham, Alabama
1973
38
Concerts - Bloomington, Indiana
1961
38
Concerts - Boston, Massachusetts
1968
38
Concerts - Burbank, California
1969
38
Concerts - Carnegie Hall
1956-1961
38
Concerts - Chicago, Illinois
1958-1962
38
Concerts - Cincinnati, Ohio
1960
38
Concerts - Cleveland, Ohio
1960
38
Concerts - Corpus Christi, Texas
1966
38
Concerts - Dallas, Texas
1960
38
Concerts - Denver, Colorado
1960, 1969
38
Concerts - Des Moines, Iowa
1971
38
Concerts - Detroit, Michigan
1959
38
Concerts - Duluth, Minnesota
1974
38
Concerts - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
1972
38
Concerts - Elkhart, Indiana
1964
38
Concerts - Ireland
1969
38
Concerts - Fargo, North Dakota
1967
38
Concerts - Fort Worth, Texas
1966
38
Concerts - Fresno, California
1968
38
Concerts - Garden State Arts Center, New Jersey
1971
38
Concerts - Hanover, New Hampshire
1967
38
Concerts - Hartford, Connecticut
1962
38
Concerts - Honolulu, Hawaii
1960
38
Concerts - Houston, Texas
1971
39
Concerts - Indianapolis, Indiana
1960
39
Concerts - Israel
1970
39
Concerts - Jacksonville, Florida
1971
39
Concerts - Kansas City, Missouri
1958, 1968
39
Concerts - Long Island
1972
39
Concerts - Los Angeles, California
1957
39
Concerts - Manhattan, New York
1970
39
Concerts - Memphis, Tennessee
1973
39
Concerts - Miami, Florida
1962
39
Concerts - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1963
39
Concerts - Minneapolis, Minnesota
1963
39
Concerts - Montreal, Canada
1974
39
Concerts - Nashville, Tennessee
1973
39
Concerts - New Orleans, Louisiana
1958, 1974
39
Concerts - New York
1966
39
Concerts - Oakland, California
1964-1968
39
Concerts - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1956
39
Concerts - Orlando, Florida
1966
39
Concerts - Palm Springs, California
1967
39
Concerts - Pasadena, California
1967
39
Concerts - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1957-1974
39
Concerts - Phoenix, Arizona
1965
39
Concerts - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1963
39
Concerts - Portland, Oregon
1964-1968
39
Concerts - Providence, Rhode Island
1967
40
Concerts - Redlands, California
1974
40
Concerts - Riverside, California
1968
40
Concerts - Rochester, Michigan
1974
40
Concerts - Rochester, Minnesota
1965
40
Concerts - Rochester, New York
1959
40
Concerts - Santa Barbara, California
1974
40
Concerts - St. Louis, Missouri
1959, 1970
40
Concerts - St. Petersburg, Florida
1971
40
Concerts - San Bernadino, California
1968
40
Concerts - San Carlos, California
1968
40
Concerts - San Diego, California
1966
40
Concerts - San Francisco, California
1959
40
Concerts - San Jose, California
1962
40
Concerts - San Mateo, California
1969
40
Concerts - Santa Fe, New Mexico
1959
40
Concerts - Santa Monica, California
1964
40
Concerts - Saratoga, California
1971
40
Concerts - Seattle, Washington
1964
40
Concerts - Tampa, Florida
1960
40
Concerts - Toronto, Canada
1957, 1972
40
Concerts - Utah
1964
40
Concerts - Vancouver, Canada
1974
40
Concerts - Victoria, Canada
1972
40
Concerts - Washington, D.C.
1959-1974
40
Concerts - Waukegan, Illinois
1964, 1974
40
Concerts - Westbury Theatre
1969
40
Concerts - Wichita, Kansas
1970
40
Concerts - Winnipeg, Canada
1974
43
Conrad Hilton Hotel
1971
43
Cooperative Food Distributors convention
1970
42
Corn Palace, Mitchell, South Dakota
1967
43
Curran Theatre
1969
44
Dallas convention
1973
44
Dean Martin taping
1974
44
Disneyland Hotel convention
1975
42
Duluth auditorium
1967
42
Edmonton Exhibition
1968
42
England
1968
43
England
1970
43
England, Des O'Connor shows
1971
42
Expo 67, Montreal
1967
44
Expo 74
1974
44
Ford Auditorium, Michigan
1972
44
Friars dinner (with George Burns)
1972
41
General
1963-1964
41
"A Guide For a Married Man,"
1966
43
Hampton Road Coliseum
1970
42
Harrah's Club
1967
41
Harry Truman as guest on show
1959
43
Hershey Sports Arena, Pennsylvania
1970
42
Hilton Plaza Hotel, Miami Beach
1968
43
Honolulu Theatre
1969
44
Hotel Tropicana
1973
43
Houseware convention
1970
44
Houston Music Theatre
1972
44
I.R.T.S. dinner with Walter Cronkite
1974
43
Ilikai Hotel, Honolulu
1969
42
Illinois Sesquicentennial special
1969
43
Imperial Tobacco Production convention
1971
42
Inaugaration of Governor Reagan
1967
44
Indiana State Medical Association
1973
43
Ireland
1970
42
Jack Benny Hour I-IV
1968-1970
44
Jack Morton Productions
1974
44
Jack Present programs
1974
42
"The Jokers" screen gems
1967-1968
42
Kraft Music Hall TV Show
1967
41
London Command performance
1961, 1965
44
London
1973
41
Longine Symphonette Society
1966
42
Lorillard Show, New York
1967
42
Louisiana State Fair
1967
43
Melody Fair Theatre, Buffalo, New York
1969
41
Melodyland Theater
1967
43
Merriweather Post-Baltimore with Mancini
1971
44
Mexico City Valentine Ball benefit
1972
44
Miami Beach
1974
42
Miami Beach, American Trucking convention, American Heart Association
1968
42
Mid-America Fair, Topeka, Kansas
1967
43
Mill Run Theatre, Niles, Illinois
1970-1971
43
Mississippi Arts Festival
1970
43
Municipal Auditoreum, Kansas City
1970
42
National Electrical Contractors show
1968
43
National Orange Show, San Bernadino, California
1970
41
NBC
1963-1968
41
NBC and CBS specials
1955-1959
44
Northwest Releasing Corporation
1974
41
"Our Gang" parody
1962
42
Palmer House, Chicago, Illinois
1967
43
Palmer House, Chicago, Illinois
1969
41
Phoenix Star Theatre
1967
43
Phoenix Star Theatre
1969
44
Portland convention
1973
44
Proctor and Gamble special
1979
42
Purdue University
1967
44
Radioland Productions
1974
43
Requests
1970-1971
42-44
Sahara Hotel
1968-1972
43
Saratoga Springs
1971
42
Savings and Loans convention
1967
43
Shady Grove Music Fair, Washington, D.C.
1969
41
Shower of Stars
1957-1958
44
Smothers Brothers
1974-1975
42
South Africa
1968-1969
44
Southwest
1973
41
Special
1960
41
Spectacular
1959-1960
44
St. Joseph Hospital banquet
1973
42
Standard Club, Chicago, Illinois
1968
43
Starlight Musicals, Indianapolis, Indiana
1969
44
"Sullivan Years" album
1972-1974
41
Summer tour
1967
42
Sunday Night at the Palladium
1967
44
"The Sunshine Boys,"
1974
42
Supermarket convention, Cleveland, Ohio
1967
41
Sydney and Melbourne
1964
42
Tapes, filmed plugs, releases
1968-1974
41
"Tarzan" parody
1962
43-44
Television guesting engagements
1971-1974
41
Television show - Waukegan Junior High School
1961
41
Television show in New York
1961
44
Tennis, Jack Benny memorial
1978
44
Tonight Show
1974
44
Tournament of Roses
1973
42
United States Chamber of Commerce
1967
42
Valley Music Hall, Salt Lake City, Utah
1967
43
Warwick Musical Theatre, Warwick, Rhode Island
1969
44
Whitehall Hotel, Chicago
1974
42
Wisconsin State Fair
1967
44
Wool Bureau
1973
41
Ziegfeld Theatre, New York
1963
Sub-series 2. General
Arranged alphabetically. Primarily includes correspondence relating to financial and legal issues, as well as Benny’s advertising and commercial deals. Other miscellaneous correspondence is also present, such as condolence letters sent to Mary Livingstone Benny after the death of Jack Benny.
1932-1982
Box
36
Advertisements and commercials - Alka Seltzer
1964-1965
36
Advertisements and commercials - American airlines
1962
36
Advertisements and commercials - Ampex
1971
36
Advertisements and commercials - Anheuser Busch film
1967
41
Advertisements and commercials - Eastern Airlines
1965
36
Advertisements and commercials - insurance
1968
36
Advertisements and commercials - JELLO
1962-1964
36
Advertisements and commercials - Mail Order Agency, Majestic Distributors
1970
36
Advertisements and commercials - radio bank commercials
1967-1970
36
Advertisements and commercials - savings and loan
1967-1973
36
Advertisements and commercials - State Farm
1962-1965
36
Advertisements and commercials - Stop and Shop
1967-1968
36
Advertisements and commercials - Young and Rubicam
1967
30
American Republic Insurance Company
1970-1974
32
American Weekly article
1958
32
Awards
1957-1967
32
Bergen, Edgar and Frances
1956
32
Biography - "Jack Benny, A Biography" by Mary Livignstone Benny
1975-1978
32
Burrelle's clipping service
1961-1969
34-35
Condolence letters, cards, and telegrams to Mary Benny after Jack Benny's death
1974-1975
32
Emmy Awards
1961-1964
32
England trip
1956
32
Entertainment Hall of Fame
1975
32
Fan mail
1980-1981
47
Financial - Accounting and tax information
circa 1920-1977
47
Financial - Aluminum Model Toys
1949
47
Financial - Audience Records
1946-1948
47
Financial - Charities and donations
1965-1974
47
Financial - Credit card information
1972-1980
46
Financial - Investments - Benny Hereford Farms
1961-1962
47
Financial - Investments - Big Mound Trust, Miami Beach
1964-1974
47
Financial - Investments - Bistro Restaurant
1963-1975
46
Financial - Investments - Cattle operations
1960-1962
47
Financial - Investments - Home Stake Production Company
1969
46
Financial - Investments - Indian Trail Ranch
1959-1974
47
Financial - Investments - Kismet Mutual Water Company
1972-1975
46
Financial - Investments - Madera County nut farm
1971
45
Financial - Investments - Oil
1949-1975
46
Financial - Investments - Oppenheimer Industries
1966-1974
46
Financial - Investments - Productions
1957-1974
47
Financial - Investments - Real estate
1952-1977
47
Financial - Investments - Tamarisk Water Company
1964-1968
46
Financial - Investments - Triple L Ranch
1968-1972
47
Financial - Jack Benny's violins
1940-1973
47
Financial - Meyer Kubelsky's estate
1946-1947
47
Financial - Repairs paid by estate
1975-1976
47
Financial - Residuals
1968
47
Financial - Storage contents
undated
47
Financial - Syndication information
1968-1973
30
General (A-H)
1970-1974
31
General (A-Z)
1974
31
General (I-Z)
1970-1974
30
General
1937-1975
32
Good Housekeeping article
1957
32
"How To Tell a Joke" from This Week
1961
37
Invitations, advertising, and appeals for funds
1979-1982
32
Irving Fein's trip to Orient
1960
32
J&M Productions
1956-1966
32
Jack Benny Juior High newsletters
undated
32
Jack Benny
1956
32
Jacksonville honorary degree
1972
32
Jeffrey S. Kruger
1974
33
Legal - alterations to Palm Springs House
1959
33
Legal - American Arbitration Association
1971-1973
33
Legal - contracts
1958-1977
41
Legal - contracts
1965
33
Legal - deeds on Meyer Kubelsky's property
1932-1945
33
Legal - DGA-PPP-JAC Productions
1973-1974
33
Legal - DGA-PPP-JB Productions
1968-1974
33
Legal - escrow papers
1947-1967
33
Legal - estate
1953-1979
34
Legal - Inheritance, Maurice Wagner
1978-1979
34
Legal - Lehman Brothers
1952-1955
34
Legal - M.F. Productions
1978-1979
34
Legal - Maria Pisorn
1978
34
Legal - Mark 56 Records
1975-1979
34
Legal - NBC standard practices
1969
34
Legal - real estate
1960-1961
34
Legal - Rene Bouche agreement
1955
34
Legal - Screen Actor's Guild (SAG) pension and welfare plans
1967
34
Legal - Writers Guild
1974
32
Letters received
1975-1976
32
Magazine articles
1956-1973
32
Network program Hooperatings pocket piece (for radio programs)
1947
32
Newspaper-commercial tie-ups
1951-1956
32
Parade publications
1957-1963
32
Prelude creations (replica of Jack Benny)
1970
32
President and Vice-President, White House
1969-1975
32
Press and public relations
1957-1974
32
Professor Bigby and the Rhythm Doctors
1947
32
Schedule and program notes
1945-1974
32
Thank you notes for Jack's illness
1974
32
Trade papers
1961-1974
32
Variety Clubs of America
1946

Series III. Financial files, 1933-1982Return to Top

Arranged alphabetically by file name. Primarily includes general ledgers, receipts and disbursements, and canceled checks. Other monetary and banking information is also present, including contributions and files relating to Jack Benny’s production companies.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
114
Account books
1959-1960
16
Assets
1969-1978
14
Balance sheets
1934-1957
14
Bank reconciliations
1971-1982
14
Bank statements
1961-1975
14
Benny Hereford Farms - bank statements and Canceled checks
1958-1961
82
Canceled checks - household
1960
79
Canceled checks - household
1960-1966
81
Canceled checks - household
1961-1962
88
Canceled checks - household
1969-1975
81
Canceled checks - household
1974-1975
87
Canceled checks - JAC Productions
1967-1971
87
Canceled checks - JB Productions
1968-1975
81
Canceled checks - JB Productions
undated
82
Canceled checks - Joan Benny Rudolph
1960
87
Canceled checks - Mary Benny - household
1975-1977
25
Canceled checks - Mary Benny - household
1976-1979
87
Canceled checks - Mary Benny - payroll
1975-1977
25
Canceled checks - Mary Benny - payroll
1978-1979
25
Canceled checks - Mary Benny - personal
1975-1980
82
Canceled checks - master account
1960-1961
81
Canceled checks - master account
1961
80
Canceled checks - master account
1961-1964
85
Canceled checks - master account
1968-1971
86
Canceled checks - master account
1971-1974
87
Canceled checks - master account
1974
81
Canceled checks - master account
1974
82
Canceled checks - tax account
1960
16
Contributions
1974
15
Household account information
1961-1982
7
Insurance information
1933-1980
47
Inventories and appraisals
1952-1974
17
J&M Productions
undated
17-18
JAC Productions
1965-1973
17-18
JB Productions
1970-1975
1
Ledgers
1933-1948
2
Ledgers
1941-1946
3
Ledgers
1957-1967
4
Ledgers
1963-1967
5
Ledgers
1968-1971
6
Ledgers
1972-1982
8
Miscellaneous
1945-1974
14
Miscellaneous cash deposit information
1971-1975
16
Pension (Mary Benny)
1978-1980
8
Receipts, bills, and disbursements
1951
8
Receipts, bills, and disbursements
1961-1973
9-10
Receipts, bills, and disbursements
1974
11
Receipts, bills, and disbursements
1975-1976
12
Receipts, bills, and disbursements
1976-1977
13
Receipts, bills, and disbursements
1978-1979
16
Royalties
1960-1966, 1980
5
Separate property agreements
1944-1964
16
Social security information
1943-1965
16
Stock information
1964-1977
16
Tax information
1973-1982
16
Trust accounts
1979-1982

Series IV. Newspaper clippings, 1921-1991Return to Top

Arranged alphabetically by file name. The bulk of the clippings are contained in scrapbooks, which were created by year or event. Many of the scrapbooks are press books created by Lucky Strike, a sponsor of Jack Benny’s program for many years.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
23
21 Cities - 21 Nights
1950
116
Amusement Enterprises
circa 1948
23
Autographed by Lou Levitan
undated
23
Benny, Joan - "My Dad, Jack Benny" in Good Housekeeping magazine
1963
111
"Clean, Mean, Gentle - And Great. This is Benny" from The Stage and Television Today
1973
23
England
1948
23
Foreign newspapers
1937
116
Friar's Dinner - salute broadcast reviews
1951
24
General
circa 1940-1975
116
General
1951-1954
111
Golfing at The Flamingo in Las Vegas with Marquis the chimp
1955
23
Jack Benny Hour - "Carnival,"
1968
23
Jack Benny obituary
1974
23
Jack Benny Special
1965
23
Jokes and cartoons
undated
111
"Look How Long He's Been Fiddling Around,"
1955
23
London Palladium
1950-1956
23
Magazine articles
1949-1974
23
Personal
undated
116
Press book - Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan - "Everybody's Old Man,"
1936
23
Radio and miscellaneous
1954-1956
111
Radio Daily poll award
1950
23
"Remembering 'Sunday Nights at 7',"
1991
23
Reviews
1952-1959
116
Reviews
1950-1952
23
Riverside University honorary degree
1969
23
Stanley Theatre performance
undated
111
Stevenson, Adlai with Jack Benny
undated
23
Symphony benefits
undated
23
Vaudeville
1921
116
Scrapbooks
1930-1933
103
Scrapbooks
1933
95
Scrapbooks
1933-1934
90
Scrapbooks
1934-1935
103
Scrapbooks
1935-1936
100
Scrapbooks
1935-1936
102
Scrapbooks
1937
101
Scrapbooks
1937-1938
98
Scrapbooks
1938-1939
90
Scrapbooks
1939
103
Scrapbooks
1939-1941
104
Scrapbooks
1940-1944
98
Scrapbooks
1941
101
Scrapbooks
1941-1942
100
Scrapbooks
1943-1944
92
Scrapbooks
July-September 1944
95
Scrapbooks
October 1944
93
Scrapbooks
October-December 1944
97
Scrapbooks
October-December 1944
94
Scrapbooks
1944-1945
91
Scrapbooks
1945
96
Scrapbooks
1945
100
Scrapbooks
1948-1949
90
Scrapbooks
1956
101
Scrapbooks - "Artists and Models Abroad,"
1938-1939
98
Scrapbooks - "Artists and Models Abroad," "Man About Town," "Buck Benny Rides Again,"
1939-1940
100
Scrapbooks - "Charley's Aunt,"
1941
102
Scrapbooks - "Charley's Aunt," "To Be Or Not To Be,"
1941
99
Scrapbooks - Concerts
1960-1962, 1965
115
Scrapbooks - Concerts
1963-1964
115
Scrapbooks - from the newspaper men and women of Northern California
1947
107
Scrapbooks - Lifelighters Ruby Ball
1958
102
Scrapbooks - "Love Thy Neighbor,"
1940-1941
116
Scrapbooks - March of Dimes benefit - Pueblo, Colorado
undated
103
Scrapbooks - overseas tour
1943
102
Scrapbooks - overseas
1944
116
Scrapbooks - radio stars (including Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone, Lanny Ross, Fred Waring, and Rosemary and Priscilla Lane
undated
115
Scrapbooks - road show
1963-1964
116
Scrapbooks - Stephen Leacock clippings
1944
104
Scrapbooks - trip to Seatte
1944
100
Scrapbooks - Waukegan Centennial
1959

Series V. Sheet music, undatedReturn to Top

Arranged alphabetically by last name of composer, or title of song if composer is unknown. Includes sheet music presumably played by Jack Benny on his shows or during his other appearances and concerts. Many are handwritten, notated, and arranged specifically for Benny by the composer/arranger.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
21
"The Bee," "Medley No. 2," and "Getting to Know You"
19
Beethoven - "Violin Concerto" with and without "Love in Bloom" insert
84
Belasco, Jacques - "The Jack Benny Kreutcerto"
84
"Did You Ever See a Dream Walking?"
22
"Getting to Know You" and "Fiddler on the Roof"
22
Gould, Morton - "Bouquet for Benny"
22
Green, Johnny - "Life Begins at Forty (For My Friend Jack Benny)"
83
Grove, Dick (arranged by) - "Baby Elephany Walk" from Dick Van Dyke Special
22
Haydn - "Concerto in D major, Opus 61," from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
22
Haydn Quartette
22
"I Don't Want to Be in Love"
22
Jean Jean, Maurice and Faustin - "La Danse Des Violons"
20
Kroll, William - "Banjo and the Fiddle"
114
Kroll, William (arranged by Alexander Cores) - "Banjo and the Fiddle"
84
Long, Newell H. - "Bravos for Benny" (commissioned by the Waukegan Symphony Orchestra)
22
"Medley No. 2"
83
"Medley No. 2"
20
Mendelssohn - "Violin Concerto"
21
Merrick, Mahlon (arranged by) - "The Bee"
83
Merrick, Mahlon (arranged by) - "The Bee"
22
Merrick, Mahlon (arranged by) - "Benny Medley" ("Fascinatin' Rhythm," "Puttin' on the Ritz")
84
Merrick, Mahlon (arranged by) - "Benny Medley" ("Fascinatin' Rhythm," "Puttin' on the Ritz")
21
Merrick, Mahlon (arranged by) - "Goodnight Medley"
83
Merrick, Mahlon (arranged by) - "Goodnight Medley"
21
Merrick, Mahlon (arranged by) - "Love in Bloom"
83
Merrick, Mahlon (arranged by) - "Love in Bloom"
83
Merrick, Mahlon (arranged by) - "Mr. Wonderful"
22
Merrick, Mahlon (arranged by) - "To a Wild Rose"
114
Merrick, Mahlon (arranged by) - "To a Wild Rose"
21
Merrick, Mahlon (arranged by) - "Trifling with Traviata"
21
Merrick, Mahlon (arranged by) - "Zigeunnerweisen"
84
Merrick, Mahlon (arranged by) - "Zigeunnerweisen"
114
Merrick, Mahlon (arranged by) - "Zigeunnerweisen" (Las Vegas version)
20
Mozart - Compositions for Piano
114
Phillips, Wolf (adapted by) - "Medley No. 2"
21
Rickey, Al (arranged by) - "Jack Benny Overture"
21
Rimsky - Korsakow, N.A. - "Cappriccio Espagnol"
84
Rimsky - Korsakow, N.A. - "Cappriccio Espagnol"
114
Rose, David - "The Jack Benny Kreutzcerto"
20
Rose, David - "Kreutzcerto"
20
Rose, David - "Waukegan Concerto'
20
Rupp, Carl - "Masquerade" and "I Never See You Around"
20
Saint-Saens, C. - "Rondo Capriccioso"
114
Saint-Saius - "Benny Medley"
22
"Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics" series
21
Van Heusen, Jimmy - "Dearest, Darest I" from "Love Thy Neighbor"
19
Various published compositions (some inscribed to Jack Benny from the composers)
19
Wieniawsky - "2nd Violin Concerto"

Series VI. Personal files, 1918-1982Return to Top

Arranged alphabetically by file name. Primarily contains awards, certificates, plaques, and other artifacts belonging to Jack Benny, including one of his violins. Also contains biographical information and programs and pamphlets from many of Benny’s shows and concerts.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
60
Awards
1942-1974
110-111
Awards
1950-1973
106
Award - Heart of America from the American Heart Association
1968
60
Biographical information
1924-1975
27
Books
undated
26
Books signed by authors and/or inscribed to Jack Benny
undated
111
Cartoons
undated
111
CBS wall calendar with Benny image
1955
111-113
Certificates
1948-1974
60
Certificates
1972-1974
72-73
Certificates
undated
60
Change of name - Mary Benny
1949
73
Commencement gowns
undated
60
Correspondence
1960-1964
60
Correspondence - fan mail
1976-1978
60
Correspondence - Mary Benny
1980-1982
60
Correspondence - Meyer Kubelsky (Benny's father)
1939
60
Correspondence - Wendy Korn
1979-1980
73
Eyeglass holder
undated
111
Framed print of Philadelphia Statehouse
1957
111
Honorary Degree from Jacksonville University
1972
117
Inventory and appraisal of collection
undated
60
Jack Benny's obituary and list of pallbearers
1974
75
Knick-knacks
undated
113
Magazine - "The Show of Shows! The Big Broadcast of 1937,"
1937
28
Magazines featuring Jack Benny
undated
60
Medical information
1948-1976
60
Membership cards
1965-1979
60
Notes
circa 1947-1979
112
Painting given to Benny for presenting at the Seattle Port of Embarkation
1944
119
Painting of Jack Benny by Dan Debonis
1960
118
Painting of Jack Benny by Jay Lynn (Merrett's)
undated
118
Painting of Jack Benny by Morr Kusnet
undated
113
Painting signed by Zubin Mehta
1948
75
Pins
undated
70-72
Plaques (including Alice Cooper Living Legend Award)
1948-1980
112-113
Plaques
1949-1973
109
Plaques
1958, 1974
105
Plaques
1961, 1966
113
Posters of Jack Benny concerts with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in Tel-Aviv
1970
60
Power of attorney
1964
28
Programs and invitations to events
undated
28-29
Programs and pamphlets from Benny shows and concerts
undated
60
Recipients of Jack Benny money clip
undated
60
Sketch of Jack Benny by Noel Sickles
undated
60
Stationery
undated
73
Statuettes and trophies
undated
75
Statuettes and trophies
undated
60
Texas Senate Concurrent Resolution
1947
120
Trophy - Man of the Year from the Conference of Personal Managers
1969
120
Trophy - Runner-up in Gleason Talent Quest
1954
106
Truman's 75th birthday program signed and inscribed by Truman
1959
60
United States Naval Reserve records
1918-1939
134
Violin
undated
75
Violin stand
undated
60
Warranties and guarantees
undated
73
Wooden name signs
undated

Series VII. Photographs, 1890-1974Return to Top

This series contains three sub-series: People and events, Publicity, and USO Tours.

Container(s) Description Dates
Sub-series 1. People and events
Arranged alphabetically by last name or event. Includes photographs of Jack Benny at various events and social gatherings, and many photographs of Benny with famous individuals. Also contains photographs of Benny from his early years (both as a boy and a performer). The photographs in this series are more candid in nature than those in the Publicity series.
1890-1974
Box
63
$100 Dinner at the Copley Plaza for Infantile Paralysis Fund - Boston
1945
111
Agnew, Spiro (signed)
undated
64
Allen, Fred
1939
64
Anderson, Rochester
undated
63
Apollo 11
1969
63
Aruba
undated
63
Australia
1964
63
Award presentations
undated
113
B'Nai B'Rith (Los Angeles) 51st anniversary banquet
1950
63
Beer commercial
undated
64
Belefonte, Harry
undated
109
Benny, Jack and Mary Livingstone
undated
65
Benny, Joan
circa 1934-1970
64
Bergen, Edgar
undated
64
Bernstein, Leonard
undated
63
Blood drive - American Red Cross
undated
64
Brown, Johnny Mack
undated
63
Buckingham Palace - Royals, Dudley Moore, Tony Bennett
1950, 1965
63
Buddy Hackett autograph party
undated
64
Burns, George and Gracie Allen
undated
64
Burns, George
undated
64
Casals, Pablo
undated
64
Celebrities
undated
99
Celebrity Lanes groundbreaking in Denver, Colorado (scrapbook)
1960
63
Century of Progress
1933
63
Chicago International Trade Fair
1960
63
Chicago performance
undated
63
Contract signing
undated
64
Day, Dennis
undated
64
Devine, Andy
undated
64
Dodge, Doris and Theresa (child violinists)
1969, 1972
63
Duz soap promotion
undated
62
Early life
circa 1894-1920
63
Early performances (negatives)
undated
63
Early performing life
undated
64
Ehinger, Margaret
1946
63
Emmy Awards
undated
63
England
undated
63
European tour
undated
108
Exhibit photographs (many with famous individuals)
undated
65
Family
circa 1920s-1974
64
Farelli, Frankie
circa 1960s-1970s
63
Fishing
undated
63
Fort Collins bank opening
undated
63
France
undated
63
Friars Club
undated
113
Friars Club events
1957
63
Gala - Averill Harriman, Elliot Roosevelt
undated
63
Gala - Fred MacMurray, Robert Taylor, George Burns
undated
63
Gala - Governor's Dinner
undated
63
Gala - Jack Benny's birthday at Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles
undated
63
Gala - Knight for Senator banquet
1958
63
Gala - Louis Armstrong
undated
63
Gala - miscellaneous
undated
63
Gala - Nixon, George Burns, Milton Berle
undated
63
Gala - President Truman
undated
63
Gala - UNICEF, Eleanor Roosevelt, Phil Silvers, Helen Hayes, George Burns
1960
63
Gala - United Nations
undated
63
Gala - With Los Angeles Mayor, Johnny Carson, Eva Gabor, Bob Newhart
undated
62
General (includes photographs and negatives)
undated
63
Golf games and horse racing
undated
64
Graham, Billy
undated
63
Grauman's Chinese Theatre
undated
63
Hank Aaron Night in Los Angeles
1974
61
Harrah's - Lake Tahoe, Nevada
1966-1967
62
Harrah's - Lake Tahoe, Nevada
undated
64
Harris, Phil and Alice Faye
undated
64
Harris, Phil tour of MGM
undated
63
Hawaii
1941
64
Heifetz
undated
63
Hillbilly skit at Harrah's - Fawcett
undated
63
Homecoming to Waukegan, Illinois
1937, 1959, undated
63
"Honeymooners" with Jackie Gleason and Jane Meadows
undated
64
Hope, Bob
undated
63
Indianapolis with Rochester
1950
63
Jack Benny Junior High School
1964
64
Jessel, George
1948
63
Jewish awards banquet for Jack Benny
undated
63
Jewish Foundation
undated
63
Jewish fundraiser
undated
106
Kennedy, John F.
undated
63
Lake Tahoe bank opening
1960
107
Launching of the SS Edward E. Hale
1944
63
Laurel Leaf Award to Jack Benny - Nixon
1959
64
LeRoy, Mervyn
undated
64
Lewis, Jerry
undated
64
Licht, Frank (Governor of Rhode Island)
1961
63
Life magazine
1951
107
Lifelighters Ruby Ball
1958
65
Livingstone, Mary
circa 1920s-1970s
64
Mays, Willie
undated
64
Mehta, Zubin
undated
63
Miami Beach
undated
77
Miscellaneous
undated
118
Miscellaneous matted montage
undated
63
Mobile, Alabama
undated
64
Models and show girls
undated
62
Navy photograph
circa 1917
133
NBC Anniversary dinner
undated
63
News conference
undated
109
Nixon, Richard (signed) with Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone
undated
121
Nixon, Richard (signed and inscribed to Jack Benny)
undated
63
Orchestral appearance - Kansas City with Truman
undated
63
Orchestral appearance - London, England
1969
63
Orchestral appearance - Salt Lake City, Utah
undated
63
Orchestral appearance
1959
115
"Our Home" (scrapbook of photographs of the Benny home)
1938
63
P.A.L. Benefit, New York
undated
63
Palladium (negatives)
1973
64
Patiogorsky, Gregor
undated
62
Photos taken by fans
undated
63
Polio Drive - Akron, Ohio
1949
64
Poolside with men
undated
106
Portland, Oregon
1954
111
Ridgway, Mr. and Mrs. with child
1951
63
Riverside, Virginia - Director of Music
1969
63
Ron Vann in Las Vegas
1969
63
Saturday Evening Post
1959
63
School visitation
undated
63
Scrap Metal Drive
undated
63
Scrapbook
1934
63
Screen Producers Guild
undated
63
"Spartacus" film set
undated
63
Special Olympics
1973
63
St. Joe, Missouri
1945
64
Stern, Isaac
1955
63
Stork Club
undated
63
Theatre Margnes - Chicago
undated
63
Travel
undated
64
Truman, Harry S.
undated
106
Unidentified
undated
106
Unidentified event (album)
undated
111
USS Ross
1944
63
Warner Brothers tour
undated
100
Waukegan Centennial (scrapbook)
1959
64
Wheelchair-bound man and family
1969
64
Wilson, Don
undated
64
Young, Loretta
undated
64
Youngman, Henny
undated
63
Youth autograph party
undated
Sub-series 2. Publicity
Arranged alphabetically by file name. Contains publicity photographs of Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone. Also includes publicity stills from many of Benny’s movies.
circa 1920s-1974
Box
62
20th Century Fox
undated
62
Antler
undated
62
Art (including famous Bouche sketch)
undated
62
Autograph signing
undated
85
Benny, Jack
circa 1920s-1974
66-67
Benny, Jack (duplicates)
circa 1920s-1974
68
Benny, Jack (color transparencies)
1970s
65
Benny, Jack and Mary Livingstone Benny
circa 1920s-1970s
68
Benny, Jack and Mary Livingstone Benny (duplicates)
circa 1920s-1970s
78
Benny, Joan
undated
65
Benny, Joan
circa 1934-1970
64
CBS Productions
undated
62
Costumes
undated
62
Dave Chare of Park Ridge, Illinois
undated
62
Dionelli
undated
65
Family (Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone, and Joan Benny)
circa 1920s-1970s
78
Family (Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone, and Joan Benny)
undated
62
Film Fan Photo Company
undated
78
Friends
undated
62
General
circa 1936-1974
115
General
undated
62
Hanssler
undated
62
Jay Lynn
undated
65
Livingstone, Mary (Benny)
circa 1920s-1970a
78
Livingstone, Mary (Benny)
circa 1920s-1970a
69
Livingstone, Mary (Benny) (duplicates)
circa 1920s-1970a
62
Metro Goldwyn Mayer
undated
62
NBC
undated
62
News releases
undated
62
Paramount
1936-1941, undated
62
Playing violin
undated
118
Promotional poster - "An Evening With Jack Benny,"
undated
62
Rex Studios of Peoria
undated
62
Ross and Weiss
undated
62
Seymour
undated
107
"Squire of Hollywood" candid photographs from LIFE magazine
1958
64
Stills - "Artists and Models,"
1937
64
Stills - "Big Broadcast of 1937,"
1936
64
Stills - "Broadway Melody of 1935,"
1935
64
Stills - "Buck Benny Rides Again,"
1939-1940
64
Stills - "Charley's Aunt,"
circa 1941
64
Stills - Christmas skit
undated
64
Stills - "College Holiday,"
1936
64
Stills - "George Washington Slept Here,"
circa 1942
64
Stills - "Hollywood Review of 1929,"
1929
64
Stills - "The Horn Blows at Midnight,"
1945
64
Stills - "Jack Benny Radio Show" broadcasting from Bangor, Maine
1942
64
Stills - "Jack Benny Show,"
1953
64
Stills - "Jack Benny Show" cars (including Maxwell)
undated
64
Stills - "Jack Benny Show" cast and crew
undated
64
Stills - JELLO
undated
133
Stills - "Love Thy Neighbor,"
1940
64
Stills - "Man About Town,"
1939
64
Stills - "The Meanest Man in the World,"
circa 1943
64
Stills - "The Medicine Man,"
circa 1930
64
Stills - "Shower of Stars,"
1957
64
Stills - skits and gags
undated
64
Stills - skits - "The Casting Director,"
undated
64
Stills - "Song Shop,"
undated
64
Stills - "This Way Please,"
1937
64
Stills - "To Be or Not To Be,"
circa 1942
64
Stills - "Trans Atlantic Merry-Go-Round,"
undated
62
Universal
1949
62
Volpe Studios
undated
64
Wagner International (with Johnny Carson)
undated
62
Warner Brothers
undated
62
William Morris Agency
undated
62
With Rochester
undated
Sub-series 3. USO tours
Arranged alphabetically by location. Contains photographs of Jack Benny and his fellow Jack Benny Program cast members visiting and performing for US troops primarily during WWII and the Korean War.
1942-1969
Box
61
185th Infantry
undated
61
Arabia
1944
61
Army Air Force Training Command
undated
61
Ascension Island
undated
61
Australia
undated
61
Camp Patrick Henry
1943
61
Canada, Montreal, Ottawa
undated
61
Central Pacific
1944
61
Defense Plant
undated
61
Egypt
1943
61
Europe
undated
61
Fairfield, Suisan Air Force Base, California
undated
61
Fort Bliss, Texas
1951
61
Fort Denens, Boston, Massachusetts
1943
61
Germany (including Berchtesgaden, Hitler's home)
1945
61
Great Lakes, Illinois
undated
61
Honolulu, Hawaii - Vietnam casualties
1969
61
Japan
1951
61
Korea
1951
61
Korea
1951
61
Lakehurst, New Jersey
undated
61
Manhatten Beach, New York - US Coast Guard
undated
61
Mathenfield, California
1942
77
Miscellaneous
circa 1942-1945
61
Naval Air Station, Denver, Colorado
1955
61
Navy
undated
61
New Guinea
undated
61
New York
undated
61
Norfolk, Virginia
undated
61
Presidio, San Francisco
1942
61
Quantico, Virginia - Marine Officer's Training Corps
undated
61
San Diego, California - Camp Elliot
1942
61
Santa Ana Army Base
undated
61
Seattle, Washington - Naval Hospital
1944
61
Sheepshead Bay, New York
undated
61
South Pacific
1944
61
Unknown
undated
61
Unknown band
undated
61
Unknown; Seofield Barracks, Fort Sheridan, Illinois; Fort Meade, Maryland
1944
61
White Sands, New Mexico
undated

Series VIII. Audio and Visual materials, 1945-1993Return to Top

This series includes two sub-series: Audio and Film.

Container(s) Description Dates
Sub-series 1. Audio
This sub-series contains a few Jack Benny audio recordings, as well other musical recordings.
1945-1974
Box
89
Baja Marimba
1968
89
Jack Benny England tape
undated
89
Jack Benny standard closing (Doctor - Without Rochester)
1970
89
Special message from Watson Powell, Jr.
1972
89
The Tonight Show (reference dub of phonograph record)
1974
89
Wayne Newton - "You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You,"
undated
135
Phonograph - "21 by Ad-Staff, inc.,"
undated
135
Phonograph - Beethoven's "Concerto in D Major" played by the Philadelphia Orchestra
undated
135
Phonograph - Hoffnung Interplanetary Music Festival
1958
135
Phonograph - "Israel,"
undated
135
Phonograph - Jack Benny spot for London Palladium (2 discs)
undated
135
Phonograph - "Masquerade" and "I Never See You Around" (Carl Rupp, Barbara Simpson, Bea Gardy)
undated
135
Phonograph - Message to Joan Blondell from Morris King
1945
Sub-series 2. Film
Arranged chronologically and by series. This sub-series contains film of The Jack Benny Television Program, primarily episodes from the 1954-1956 seasons. Most of his television specials are also present, as well as many episodes from Shower of Stars. Also contains Benny’s appearance on $64,000 Question, and a PBS special on Jack Benny.
1953-1993
Box
125
The Jack Benny Television Program - with Bob Crosby
1953
122
The Jack Benny Television Program (U-Matic)
May 2, 1963
125
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 4 - "Goldie, Fields and Glide" (with George Burns and Bing Crosby)
March 21, 1954
125
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 5 - "Shopping Show,"
December 12, 1954
125
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 5 - "San Diego Naval Training Center Show,"
December 26, 1954
125
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 5 - "Bedroom Burglar,"
January 9, 1955
125
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 5 - "Four O'Clock in the Morning Show,"
February 6, 1955
126
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 5 - "Jack's Lunch Counter" (with George Raft)
February 20, 1955
122
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 5 - "Jack's Lunch Counter" (with George Raft) (U-Matic)
February 20, 1955
126
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 5 - "Jack Takes Beavers to the Fair" [The Carnival Story]
March 6, 1955
126
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 5 - "Gary Crosby Show" (with Gary and Bob Crosby)
March 20, 1955
126
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 5 - "You Bet Your Life" (with Groucho Marx)
April 3, 1955
122
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 5 - "You Bet Your Life" (with Groucho Marx) (U-Matic)
April 3, 1955
126
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 5 - "Preparing for New York Trip,"
April 17, 1955
126
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 5 - "Jackie Gleason Show"
May 1, 1955
126
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 6 - "Jack Goes to Dennis's House,"
September 25, 1955
127
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 6 - "Peggy King and Art Linkletter,"
October 23, 1955
127
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 6 - "Isaac Stern Boosts Jack's Morale,"
November 6, 1955
127
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 6 - "Jack Gives Johnny Carson Advice,"
November 20, 1955
127
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 6 - "Jack Hunts for Uranium,"
December 4, 1955
127
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 6 - "Frances and Edgar Bergen,"
December 18, 1955
127
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 6 - "New Year's Day Show" (with Red Sanders and Duffy Daugherty)
January 1, 1956
127
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 6 - "Don Invites Gang to Dinner,"
January 15, 1956
128
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 6 - "How Jack Met Rochester" (with Sarah Churchill)
January 29, 1956
128
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 6 - "William Holden/Frances Bergen Show,"
February 12, 1956
128
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 6 - "Rochester Sleeps Though Jack's Show,"
February 26, 1956
128
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 6 - "Jack Drives to Palm Springs,"
March 11, 1956
128
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 6 - "Jack Opens Beverly Hills Office" (with Dore Schary)
March 25, 1956
128
The Jack Benny Television Program, Season 6 - "Jack Tries to Get a Passport,"
April 22, 1956
123
Shower of Stars - Hedy Lamarr, Gale Storm, Lawrence Welk
March 14, 1957
123 May 9, 1957
122
Shower of Stars - Van Johnson, Vincent Price, Yvonne De Carlo, John Duran (U-Matic)
May 9, 1957
123 October 31, 1957
124 January 9, 1958
124 February 13, 1958
124 March 20, 1958
124 April 20, 1958
130
The Jack Benny Special #1
November 11, 1965
129
The Jack Benny Hour (with Smothers Brothers, Phyllis Diller, Bob Hope)
December 1, 1966
122
The Jack Benny Hour (with Smothers Brothers, Phyllis Diller, Bob Hope) (U-Matic)
December 1, 1966
129
The Jack Benny Hour - Carnival (with Johnny Carson, Bob Hope, George Burns, Dean Martin, Lucille Ball)
March 20, 1968
122
The Jack Benny Hour - Carnival (with Johnny Carson, Bob Hope, George Burns, Dean Martin, Lucille Ball) (U-Matic)
March 20, 1968
122
"Jack Benny's Bag" (with Phyllis Diller and Dick Clark) (U-Matic)
1968
130
"Jack Benny's Bag" (with Phyllis Diller and Dick Clark)
1968
122
"Jack Benny's Birthday Special" (U-Matic)
February 17, 1969
129
"Jack Benny's Birthday Special,"
February 17, 1969
122
"Jack Benny's New Look" (with Gregory Peck, George Burns, Nancy Sinatra) (U-Matic)
December 3, 1969
131
"Jack Benny's New Look" (with Gregory Peck, George Burns, Nancy Sinatra)
December 3, 1969
122
"Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary Special (with Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore, Bob Hope) (U-Matic)
November 16, 1970
131
"Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary Special (with Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore, Bob Hope)
November 16, 1970
123
20th Anniversary clips
1970
122
20th Anniversary clips (U-Matic, no sound)
1970
122
"Everything You Wanted to Know About Jack Benny--But Were Afraid To Ask" (with George Burns, Dionne Warwick, John Wayne, Lucille Ball) (U-Matic)
March 8, 1971
132
"Everything You Wanted to Know About Jack Benny--But Were Afraid To Ask" (with George Burns, Dionne Warwick, John Wayne, Lucille Ball)
March 8, 1971
122
"Jack Benny's First Farewell Special" (U-Matic)
January 18, 1973
132
"Jack Benny's First Farewell Special,"
January 18, 1973
122
"Jack Benny's Second Farewell Special" (U-Matic)
1974
130
"Jack Benny's Second Farewell Special,"
1974
123
"$64,000 Question,"
October 20, 1957
122
"$64,000 Question" (U-Matic)
October 20, 1957
123
Jack Benny Award - WBBM TV
undated
122
Jack Benny PBS Special
April 8, 1993

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Actors--United States--20th century
  • Male comedians--United States--20th century
  • Radio programs
  • Television programs
  • Vaudeville

Personal Names

  • Livingstone, Mary

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographs
  • Scrapbooks
  • Scripts

Titles within the Collection

  • Jack Benny program (Radio program)
  • Jack Benny program (Television program)