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Joan Benny was born on 17 June 1934 in New York City, New York, USA. And while Williams sadly is no longer with us, Pam Dawber is still alive and well. He replied by telling her that she didnt love him nearly as much as he loved her. But the way they talked about it, I felt like I was really deprived of something. Mr. Benny's widow, whose stage name was Mary Livingstone, was left $100,000 and an income of $10,000 monthly. Join Facts Verse as we take a look back in time at Jack Bennys child, Joan Berrys heartwarming relationship. She was on the bill with my dad as an opening act and I got to know her. Who was Jack Benny's daughter, who appeared on the show? He adored his first grandson, Mike. George Burns was the funniest man of all time in my life, Joan said. In the same manner that Mary Livingstone fell head-over-heels in love with her new daughter, so did Benny. He became president of Binion's Horseshoe in 1963 at age 26. Isnt she darling? How can you want to adopt a funny-looking thing like that one? I cant help it, Mary said. There are so many stories I could go on with of what Natty did to my father to make him laugh. [3]:11 He was joined on the circuit by Ned Miller, a young composer and singer.[11]. . By the late 1920s, a lot was happening. Apparently, they arent subscribers to the old adage that too much of a good thing can actually be a bad thing. (Photo by Underwood Archives/Getty Images). They adored each other and it all started way back in the days of vaudeville. He got his start as a violinist before later transitioning into comedy. At the time, my father was a bigger star than Natty we called him Natty because his real name was Nathan Birnbaum but they just connected with each other.. But she ended up spilling the beans on one of the most embarrassing chapters of her life instead. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, I told her about how when I first saw her I thought she was so ugly and how it was Mary who had wanted her so and how much Mary loved her and that these rules she hated were for her own good and necessary for her own happiness. The miser, the somewhat pompous, somewhat put upon guy all the things that he was on that show, he said was a reflection of the population in general. He spent a day there and nobody asked him for his autograph, so he was on the next plane home. Benny had to sit down and have a talk with little Joan at point when she emphatically declared that she hated her mother. The last of these is probably the most memorable: Robert McKimson engaged Benny and his actual cast (Mary Livingstone, Eddie Rochester Anderson, and Don Wilson) to do the voices for the mouse versions of their characters, with Mel Blanc the usual Warner Brothers cartoon voicemeister reprising his old vocal turn as the always-aging Maxwell, always a phat-phat-bang! During this sit-down chat session, Benny admitted to Joan that at first, he wasnt sure about adopting her. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. The Medicine Man: Dirigido por Scott Pembroke. [18], In 1964, Walt Disney was a guest, primarily to promote his production of Mary Poppins. Join Facts Verse as we take a look back in time at Jack Bennys child, Joan Berrys heartwarming relationship. The only thing that is a little off-track about the book is that Joan goes into considerable . I just love her. She became very beautiful and I fell in love with my daughter before she was living with us for even two days. Despite a battery of tests, Benny's ailment could not be determined. The following year they married and later adopted a daughter Joan Naomi who was born in 1934. Hilmes, M. (1997). Benny was introduced to Kelly by Gracie Allen. ray mitchell raymitchellusa@hotmail.com chicago, il USA - February 14, 2010 8:19 PM American comedian and actor Jack Benny (1894 - 1974) playing the violin, circa 1950s. Deep down inside, Jack was overjoyed at the prospect of being a father. My father worked with a ghostwriter on an autobiography that was never published. Under legal pressure, Benjamin Kubelsky agreed to change his name to Ben K. Benny, sometimes spelled Bennie. Facts Verse Once making that enormous leap, The Jack Benny Program continued to air for another 15 years between 1950 and 1965. And I traveled with him when he went to different cities, playing concerts. [3]:32 Called on to fill in for the "dumb girl" part in a Benny routine, Sadie proved to be a natural comedienne. Facts Verse Join Facts Verse as we take a look back in time at Jack Bennys child, Joan Berrys heartwarming relationship. Two years later, Jack signed a lucrative five-year contract with MGM studios. The book consisted of large, parts of her fathers unpublished autobiography combined with her own memories and, thoughts about growing up with a famous father in the heyday of Hollywood where stars like, Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball, Cary Grant, Ronald Coleman, Joan Crawford and George Burns, Ms. Benny leaves behind four grown children, Michael Rudolph, Maria Rudolph, Robert. We were actually very close because my mother didnt like to do out much so I went with my dad to all the baseball games. Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky, February 14, 1894 December 26, 1974) was an American entertainer who evolved from a modest success playing violin on the vaudeville circuit to one of the leading entertainers of the twentieth century with a highly popular comedic career in radio, television, and film. I was not filled with ambition nor fired by a drive toward a clear-cut goal. He was a dreamer and poor at his studies, and was ultimately expelled from high school. In fact, the radio show alluded frequently to its television counterparts. Its been over 40 years since Benny passed away from cancer at the age of 80 back in 1974, but his 86 year-old daughter Joan Benny continues to have vivid memories of the man that she absolutely adores. In the spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love so Jack Benny almost asks Mary Livingstone out. He left us much too soon. Joan published Sunday Nights at Seven following her fathers death in 1974. It brought me to this wonderful site. See Chef Giada De Laurentiis Beautiful Bikini Photos, Emma Hemming Shares Sweet Video of Bruce Willis Prior to FTD Diagnosis, Chris ODowd Reflects on Career, New Comedy and Filming Bridesmaids. I met her a few times over the years, and being a huge Jack Benny fan, was thrilled. In 1929, Benny's agent, Sam Lyons, convinced Irving Thalberg, American film producer at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, to watch Benny at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. But she also proved one of the rare performers - Barbra Streisand would prove to be . That was fine. They later adopted a daughter, Joan (19342021). Benjamin Kubelsky, known professionally as Jack Benny, was an American entertainer, who evolved from a modest success playing violin on the vaudeville circui. Learn how your comment data is processed. She was previously married to Robert F. Blumofe, Alan Michael (Bud) Rudolph, and Seth Baker. How can you want to adopt such a funny looking thing like that Benny questioned. So, it shouldnt really be that big of a surprise that, with numbers like those, celebrities would face the same risk of dying [] More, Frank Sinatras Wife Was Responsible for His Death (Daughter Reveals All), Cousin Oliver From the Brady Bunch Is Unrecognizable Today (Robbie Rist), Scientists Discovered Evidence That Exposes An Ancient Lie About Woolly Mammoths, Handlers Thought This Owl Was Male For 23 Years Then He Laid An Egg, This Baby Elephant Decided To Spend His Last Days Alongside This Creature, Woman Adpots Tiny, Adorable Puppy. And Babe, his stand-in wife! He knew at that moment that comedy was in his future. The most entertaining were the games when her father was her opponent. Her little legs looked crooked and were wrinkled all over, too, and her eyes were very blue. Benny's parents refused to let their son go on the road at 17, but it was the beginning of his long friendship with the Marx Brothers, especially Zeppo Marx. On the 1968 special Jack Benny's Bag, Benny introduced Anderson as "my lifelong friend, Rochester" and asked Anderson to work with him on a new television series. There's a lovely passage in Jack and Joan's joint biography Sunday Nights at Seven: The Jack Benny Story that beautifully captures life between father and daughter. Though Benny was incredibly successful in the entertainment world, Joan said that heremained pretty unaffected and unchanged by fame. So it would be one chapter from him, then one chapter from me. He loved signing autographs. Benny was able to attract guests who rarely, if ever, appeared on television. Where is Jack Benny Lynn's Wife? Eddie Anderson served as Bennys chauffeur and valet. Often as not, Benny would sign off the radio show in such circumstances with the line "Well, good night, folks. And famed fashion designer Don Loper was dispatched from France to provide Joan with her gown. He later did poorly in business school and in attempts to join his father's business. She said, You know, your father was so unusual. Mary was smiling a secret smile. Read free previews and reviews from booklovers. March 28, 2021, 6:21 am, by It didnt matter what church you went to, what color your skin was nothing mattered. Initially scheduled as a series of five "specials" during the 19501951 season, the show appeared every six weeks for the 19511952 season, every four weeks for the 19521953 season and every three weeks in 19531954. The daughter of the legendary comedian Jack Benny is speaking out this week to talk about what it was like growing up with him, and shes letting fans know that he is still the nicest person she has ever been around. "[31] Benny was interred in a crypt at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California. It was among the most highly rated programs during its run. Jack and Zeppo met the family's daughters, Ethel (also known as Babe) and Sadye was only 14 years old at the time, and Jack was 27. story, but it was not love at first sight, and it was outright dislike by the end of the evening. It was rumored that Benny requested that, in lieu of monetary compensation, he receive a copy of the finished film. She was known for 1961 The Joey Bishop Show, 1950 The Jack Benny Program, and 1961 Password. LOS ANGELES, Jan. 1 (UPI) Jack Benny, who died last Thursday at the age of 80, left the bulk of his multimilliondollar estate to his widow, his adopted daughter and his sister, according to probate records. He even went as far as two say that she completed his and Livingtones lives. She absolutely adored the man and counted herself blessed for enjoying a healthy relationship with him. Not long after I had this little heart-to-heart talk with Joanie, one morning she said suddenly out of a clear sky, Daddy, I love you very much. I said, Joanie, you dont love me as much as I love you. And then mind you she wasnt more than seven or eight she, remembering our little talk, answered, Yes I do. In 1922, Benny accompanied Zeppo Marx to a Passover Seder in Vancouver at the residence where he met 17-year-old Sadie Marks (whose family was friends with, but not related to, the Marx family). His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. The show followed widowed aeronautical engineer named Steven Douglas and his three sons. When Benny moved to television, audiences learned that his verbal talent was matched by his controlled repertory of dead-pan facial expressions and gesture. Its title was an homage to the day and time when the Jack Benny Show aired. by Facts Verse Joanie, in her late 80s, has vivid memories and still "absolutely" adores her father. There was a time when I believe he went to a country in the Caribbean where they didnt know him and didnt speak English. Hills, California. Jack Benny Lynn RELATED: The Untimely Deaths of Loretta Lynn's Kids A spitting image of Doolittle with his blonde hair and blue eyes, Jack Benny was born on December 7, 1949. Jack Benny, best known for his titular radio and television comedy series The Jack Benny Show, was actually born Benjamin Kubelsky on the 14th of February, 1894, in the Windy City of Chicago, Illinois. And are you surprised to learn that he was the same man he appeared to be on his program as he was in real life? People reported that Jack drowned on the. [32] His will arranged for a single long-stemmed red rose to be delivered to his widow, Mary Livingstone, every day for the rest of her life. She was bawling so loud and she looked very mad I couldnt believe my eyes. George Burns was the funniest man of all time in my life. A character who was both a minimally talented musician and a frugal penny pincher who was often the butt of the shows jokes. White lilac floral arrangements were even shipped in from Holland. Benny did his opening and closing monologues before a live audience, which he regarded as essential to timing of the material. AND STRANGEST FAN ENCOUNTER, Comedian Jack Benny and wife Mary Livingston attend an event in Los Angeles, California, circa 1940. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Benny also was caricatured in several Warner Brothers cartoons including Daffy Duck and the Dinosaur (1939, as Casper the Caveman), I Love to Singa, Slap Happy Pappy, and Goofy Groceries (1936, 1940, and 1941 respectively, as Jack Bunny[24]), Malibu Beach Party (1940, as himself),[25] and The Mouse that Jack Built (1959). February 19, 2023, 6:17 am, by Benny died in 1974 at the age of 80 after a long career that spanned vaudeville, radio and television. He loved being famous. At the age of 8, Benny handed his first violin and immediately got to work trying to master the instrument. Most people are really not aware of the entertainment of that time, when vaudeville was the form of entertainment. In 1911, he began playing the violin in local vaudeville theaters for $7.50 a week. Five years later, Livingstone passed away at the age of 77 after having a heart attack. But according to her, he never left her wondering if he loved her. Years later, Benny's daughter Joan wanted to buy it back when it went on sale but was priced out of the market for it. Sadly, the cancer wasnt discovered until it showed up on an x-ray just a few days before his passing. During one performance, Benny told a joke, which resulted in the audience roaring with laughter. Password episodes can still be seen on Youtube. Jack Benny on a radio show at CBS, circa 1933. As always, thanks for watching. Benny's television program relied more on guest stars and less on his regulars than his radio program. 2. And I think anybody who knew him said that, that he was a truly nice man. He took every opportunity he could to shower her with love and not just by throwing riches and luxuries at her he wasnt afraid to express his emotions and tell her his true feelings. Benny was born Benjamin Kubelsky in Chicago, Illinois, on February 14, 1894, and grew up in nearby Waukegan. People knew that he was a nice man under whatever it was he was playing. In a joint appearance with Phil Silvers on Dick Cavett's show, Benny recalled that he had advised Silvers not to appear on television. It was a very different time. "I'm not sure whether I came in first or second, but I think the show came first," she said. Despite dealing with some turbulent marital issues tied to Jacks fame, through good communication. Clearly Benny wasnt actually implying that his daughter was ugly. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. In 1917, Benny left the touring vaudeville group he was in to enlist in the US Navy during the first world war. Her life was dotted with personal tragedies and the icon once said she lost her creativity after losing her son, Jack Benny Lynn, 34, in . Jack Benny's Daughter Shares Secrets Behind his Career Jack Benny, iconic violinist, comedian and actor, is loved and celebrated by many. Join Facts Verse as we take a look back in time at Jack Bennys child, Joan Berrys heartwarming relationship. Hence he adopted a sailor's name Jack and thus the name Jack Benny. A lot of people get burned out doing something for so many years and theyll sit there and say, I dont want to do this anymore, but it seems like he was very happy to do it. Burns passed away in 1996 at age 100. Jack Benny with his wife Mary Livingstone and adopted daughter Joan Benny. Recalling the experience in 1956, Benny said Ed Sullivan had invited him to guest on his program (1932), and "the agency for Canada Dry ginger ale heard me and offered me a job."[13]. Ultimately, both in its radio and television incarnations, The Jack Benny Program would run for more than three decades and is generally considered to be one of the most influential 20th Century Comedy series. He said in an interview that he had all the foibles that normal people have and they identified with him. Please scroll down for our conversation with Joan Benny. February 3, 2023. That was fine. He and Livingstone also appeared in Ed Sullivan's Mr. Broadway (1933) as themselves. She would later reflect on things by saying that Jack was every bit as attentive and loving as a grandfather as he was a father. Legal Statement. In that interview, she described her father as being one of the most loving individuals she ever knew. She was long and skinny and wrinkled all over her face and tiny arms. Other notable characters included Phil Harris, who played himself, and Mel Blanc, who played various roles. I said, How can you write a book about a nice man? Minnie, their mother, enjoyed Benny's violin playing and invited him to accompany her boys in their act. He said in an interview that he had all the foibles that normal people have and they identified with him, she explained. Roughly a quarter million of these unlucky souls sustain injuries so severe that they end up dying. Benny signed a five-year contract with MGM, where his first role was in The Hollywood Revue of 1929. Their adopted daughter, Joan Blumoff, will receive $50,000 and $2,000 a month.. Thats how I kind of combined his story and my story. Comic legend Jack Benny may not have had a biological child, but he was a proud and doting father to his adopted daughter Joan. The university established the Jack Benny Award for Comedy in his honor in 1977 to recognize outstanding people in the field of comedy. The show was a success due to its excellent writing and directing. Loretta was an American singer-songwriter who passed away on October 4, 2022. . He was born Benjamin Kubelsky on February 14, 1894, in Chicago, Illinois, beginning his career on the stage as a violinist and made the transition to comedy during his years as a part of vaudeville the grouping of separate, unrelated acts on the same bill that was enormously popular in America and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. One of her sons, Key Fechser, named after his father, died in 2009 at the age of 55. And not necessarily because of death an obvious inevitability but just because of changing times, tastes and a lack of cultural connection from one generation to the next. "[3]:279. People identified with that and they also knew in spite of his character, he only played being cheap. March 29, 2021, 4:49 am, Way back in 1980, Dolly Parton sat down with Chet Flippo of Rolling Stone magazine for what she thought was just going to be a typical interview. Her family said she took her last breath in her loved ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. After the ceremony, a reception was held at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Jack Benny's shows are remembered as "a high-water mark in 20th century American comedy" and no comedian ever earned more respect and affection from his peers. Jack had not remembered their earlier meeting and instantly fell for her. Fred Allen was a great radio show, but didnt make it to television. [46][47], The British comedian Benny Hill, whose original name was Alfred Hawthorne Hill, changed his name as a tribute to Jack Benny.[48]. As a gag, Benny made a 1957 appearance on the then-wildly popular $64,000 Question. It was long ago and it was yesterday. On top of that, he was a great grandfather. She was working in the hosiery section of the Hollywood Boulevard branch of the May Company, where Benny courted her. Mary was smiling a secret smile. "[3]:301, Upon his death, Benny's family donated his personal, professional and business papers, as well as a collection of his television shows, to UCLA. He decided to leave music behind and pursue a full-time comedy career instead. You were on the floor laughing and it got so crazy. She said, You know, your father was so unusual. Benny's eldest daughter, Barbara, had died of a drug overdose in 1983, and the other two didn't seem suitable for the job. Add . Born June 17, 1934 Mork, of course, played by the late Robin Williams. But it would quickly take on a life of its own while developing a devoted fanbase in the process. See Her Beautiful Bikini Photos, Inside Dr. Phil and Wife Robin McGraw's Sprawling Beverly Hills Home, Headed to the Beach! [29], In October 1974, Benny cancelled a performance in Dallas after suffering a dizzy spell, coupled with numbness in his arms. He had his little brother and sisters, his own kids, and anyone else he could on a horse as quick as he could. RIP Joan Benny, 86, Daughter of Famed Comedian Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone, Best Selling Author (UPDATED), Box Office: "In the Heights" Only Made $4 Mil During the Week, Cancel Culture Destroys A Film's Chances, The Amazing Story of Disney's "Cruella" and How it Went from Bomb to Unexpected Hit, China Beach Star Dana Delany Remembers Tom Sizemore, Says He Wanted to Be De Niro. A few days ago, we espoused the opinion on this blog that Jack Benny's first appearance on the radio wasn't in 1932, as he had claimed for many years, and pointed out a 1931 appearance on the 'RKO Theater of the Air' as likely being the first. (Photo by William Grimes/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images). Benny left show business briefly in 1917 to join the United States Navy during World War I, often entertaining fellow sailors with his violin playing. HOLLYWOOD -- Joan Benny, adopted daughter of the late comedian Jack Benny, has brought his previously unpublished autobiograhy to light, combining it with her own memoirs for a delightful. He said in an interview that he had all the foibles that normal people have and they identified with him, she said. His father was the proprietor of the Lake County Wine & Liquor Company, and later was a partner in a furniture . Whenever they got the opportunity, they would go to baseball games, travel to various cities and countries, and attend concerts and performances together. All Rights Reserved. Advertisement Despite his lasting success in vaudeville, film, radio and TV, Joan shared Benny remained pretty unaffected and unchanged by fame. But they adopted a baby girl named Joan in 1934. Whenever asked, she would describe him as the nicest man she ever had the pleasure of knowing. When I think about him, I actually think about him being on the radio. 80-year-old Jack Benny died of cancer The man, noted for his feminine deeds, died of pancreatic cancer on December 26, 1974, in Beverly Hills, California. And he loved his fans. Isnt she darling? How can you want to adopt a funny-looking thing like that one? I cant help it, Mary said. Scroll down for a visual trip to the past with Jack Benny and some celebrity friends. They lived a fabulous life in Beverly Comedian Jack Benny in 1937. She lived just down the road from him. The network dropped Benny at the end of the season. Mary and I decided to adopt a daughter, wrote Jack. While performing at a show called The Great Lakes Revue, Benny used his gift for comedy to make a lasting impression with his audience. After learning of his grave medical situation, some of Jacks high-profile friends like Bob Hope, Danny Kane, Frank Sinatra, and even Ronald Reagan came to visit him on his deathbed. DEEP PURPLES IAN GILLAN TALKS SMOKE ON THE WATER, 'WHOOSH!' Whats truly impressive is that the radio show ran from 1932 to 1955, alternating between NBC and CBS stations; while also making the leap to television where it was just as big a success, airing from 1950 to 1965 (with five years of overlap in the two mediums). Burns ultimately had to replace Benny in the film as well, going on to win an Academy Award for his performance. When I was married and had children, I lived not too far away, so dad would come over every two or three days for a cup of coffee and to see his grandchild. Do you remember the name Abbe Lane? He was a dreamer and poor at his studies, ultimately getting expelled from high school. Sadie's older sister Babe would often be the target of jokes about unattractive or masculine women, while her younger brother Hilliard would later produce Benny's radio and TV work. Actor Tyrone Power and his wife actress Linda Christian attend Jack Benny's wedding in Los Angeles,CA. He was mentioned by Doc Brown in Back to the Future, in which Doc guesses who would be Secretary of the Treasury by 1985, not believing Ronald Reagan was President of the United States of America. Do you remember the name Abbe Lane? She also discussed her fathers friendship with comedian George Burns, which she said was very real. There are countless examples of entertainers who spent decades on the top, but who, unfortunately, are little more than a footnote in history and completely unrecognizable to the youth of today. At 14, Benny was playing in dance bands and his high school orchestra. Zolotow, Maurice. [19], CBS dropped the show in 1964, citing Benny's lack of appeal to the younger demographic the network began courting, and he went to NBC, his original network, in the fall, only to be out-rated by CBS's Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. In fact, the only radio cast members who appeared regularly on the television program as well were Don Wilson and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson. These Password episodes can still be seen on Youtube. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. So I read his chapter and then started thinking about what I was doing during that time and what it was like when he came home from being in Europe, meeting him at the train and doing things together. Benny may have had an uncredited cameo role in Casablanca, claimed by a contemporary newspaper article[20] and advertisement[21] and reportedly in the Casablanca press book. Blessings to all. Some theorists even [] More, Are you a fan of sitcom My Three Sons? Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. See GMA Host Lara Spencers Bikini Photos, Having Fun at the Beach! Defiantly, Joan insisted once again that she loved him more, seeing as how she loved him her entire life while it took him until the second day to love her. He and my dad were joined at the hip. During the early years of the roaring 20s, Benny met and performed alongside a woman by the name of Sadie Marks, who performed under the stage name of Mary Livingstone. 3. Oh, it was a very good one. 1 priority for him which was the show. For more reads on your favorite stars, please stay connected with us at Featured Biography. He was 89. Benny went into a coma at home on December 22, 1974. But the truth is, my dad had no racial prejudices whatsoever. That boy had my heart. In fairness, Benny himself shared Fred Allen's ambivalence about television, though not quite to Allen's extent. Barbara Binion Fechser had three sons. January 27, 2023, 6:25 pm, Trending The world is a better place because he was in it and still feels the loss that he has left. Benny was also a talented violinist and actor. There was a time when, I believe, he went to a country in the Caribbean where they didnt know him and didnt speak English. Its interesting that people dont take that into consideration in many ways. George told me, If your dad thought that was funny, that was good enough for me, because I thought your father was great. The program was similar to the radio show (several of the radio scripts were recycled for television, as was somewhat common with other radio shows that moved to television), but with the addition of visual gags. She was previously married to Robert F. Blumofe, Alan Michael (Bud) Rudolph and Seth Baker. [41] He was also inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame. Jack Binion turned 80 this year. On March 28, 1954, Benny co-hosted General Foods 25th Anniversary Show: A Salute to Rodgers and Hammerstein with Groucho Marx and Mary Martin. "Jack Benny: the fine art of self-disparagement" in Zolotow, This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 22:35. Join Facts Verse as we take a look back in time at Jack Bennys child, Joan Berrys heartwarming relationship. Jack Bennys daughter Joan died peacefully at home after losing her battle with pancreatic cancer on June 10, 2021, just seven days before turning 87. . The real reason that the supposition that Jack Benny was gay is so ludicrous is the simple fact that no one had sex before 1974 any way! Benny made a cameo appearance in It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. Broadway Melody Of 1936 (1935) -- (Movie Clip) Got A Feelin' You're Foolin' Broadway news hounds Jack Benny and Sid Silvers spying, Robert Taylor as a young producer tries his luck crooning to wealthy widow June Knight, Nick Long Jr. taking over as her dance partner, tune by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed, high-tech number in MGM's Broadway Melody Of 1936, 1935. After her role on that classic sitcom ended, Jan became more interested in being a mother than being an actress. Between all of this, in 1934, Jack and Mary adopted their daughter, Joan.