Well! Jack Benny's Life and Career

As the back of the book indicates, this is a collection of rare and delightful essays and personal reminiscences on perhaps the greatest comedian who has ever lived. A total number of 21, to be exact. And there are some gems in this book.

Actor Frank Bresee reminisces about his association and professional career with Jack Benny. Not very lengthy, but a great start. Actress Kay Linaker was interviewed in 2004, and thanks to the kindness of Janine Marr, the interview has been transcribed and now reveals a great side of Jack Benny the world was never aware of.

Mark Higgins writes an amusing essay about the female sex and Jack's Luck with women. Marc Reed contributed an article about Mel Blanc and manages to keep his write-up from venturing away from Jack Benny (since that's the subtitle of the book). Of the greatest amusement, and best prose, is "Jack Benny: Cartoon Star," by Derek Tague and Michael J. Hayde.

The best part of the book are essays written by Jack Benny himself. One of them, reprinted from the March 30, 1935, issue of Radio Guide, talks about Don Bestor, an orchestra leader on Benny's radio show from 1934 to 1935. Another essay by Benny himself, "My Adventures in Hollywood," was reprinted from the November 1935 issue of Radio Stars.

A number of other magazine and newspaper columns are reprinted for this book. Jack Benny's obituary from the New York Times, vintage Jell-O Adventisements and cast autographs from the original radio scripts are reprinted. A Jack Benny comic book spoof is also reprinted.

The book keeps me longing for more photos, because all of the pictures in this book are wonderful. They were obviously donated by many fans of Jack Benny, since photo credit varies from one page to another. It is difficult for me to say that there isn't enough photos, but also difficult to say there are too many. If the editor chose the photos from a larger inventory, then I would love to see the photos that never made it in the book.

From his vaudeville days to the Fred Allen feud, every aspect of Jack Benny's career is discussed. It's a thin book, spanning 157 pages. I wish the book was larger because at times it was cheezy, funny, touching and (if I can express from the heart) inspirational. If the editor, Michael Leannah, intends to author another book, perhaps he can consider the same for Fred Allen? I don't believe Allen has received his due as a comedian. Is Bear Manor Media Publishing listening?

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