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JACK BENNY PROGRAM, THE - David Niven Show

Air Date/Released Sunday, May 2, 1954
Station/Studio CBS
Featuring Joe Besser (Solo)

Jack Benny adapted his long-running 1930s - 1950s radio show to television in 1950, with the characters and characterizations that made his show a Sunday night favorite for decades. As the TV show progressed thru the 1950s, some of the regular cast retired, e.g., Jack's real-life wife Mary 'Livingstone' Benny, and the show focused more on Jack's "on-air variety show" adventures with guest stars. Regardless, Benny's vain and cheap characterization never changed, and radio cast members Mary, Dennis Day, Phil Harris, Bob Crosby, Artie Auerbach, Sheldon Leonard and The Sportsmen Quartet continued to make guest and cameo appearances. Don Wilson, Mel Blanc and Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson were supporting mainstays throughout its run, and Jack's television program remained a quality, comedy classic until it ended in 1965.

A Who's Who in Television magazine reporter (Mel Blanc) and photographer (Joe Besser) interrupt Jack's on-air monologue to take his picture, and wind up arguing between themselves. Jack introduces guest star David Niven, who joins Benny in an English drawing room farce, with Jack as a British matinee idol in love with Niven's wife Margaret Hayes. The Sportsmen perform a Lucky Strike commercial to the tune of Mad Dogs and Englishmen Go Out Into the Noonday Sun.


Aired live (and kinescoped), a remake was filmed several years later and broadcast on April 16, 1961 with Peter Lawford stepping in for David Niven, and featuring Joe Besser in the same role.

Besser's camera flash malfunctions, leading to some ad libbing by Benny which breaks up Joe and Mel.

Cast: Jack Benny (Himself, Cecil Frothingham), David Niven (Himself, Lord Milbeck), Margaret Hayes (Herself, Lady Milbeck), Eddie Anderson (Rochester Van Jones), Don Wilson (Himself), Bill Days, Gurney Bell, Martin Sperzel, Jay Meyer (The Sportsmen Quartet), Joe Besser (Photographer), Mel Blanc (Joe, reporter), Gavin Gordon (Jason), Rudi Lee (Derek Milbeck Jr.), Sandy Becker, Ed Thorgerson (Commercial announcers), Ruth Thompson (Woman in commercial)

Crew: Ralph Levy (Director), Hilliard Marks (Producer), George Balzer, Sam Perrin, Milt Josefsberg, John Tackaberry (Writers), Mahlon Merrick (Musical Conductor)
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