Search - The Best of the Jack Benny Show, Vol. 1 and 2 on DVD

The BEST DVD Set Of Live Benny Broadcasts

Eric Paddon | Morristown, NJ | 04/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The last reviewer I am afraid has missed the point completely of what this DVD release is supposed to be. A public domain company like GoodTimes does *not* release episodes of the Benny show from the more commonly seen filmed episodes that aired for years afterwards in syndication. These are kinescopes of *live* Benny shows broadcast in the early 1950s, and as a result they come from source elements that will NEVER look as good as the filmed shows. That's just the nature of the beast one deals with if one wants to see these live shows from the 1950s again, whether they're Jack Benny or Burns And Allen. So it's not fair to dismiss this set just because one is seeing kinescopes instead of filmed programs.

Secondly, this set is of all the Benny sets put out by public domain companies is the BEST one available and should be picked up over all others that market the same episodes with some variations. The reason why Good Times is the one to get is because they are the only company I know of that leaves the episodes uncut, which means leaving the original commercials for Lucky Strike cigarettes alone. Other companies hack these out in an annoying fashion, but here the show plays uncut just as it first aired and on the Benny shows this is a must, because his commercials were always integrated into the program itself.

Don't dismiss this set based on the first reviewer's lack of understanding of the source elements and the kinds of programs that end up on the PD releases. This is the one to get if you want to see vintage live TV as it should be experienced."

DEFECTIVE DVDs - AND TERRIBLE SOURCE MATERIAL

J. MACKENZIE | Taconic, CT USA | 04/06/2005

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Not only are these transferred from terrible source material (interestingly, with an initial disclaimer stating they were made from the best source material available), but most critically, one cannot SKIP from scene to scene - or even episode to episode!! You are locked in Lousy-Source-Material-Purgatory.

Do NOT purchase these. Good Times Video has a real problem on their hands with this poorly thrown together release.

When, oh when, will somebody do right by Mr Benny?"

"Now cut that out!!!"

Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 05/02/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"THE BEST OF THE JACK BENNY SHOW, Vol. 1 & 2 is probably the best collection currently available of Benny material. In addition to the usual public domain episodes of THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM, this set also features the much rarer JACK BENNY HOUR. Jack also guest stars on THE GENERAL ELECTRIC THEATER. hosted by Ronald Reagan.

The list that follows offers details such as viewer ratings (based on a 1 to 10 scale), episode numbers, program titles, airdates and guest stars.

PROGRAM CONTENT--
VOLUME ONE--
(8.0) (#21) Humphrey Bogart Show (10/25/53) (Bogie as "Babyface")
(9.9) (#31) The Road to Nairobi (5/23/54) - Bob Hope/Martin & Lewis (spoof of Hope's "Road" movies)
(10.) (#43) Jack Takes the Beavers to the Fair (3/6/55) - Harry Shearer (as a child)
(???) (#33) Jam Session At Jack's (10/17/54) - Dan Dailey, Kirk Douglas, Fred MacMurray, Tony Martin and Dick Powell make music
(???) The Art Linkletter Show (10/23/55) - Peggy King (vocalist)
(???) THE GENERAL ELECTRIC THEATER ("The Face Is Familiar") (11/21/54) - Ronald Reagan (host)/Jack Benny/Otto Kruger/Benny Rubin/Jesse White
(7.8) (#25) The Liberace Show (1/17/54) - (Jack visits Lee's house)
(???) (#23) The Irene Dunne Show (12/6/53) - Vincent Price
(???) (#26) Jack Dream's He's Married to Mary (2/7/54) - Joan Benny (Jack's daughter)

VOLUME TWO--
(8.0) (???) THE JACK BENNY HOUR (11/3/65) - Beach Boys, Bob Hope, Walt Disney, Elke Sommer/John Ireland (various skits)
(9.0) (#134) Jack Casting for Television Special (1/1/61) - (Jack reminisces on "The Life Of Jack Benny")
(???) (#17) The Fred Allen Show (4/19/53) - (Allen tries to get Jack's sponsor to hire him instead)
(???) (#69) Talent Show (12/30/56) - Jayne Mansfield (cameo)
(6.0) (#41) Four O'Clock in the Morning Show (2/6/55) (Jack has insomnia)
(???) (#80) The Hal March Show (10/20/57) - Frances Bavier (host of "The $64,000 Question" gets to experience Jack's version of the game show)
(9.4) (#34) How Jack Met Mary (10/31/54) - Joyce Randolph/Frank Wilcox/Sheldon Leonard
(10.) (#39) Burglar Tries To Break Into The Vault (1/9/55) - Mel Blanc/Benny Rubin"

One of the most loveable of all radio and TV shows

Shalom Freedman | Jerusalem,Israel | 05/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a cast. What characters. Jack himself, the violin- playing skinflint, who was Rochester's 'Boss',Jack's either wife or girl- friend sensible Mary,announcer Don Wilson, wacky Irishman with the beautiful tenor voice, Dennis, the wonderful Yiddishy violent Mr.Kitzel, and of course that mad salesman ,'How are yooooo Mister Benny?".
One of the greatest and most loveable of radio- and then- television series.
And the most famous joke of all, when miser Benny is confronted by robbers who tell him 'Your money or your life'- at which ensues the longest silence in the history of radio, followed by Jack Benny's "I'm thinking. I'm thinking'.
"