Ep. 9: “Man About Town” or ” ’39 Forever” (The First Jack Benny Special)

Jell-O Again, Folks. On this very special epic length episode, the Ballyhoo salutes the one and only Jack Benny. For this special occasion, Zach welcomes his very special guest Laura Leibowitz, the president of The International Jack Benny Fan Club, for an incredible detailed deep dive in Jack’s 1939 film, MAN ABOUT TOWN. Hop in the Maxwell with Zach and Laura as the discuss the odd place Jack has in film history, learn about Lauras many adventures curating Jack’s legacy, take a look at the dynamic between Jack and Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, reckon with problematic material of the past, share thoughts regarding the mishmash script by More Ryskind, and come to conclusions regarding the fate of Jack’s cinematic career and how his fate connects to today. The show also gets UNABASHEDLY nerdy as the two discuss Jack’s Radio and TV work, his friendship with George Burns, his troubles with Groucho Marx, and what its like to Meet Phil Harris. PLUS: Zach gets too emotional by the end. ALSO: A Very Special Appearance by Ronald Colman and Benita Hume. To find more of Lauras work in curating Jack’s legacy, visit the Jack Benny Fan Club page :http://jackbenny.org/ For More Info on the Virtual Jack Benny Convention and how to attend, go here: http://jackbenny.org/wp/home/convention/ and to find the book discussed in today’s episode, Jack Benny and the golden Age of American Radio Comedy, go here: https://www.amazon.com/Benny-Golden-American-Radio-Comedy/dp/0520295056