Title supplied by cataloger.; Photograph was edited for publication purposes and is slightly warped. Mary Livingstone was born Sadie Marks on June 23, 1906 in Seattle, Washington. After marrying Jack Benny in 1927, she worked with him in vaudeville. She wasn't particularly interested in being a performer, but after a performance on his radio show, she became a regular. She became an important part of the show and audiences loved her. Her comic timing nearly matched her husband's. She was addressed as Mary Livingstone, her character on the show, so often in public, that she legally changed her name. When the show moved to television, she made a few appearances, but extreme stage fright caused her to retire altogether. She and Benny adopted a daughter, Joan in 1934. In his will, Benny arranged for her to receive a single red rose every day for the rest of her life. She died on June 30, 1983. Photograph caption dated April 24, 1957 reads "Mary Livingston (sic), (right), wife of Jack Benny, is escorted to the concert by her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Buddy Rudolph." The concert featuring Benny was a benefit for the local free bed program at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital. It was held at the Philharmonic Auditorium in Downtown Los Angeles.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;21 x 26 cm. Photographic prints
Livingstone, Mary Benny, Joan,--1934- Philharmonic Auditorium (Organization : Los Angeles, Calif.) Mothers and daughters--California--Los Angeles Radio personalities--United States Actresses--United States Children of celebrities--United States Men--California--Los Angeles Women--California--Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles (Los Angeles, Calif.) Group portraits Portrait photographs Los Angeles Evening Herald Express photographs Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
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