Photograph was edited for publication purposes and is slightly warped. Jack Benny was born Benjamin Kubelsky on February 14, 1894 in Chicago, Illinois. He worked in vaudeville, radio and television, becoming one of the most popular comedians of his time. Benny served in the Navy during World War I and began entertaining fellow sailors playing the violin, but soon moved into standup comedy. He signed with MGM in 1929 but was let go after a few films. In 1932 he appeared on the Ed Sullivan radio show and parlayed that into a show of his own. From 1932 to 1965 The Jack Benny Program was one of the most popular shows in the country. First on radio and then television, Benny would entertain America with his character's trademark stinginess, pettiness, bad violin playing, vanity and unwillingness to age past 39 years. By all accounts, these traits were the opposite of Benny in real-life. He was an accomplished violin player, a generous boss, and a philanthropist. In 1927 he married Sadie Marks. Using the stage name Mary Livingstone, she worked with Benny on his radio and television shows. They adopted one child. After the end of his television program Benny performed stand-up comedy and appeared in TV shows and specials. He was active almost until his death, of pancreatic cancer, on December 26, 1974. First photograph caption dated September 20, 1954 reads "Comedian Jack Benny, awaiting court decision in his tax case, wonders how public will think on his 'I'm 60' confession." Benny is holding a clock as he glances at the camera. The clock is an illustration cut out and pasted onto the original photo. The original photograph captured him holding a newspaper with a partial headline reading "Jack Benny is 60."; Second photograph caption dated August 19, 1955 reads "Jack Benny may be on his last season on radio."; Third photograph caption dated April 16, 1958 reads "Jack Benny didn't even have time to tell a joke. He was to do a 5-minute session but the clock ran out on him as he won two Emmys."
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Image
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1 photographic print :b&w ;26 x 21 cm. Photographic prints
Benny, Jack,--1894-1974 Benny, Jack,--1894-1974--Trials, litigation, etc Comedians--United States Television actors and actresses--United States Radio personalities--United States Violinists--California--Los Angeles Clocks and watches--California--Los Angeles Men--California--Los Angeles Portrait photographs Los Angeles Evening Herald Express photographs Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
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