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.; Richard M. Nixon, 37th President of the United States, was born on January 9, 1913 in Yorba Linda, California. He married Thelma "Pat" Ryan in 1940 and they moved to Washington, D. C. in 1942. Nixon served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1946, to the Senate in 1950 and was vice-president to Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953-1961. Nixon lost his first bid for the presidency to John F. Kennedy in a close race in 1960. He ran again and won in 1968, serving as president from 1969 until 1974 when he was forced to resign in the wake of the Watergate scandal. Nixon is known revolutionizing foreign relations, visiting China and Russia, initiating an end to the draft and setting a foundation for modern environmental regulations. On September 8, 1974, President Ford granted Nixon a "full, free, and absolute pardon", which ended any possibility of an indictment. In his later years, Nixon stayed busy with speaking engagements, traveling, and writing several books. He died on April 22, 1994. Photograph caption dated November 21, 1961 reads "He receives award from former vice president Nixon at American Israel Foundation dinner." The award reads "As an enduring memento of our esteem for his many years of devotion and service to Israel, and in recognition of his lifelong romance with the violin, the America-Israel Cultural Foundation is privileged to create the jack Benny Violin Scholarship to be awarded to an outstanding Israeli student. This scroll is presented to Jack Benny on the occasion of the Dinner Concert of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation in the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Monday November 20, 1961."
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;26 x 21 cm. Photographic prints
Benny, Jack,--1894-1974 Benny, Jack,--1894-1974--Awards Nixon, Richard M.--(Richard Milhous),--1913-1994 Beverly Hilton Hotel (Beverly Hills, Calif.) America-Israel Cultural Foundation Comedians--United States Actors--United States Radio personalities--United States Violinists--United States Politicians--United States Awards--California--Beverly Hills Hotels--California--Beverly Hills Men--California--Beverly Hills Beverly Hills (Calif.) Los Angeles Evening Herald Express photographs Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
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