JACK BENNY - COLLECTION - HFSID 287526

JACK BENNY

Western-style shirt and pants worn by Benny in the 1940 comedy, Buck Benny Rides Again, accompanied by an inscribed photo of Benny in Western garb riding a wooden horse, and a signed newspaper photo of him recalling the movie with the caption "Buck Rides a Barber Chair"

Collection comprised of: 1) Costume worn by Jack Benny in the film Buck Benny Rides Again (1940). Tan colored, Western-style open collar shirt and matching casual pants, each bearing a sewn label from United Costumers. Jack Benny's name is hand printed in each label (unknown hand). Buck Benny Rides Again starred Benny, and featured the cast members of his popular radio show: bandleader Phil Harris, announcer Don Wilson, singer Dennis Day, and regulars Andy Devine and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, along with the voices of Mary Livingston (Benny's wife) and Fred Allen, his friend and on-air rival. Left sleeve is soiled. Otherwise, fine condition. 2) Photograph inscribed and signed: "To Hal/This is stil (sic)/weird/'Buck Benny'/rides -/again/Jack/Benny". B/w, 7x8¾. Benny is depicted in Western garb riding a large rocking horse. (The outfit may not be the same one offered here. The pants in the pictured are covered with chaps. The shirt is of a similar style, but festooned with decorations.) Typed caption on verso: "OLD COW HAND - Buck Benny rides again, but this time it's for the movies. Jack Benny wears this western garb in Paramount's 'Artists and Models Abroad.' It is not, however, a western, but a romantic comedy laid against the background of the International Exposition in Paris.'" Artists and Models Abroad, which starred Benny as Buck Boswell, was released in 1938. Margins trimmed away. Lightly creased and soiled. Paper scuffs at upper and right backgrounds and at lower left corner. Tape remnant at upper background, tape stains at lower corners. Soiled on verso. Overall, fair condition. 3) Newspaper Photograph signed: "Thanks for the haircut/Jack Benny", 1 page, 16½x21½. New York City, 1940 April 16. 2nd Front Page of the "New York Journal and American". Captioned photograph at lower right shows Benny getting a haircut. Headline: "'Buck' Rides-A Barber Chair". Captioned: "Hair, hair, what's this? Is that rough riding Jack 'Buck' Benny galloping into New York in a 20th Century barber's chair. Don't be disappointed, girls, 'Buck' is just getting the city slicker trimmings for his stay in the big town. He's here for the opening of his new pictures and personal appearances. Journal-American Photo." Another article to the left of photo describes the Grand Central Terminal being transformed (with cowboys, a hillbilly band and a wooden horse) to promote Benny's film, Buck Benny Rides Again, which opened the following week. According to the article, Benny said, "It's my funniest picture. It's so funny that even I have to laugh." Other articles on the page include information on the World's Fair American Jubilee, Joan Crawford's final divorce decree from Franchot Tone and a freak storm that brought snow to Hollywood.Lightly creased and soiled. Paper scuffs at upper and right backgrounds and at lower left corner. Tape remnant at upper background, tape stains at lower corners. Soiled on verso. Overall, fair condition. Vaudeville comedian Jack Benny (1894-1974), born Benjamin Kubelsky, hosted a popular radio show from 1933, moving The Jack Benny Program smoothly to TV (1950-1965). His comic image as a tone-deaf, penny-pinching bachelor contradicted the real Benny, a philanthropist, devoted husband and competent violinist. He appeared in over 25 movies, the most critically acclaimed being To Be Or Not To Be (1942). Three items.