MARY (MRS. JACK BENNY) LIVINGSTONE - DOCUMENT SIGNED 2/1950 - HFSID 29908

MARY LIVINGSTONE
The wife of Mrs. Jack Benny signs a publicity release form in the year she began starring on her husband's TV show.
Typed DS: "Mary Livingstone", 1p, 8½x11. No place, 1950 February (no day). Headed: "Release Form". In letter form to News Syndicate Co., Inc., New York, New York. Begins: "Gentlemen". In full: "In consideration of the publicity to be given to me and which may arise herefrom, my consent is hereby irrevocably given to you, your assignees and licensees, and to the Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate, Inc., and its subscribers and licensees, to use my name, picture, or portrait, in publications for editorial or promotional purposes, excluding, however, commercial advertising. Very truly yours". In 1950, Livingstone began starring on The Jack Benny Program as Mary Livingstone, a role she would play from 1950-1959. Mary Livingstone (1905-1983), born Sayde Marks - a cousin of the Marx Brothers - married Jack Benny in 1927. Called on to appear on his radio show when the slated performer was ill, she proved so adept at puncturing Benny's feigned pomposity with wry wit that she developed a fan base of her own, remained on the show, and formally adopted her stage name of Mary Livingston (commonly spelled Livingstone, as it is on her Hollywood Hall of Fame star). Jack and Mary were not portrayed on his show as a married couple. Curiously, despite her success as a performer, Livingstone, who appeared on the TV version of The Jack Benny Show from 1950-1959, suffered from recurrent stage fright, and she retired at the height of her husband's popularity. Livingstone died at her home of cardiovascular disease on the day she had been visited by First Lady Nancy Reagan. Slightly creased. Fine condition.