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Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky; February 14, 1894 – December 26, 1974) was an American entertainer who evolved from a modest success playing the violin on the vaudeville circuit to one of the leading entertainers of the twentieth century with a highly popular comedic career in radio, television, and film.
- He Was A Reluctant Maestro. Jack Benny was born Benjamin Kubelsky in Chicago, Illinois, on February 14, 1894. His parents bought him a violin when he was six years old, hoping one day he would become a great musician.
- He Stunk At School. Benny hated school and homework. He was a daydreamer who played hooky frequently. When he did go to school, he pulled pranks, and they were disgusting.
- He Could’ve Toured With Groucho. Before the legendary Marx Brothers brought their comedy act to Hollywood, they toured the vaudeville circuit with their mother Minnie, stopping in Benny’s hometown of Waukegan, Illinois in 1911, Minnie noticed how quickly Benny picked up new music and offered him a job playing for her sons on tour.
- He Heard Crickets Chirp. A year later, Benny was out of the pit and playing on stage with pianist Cora Salisbury. His parents only agreed to let them tour together because Cora was a respectable widow who promised to keep Benny safe from “loose” women.
Jack Benny (born February 14, 1894, Chicago—died December 27, 1974, Beverly Hills, California, U.S.) was an entertainer whose unusual comedic method and expert timing made him a legendary success in U.S. radio and television for more than 30 years.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
"Human" is a key word, for the Benny persona defied sub-categorization. Benny had shed his Jewish identity along with his Jewish name on his way from vaudeville to radio. The character he and his writers sustained on the airwaves for four decades had no ethnicity or religion.
Jack Benny (Benjamin Kubelsky) was one of the most celebrated American entertainers of the 20th century. This biography of Benjamin Kubelsky provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Apr 9, 2013 · Jack Benny, 1894-1974: The man who was funny just by standing there. In October 1974, Benny canceled a performance in Dallas after suffering a dizzy spell, coupled with a feeling of numbness in his arms. Despite a battery of tests, Benny’s ailment could not be determined.
Benjamin was a quiet boy. For much of the time, his parents were busy working in his father's store. As a child, Benjamin, or Benny as his friends called him, learned to play the violin. Benny was such a good violin player that, for a time, he wanted to become a musician.
