In 1948 Anderson stopped in Vancouver for several weeks of appearances at the city’s number-one supper club, The Cave. All the papers covered his arrival and a few side-events as well. He made a public appearance at a kids swimming club, dropped by a local speedway and planned to do some fishing as well.
We’ll pass along some stories from the largest daily of the time, the Province (the Vancouver Sun and Vancouver News-Herald sent reporters out on the Rochester beat as well). The first is from July 5th, the second from July 9th and the third from July 17th. The second one may be the best. It’s funny enough some chap near Nanaimo and Dundas (a working-class section of the city in those days) owned a Maxwell but it’s more amusing the car wouldn’t work. Unfortunately there was no photo. The radio station referred to in the story was not the one that broadcast the Benny show, by the way.
The first story reveals Anderson and his wife (and the entourage, I would imagine) stayed at the city’s top hotel.
COMEDIAN MUM ON HIS PAY
‘Rochester’ Won't Tell on Benny’
By CLYDE GILMOUR
Eddie Anderson, the "Rochester" of the Jack Benny radio show, grinningly held three Vancouver reporters at bay today and refused to disclose how much Benny pays him.
"It wouldn't be ethical, it would spoil the gag," the croak-voiced Negro comedian told a press conference in Hotel Vancouver, where he and his wife are staying. Mr. Anderson is here to play a singing-dancing-clowning engagement opening tonight in the Cave Supper Club. He's on tour with an all-Negro revue during the summer radio layoff.
One newsman told Rochester he had read somewhere that Benny's radio valet-chauffeur gets $1000 a week for his contributions to the popular NBC program. Rochester shook his head and chuckled hoarsely.
"Uh-uh," he said, sounding exactly like Rochester on the radio. "That wouldn't be right. I'm not sayin', either. In the show Mr. Benny, is supposed, to be stingy with his employees, and I'm not gonna louse that up talking big money."
However, the natty 42-year-old entertainer mentioned casually that he owns five racehorses and a Lincoln car, and it takes no special intuition to figure out that he's doing all right.
Eddie Anderson has been Benny's imaginary right-hand-man for 11 years.
LONG TIME WED
"Funny, it only seems like 11 years," he cracked, following the remark with another . raspy chuckle; How long has he been married? "Well, we got a boy 19 years old, and he wasn't at the wedding." Chuckle, chuckle, chuckle.
Rochester reported that it's quite fantastic the way many people believe everything they hear on a radio comedy show. For instance, thousands really think Jack Benny keeps a tame polar bear named Carmichael.
SOURCE OF GROWLS
Incidentally, Carmichael's heart-stopping growls are produced, according to Rochester, by Mel Blanc, the hundred-voiced fellow who also does Bugs Bunny.
"Next thing for me, I'm a motion picture director," Rochester confined. "Got me an outfit called Rochester Productions, and I'll direct a film called 'A Studio Murder.' It will have a mixed cast, too—not all-Negro."
He said Benny is "a nice guy to work for." But he's not Benny's valet. Not really. Heck, Rochester has a valet of his own. And very good, too.
ROCHESTER HELPS CAMPAIGN
Gag Backfires, But Maxwell Won't
By CLYDE GILMOUR
They dug up an honest-to-gosh Maxwell for "Rochester" today in Vancouver—but the engine wouldn't start when he tried to drive it.
At the city motor vehicle inspection station at Bidwell and Georgia, the good-natured Negro comedian did his stuff amid a blaze of camera flashguns to mark the official opening of a drive-safely campaign held by the Vancouver Traffic and Safety Council.
Rochester, performing nightly at the Cave Supper Club, hadn't got to bed until 5 a.m. As a result he was 38 minutes late arriving for the "ceremony," set for 11.
Someone shut off the sweetly purring Maxwell engine a few minutes before the frog-voiced comic arrived. That did it. They couldn't start it again; and had to substitute manpower for four cylinders when the gag got under way.
Rochester, resplendent in a natty grey suit with dark sun-goggles, white straw hat and brilliant hand-painted tie, munched a big cigar and said traffic safety is a good idea, he's all for it.
He chatted amiably with four young admirers, honor guests at the campaign opening. They were members of Vancouver's diligent Schoolboy Safety Patrol, which has 1200 members in 41 schools under supervision of Constables Jack McKinnon and Alf Simons of the city police force.
Chosen for the ceremony were Ronnie and Donnie Johnson, 11-year-old Negro twins; Eddie Smith, 11, and Peter Dolman 12, all of Seymour school, which has had an outstanding record for successful patrol work.
Tall, jolly Inspector Harry S. Gray, in charge of the inspection station, pretended to rebuke Rochester for reckless driving, but burst out laughing before he could finish.
A recorded broadcast of today's campaign opening, including remarks by Rochester, will be given over CKMO at 6:45 p.m. Saturday.
Radio Stars Stud Bill At Minority Group Meet
Jack Benny's stooge "Rochester" who rose to fame on a two-minute Sunday night telephone conversation didn't run overtime Friday as guest speaker.
The gravel-voiced comedian told members of the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Colored People that a Hollywood group was being formed to present more pictures starring minority groups in the near future.
He then rasped out a swift "thanks for the free lunch" and sat down.
Singer Ivy Anderson, former soloist with Duke Ellington's orchestra, said racial groups in the U.S. need individual convincing that they are entitled to live, work and enjoy their native land.
"We've got to keep fighting," chimed in Lilian Randolph, better known as "Birdie" on the Gildersleeve radio program and "Madam Queen" on the Amos and Andy show.
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