Royal City Benny

Mobs of fans and Canadian military members came to see Jack Benny broadcast his show from Vancouver in April 1944, but that wasn’t his first stop when he arrived in British Columbia to raise money for the Victory Loan drive.

Two days before taking the stage at the old Forum, the Benny gang gave a performance in New Westminster.

Even then, it was an easy drive or interurban trip (the two cities are maybe 10 miles apart downtown to downtown) for people from the Royal City to go to Vancouver for a show. But evidently the local Victory Loan Committee decided a stop in the former colonial capital was a good idea (New Westminster has been overshadowed by the newer, larger city for decades).

The show in New Westminster was a smash, according to the following account in the Vancouver’s Province newspaper of April 21, 1944. Actually, there were two appearances, as Mary Livingstone skipped the first. You can get an idea how much Jack was loved in the southwest corner of Canada.

(The photo above was taken at a performance in Vancouver and is courtesy of the City Archives. Read about it in this post).

RADIO STAR IN SHIPYARD RUSH
JACK BENNY STORMS ROYAL CITY
5000 Admirers Give Comedian Big Hand at Victory Loan Show
NEW WESTMINSTER, April 21.—It must have been just like old times for Comedian Jack Benny here Thursday when the comedian staged a Victory Loan show, complete with a genuine Maxwell car, chauffeured by Rochester...just as he has done many times on the national radio. He even played "Love in Bloom" on his violin.
To the lusty cheers of some 5000 admirers, Benny, Rochester, Phil Harris and other members of the troupe arrived at the New Westminster City Hall aboard the ancient Maxwell. Mary Livingstone, feminine lead in the troupe, did not attend.
WELCOMED BY MAYOR.
They were officially welcomed by Mayor W. M. Mott, who introduced Don Wilson, announcer. A speech by Wilson was followed by an informal act by Jack Benny in which he "kidded" the crowd and his own assistants, spoke briefly to the Victory Loan, and finished with his famous violin solo.
Wavy-haired Phil Harris sang a "jive" song, and later introduced Rochester and his cigar. He received an ovation from the crowd as he stepped up to the microphone. The dusky comedian told several stories, mainly at the expense of his boss.
Girls' Bugle Band from the Duke of Connaught High School played several selections.
Thousands In Rush At City Shipyards
All available guards were pressed into service to protect Jack Benny and his troupe when they appeared before several thousand workers at a Vancouver shipyard and at Dominion Bridge Co., Burnaby, Thursday.
So great was the rush to see Benny and his troupe when they approached the flight deck of an aircraft carrier that two girls were trampled and received minor hurts.
Guards were required to form a ring about the famous troupe in order to protect them from the wildly enthusiastic crowd of some 3000 to 4000 shipyard workers and navy personnel.
GETS CHOICE SEAT.
An added touch to the hilarity of the scene was the appearance of one shipyard worker who took up a position on the swinging "hook" of a giant dock crane in order to obtain a clear view of proceedings.
Following his show, Jack Benny made an urgent plea for greater-than-ever support of the Victory Loan. Benny told workers and others that he had come to fully realize the importance of such loan campaigns from knowledge gained first-hand at the war fronts.
Mary Livingstone was presented with a bouquet of roses and iris by a woman worker.
RUSH FOR AUTOGRAPHS.
Similar precautions were necessary to protect Benny and his company from the welcome of about 1500 employees of Dominion Bridge fabrication and ordnance plants attending the second personal appearance show. With 50 per cent, of the audience women workers, there was a frantic crush for autographs and only swift action of guards in helping the visitors to leave quickly after their performance kept them from being mobbed by the crowd.
AT UNITED SERVICES.
Civilians and members of the armed services—500 strong—waited outside the entrance of United Services Centre Thursday night for arrival of Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone, Rochester, Bill Harris [sic] and Don Wilson.
Inside, a uniformed throng of 2500 thundered their approval of the air waves and screen celebrities.
Applause followed each as they went into their routines with the servicemen going "wild, simply wild" over Phil Harris.
Mink-coated, diamond-bedecked and stunningly gowned Mary Livingstone presented a picture and friendly smiles and merry laughs.
Screaming for more, the crowd forced the troupe to overstay its schedule, demanding encore after encore.