Eavesdropping on Jack Benny and Ann Sheridan

Before Ed Sullivan was the stiffest emcee on TV, he was a newspaper columnist in New York. Like a number of columnists, he also had a 15-minute show on the radio. It was on one of these shows in 1932 that he allowed vaudevillian Jack Benny to do some prepared shtick, which resulted in Benny getting his own radio show and making him a fixture on the speaker, and then small screen, until he died in 1974.

Sullivan wrote about Benny periodically; it was a little difficult as they were on different coasts. But Jack found time to visit New York and Sullivan then found time to write about him.

Here’s Sullivan’s New York Daily News column of June 14, 1945. The names should be reasonably familiar. Ann Sheridan and Benny starred together in George Washington Slept Here (1943). Steve Hannegan was her agent and had a relationship on the side with her. Jinx Falkenburg was an actress who toured Europe with Benny in 1943. She had just married Tex McCrory and they had a morning radio show together. I have no idea who Joan Gaines was. Bing Crosby was a former resident of Spokane.

Conversation Piece
(In which a Broadway columnist sets down the approximate conversation, during a night on the town, of some out-of-towners).
Ann Sheridan—Suppose Ingrid Bergman’s passport IS held up, Jack. Then what?
Jack Benny—Well I’ve got eight weeks so we can go ahead, and Ingrid could meet us overseas. She’s only got six weeks anyway, so that would be O. K.
Mrs. Danny Kaye—Danny’s happy. He goes overseas in September.
Jack Benny—Did I show you this wire, Sylvia, that your Danny sent me. Kate Cameron only gave Danny’s picture two and one half stars, so I wired him a reminder that Kate gave my picture three stars. Tonight, I got a return wire, in dialect: "Are you going to latt a leetle think like half a star coming between us, Jackson."
Steve Hannegan—Look, there’s Crosby coming in.
Ann Sheridan—More stars here than we’ve got on the Warner lot.
Director Henry Hathaway—Enough to make a picture—second thought, a picture that would chase people, screaming, from theatres. Remember, Ann, the first picture you made for me at Paramount. Steve, I had Ann, Ida Lupino, Toby Wing and six other starlets in the one flicker. All the way through, one youngster kept giggling and spoiling "takes". Who was it?
Steve Hannegan—Sheridan!! She still giggles.
Bing Crosby—Hello, boys and girls. H’ya. Edward ? Hope tells me you’re hitting that golf ball right on the nose. You going overseas this week, Jack? I’m off to meet Hope for some golf matches
Jack Benny—Was that young Jack Kennedy, the Ambassador's son, talking to you, Bing?
Bing Crosby—Yeah. I didn t tumble to him for a minute. He looks different out of uniform. He's a nice kid. How was the Patton-Doolittle show you did out in Los Angeles, Jack?
Jack Benny—It was really a thrill. The last time I’d seen General Patton was in Sicily.
Joan Gaines—I can't get over the shock of Patton having a high voice. You just don t expect it. He ought to boom.
Jack Benny—When we were parting in Sicily I asked him if there were something I could do for him back home. So he said: "Yes. I’d appreciate it if you’d telephone my sister when you get to the Coast, She’s a great radio fan. Maybe you could invite her to one of your broadcasts. They are nice people, those Pattons.
Mrs. Hathaway—Why’s Ernie Hoist playing the Wedding March? Oh, look, there’s Jinx Falkenberg and her new hubby.
Jack Benny—Understand Hank Greenberg's out of the Air Corps.
Steve Hannegan—Sit here with us, Bing.
Bing Crosby—Thank you, my dear fellows, but I'm a-sittin’ with Jinx and the groom, who is a-pickin’ up the check-a.

Girl's voice—Miss Sheridan, could I get your autograph on this menu, please? It's for my brother. He saw you in Burma. Now he's in a hospital, wounded.
Ann Sheridan—Oh, I’m sorry. Give him my very best, won’t you. Here, I’ll say it myself. (She scrawls: "Love, Ann Sheridan ).
Girl's voice—Would you sign it, too, Mr. Benny?
Second girl's voice—There, you see. When Ann Sheridan signed that autograph, did you notice her ring hand. That’s a solid gold wedding band soldered to that other ring. I’ll just bet they’re married. Jack Benny—I love New York. I wish I could spend a year here.
Mrs. Danny Kaye—All you've got to do is to make up your mind and do it. Danny’s going to come back to N. Y. next year maybe play an engagement at the Waldorf, or do a show.
Henry Hathaway—Why a night club even though it's the Waldorf?
Mrs. Danny Kaye—It’s the greatest place to break in new routines.
Jack Benny—I’ve brought along two fiddles. Maybe I could play the Waldorf, Steve?
Steve Hannegan—By the way, Jack, did you notice that the revised Hooper made you No. 1 man on the Pacific Coast?
Ann Sheridan—Wonder what my Hooper is at Warner’s?
Steve Hannegan—Quiet-t-t.
Henry Hathaway—I don’t know about the rest of you, but the Hathaways are country folks. We’re going home.
Jack Benny—Me, too. Waiter, may I have the—what. Oh-h-h. Mr. Hannegan paid the check. That’s good, that’s fine!