Jack Benny went through something like ten announcers in the first two years before General Tire picked up sponsorship of his show on April 5, 1934. In the earliest days, the network simply assigned someone to work his show. In fact, Wilson was hired to work with Benny as a result of a network audition in New York, where he had been transferred as a result of his football play-by-play on the West Coast.
Wilson was a refreshing change from Alois Havrilla, whose claim to fame was winning a diction award. Precise diction isn’t necessarily the first thing you want in a comedy foil. Wilson quickly chuckled and chortled his way to audience appreciation, coupled with the interruptions for sponsor mentions which Havrilla, Howard Claney and other network mouthpieces had engaged in.
He stayed with Benny until the end of the 1964-65 TV season. He missed only a handful of shows, generally when Benny hit the road and Wilson had commitments on other shows in Los Angeles. He did make the trip in March 1937, when Jack intended to bring his feud with Fred Allen to a climax and an end. He gave a little report on it to the paper in Monrovia, California.
Don Wilson Writes Column
"The world will little note nor long remember what we say here—“
By HOMER CANFIELD
Hollywood, March 15.—
THE POSTMAN DOES RING twice. On his second round this morning, he left me a very special letter from Don Wilson. As it gives an intimate inside picture of the Jack Benny troupe in New York, I'm taking the liberty of showing it to you. I'm sure Don won't mind, and I'm doubly sure you'll enjoy hearing from radio's No. 1 announcer every bit as much as I have.
Dear Homer:
Here we are in Radio City once again. It seems only like last year that we were here. Wait a minute—oh yes—Jack Benny, you know, that violinist, just looked over my shoulder to remark that it was last year. How time drags when all one has to do is listen to "The Bee" day in and day out.
But you wanted to know something about the trip. We caught the train out of Los Angeles Tuesday night, March 3, after Jack's broadcast with The Ol’ Maestro, Ben Bernie. Yowsuh! The party included, besides Jack and me, his secretary and able assistant, Harry Baldwin, those clever script writers, Al Boasberg, Eddie Beloin, and Bill Morrow. Mary Livingstone preceded us east by about two weeks and Kenny Baker by a couple of days.
I put in a good part of the time reading and playing solitaire while Jack stayed in the weekly huddle with his writers, turning out the script for the first of two broadcasts from New York. We arrived in Chicago Friday morning and
That afternoon we boarded the Twentieth Century. Following dinner, Jack called a conference to outline Sunday's show. I contributed a few suggestions for myself for some Jell-O plugs and we substituted the name "Lyman" as one of the six delicious flavors (in place of lemon, of course).
The train arrived in Grand Central station at exactly 9:00 a. m. on Saturday morning and we were greeted by a barrage of newspaper men and cameramen, not to forget agency and sponsor representatives and close to a thousand spectators. Many pictures and short interviews were in order, and we were swept into the glory being heaped on Jack's shoulders. The press meeting finally broke up and we all went to our respective hotels.
I dropped over to NBC at my earliest convenience and renewed some old acquaintances, and in the interim realized that one of my bags was missing. Immediately contacted all lost and found possibilities, but no light was shed on the matter. I was especially perturbed over the loss for in addition to my personal belongings, a silver plated traveling kit which Jack and Mary had given me Christmas, was among the missing items. Then I gave up in despair and took an early afternoon nap.
Awakened about 3 Saturday afternoon and called Jack's secretary, Harry Baldwin, to find out about rehearsal schedules. The first words which he greeted me over the phone were "I've got your bag, Don," which completed my self-disgust but relieved me of the worry.
At 4 we met for a script reading session in one of the conference rooms in NBC and went through the show for the first time with Jack, Mary Livingstone, Kenny Baker, Stuart Canin, the 10-year-old youngster who played "The Bee" on Fred Allen's program, Abe Lyman and myself present. That evening Kenny Baker and I had dinner together and took in an early movie. Then to bed with a busy and memorable day ahead of us.
Spent a quiet Sunday until it was time for our afternoon rehearsal at the Waldorf-Astoria. The practice session went off pretty well, although each member of the cast felt strange in the new surroundings, especially after broadcasting from our small and intimate Hollywood studio. Had dinner with some of the gang in the hotel and then was on hand in the ballroom at 6:30 p. m.
As the two thousand some-odd visitors filed into the improvised studio, each of our hearts sunk lower and lower, but our spirits were quickly revived when we sensed the tremendous studio reaction as Jack stepped to the rostrum ten minutes before air time and played "The Bee." Pandemonium practically broke loose. That peculiar edge of nervousness disappeared, and left us completely at home midst a host of congenial strangers.
With the familiar "Jell-O again," our first eastern broadcast in over a year was under way. It moved smoothly and gathered momentum as the minutes passed. The guffaws were frequent and hearty. Mary handled her bit admirably. Kenny sang as he never had before. Abe Lyman's music was stimulating. Jack talked in an inspired manner, Sam "Schlepperman" Hearn returned with a fresh and entertaining "Hello Stranger," and my "Six Delicious Flavors" seemed to make our friends' mouths water.
The show was a success, so we were later told, and we were all set for the rebroadcast at 11:30 p. m. The late broadcast went off just as smoothly, even though Mary had a lot of fun and provoked untold laughter as she juggled a line for a few minutes.
We undertake one more show from New York, and move to Chicago en route home again. I have busied myself looking up old friends, taking in a few of the current Broadway hits, enjoying a little night life and missing California with each breath I take. Hope to see you soon when I can elaborate on the story of our eastern visit. My regards to all the gang.
Cordially, DON WILSON.
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