Jack Benny on Comedy and Chimpanzees

What does Harry Truman have in common with a couple of simians?

They both appeared on TV with Jack Benny in 1959, about a month apart.

There were technical issues on the first broadcast, recorded in the Truman library, and the appearance of the Marquis Chimps resulted in some infighting amongst Benny’s writers (if I correctly recall a story from George Balzer).

The chimps also proved to be good for ratings. They originally appeared on Benny’s show in March 1959 then made a repeat performance.

The Paterson, N.J. Call had two Benny stories in its Sunday edition of November 7, 1959. One was unbylined and dealt with Jack examining his popularity, the other was a wire service piece. Both mentioned the chimps.

Benny Plays Host To 2 Chimps
Comedian Still Acting The Miser
The most durable joke in show business is freely conceded to be Jack Benny's miserliness.
But if other long-running gags were to be advanced as competition to Benny's legendary reluctance to part with coin, they, too, would be found to come from Jack's personal repertoire.
All Benny fans have their favorites. Some laugh the heartiest at the vain Benny lyrically describing his own blue eyes. Another long-time chuckle-getter is Benny’s insistence on remaining 39 years old over the seasons. His fictional Maxwell automobile has amused more millions.
Benny Talks

The real-life Benny, reflecting on the longevity of his favorite jokes and all their nuances, says, "I think everyone knows somebody like the character I play. It might even be someone in their own family—an uncle, maybe, who always shows up at Thanksgiving dinner but never invites the rest of the family to his house.
"The important thing is that the friend or relative be liked, and that his friends find humor in his shortcomings. The character I play can be petty but never mean, vain but never overbearing. If the character went over the line of good taste, he would be rejected in short order.
Be Irritating
"Perhaps the explanation is that some irritating qualities are laughable, but only up to a point. And I think a comedian is safer trying to make an audience laugh at him rather than with him at somebody else."
Television viewers again will be offered a look at how the Benny brand of comedy stands up over the years when Jack stars in the special "Jack Benny Hour" Saturday, Nov. 7 (7:30-8:30 p.m.,) on the CBS. It is the first special Benny program of the season, and Jack has invited fellow funnyman Danny Thomas, the singing McGuire Sisters, and the Marquis Family of trained chimpanzees to join him in the hour-long music and comedy show.

To appear With Jack In TV Skit
By JOE FINNIGAN
HOLLYWOOD (UPI) – Jack Benny, no cheapskate he, goes first class when entertaining banana-eating chimpanzee friends at lunch.
Jack's smash hit scene with chimps some months ago is being re-run on his Nov. 7 show along with another sketch.
The sometime fiddle player greeted two hairy guests, Mr. Marquis Jr. and Mish Candy like long-lost cousins (which indeed they could well be) when they arrived to dine at CBS-TV.
"I don't know if they'll recognize me," Jack said nervously. "After all, I haven't seen them since they were on my show the last time.
"Are those my little babies?" a smiling Benny asked, as a pair of eight-year old chimps sauntered nonchalantly into the room.
Sweeping the little simians up in a bear-hug embrace Jack declared, "you two are the nicest thing that happened to me on television."
They Were Bored
Dressed in white trousers, shirt, maroon and white striped sweater and white shoes, the chimps surveyed the studio with expressions of boredom—until they spotted the spread of bananas, puddings and coffee.
Marquis screamed in delight, hoping to tear into the banana bowl, but a word of caution from trainer Gene Detroy sent the anxious three-footer scurrying back to his chair.
Little Candy, rising above it all, awaited a signal to join the diners, then quickly downed two cups of coffee.
To heck with the coffee, Marquis gestured, picking up a spoon and going to work on the puddings.
As is the case at festive Hollywood luncheons, the inevitable picture-taking ceremony took place.
Placing one chimp on each side of him in the classic "see no evil" etc. monkey pose, Benny looked the part of a proud father showing off twins.
Admitting the cute little animals could walk off with the show, Jack said he couldn't care less.
"They can steal a scene from me any time they want to," he said. "They'd better, because if they don't we won't have a good show."