Star of Stage, Screen and Casinos

In a way, Jack Benny never gave up vaudeville.

Vaudeville bills in the early part of the 20th century were, more or less, variety shows. There would be comedians, musicians, dancers, acrobats, trained animals, sketches, a host of different acts put together by talent manager of various circuits, such as the Orpheum or Pantages. In the 20s, an emcee was added to bind things together. Among them was Jack Benny.

After Jack got into radio in 1932, he went on what were called “personal appearance.” The stops in various cities mimicked vaudeville, except the producer was Jack Benny. He had supporting acts of different kinds on the bill with him. Some interacted with him, others did not.

By the 1950s, resort casinos were springing up in Nevada and owners had plenty of cash to bring in top talent. Among them was Jack Benny. But Jack didn’t appear on his own. Again, he gathered other performers to take the stage, just like in vaudeville.

One of Jack’s shows took him to the 700-seat South Shore room at Harrah’s in Lake Tahoe in August 1960. This was a big deal. There were 200 press writers and dignitaries to greet him when, according to the Nevada State Journal, he landed on a United Airlines flight at Reno airport on Saturday, August 20 at 2:30 (yes, the paper gave the actual time). The Journal pointed out the day before it would be Jack’s theatre-restaurant engagement of the year.

Among at the acts with him was 19-year-old singer Diana Trask who, the paper said, was “the highest priced Australian act to work in that country” and had been part of Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.’s shows there.

If you want to know what Jack’s act was like, here’s the review from the Journal, published August 27.

JACK BENNY PROVES NITERY COMIC TALENT
A legend has come to life on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe!
Jack Benny, a legendary all-time comedy great to millions upon millions of radio listeners and television viewers, showed opening night patrons at Harrah's South Shore Room that he is just as tremendous a performer in person as he has been on the airwaves.
Benny opened a 17-day engagement at Harrah's Monday night that marks his first and only theatre-restaurant date of the year. Some 600 people filled the South Shore Room to welcome the comedian to western Nevada and applaud the efforts of the fine troupe that join in making it perhaps the top floorshow offering of the season.
Pictured as a “tightwad” through the years on radio and TV, Benny continues the “illusion” in his nightclub stint. Explaining how he allots himself money for gambling, the comedian rolls off a dozen or so quips that has his audience holding their collective sides.
And another “illusion”—that he is a poor violinist—is shattered. Despite a hilarious “assist” from an over exuberant stage hand in tossing his violin on stage, Benny displays an entertaining ability with the stringed instrument that draws generous response.
Top-flight comedian though is, Benny displays in his Harrah's show that he also has the talent for surrounding himself with other preformers [sic] who will bring out the best in him. For example, he introduces for the first time in this area a lovely singer by the name of Diana Trask. Miss Trask is a tall, voluptuous redhead who helps "prove" that Benny is no slouch with the ladies. Their kissing scene borders on the hilarious.
An "impromptu" visit by the Jack Benny Fan Club—Truckee, Calif., chapter proves to be the show-stealer when the elderly female-types making up the contingent bring out their own instruments and rock into a swing session with Benny. "Swanee River,” "When The Saints Come Marching In," and "Col. Bogie March" have never before been played in the South Shore Room like they are by the "Truckee" Benny boosters.
Benny gets serious with the violin for a bit, and does a real cute duet with pretty teenager Charlotte Motley. They join in "Getting To Know You" before Benny goes into a taped monologue while he plays "Good Night Sweetheart" and "See You In My Dreams." His radio and TV side-kick "'Rochester" makes a surprise appearance in the monologue.
Pretty Miss Trask, when she takes over the center stage spotlight alone, shows off the voice that has made her the highest-paid performer in her native Australia. A rocking "Let's Face the Music and Dance" is followed by an appealing "Turn To Me." But a torrid "Well Alright, Okay, You Win" draws the most applause.
Benny[‘s] compliment to the pretty singer "you're not only beautiful, but you're talented, too," is shared by all the South Shore Room audience.
During her kissing sequence with Benny, she sings "Mr. Wonderful," and concludes her highly successful debut with "Gypsey in My Soul.”
The Dorothy Dorben Singers and Dancers, with an assist from Leighton Noble and his orchester [sic], get the show rolling at the outset with a production number to the tunes of "Love Is Sweeping the Country," and “Love In Bloom." Singer-dancer Charles Grey does an applause-winning tap that marks him as a show-buziness [sic] "comer."
Before bowling off stage, Benny introduces some celebrities at ringside including his close pals—George Burns and Gracie Allen, and his wife Mary Livingston [sic].

Jack got plenty of mileage out of the “Getting to Know You” routine, starting, I think, with Gisele MacKenzie on TV and then with a number of other women or girls over the years. Somehow, considering people in Tahoe plunked down good money to watch Jack in person, I doubt that they minded seeing it again one more time.