A Superior Benny Show in Duluth

Jack Benny wasn’t tied down with a regular TV show any more in 1967, which enabled him to do some specials, as well as appear with symphony orchestras in charity drives and go on a tour over the summer.

The tours were set up like a vaudeville bill (well, without animal acts). There was comedy, singing, music and a novelty act.

One of Jack’s stops was in Duluth, Minnesota. It was page-one news. There was the usual press conference when he arrived, and then a warm review in the local paper.

Jack wasn’t the only celebrity in town, as we learn from the Duluth News-Tribune of Sept. 14, 1967. We’ve transcribed only the portion that involves Jack.

Duluthians Warmly Welcome Jack Benny, Martina Arroyo
By JAMES HEFFERNAN AND SHARON STAUFFER
Of The News-Tribune Staff
An eager crowd awaited outside the fogbound Duluth International Airport terminal Wednesday night as an airplane circled overhead.
In that plane were lack Benny, who needs no introduction, and Martina Arroyo, internationally known opera star.
The crowd was divided, a reception committee for Benny and a welcoming group for Miss Arroyo. For a while it appeared that the plane might have to land at Hibbing, but suddenly the fog lifted and the plane was on the runway.
Benny is here for the Duluth Arena-Auditorium First Anniversary Show at 8:30 p.m. Friday in the Arena. Miss Arroyo will be singing the role of Leonora in the Duluth Symphony Association's production of the Verdi Opera "Il Trovatore" next Thursday and the following Saturday in the Auditorium.
On hand to greet the famed comedian were Manley Goldfine, president of the Arena-Auditorium Administrative Board; Leonard Rudolph, publicity chairman for the event, Dan Hudson, assistant manager of the Duluth Chamber of Commerce and Lee Vann, a member of the Arena-Auditorium board.
Miss Arroyo was met by Dr. Dan Goldish, chairman of the Opera Committee, and Mrs. Goldish; and Ben Marsh, who is assisting with publicity for the opera.
Mayor Ben Boo was on hand to greet both artists.
Benny was besieged by autograph hunters as he strolled, as only Jack Benny can stroll, into the terminal building. Smiling, he complied with all requests, patting little children on the head with a benevolent smile.
Once inside, his greeters presented him with an Ambassadors' "Ducal Decree" making him an Ambassador Extraordinary of the Duchy of Duluth.
Upon receipt of the certificate and its accompanying medal Benny, a noted "cheapskate," turned to Mayor Bon, handed him the medal and asked "How would you like to buy this for a dollar thirty-nine."
It had been a long day for Benny. His day started in Topeka, Kan., where he had been entertaining at the Topeka Mid-America Fair. From that he went to Independence, Mo., where he called on his "old friend" Harry Truman. And then on to Duluth.
The entertainer reported that he found his former president friend in good spirits but a little feeble. "He wanted me to stay for an hour," Benny said, “but I only stayed for about 25 minutes."
Discussing the upcoming show in Duluth, Benny said "It’ll be a good one." He said the bill on his prior engagement at the Mid. America Fair included all of the entertainers who will be appearing with him here.
This week's earlier engagement was the first time Benny had worked with Skitch Henderson, famed personality pianist and music conductor. They will appear together at Friday night's show for the second time.
Also in the show are singers Mary Lou Collins and Bobby Vinton. Benny termed both singers “talented kids.”
Benny gave away his perpetual age of 39 in response to a question on how long it has been since he'd entertained in Duluth.
Placing his hand aside his chin he said, "Well, I've been married for 40 years and I know it was before that."
He goes into rehearsal for his Duluth show Friday morning. Today, he said, he hopes to "get in a little golf."
Miss Arroyo, pleased with her reception which included presentation of a red rose bouquet by Mrs. Coldish, smiled as she commented, “I thought the entire crowd was welcoming Benny.”

The review appeared on the front page of the same paper two days later. I rather doubt that in 1967 teenagers were Bobby Vinton’s target audience, especially doing an imitation of Eddie Cantor. Jack seems to have had a thing for singers with high voices, considering he had toured before this with Wayne Newton (columnists in the 1950s also noted Dennis Day’s voice was higher on radio than in real life).

By this time, Skitch Henderson had moved on from Tonight Show.

Jack Benny’s You-Name-It Provides a Heckuva Party
BY DAVIS HELBERG
Of The News-Tribune Staff
You just can't capture Jack Benny by battering out on a typewriter what he does with his hands, his facial expressions, his timing — all of those things that make up the complete Jack Benny.
It almost seems ridiculous to "review" a Jack Benny show. Do you seriously think he'd be bad? That he could be?
A large, near-capacity crowd gave the Benny show a responsive reception Friday night as area citizens and the Benny troupe celebrated the Arena-Auditorium's first anniversary.
It was a huckuva birthday party.
Benny, of course, and Sketch Henderson, brought them in from throughout the area—there were many Ontario license plates in the parking lot, too—but don't be too sure those who were there will be saying Bobby Who? any more.
Those old-timers past the age of 25 likely will recognize Bobby Vinton's last name the next time they see it or hear it.
Vinton's been big with the teen set for about five years, but even though he sings it "straight" for the most part he hasn't caught on that well with the older group.
Vinton likes to get the audience going — clapping hands, singing along, joining in. He didn't have them for the opening few minutes of his excellent performance, but by the end they gave him a long, boisterous ovation.
Sitting on the stage edge, roaming up and down the aisles, covering territory all over the stage, Vinton sang songs ranging from “If you knew Suzie” a la Eddie Cantor and "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy" to "Mr. Lonely," which he wrote when he was in the service. Take it from here, no one can sing "Mr. Lonely" after Vinton sings it.
He played the clarinet, the saxophone, the trumpet, and played them well. He learned how to play them in the suburban Pittsburgh, Pa., high school in which his father's the band director.
He told the crowd he's been "bombing” lately, but it’s difficult to understand why. If he was serious.
But there's only one Benny and this is by no means to say that Vinton stole the show. Such larceny hardLy would be possible with the old maestro [sic] himself on hand.
Benny observed he hadn't appeared in Duluth since 1929 and said, "I was such a big hit then that they brought me back now for a return engagement — 31 years later.
"It's fortunate that I've had some other work in between."
He said his physician didn't think he should come all the way to Duluth as this is the time of year when Benny usually vacations a little.
"He (the doctor) said, 'Surely you're not playing Duluth because of the money.’"
Benny paused that long pause and gave that look.
"The man is a brilliant surgeon," he said, "but the minute he takes off his rubber gloves he's an idiot."
Benny said Manley Goldfine, president of the Arena-Auditorium Administrative Board, told him if he's a success in Duluth he might be able to get work throughout this part of Minnesota.
"He said I probably could get two days in Hibbing," Benny said, "and a full week in Twig.
"All my life, there have been three cities in the world I wanted to see—London, Paris and Twig."
He continued along that way in his relaxed fashion, explaining that he doesn't tell jokes: "I just talk and sort of ramble along."
Talking and rambling along the way Benny does, he probably could have kept the audience until three o'clock this afternoon.
Benny also served as master of ceremonies, punctuating the performances of Vinton, singer Mary Lou Collins, the Rudenko Brothers juggling act, and getting involved in some humorous asides with Henderson.
Henderson's orchestra fit the Benny mood ideally. From a "Hooray for Hollywood" opening to the "Love in Bloom" Benny theme to some heckles from Vinton, the group kept things moving along with order and with fun.
Benny took up his violin after the intermission and delighted the crowd with gags involving "my fiddle."
He admitted to being a frustrated violinist, but proved there are more reasons than his popularity for his demand on the concert circuit where he gives benefit performances regularly.
Included in several numbers he played was "The Bee" by Schubert, a brief but extremely difficult piece. It was "The Bee," Benny said, which led to famous, 30-year “feud” with the late Fred Allen.
Allen had a child prodigy play the number on his radio show about 40 years ago, Benny said. Following the youngster's performance, Allen made some "derogatory" comments regarding Benny's ability with the violin.
An avid listener to his show, Benny replied to the remarks on his own program and the feud was on. It was all in good fun, Benny pointed out, and he termed Allen "a great, great comedian."
For a change of pace, Mary Lou Collins indicated why her star has been climbing steadily in the last two years. Excellently packaged, she also showed she knows how to use her sultry voice as she covered a gamut of singing styles.
A piano rendition of "Autumn Leaves" by Henderson added more diversion and a great deal otherwise to the folksy program.
If there was a letdown, it was that old story about the show starting half an hour late. And it took a little speech-making to get the thing off the ground, but everyone survived.
Henderson, who followed U.S. Rep. John Blatnik and Jeno Paulucci, among others, announced as he strolled out: "I don't know what the hell I'm doing here — I'm a Republican."
It was party time from that point on.

By the way, Benny did not appear in Duluth in 1929. It was much earlier. He was at the Orpheum the week of February 1, 1920. The News Tribune wrote of his act: “In that category of favoured ones [with the audience] comes Benny, who fiddles and fuma-diddles his way through 14 minutes of banning the blues, an effort in which he is eminently successful.”

Garth Johnson has accomplished an enormous task of documenting Jack's vaudeville career, complete with reviews and ads. It takes a while to load, but you can find it by clicking here.