JACK BENNY PROGRAM, THE: JACK DOES OPERA (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series starring Jack Benny. In this episode, Jack welcomes coloratura soprano Roberta Peters and dreams of singing on the operatic stage. Jack opens the program with a monologue touching on the familiar topic of his age and then introduces Peters. He tells the singer that his entire crew is honored to have her as a guest star, adding that the orchestra has even donned shoes in tribute to her. The two discuss the world of opera, and Jack tries to impress his guest with his knowledge of her field but gets all of the details wrong. He ends their tte-a-tte by repeating his pleasure at having her on the show, calling the slender soprano a lovely and charming exception to the rule of opera singers, whom he generally pictures as looking like plump announcer Don Wilson in a dress. Peters then sings "The Shadow Song" from "Dinorah." The next scene finds Rochester waiting for Jack to come home from the studio, dusting the house in desultory fashion. Jack arrives and, in between comic bits, tells his butler/valet that he wishes he could do more programs like the one with Peters, adding a touch of culture to his weekly show. As he ponders this possibility, Jack plays a phonograph record on which Peters begins an aria from "La Traviata," singing as Violetta. The scene is then transformed into an operatic stage, and Peters continues the aria in person. Suddenly, she is joined by the lover she has been awaiting -- Jack in costume, mouthing the words to accompany what is clearly another singer's voice. Soon the duet becomes a trio as Don Wilson appears on the stage as Violetta's maid, with a voice to match. When the song is finished, the three bow to riotous applause. In the afterword to the program, Jack thanks Peters and expresses the hope that everyone has enjoyed the show's "little bit of opera." Commercials deleted.
Cataloging of this program has been made possible by Verizon Foundation.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: January 7, 1962 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:22:56
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T:20691
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Operas - Excerpts; African-American Collection - Comedy
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1950-1964
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Irving Fein … Executive Producer
- De Cordova, Frederick … Producer, Director
- Sam Perrin … Writer
- George Balzer … Writer
- Al Gordon … Writer
- Hal Goldman … Writer
- Mahlon Merrick … Music by
- Jack Benny … Cast, Jack Benny
- Don Wilson … Cast, Don Wilson
- Robert Peters … Cast, Herself
- Eddie "Rochester" Anderson … Cast, Rochester
- John Harmon … Cast, Man
- Albert Sarno … Cast, Jack's Opera Voice
- Katheryn Hildenberg … Cast, Don's Opera Voice
- Herb Vigran … Cast, Photographer
- Evia Allman … Cast
- Barbara Pepper … Cast
- Mary Treen … Cast
- John Alvin … Cast
- Mike Ross … Cast
- David Birnbaum … Cast
- Jay Rosen … Cast