Jack Benny papers, 1930-1974

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Summary

Creators:
Benny, Jack
Abstract:
Benjamin Kubelsky (1894-1974) was born in Chicago. He began his career as a violinist and turned to comedy in 1918. He was a successful vaudeville performer, actor and radio personality. The collection consists of radio and television scripts, photographs and production stills, personal and business records for the years 1935-1955 as well as magazines containing Benny articles, memorabilia, and awards.
Extent:
58.5 Linear Feet (105 boxes, 6 cartons, and 9 oversize boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Jack Benny Papers (Collection 134). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of materials relating to the career of comedian Jack Benny. Includes radio and television scripts, photographs and production stills, personal and business records for the years 1935-1955, magazines containing Benny articles, memorabilia, and awards.

Biographical / historical:

Benjamin Kubelsky was born on February 14, 1894 in Chicago; raised in Waukegan, Illinois; began career as a violinist; turned to comedy in 1918, first as Ben K. Benny, then Jack Benny; became successful vaudeville performer during the 1920s, playing the Palace in New York City; married Sadye Marks (professionally known as Mary Livingstone) in 1927; made film debut in 1929, radio debut in 1932, television debut in 1950; became concert artist in 1956 and made frequent fund-raising appearances; died in Los Angeles, December 26, 1974.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Jack Benny, 1967. Gift of Joseph Fischer, 1970.
Processing information:

Processed by Lilace Hatayama; revised by Kelly Besser and Yasmin Dessem, 2017.

Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.

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Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Radio scripts (Boxes 1-42).
  2. Television scripts (Boxes 42-57).
  3. Tapes (Boxes 58-63).
  4. Photographs (Boxes 64-79, 81).
  5. Personal appearance materials 1948-1956 (Box 80).
  6. Personal papers, correspondence, contracts (Boxes 82-98).
  7. Serials (Boxes 90, 99).
  8. Memorabilia, awards (Boxes 100-116).
  9. Lucky Strike program scripts bound volumes (Boxes 117-120).

Physical location:
Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Jack Benny Papers (Collection 134). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
Website