It's Friday, Ya Beatniks! (Mylot Exclusive #1907)

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This is a bigger and more important Fractious Friday than usual here in the Neon Fun Jungle for two reasons, Radio Rangers. Both of them deeply connected to the world of comedy. First, it is the anniversary of the first ever "The Jack Benny Program" broadcast. On May 2, 1934. It was also called "The Canada Dry Ginger Ale Program" because Canada Dry wanted everyone to know that they were the sponsor. At this juncture, many of you, my 226.4 Billion Loyal Dedicated Daily Readers, are saying, "How can that be, Sir? Everyone knows that May 2, 1934 was a Wonderific Wednesday, not a Single Barrel Sunday. And everyone also knows that Jack's timeslot was Single Barrel Sunday evenings at 7. You forget that he didn't move to Sunday until the advent of "The Jell-O Program Starring Jack Benny" (1934–42). I hope you're also not forgetting that from 1932-34, Phil Harris wasn't there, so Ted Weems conducted the orchestra. But Phil is here tonight. To conduct The Neon Fun Jungle Symphony Band. It wasn't cheap. He lives on the Other Side now, so, at great expense, we called Trans Dimensional Uber and arranged a car for him. Plus, there was Phil's usual Personal Appearance fee of $35. In just a few minutes, he's going to get the band going for your dining and dancing enjoyment. If you were expecting Ted Weems, sorry. We spent most of the budget getting Phil here. But look at the bright side. Phil is going to do 14 different versions of "That's What I Like About The South." The other bright side is we had just enough left over to hire Maxwell Mann, the very best German-American Jack Benny tribute artist we could find in Waukegan. The other not at all bright side that deeply connects today to the world of comedy is that Ruth Buzzi passed away ((Article Linked Below)). Ruth actually died yesterday, on May 1, AKA May Day, but it wasn't announced until today, so May 2, gets the black wreath. There aren't many "Laugh-In" stars left but we still have Goldie Hawn, Lily Tomlin, and Jo Anne Worley. And that's three times better than nothing. With that in mind, let's go to my birthday, Hard Monday, February 2, 1970, to see what George Schlatter ((The Creator, producer, and director of "Laugh-In." Incidentally he is now 95 and still with us)) got me for a birthday present that year. This is a fairly complete clip. Jack, Ruth, Goldie, Lily and Jo Anne are all featured. ************* Entertainment Weekly Ruth Buzzi, purse-wielding comedian on “Laugh-In”, dies at 88 Story by Jessica Wang • 9h • 2 min read https://www.msn.com/en-us/general/general/ruth-buzzi-purse-wielding-comedian-on-laugh-in-dies-at-88/ar-AA1E4haz?ocid=TobArticle --------------------------------- Jack Benny Cocktail Party | Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In | George Schlatter Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In