Irving Fein

Manager/Producer

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Irving Fein (1911-2012) speaks at length about his 28 years managing and producing for Jack Benny, as well as his years managing George Burns. Fein discusses his transition from motion picture publicity to producing for Benny in 1947 -- a path that led him from New York to California, back to New York, and finally back to California once more. He details the many years he spent publicizing both the radio and television versions of The Jack Benny Program, and shares tales of producing Benny's various specials for television. Fein describes Benny's real-life and television persona, his lasting legacy, and his grace as a comedian. Fein also recounts managing George Burns during the last years of the comedian's life -- securing for Burns several stand-up appearances, his Oscar-winning role in The Sunshine Boys, and an impressive gathering for his 100th birthday party. Sunny Parich conducted the interview on August 13, 1998 in West Hollywood, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"They all liked Jack (Benny) and they respected him and trusted him -- that he wouldn't hurt them. Jack never worried about being the star of the show. He let everybody else get the laughs. He didn't care."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Irving Fein on the contest done on Truth or Consequences to identify the "walking man," which became a national obsession (the "walking man" turned out to be Jack Benny)

02:16

Irving Fein on how George Burns gave Gracie Allen "top billing" for eternity

01:24

Irving Fein on the unsuccessful special that turned Jack Benny 40 years old, and the decision to age him back to 39

01:41

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's radio/TV persona and real life personality

02:38

Irving Fein on George Burns' death

01:13

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his childhood in Brooklyn and his early influences; on coaching drama at summer camp and his early writing efforts

On radio programs and movies he enjoyed as a youngster

On his first job out of college in the Publicity and Advertising Department at Warner Brothers; on going to law school at night

On moving to Hollywood to be a publicist at Warner Brothers; on the Great Depression; on publicity for movies in the 1930s and 1940s

On planting stories for publicity; on television's debut at the 1939 World's Fair

On becoming assistant to Samuel Goldwyn

Chapter 2

On leaving Warner Brothers for Samuel Goldwyn; on World War II and his role as Publicity Director for Samuel Goldwyn; on publicity stunts

On the star system; on working for Columbia Pictures, getting drafted and going to work for a defense plant rather than going overseas

On returning to Warner Brothers, then to Columbia again, and then leaving to become part of Jack Benny's new company, Amusement Enterprises

Chapter 3

On making Jack Benny #1 in radio; on doing publicity for several CBS radio programs including Lux Radio Theater, The Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy Show, and Amos 'n' Andy

On the rise of television and Jack Benny's transition from radio to television

On the writers of Jack Benny's radio and television programs and how they worked with Jack Benny

Chapter 4

On the staff of The Jack Benny Program; on moving to New York to take a job at CBS and leaving to return West and form a production company with Jack Benny - J&M Productions

On returning to The Jack Benny Program; on series regulars Eddie Anderson, Don Wilson, Dennis Day, Frank Nelson and Mel Blanc

On live television and some of the program's regular and special guests; on playing up publicity for Jack Benny

Chapter 5

On President Harry Truman doing a special episode of The Jack Benny Program; on Billy Graham guest starring on the show

On Jack Benny's sense of humor; on Benny's comedy contemporaries and how they would guest star on each other's shows

On The Marge and Gower Champion Show for J&M Productions; on The Gisele MacKenzie Show

On The Jack Benny Program becoming a weekly show; on moving to the Desilu lot and famous guests

Chapter 6

On his Emmy win for producing The Jack Benny Program; on the unsuccessful special that turned Jack Benny 40 years old, and the decision to age him back to 39

On The Jack Benny Program moving to NBC and going off the air; on forming JB Productions and becoming Jack Benny's manager and producer

On becoming manager for George Burns and Burns winning an Oscar for The Sunshine Boys; on George Burns' movie career later in life; on Burns' death

Chapter 7

On George Burns' burial; on the legacy of Jack Benny and George Burns

On advice to aspiring managers; on how publicity and television changed over the years

On how he'd liked to be remembered; on his thoughts on people with whom he's worked; on his wife

Shows

$64,000 Question

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's guest appearance on The $64,000 Question (that led to a subsequent appearance of $64,000 Question host Hal March on The Jack Benny Program)

02:04

Gisele MacKenzie Show, The

Irving Fein on The Gisele MacKenzie Show

01:46

Jack Benny Program, The

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's radio/TV persona and real life personality

02:38

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's wife, his radio-TV co-star Mary Livingstone

01:20

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's radio program

00:41

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's guest appearance on The $64,000 Question (that led to a subsequent appearance of $64,000 Question host Hal March on The Jack Benny Program)

02:04

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's first television specials and getting a weekly show

15:56

Irving Fein on The Jack Benny Program on radio and television

22:33

Irving Fein on returning to work for The Jack Benny Program

21:03

Irving Fein on President Harry Truman doing a special episode of The Jack Benny Program

02:20

Irving Fein on The Jack Benny Program becoming a weekly show and famous guests

08:18

Irving Fein on being surprised and unprepared for his Emmy win for producing The Jack Benny Program

01:24

Irving Fein on The Jack Benny Program going off the air after moving to NBC

03:59

Irving Fein on Sheldon Leonard's role on The Jack Benny Program

00:45

Jack Benny Program, The: "Hal March Show"

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's guest appearance on The $64,000 Question (that led to a subsequent appearance of $64,000 Question host Hal March on The Jack Benny Program)

02:04

Jack Benny Specials

Irving Fein on the unsuccessful special that turned Jack Benny 40 years old, and the decision to age him back to 39

01:41

Irving Fein on The Jack Benny Specials after the weekly show went off the air

04:34

Marge and Gower Champion Show, The

Irving Fein on executive producing The Marge and Gower Champion Show for J&M Productions

03:48

Truth or Consequences

Irving Fein on the contest done on Truth or Consequences to identify the "walking man," which became a national obsession (the "walking man" turned out to be Jack Benny)

02:16

Topics

Characters & Catchphrases

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's radio/TV persona and real life personality

02:11

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's guest appearance on The $64,000 Question (that led to a subsequent appearance of $64,000 Question host Hal March on The Jack Benny Program)

02:04

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's violin bit

02:04

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's classic comedy bits: Maxwell, the vault and the feud with Fred Allen

06:13

Irving Fein on The Jack Benny Program's Eddie Anderson

02:16

Emmy Awards

Irving Fein on being surprised and unprepared for his Emmy win for producing The Jack Benny Program

01:24

Harry S. Truman

Irving Fein on Jack Benny doing a concert for Harry Truman and getting the president on The Jack Benny Program

02:01

Irving Fein on President Harry Truman doing a special episode of The Jack Benny Program

02:20

Historic Events and Social Change

Irving Fein on trying to serve as a publicist for a General during World War II

03:40

Pop Culture

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's radio/TV persona and real life personality

02:11

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's guest appearance on The $64,000 Question (that led to a subsequent appearance of $64,000 Question host Hal March on The Jack Benny Program)

02:04

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's violin bit

02:04

Irving Fein on The Jack Benny Program's Eddie Anderson

02:16

Irving Fein on The Jack Benny Program's Eddie Anderson

02:16

Television and the Presidency

Irving Fein on Jack Benny doing a concert for Harry Truman and getting the president on The Jack Benny Program

02:01

Irving Fein on President Harry Truman doing a special episode of The Jack Benny Program

02:20

War

Irving Fein on trying to serve as a publicist for a General during World War II

03:40

World War II

Irving Fein on trying to serve as a publicist for a General during World War II

03:40

Professions

Producers

View Profession

Irving Fein on being surprised and unprepared for his Emmy win for producing The Jack Benny Program

01:24

Publicist

View Profession

Irving Fein on moving to Hollywood to be a publicist at Warner Brothers and on publicity for movies in the 1930s and 1940s

06:27

Irving Fein on how publicity today is more of a business than a creative process

00:51

Representatives

View Profession

Irving Fein on moving to Hollywood to be a publicist at Warner Brothers and on publicity for movies in the 1930s and 1940s

06:27

Irving Fein on how publicity today is more of a business than a creative process

00:51

Genres

Comedy Series

Irving Fein on The Jack Benny Program on radio and television

22:33

Irving Fein on The Jack Benny Program

21:03

Irving Fein on The Jack Benny Program

25:25

Irving Fein on the end of The Jack Benny Program on television and The Jack Benny Specials

13:51

People

Adlai Stevenson

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Irving Fein on Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson's clever way of following comedian Fred Allen's funny speech at an early 1950s Friar's Club Roast of Jack Benny

02:27

Al Gordon

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Irving Fein on Al Gordon, writer for The Jack Benny Program

01:39

Bette Davis

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Irving Fein on promoting Bette Davis at Warner Brothers

00:49

Bill Morrow

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Irving Fein on Bill Morrow, writer for The Jack Benny Program

00:39

Billy Graham

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Irving Fein on getting Reverend Billy Graham on The Jack Benny Program

01:40

Danny Kaye

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Irving Fein on Danny Kaye's success at the Palladium in London

02:35

David Sarnoff

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Irving Fein on David Sarnoff's relationship with Jack Benny

00:48

Dennis Day

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Irving Fein on The Jack Benny Program singer Dennis Day

01:00

Don Wilson

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Irving Fein on The Jack Benny Program's announcer, Don Wilson

00:20

Eddie Anderson

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Irving Fein on The Jack Benny Program's Eddie "Rochester" Anderson

02:16

Errol Flynn

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Irving Fein on publicity stunts for Errol Flynn

01:29

Frank Nelson

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Irving Fein on "nasty man" Frank Nelson on The Jack Benny Program

01:08

Fred Allen

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Irving Fein on Jack Benny's famous feud with Fred Allen

04:58

Fred de Cordova

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Irving Fein on The Jack Benny Program director Fred De Cordova

02:58

Irving Fein on being surprised and unprepared for his Emmy win for producing The Jack Benny Program

01:24

Freeman Gosden

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Irving Fein on giving Amos 'n' Andy creator Freeman Gosden publicity ideas

00:56

George Balzer

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Irving Fein on George Blazer, writer for The Jack Benny Program

01:23

George Burns

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Irving Fein on Jack Benny's relationship with George Burns

02:35

Irving Fein on managing George Burns

15:11

Irving Fein on how George Burns gave Gracie Allen "top billing" for eternity

01:24

Irving Fein on George Burns' legacy

01:30

Gisele MacKenzie

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Irving Fein on singer and violinist Gisele MacKenzie guest starring on The Jack Benny Program

03:55

Irving Fein on The Gisele MacKenzie Show

01:46

Gower Champion

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Irving Fein on executive producing The Marge and Gower Champion Show for J&M Productions

03:48

Gracie Allen

View Person Page

Irving Fein on Gracie Allen's retirement

01:04

Irving Fein on Gracie Allen

00:52

Hal March

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Irving Fein on Jack Benny's guest appearance on The $64,000 Question (that led to a subsequent appearance of $64,000 Question host Hal March on The Jack Benny Program)

02:04

Harry Cohn

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Irving Fein on Harry Cohn of Columbia Pictures recruiting him to be a producer, and not keeping his word

01:29

Harry Conn

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Irving Fein on Harry Conn, writer for The Jack Benny Program

02:57

Harry S. Truman

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Irving Fein on Jack Benny doing a concert for Harry Truman and getting the president on The Jack Benny Program

02:47

Irving Fein on President Harry Truman doing a special episode of The Jack Benny Program

02:20

Humphrey Bogart

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Irving Fein on Humphrey Bogart on The Jack Benny Program

00:23

Hy Averback

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Irving Fein on Hy Averback

00:20

Irwin Shaw

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Irving Fein on going to summer camp with future playwright/novelist Irwin Shaw and encouraging Shaw to write

01:10

Jack Benny

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Irving Fein on Jack Benny's radio/TV persona and real life personality

02:11

Irving Fein on an offer be Publicity and Advertising Director for Jack Benny's new company, Amusement Enterprises, and making Benny #1 on radio

12:33

Irving Fein on meeting Jack Benny for the first time

00:43

Irving Fein on the contest done on Truth or Consequences to identify the "walking man," which became a national obsession (the "walking man" turned out to be Jack Benny)

02:16

Irving Fein on William S. Paley purchasing Jack Benny's company

04:25

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's first television specials and getting a weekly show

10:04

Irving Fein on how Jack Benny worked with the writers

01:16

Irving Fein on Jack Benny wanting him back on his program when Fein left for CBS in New York

06:02

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's classic comedy bits and feud with Fred Allen

19:09

Irving Fein on President Harry Truman doing a special episode of The Jack Benny Program

02:20

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's sense of humor

02:30

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's relationship with George Burns

01:50

Irving Fein on The Jack Benny Program director Fred De Cordova and how he got along with Jack Benny

02:58

Irving Fein on how Jack Benny never needed to be the center of the attention

01:13

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's work on television specials and working up until his death

12:27

Irving Fein on Jack Benny's legacy

00:30

Jack Paar

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Irving Fein on Jack Paar

00:46

James T. Aubrey

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Irving Fein on The Jack Benny Program going off the air after switching to NBC

02:22

Jimmy Stewart

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Irving Fein on Jimmy Stewart on The Jack Benny Program

00:52

John Tackaberry

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Irving Fein on John Tackaberry, writer for The Jack Benny Program

01:23

Johnny Carson

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Irving Fein on Johnny Carson

00:43

Lew Wasserman

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Irving Fein on MCA Executive Lew Wasserman

01:04

Lucille Ball

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Irving Fein on Lucille Ball

01:19

Marge Champion

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Irving Fein on executive producing The Marge and Gower Champion Show for J&M Productions

03:48

Mary Livingstone

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Irving Fein on Jack Benny's wife, his radio-TV co-star Mary Livingstone

01:10

Irving Fein on Mary Livingstone retiring from show business

00:58

Irving Fein on actress and Mrs. Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone

00:18

Mel Blanc

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Irving Fein on Mel Blanc's role on The Jack Benny Program

00:27

Milt Josefsberg

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Irving Fein on Milt Josefsberg, writer for The Jack Benny Program

01:23

Ralph Edwards

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Irving Fein on the contest done on Truth or Consequences to identify the "walking man," which became a national obsession (the "walking man" turned out to be Jack Benny)

02:16

Ralph Levy

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Irving Fein on producer/director of The Jack Benny Program, Ralph Levy

01:20

Irving Fein on working with producer/director of The Jack Benny Program, Ralph Levy

01:27

Red Skelton

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Irving Fein on Red Skelton

00:16

Rita Hayworth

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Irving Fein on publicity stunts for Rita Hayworth

01:16

Sam Perrin

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Irving Fein on Sam Perrin, writer for The Jack Benny Program

03:33

Irving Fein on Sam Perrin, writer for The Jack Benny Program

01:23

Samuel Goldwyn

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Irving Fein on becoming assistant to Samuel Goldwyn

01:20

Irving Fein on movie mogul Samuel Goldwyn

00:51

Irving Fein on movie mogul Samuel Goldwyn

00:32

Seymour Berns

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Irving Fein on The Jack Benny Program director Seymour Berns

00:46

Sheldon Leonard

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Irving Fein on Sheldon Leonard's role on The Jack Benny Program

00:45

William S. Paley

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Irving Fein on CBS' William S. Paley wooing Jack Benny away from NBC

02:47

Irving Fein on William S. Paley purchasing Jack Benny's company

01:20

Irving Fein on William S. Paley's personality

02:17

Irving Fein on saying goodbye to Bill Paley on his final day at CBS

02:47

Zubin Mehta

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Irving Fein on The Jack Benny Special with Zubin Mehta conducting the symphony

02:10