Jack Benny was pained to part with his money. So ingrained was this part of the Jack Benny persona that on his radio program, among his biggest laughs came when a robber held him up demanding "Your money or your life?" prompting a long pause from Benny... who finally said "I'm thinking it over!"
In the 1950s, when Benny's popular radio show made the transition to TV (where it had a fifteen year run), audiences were well aware of Benny's penchant for stinginess. So his appearance on quiz show The $64,000 Question was especially popular.
But equally funny was the follow-up to Benny's quiz show stint, when $64,000 Question host Hal March returned the favor by guest-starring on The Jack Benny Program. The twist? March would participate in Benny's version of The $64,000 Question... with Benny putting up his own money! The result was a very funny, very memorable show (March is quite a sport).
The Jack Benny Program: "Hal March Show" aired during the series' eighth season, on October 20, 1957.
Directed by: Seymour Berns
Produced by: Hilliard Marks
Written by: Sam Perrin, George Balzer, Hal Goldman, and Al Gordon