Gisele MacKenzie & Jack Benny: legendary violin duet "Getting to Know You"
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- Опубликовано: 16 окт 2024
- Gisele MacKenzie and Jack Benny formed an instant mutual admiration society in the early 1950's as he assisted her in landing a starring role on the hit television series, Your Hit Parade. Gisele became a regular guest on Jack's television series and they co-starred in major night clubs and theaters across the United States with GREAT success. Gisele's manager at the time, against Gisele's wishes, let Jack know she was a classically trained violinist in addition to being one of the finest singers, pianists and dancers in the business. After that it was very rare when Gisele and Jack appeared together that they didn't bring their violins! Moments like the ones in this classic video made for some of the most memorable moments in television, night club and concert hall history!
I remember Jack at the world series in 1974, they had him throw out the first pitch.He looked at the ball and put it in his coat pocket.
Never ever tire of seeing this clip, it makes me smile but also makes me sad for an era gone by!!! There will never be another like Jack Benny & Gisele MacKenzie!!! They are sorely missed!!!
Don't fool around with ME, Sister!!! What a riot!!! Loved Jack, George, Phil Harris and all those other guys! Never see talent like that again....ever!
Always brings tears to my eyes......but then, I'm over 50.
The way she looks at hime when he yells'Oh,shut up!" is priceless. You could actually belive that it wasn't staged! "Fool around with me, Sister!". He really believes he topped her!! Classic by 2 Greats!!
Two consumate professionals, both at the peak of their careers! Benny's line, "Fool around with me, sister!" still evokes the same laughter as it did over 50 years ago. Current tv & film comedy doesn't even come close to the standards as seen in this short piece.
Younger generations will never know what they missed....
I'm only 44 but I absolutely love Jack Benny! They used to play old episodes of "The Jack Benny Program" on cable in the early 80's when I was 12 and up, and I fell in love with his dry humor. This, and "I Married Joan" are things from even before my time that I very much appreciate. You're right, though... they don't make comedy like this any more. Everything made now is so bland and humorless by comparison. Something has taken the soul out of entertainment for the past 15 or 20 years, and I still can't nail down what precisely the problem is. All I know is, most stuff made today is pure garbage compared to things like this.
Why are my eyes tearing up? It's just such a joy to watch Benny underplay the skit and when he finally explodes, it's comedic magic. I've seen this at least 50 times over the years and still laugh out loud.
The likes of which we will never see again.
Gisele M. sang and danced and she played both the violin and the piano superbly. She had her own hit TV program for several years. Sadly, she is all but forgotten now. She and Mr. Benny became close friends until his death in 1974. I really miss having talented people like these two on television. Most of what we see today is complete trash featuring actors and performers with little to no talent. Television's best days are long over. Anyway, this video was a pleasure to watch. Mr. Benny still cracks me up.
You can really tell the flawless violin technique they each have--by watching their right hand bowing grip and wrist 'armature'. Two OUTSTANDING performers...
That sly look that Gisele gives Jack when they hit the refrain is too cute.
This guy is still one of the greats!
I can watch this over and over again. It just rips me up.
Isn't it!!?? It's THE best routine to come out of television...perfect comedy timing by THE two masters! Gisele and Jack radiated their appreciation for each other...something that lasted until Mr. Benny's passing, although they didn't see each other often in later years. When Jack was in the hospital, he and Gisele planned to have lunch together...he called her "Doll Face"...but, sadly, their final lunch date never happened and we lost Mr. Benny.
Boy they don't make comedy like this anymore. Clean, fun and not a single curse word
Both of them masters..... who else could make a hilarious routine out of playing that song. Thanks for posting it.
fool around with me sister!!! haha love him sooo much!!!
Miss the days when comedy was clean. Loved this video! thanks for posting.
This little clip is certainly a PRIME example of perfect comedy timing on both Jack & Gisele's part...from that first little glance of dispair that Jack gives Gisele...to Gisele's loving look at Benny even after being told to "shut up." Here are two good friends and masters working with perfect timing.
"Getting To Know You" is from "The King and I." Unfortunately some of our younger people are culturally deprived.
One of the funniest men in tv history
Gisele was a master of comedic timing as well as singing, violin, piano, cooking...well you name it. She was right up there with THE best!
As good as it gets. Simple and hilarious routine. Jack and Giselle worked so great together. Thanks for posting.
agreed! she's really really awesome!
Benny was very good about letting himself be "upstaged" by his guests. But that was the humor and the charm of the man.
There never was a greater two minutes of television.
This is priceless; how could Giselle MacKenzie keep a straight face?! This really made my morning happy. Thank you for putting on RUclips for everyone to enjoy.
I forgot to include Gisele McKenzie who was a delight to watch her sing and play her violin next to Jack Benny.. they were superb together!
What a beautiful and incredibly talented woman.
I love this! it's so beautiful and funny and wonderful. I keep watching it and crying the beautiful tears of beholding greatness. So many powerful emotions in this--the flirtation, power, envy, cockiness, humility--it's all there, and it's all so human. But above all, you feel the love of art beneath it all. It's moving. Thank you! -david
Never have heard such a beautiful sound AMAZING!! TV LEGENDS
Long before Anne Murray came along, Gisele MacKenzie (1927-2003) was known as both "The Songbird of Winnipeg" and "Canada's First Lady of Song." She was a star on TV's "Your Hit Parade" in 1955 when she reached #4 in the U.S. with her all-time biggest hit, "Hard To Get." Her other chart successes between 1952 and 1956: "Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes," "La Fiacre," "Adios," "Water Can't Quench The Fire of Love," "Lipstick Powder and Paint," "Pepper Hot Baby" and "The Star You Wished Upon Last Night."
I was young when he was on TV. Never really watched his shows till now. Now I see what everyone was talking about how humorous and entertaining he was especially along with his guests. RIP Jack.. we miss ya!
So much better than the shit they call entertainment on television these days. Bring back variety TV again and comedians who can tell jokes without using the F-bomb for a punch line.
This is absolutely fabulous! So darned funny - and yet the artistry is stellar! Thank you!
Love Gisele, what an awesome talent! Thank you for sharing!
There is something I have felt ever since I first saw this in the Jack Benny re-runs back in the 1960's: This little two minute snippet from that episode of the show in the mid-1950's is one of the most priceless moments in the entire history of televised entertainment.
This clip is from the obituary of Benny by Charles Kuralt (best known for his "On the Road" homespun Americana roving reporter segments on the CNS Evening News), - an obituary that was aired on December 29th, 1974; three days after Jack Benny passed away from pancreatic cancer.
My other favorite segment of this show was the Groucho Marx You Bet Your Life bit. It is also available on RUclips.
Giselle was a fine musician and singer. She’s playing alto harmony to his lead and she’s playing with perfect pitch. Imagine how hard that is to do! A trained musician’s ear will “auto correct” to match the lead but she’s having to fight that urge and play what’s in tune in opposition to Jack’s botched pitch. Go Giselle!!!! Bravo!
Isn't that a fact! What a splendid and ingenious performance by two of the greatest showbiz personalities EVER!!
Loving the facial expressions in the beginning. Subtle humor is the hardest to do well, in my very humble opinion.
Will watch this again and again! Thanks so much!
Absolutely wonderful! What a treat . . .
Jack was the BEST!
Simply darling! All the greats are gone.
Omg i totally love the way Gisele MacKenzie stares at Jack Benny lololol
Fool around with me sister!!!!! My favorite part!
This takes me back a few years. Jack Benny was the greatest comedian of all time and there was never a more beautiful or talented performer than Giselle MacKenzie. Thank you so much for this.
This is fantastic! I really love this! This is one of the guys who made television what it is.
I have only recently come across this clip, totally brilliant! The chemistry between them is so wonderful, genuine affection and very, very clever. Would love to purchase episodes of the two of them on his or her show.
The way she looks at hime when he yells'Oh,shut up!" is priceless. You could actually belive that it wasn't staged! Classic by 2 Greats!!
No cussing, no flashy props, girls in bikini's or anything like that. Just pure raw talent. Wow!
This put the biggest smile on my face...
This is wonderful!
Gisele was very talented and was a pianist as well as a violist and in my mind her voice was one of the best. See the video of her singing Never on the Perry Como show. Amazing talent.
Sad what comedy has become...I miss this so.....Something called talent!
Love it.
so inspiring. I love old comedy. Today's comedy is just stupid. Simply my opinion
They played the violin very well
Well... no, he didn't play very well.. he played.. but was never really GOOD.. he didn't play the violin for YEARS once he left home, never practiced much because he was so busy with vaudeville, radio, the movies and then his TV show. His daughter, Joan, said in her book about her father, that finally in the 1950s he decided to start playing the violin again, but, sadly he never became good at it, was seldom on pitch. If you listen closely to this video, he's horribly out of tune and she's trying with all her might not to play IN tune so as not to ruin the moment.
This takes me back a few years. JackBenny was the greatest comedian of all time and there was never a moe beautiful or talented peformer thanGiselle MacKenzie. Thank you so much for this.
Wonderful. Thanks for posting this. I was just a baby when this was done, but I still remember so much about the great shows on 50's TV.
Absolute perfection. :)
we saw Gisele at the Ohio State Fair? not sure, i was about four or five years old, all i really recall quite clearly is my father lifting me up over the crowd and looking at a glamorous lady in a shimmering gown for a few seconds...must have been almost sixty years ago...just one of those things one remembers...
This is so cute haha
Made me laugh again!! One of his favorite people on the planet. He told her once; " If they ask if we ever had an affair, don't tell
them we did and don't tell them we didn't.
Beautiful musical performance !
My favorite Jack Benny clip...
Beautiful and hilarious. Thanks for posting!
a joy forever!
Keep your eyes on your local PBS TV station. They're showing "Comedy in Bloom", a bio of Mr. Benny, which features several clips of Gisele and Jack, along with some nice newer commentary by Miss MacKenzie. Also featured are Carol Burnette, Johnny Carson, George Burns, etc.
Jack Benny.His radio shows would make me fall one the floor laughing.
I'm finding myself listening to this almost once a day, and it just cheers me up. I'm 50 and, of course, know about Jack Benny, but did not know Giselle. What a great team.
I totaly agree with Jim if one doesnt love this clip ,whats to say Two classic perforers @ their A game. nuff said
Could not agree more! Anyone younger than maybe age 50 misses the the self-effacing Jack Benny demeanor and is at a disadvantage as to how brilliant
this clip is.
Benny Hill's first name was Alfred, but adopted "Benny": in
homage to Jack Benny.
Jack and Gisele were apparently best friends and loved to banter. Supposedly Jack requested of Gisele
that if anyone asked if the pair ever had an affair, "don't tell them we
did" . . "and don't tell them we didn't."
Classic stuff!
Gisele wrote out the counter-melody for 12 year old Toni Marcus to perform the same routine with Jack in 1962.
This guy knew how to make people laugh, you don't see comedy like this anymore
Classic!!
"Oh Shut-up!" - too funny......
Ce duo fut historique!
Actually, the introduction voice at the start was that of Charles Kuralt who was reading the CBS Evening News on the night the announcement of the death of Jack Benny was shown, it is not the voice of George Fenneman.
maravillosos mi papa me ponia la serie hace mas de 40 años
he was well trained ....this is just a joke...lol he did play violin very well
tanja kivimäki True. And he was an all round nice guy. And not cheap!
Namaste and care,
mhikl
my favorite comedian always. makes me laugh every time. seen (or heard ) the SI-SY routine so many times always laugh always!
Such comedy is surely lost & I doubt it will reappear in my lifetime, if ever
Yes, just like it says in the video's title.
I love Jack Benny....he was a gentleman comedian
Times haven't changed too much.
@cyrus287 It is. I distinctly remember seeing this back in 1974, shortly after it was announced that Mr. Benny had passed away from pancreatic cancer. It was a moving program that I wish could be on DVD.
Jack Benny a great comedain was also a wonderful musican,Ive seen this piece before,and thank you tube for posting. PS it was Walter Cronkite with the intro.
This is exactly what it's like when my boyfriend and I play violin together.
Classic.
@peppersax You're so right!! Pure Comedic Talent along with Musical Talent; No Crotch Grabbing or anything!!
That was delightful. Reminded me of Victor Borge.
Brilliant!
Me too. We missed all the fun.
i recall groucho telling dick cavett that the best compliment he ever received came from a stranger on the street; the woman came up to him and said "don't ever die!"
ditto for jack and gisele, and all the other wonderful talents of that era.
Just terrific
@dsflood Actually, it was a one-hour CBS news special aired on December 29th, 1974, three days after Mr. Benny's death, and on the day of his funeral. Charles Kuralt, who did many on-location reports for CBS (his "On the Road" series aired on CBS News for many years) was the host.
a true timeless classic that will always be remembered . he was before my time but I think he was funnier than George burns. thanks.
+richard fote George Burns was the straight man to Gracie Allen. He was not supposed to be funny.
Correct, plus George Burns and Jack Benny were the very best of friends. Burns was also a very funny man.
I was there, too...and quite young. She had her two dogs, Wolfgang and Brunhilda, with her!