Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky; February 14, 1894 â€" December 26,
1974) was an American entertainer, who transitioned from modest
success playing violin on the vaudeville circuit to a highly popular
comedic career in radio, television, and film. He was known for his
comic timing and the ability to cause laughter with a pregnant pause
or a single expression, such as his signature exasperated "Well!"His
radio and television programs, popular from 1932 until his death in
1974, were a major influence on the sitcom genre. Benny often
portrayed his character as a miser, who obliviously played his violin
badly, and ridiculously claimed to be 39 years of age, regardless of
his actual age.Benny was born Benjamin Kubelsky in Chicago on February
14, 1894, and grew up in nearby Waukegan.:6 He was the son of Jewish
immigrants Meyer Kubelsky (1864â€"1946) and Emma Sachs Kubelsky
(1869â€"1917), sometimes called "Naomi." Meyer was a saloon owner and
later a haberdasher who had emigrated to America from Poland. Emma had
emigrated from Lithuania. Benny began studying violin, an instrument
that became his trademark, at the age of 6, his parents hoping for him
to become a professional violinist. He loved the instrument, but hated
practice. His music teacher was Otto Graham Sr., a neighbor and father
of Otto Graham the American footballer. At 14, Benny was playing in
dance bands and his high school orchestra. He was a dreamer and poor
at his studies, and was ultimately expelled from high school. He later
did poorly in business school and at attempts to join his father's
business. In 1911, he began playing the violin in local vaudeville
theaters for $7.50 a week (about $210 in 2020 dollars).:11 He was
joined on the circuit by Ned Miller, a young composer and singer.
1974) was an American entertainer, who transitioned from modest
success playing violin on the vaudeville circuit to a highly popular
comedic career in radio, television, and film. He was known for his
comic timing and the ability to cause laughter with a pregnant pause
or a single expression, such as his signature exasperated "Well!"His
radio and television programs, popular from 1932 until his death in
1974, were a major influence on the sitcom genre. Benny often
portrayed his character as a miser, who obliviously played his violin
badly, and ridiculously claimed to be 39 years of age, regardless of
his actual age.Benny was born Benjamin Kubelsky in Chicago on February
14, 1894, and grew up in nearby Waukegan.:6 He was the son of Jewish
immigrants Meyer Kubelsky (1864â€"1946) and Emma Sachs Kubelsky
(1869â€"1917), sometimes called "Naomi." Meyer was a saloon owner and
later a haberdasher who had emigrated to America from Poland. Emma had
emigrated from Lithuania. Benny began studying violin, an instrument
that became his trademark, at the age of 6, his parents hoping for him
to become a professional violinist. He loved the instrument, but hated
practice. His music teacher was Otto Graham Sr., a neighbor and father
of Otto Graham the American footballer. At 14, Benny was playing in
dance bands and his high school orchestra. He was a dreamer and poor
at his studies, and was ultimately expelled from high school. He later
did poorly in business school and at attempts to join his father's
business. In 1911, he began playing the violin in local vaudeville
theaters for $7.50 a week (about $210 in 2020 dollars).:11 He was
joined on the circuit by Ned Miller, a young composer and singer.
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