Has it really been 35 years already?

He was one of the greatest comedians of all time. His career spanned 60 years and became beloved by everyone. Born on February 14, 1894 he passed away on this day eighty years later… In 1911 he began his career in vaudeville and then moved to radio in 1932. It was while on radio that he developed the recurring gags that he became famous for including his insistence that he was only 39 years old, his cheapness, his fictional feud with fellow comedian Fred Allen, his violin and the classic routine “your money or your life.” In 1950 the program moved to television but he continued to do the radio show as well. While the radio program ended in 1955 the television version hung on for another ten years… He was a true class act and he made appearances on such television programs as “The Jackie Gleason Show”, “General Electric Theater”, “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show”, “Make Room for Daddy”, “The Lucy Show”, “Here’s Lucy”, “The George Burns Show”, “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour”, “The Kraft Music Hall”, “The Colgate Comedy Hour”, “Climax!”, “Password”, “Toast of the Town”, “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In”, “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson”, “The Dean Martin Show” and “The Flip Wilson Show.” His final public appearance was at the Dean Martin celebrity roast of Lucille Ball in 1974. The taped special didn’t air until February 7, 1975 and began with Martin paying tribute to the late performer… One of his signature comebacks was “Now cut that out!” In remembrance of his passing, on this day in 1974… In Memoriam Remembers: Jack Benny