Jascha Heifetz and Jack Benny - USO Skit, WWII

"Violinist of the Centuries" Jascha Heifetz (1901-1987) and radio/TV comedian Jack Benny (Benjamin Kubelsky) (1894-1974) perform a hilarious skit during one of the hundreds of USO appearances and performances both men gave throughout World War II. Jack was, in reality, an exceptionally good violinist (he began playing at the age of 6 but preferred performing to practicing), but said that if he had focused on playing good on radio and TV that it wouldn't have been as funny. Jascha Heifetz began to play at the age of 3 and made his debut at 7. The spectators at an outdoor concert in 1912 in St. Petersburg were so wild that police had to escort the young virtuoso when he was not playing. Heifetz made his American debut in Carnegie Hall in 1917 and became the newest American music sensation overnight.

[@ss032010310103]

I really wish there was a video recording of this. Heifetzs expressions must have even priceless

[@orangebetsy]

both...Benny's sad ridiculous face slowly turning to the audience

[@curaeus007]

One of the greatest most original comedians who ever lived and the greatest violinist of the last 100 years. What a team!

[@knpjdad]

I rarely "Laugh out loud" at T.V. or internet shows. But this was just great!! Two legends having a great time entertaining the troops.. Brought a tear and a laugh to my heart.

[@dannydoc1969]

You have to give Heifetz a lot of credit, his comedy timing is great, his feigned questions and answers, and the zinger "shall we continue" are hysterical. Benny of course is the master of timing.

[@dannydoc1969]

I've listened to this at least 10 times and Benny still cracks me up. He was a prince among men.

[@terrybader8595]

So true. I remember when he died. The tributes were remarkable.

[@rbtsccello]

I actually went to Jack Benny Junior High in Waukegan, Ill and played in the school orchestra. Now I teach music at a college.

[@TheMikester307]

According to one of the Benny bios I read, Heifetz would show up for rehearsal of Jack's show and would ask what piece they wanted him to play. Jack would say something like "what do you have?" and Heifetz would effectively give him a mini-recital---a treat for violin lover Benny!

[@richardmessina9475]

A wonderful demonstration of music and comedy. The last two bars of their "duet" is unforgettable 😎

[@nicholastosoni707]

What I love about this one is, during the "beats" you can practically imagine Jack's expression--for example, when Heifetz suggests "Paganini's Perpetuum Mobile," I can just about picture Jack's face slowly change into an "Oh, crap" expression.

[@johngalt23g]

Man do I wish there was film for this...

[@donholden8355]

A kindness and humour the world has forgotten.

[@elisabethmatesky7855]

@donholden8355 ~ As from Elisabeth Matesky, original artist pupil of Jascha Heifetz, (Violin Master Class) in our Film: Jascha Heifetz Violin Master Class - Khachaturian, JH-7, Elisabeth Matesky, {Rus vers. Library Master Performers} 28:44 min. Best Wishes and delighted to be on this KZbin Site with my late wondrous Mentor, Mr. Heifetz & Jack Benny who did play 'the violin quite well ~ I know because I was born in Los Angeles, with my father, under Contract w/Paramount Pictures, and coming into Contact with Mr. Benny due is other assignments composing Themes for many film scores and TV Shows! EM This Is Hilarious!!! My Post about Mr. Heifetz is just Above here ~ Glad you love Mr. Heifetz's Artistry! elisabeth matesky 7.8.24

[@rogermetzger7335]

I've been trying to play the violin for 67 years and I still don't think I'm as good as Jack Benny. As for Heifetz, he was off the charts! Second to none in some ways a better than anybody in other ways. Just my opinion of course.

[@golancation]

masters ! visited jack benny resting sight recently and as i stood in awe wrapped by the mausoleum silence all i could think of is the laughter he joyce us with ! I'm thankful we had such era other than being sad for discontinuation of it !

[@Bailey2006a]

A " must listen" too: Gizzelle MacKenzie (a wonderful violinist) and Benny playing " Getting To Know You"...hilarious!

[@zenmeister451]

I never missed a Jack Benny show as a kid. Loved him!

[@catherinehazur7336]

I just loved these schticks that he does with all the various violin virtuosos that appear on his program. Jack was a one of a kind comedian and his show never failed to be good for more than a few laughs

[@juliaannepark]

Such rare and irreplaceable talent.

[@jeffreym4273]

Heifetz: " How am I doing Mr. Benny?" lol

[@danielhickmott5800]

Jack Benny was actually a successful violinist but teaming up with Jascha Heifetz had to be a high point. I noticed how after all the gags and intentional slurring and bow noise Jack finishes well with the virtuoso. A real gem of comedy.

[@kihokahoka]

Still very funny even after 72 years

[@winrx]

Amazing how just a few bars of the "To A Wild Rose" by Heifetz can make you swoon......

[@patrickmacy5882]

Hillarious! Jack Benny...................what a comedian!

[@frankieray6690]

A wonderful moment. This too, is a thing of beauty. Thanks for sharing it.

[@elaineweldon9532]

Frankie Ray %

[@mmjhcb]

There's the phantom "disliker" roaming the internet disliking everything beautiful, everything great, everything funny. He probably thinks Adam Sandler defines great comedy. And I'm SURE he's never heard of either Jack Benny OR Jascha Heifetz.

[@mmjhcb]

Thank you! It's nice to know there are a few people left with taste and common sense.

[@jojoUK120]

Trolls are so lazy these days- can’t even be bothered to type 🙄

[@lindamanas954]

Heifetz’s violin had such a sweet tone!

[@ronmortimer252]

"I bet you thought I was going to be lousy didn't you?" That line out of the blue cracked me up. 😂

[@sambaritone]

Jack Benny made a great act of playing badly. He was actually very gifted and accomplished. He was a genius.

[@dorothycollins2431]

Yes!! A shame many don’t know this.

[@michaelgermer909]

Bravo! One of the great sketches of all time!

[@maxreger100]

This is so pricelessly funny, and such a tribute to an era when America's most original comedian and America's most famous violinist teamed up to provide laughs for a grateful public and for the troops around the globe. Hilarious, and yet very moving as well.

[@maxreger100]

@capitalismforme Who said he was? But he was STILL America's most famous violinist and lived most of his life here. Boy, you had to pick on an 8 year-old comment? Lol.

[@sharlesin]

I`ve read that Benny wanted to do a similar skit a few years later. Heifetz refused saying he only did it for the soldiers,and wouldn`t repeat it.

[@wombat5628]

That says well about Heifetz the man. He never abused anything, and never did things for cheap (as considered by him) purpose.

[@djmusicjac]

should be in a museum, also a radio show too to keep the ww2 songs alive, as well as the relases of CDs and DVds to keep alive for the young, in memory of troops. I love this music, not everyone likes commercial music. Young people like this music too, awesome

[@robinbrigstocke8121]

Funny and beautiful at the same time.

[@Nime64]

This made my day.

[@bloodgrss]

How funny-being a USO show-they allow the 'hell' and 'damn' that would have been impossible in regular programming-how edited real speech was in that day-for all who think language (bad as it IS today) was all polite and proper. It makes this even funnier to me...

[@fandefrancoisasselineau1696]

Très légère différence de qualité de jeux entre les deux interprètes.

[@MichaelLovelight2120]

Jack is so funny Thanks Jenny Li

[@dannydoc1969]

Heifetz has impeccable comic timing, who knew, lol.

[@chiyokodji]

This is certainly a very precious information source to know Jascha Heiretz as a person. So very interesting!

[@sanjosemike3137]

Even as a joke, it would take a lot of real courage to play with Heifetz. Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)

[@johntabler349]

Jack really could play nicely

[@lailamama6421]

john tabler nnn

[@donnawilcock5774]

This is pricelessly funny!

[@sr633]

There is only one Jack Benny. Just looking at him makes me laugh.

[@JennyLi]

Hi guys - I made a mistake in the title, this isn't directly sponsored by the USO but was a Command Performance show. :)

[@christopherobrien8105]

Well.

[@pinkiesue849]

That's ok.

[@opus4]

Such a wonderful skit!!

[@turtleseggsouffle]

If you care to see Heifetz perform on film, check out the '40's film 'They Shall Have Music'. It is a great view and audio of the greatest violinist of the twentieth century. Also, check out an ancient Paderewski performing in 'Moonlight Sonata' (he performs that and more). Unbelievably talented, just phenomenal performances.

[@combustiblelemons1054]

turtleseggsouffle I loved that movie! I taught music in the public school for over 30 years. I showed 'They Shall Have Music' to many classes until I wore the tape out! I would love to get another copy of the film. It not only showed what a difference music can make, but that through the generations, there were social and cultural things that will always be the same.

[@williamgregory1848]

Fun fact: Heifetz was a big fan of Jack Benny’s (both his comedy and violin playing.)

[@dorothycollins2431]

The last part was straight; nice, very nice.

[@doloresvargas6450]

How corny can Jack Benny get with a professional such as Jascha Heifetz.Tony has spoken.

[@zekelucente9702]

Jack Benny set a standard that nobody has been able to match.

[@tom7601]

Great fun!

[@mikern2001]

Benny gave his Strad to the LA Philharmonic.

[@twittykins]

Isn't it called "The Benny" in his honour?

[@88888gerald]

Jack Benny was special,.

[@norituk9824]

oh, wow ! great fun !

[@winifredtrout1]

Heifetz had a bril sense of humour

[@jlevinson6]

so freaking funny!

[@hhelenawang]

He was actually a very decent violinist. I just wanted to see Heifetz's face.

[@richardmessina9475]

Helena Wang Indeed!

[@danlelrosen8011]

At times, he sounds a lot like Heifetz!

[@arturodelmoni3949]

Oh come on...🙄

[@chuckcornelius194]

two masters of timing. Jack's an expert on how to extract the maximum comedy value from the routine with perfectly timed quips, and of course Jascha is Jascha. but what were the numbers that Heifetz played, and is the audio available anywhere?

[@dallasjones8185]

"How am I doing Mr. Benny ?" 😂

[@Bailey2006a]

You have to be pretty damn good to play badly when you are actually very good...

[@dorothycollins2431]

Was hoping to SEE it!!! Guess it’s radio only.

[@bloodgrss]

Yup, 1940's...

[@mhaley101]

Bravo!

[@ss032010310103]

also did it with Menuhin...just fyi

[@user-uh4dv2zn5m]

would be nice to see it

[@VSV659]

Unsure if Heifetz enjoyed doing this

[@JennyLi]

@TomBarrister I can understand why Heifetz wouldn't like that, and I can understand why Jack would have been busy. But wow - where did you find this out? I read somewhere that Heifetz was in NY looking for some young boys (10-14 with violin exp) to play his fictional son in a movie, but of course that movie doesn't exist. Is that the same movie you're talking about?

[@mgconlan]

Though he wasn't good enough to play classical music, Jack Benny was a good enough pop and jazz violinist that the great jazz violinist Joe Venuti said he had trouble keeping up with him when they jammed together. But Benny wouldn't allow himself to play well in public because that would have blown his character's image as a terrible violinist. It takes real talent to play that badly on purpose!

[@brucedukovcom]

It is a truly funny skit, but the IDENTICAL script is also used in another radio show, with Jack Benny and Josef Szigeti. That's Hollywood for you!

[@jkfan2005]

sounds like Edward Arnold as host

[@jojoUK120]

6:23 😍

[@talesfromthequick]

saved from the Idiots over at TwoSet

[@heifetz14]

Yep and people are taking those way too seriously as violinists. If I read any more "ling ling " comments,I will scream.

[@mikevie1]

he was the god's fiddlier

[@gailklein9020]

Honest, folks, can you tell the difference? Lol!

[@penelopewhite5994]

Jeanette or, maybe Ginette?

[@richardwhite2181]

You have to be a really good musician to purposely play that bad!

[@danlelrosen8011]

At times, he sounds a lot like Heifetz!

[@jeffreyjeziorski341]

Yes, during the rests. Honestly, folks, can you tell the difference?