The Washington times., 1939-01-11
COMEDIANS SHOULDN'T WE'D
WHEN Benny Baylc and

w Bill Madden appear III
picture. husbands throw dowl
the evening paper. wives leave
their dishes in the sink. Junior
swearS he has done tomorrow !
lessons in study hall, Sister
tells the boy friend exactly
what she would like to do that
night and all 90 to their neigh.
borhood theater for a good
hearty laugh.
When Benny and Bill come or
the radio. all household activities
cease. The service garageman
gives you II instead of 10 gallons
of gas. The bartender stands
poised with a glass of beer half
way between the tap and the Gus
toner. The pool shark holds his
shot while he and the sucker
listen. Benny and Bill are on the
air. Prepare to hold your sides.
Then they split. Benny an
nounced he was working out re-
fined comedy act with Miss Nina
Melchor Miss Betty Day was his
foil. Just as she had been his in
spiration. Both publicly wished
the other all the luck in the
world" with the raucous senti'
mentalism which features the
theater. Each privately was sure
that the other would be flop.
THE NEW TEAM
Each knew that he was the par
ticular one who furnished the
spark which set audiences alight.
If he ever had any doubts of it,
he was always being reassured by
Miss Nina Melchor and Miss Betty
Day. his partner. What Nina and
Betty thought of each other can
not be discussed here. Each eX-
planned fully in language fit to be
heard only in a beauty parlor.
Twenty years together is a long
time. Benny Bayle and Bill Mad
den met in a flea-ridden movie
theater out in Jeptha, Indiana, a
town of 5000. Both were billed as
comedians and both were terrible.
Both had been on the stage pro-
feSSionally for two years when
they met.
Mr.. Madden" Benny declared,
II been thinking. 1 been thinking
that a couple of guys like you and
me might make good as a team.
I'd play straight and feed you the
lines. You will pardon me for say
ing so but I don't think you and
mes very good alone.
Listen, Benny" Bill said, ito
hell with that Mister stuff. And
I think you got an idea there. 1
think you and me could be pretty
funny together. But where would
We get our lineS?"
WAYS AND MEANS
IT been thinking that one out,
too," Benny admitted and right
there he became the intellect of
the team. We'll get 'em out of
Joe Miller's Joke Book That's
where every other comedian gets
them. That book has every joke
that was ever made. Only. when
you use them, you got to change
them around little and bring
them up to date. For instance, you
know that one about, Who was
that lady I saw you with last
night?' That wasn't a lady. That
was my wife?' Well, you'd have
to twist that some way, like I
didn't know you was so near
sighted. That wasn't my wife. 1t
was yours See?
y don't think that's so hot"
Bill said frankly.
Il know it amt" Benny ex-
planned quickly. I'm just giving
You an idea that you got to
change the old Miller jokes. But
another thing I found out. 1t amt
the lines you say alone that makes
CAIC SOlAACOy. IL VIC way lllSy t
said and the way the guys act
about them. What say you and me
try it out?"
They happened to be booked to-
gether along the eight-a-day cir
cult for three weeks and they got
a Joe Miller Joke Book" and
worked out their routine. Looking
back at it. they often laughed, be-
cause it was pretty bad. But 1t
was good enough to send them
steadily up the vaudeville ladder
until eventually they reached the
Palace, headlined as Benny and
Bill" They had arrived.
When vaudeville died, they did
not suffer much grief. They were
already on the radio and woWing
millions, when before they had eX
hilarated only hundreds. They
were among the first seven com,
edy teams in the country. And
then they went to Hollywood.
Looking back at their joint ca,
reer now, both Benny and Bill will