The Ben Hecht Show September 15, 1958 - February 6, 1959
Slotted in a most unusual time period by ABC television
(10:50pm - 11:15pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and 11:00pm - 11:15pm Wednesday nights) this series of 25 minute and 15 minute broadcasts with Ben Hecht, ran only for 22 weeks.
A little over 100 broadcasts were telecast of which only one known episode survives as a kinescope.
Ben Hecht whose motion picture and journalistic career brought him in touch with scores of celebrities in films, television, politics and the social set. Many of his guests are personal friends and that relationship provides for a very informal wonderful discourse during most interviews when discussing a variety of subjects; often enraging some, engaging many. His comments were often entertaining, defiant, realistic and iconoclastic. A rare approach to a commentary / talk show for even the late 1950's.
Two back to back broadcasts with Jimmy Durante are included in this archived series. The first program aired on January 19, 1959 followed by a follow up broadcast airing the following night, January 20, 1959. This very revealing special interview by Ben Hecht of his long time friend Jimmy Durante is a treasure.
Durante sits at that piano discussing his career and recalling a myriad of anecdotes related to his life and times, and plays melody's that personify the music he has been associated with during his long history in show business.
One of the rare jewels in the archive of Archival Television Audio.