Ben Bernie Collection

Ben Bernie
(1891 – 1943)

Rare Musical Variety Program (1930 - 43)

Fans of OTR may recognize Ben Bernie's name at first for having a dispute over Benjamin Kubelsky's stage name. Soon after graduating from Waukegan High School, Kubelsky hit the vaudeville circuit as a violinist and was pressured to adopt a new stage name by famous violinist Jan Kubelik. After serving in the Navy during the First World War, Kubelsky went back to vaudeville, calling his act, "Ben K. Benny: Fiddle Funology". This time, vaudevillian Ben Bernie objected, but Kubelsky finally got the last laugh after adopting the handle "Jack Benny".

Although he may not have had the success enjoyed by Jack Benny, Ben Bernie did, in fact, make a splash on NBC during the early 1930s. Calling himself "the old Maestro", he and his dance band played shows for a series of sponsors, including Pabst Blue Ribbon Malt Extract (Prohibition Era Note; open and pour a can of malt extract syrup into a large pot of boiling water with some herbs, when the water cools, add some Fleischmann's Yeast, cover, and wait for a few days, the result may not be "Blue Ribbon", but it will definitely be Pabst Beer!)

As a recording artist, Bernie is noted as a co-composer and the first to record Sweet Georgia Brown in 1925 with his Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra. The tune was inspired by a meeting with Georgia State Representative Dr. Thaddeus Brown. Brown's daughter was born during the 1911 State Assembly, and the legislature passed a declaration that the girl was to be named Georgia after the State. The catchy song went on to become the theme for the Harlem Globetrotters Basketball team.

Like Jack Benny, "the old Maestro" was known for his entertaining patter more than his violin playing. Taking another page from Benny's playbook, Bernie staged a false feud with his good friend Walter Winchell. The two traded jabs between their respective radio programs and raised the ratings of both programs. Ben Bernie passed away after suffering a pulmonary embolism in October 1943 at the age of 52. A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6280 Hollywood Blvd was dedicated on February 8, 1960, honoring Ben Bernie's contributions to radio.  

This rare collection of Ben Bernie includes a Ben Bernie show and several musical numbers by Bernie's band. A musical genius from a very young age, he was the youngest violinist the play Carnegie Hall at age of thirteen. Listen to the show and see for yourself why the man was such a hit.