Subj : Old jokes
To   : DARYL STOUT
From : JOE MACKEY
Date : Mon Jan 03 2022 05:53:52

   Daryl wrote --

>  JM>   I've read were old comics often had jokes on index cards on all sorts of topics.  One, forget off hand who, had a million of them.  (I want to say Milton Berle but not sure).
> 
>   I thought Jimmy Durante said "I've got a million of 'em".

  Berle stole that line from Durante.  :)
  Berle, who was kidded about stealing other peoples jokes.  He was
sometimes called "The Thief of Bad Gags".  
  But I think it was Berle who had a vast library of jokes, all in topical
and alphabetical order on index cards.  Of course must comedians, or their
writers, had those.  
  Fred Allen said that Jack Benny was unable to ad lib a belch.  One time
appearing on Fred's show Fred was giving him a rough time and Jack replied
"You wouldn't say that to me if by writers were around".  :)
  I loved their "feud".  In real life they were good friends.
  I've been listening to their programs back to back each week and the
jokes were funnier when Benny was on Sunday and Allen on Wednesday to hear what
they would say about the other each week.
  When Allen was moved to Sunday following Benny's show Fred could get in a
crack but it would be a week before Jack could reply.
  Almost all of Jack's radio programs were saved (he started having his
show transcribed, at his expense, early in his radio career).
  Allen's shows are often hit and miss.  Many recordings were made, but
many also lost over the years.
  Joe
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