May 30, 1950

The Thirty-Fourth Indianapolis 500

The 34th Indy 500 was run on Tuesday, May 30, 1950. Scheduled for 200 laps it only ran 138 due to rain. Johnnie Parson who started 5th won the race. As part of the pre-race entertainment, a number of Hollywood celebrities were on hand as Clark Gable and Barbara Stanwyck were filming 'To Please A Lady'. A movie about a former war hero and midget car racer with the finale of the film shot during the 500. Jack Benny and members of his troupe were on a personal appearances tour following the end of the radio programs season. Jack, along with Phil Harris, Eddie Anderson and Vivian Blaine had fun with a Maxwell racing against Billy Devore's Scopa-Offenhauser Car 58. A collection of photos found here of this event were found at the Indy500 website.

When the Jack Benny Program took its summer vacation starting in May 1950, Jack went out on a personal appearance tour.

Joining him, Phil Harris and Eddie Anderson were Singer/Actress Vivian Blaine and the Wiere Brothers.

The tour included a stops in St. Louis, Grand Rapids Michigan, and on May 30, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Jack's friends Clark Gable and Barbara Stanwyck were shooting the movie "To Please A Lady" that features the iconic race.

As part of the pre-race activities, Jack the gang raced a Maxwell against Billy Devore's Scopa-Offenhauser Car #58 across the brick yard

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The 34th Indy 500 was run on Tuesday, May 30, 1950. Scheduled for 200 laps it only ran 138 due to rain. Johnnie Parson who started 5th won the race. As part of the pre-race entertainment, a number of Hollywood celebrities were on hand as Clark Gable and Barbara Stanwyck were filming 'To Please A Lady'. A movie about a former war hero and midget car racer with the finale of the film shot during the 500.

Jack Benny and members of his troupe were on a personal appearance tour following the end of the radio programs season. Jack, along with Phil Harris, Eddie Anderson and Vivian Blaine had fun with a Maxwell racing against Billy Devore's Scopa-Offenhauser Car 58.

The large number of photos found here of this event were found at the Indy500 website.