The Benny-Allen Feud

John Florence Sullivan, better known as Fred Allen, was one of radios most admired comedians, a master of the ad lib, and frequently embattled with the network executives. His first program on radio started a couple of months before Jack Benny's Canada Dry program, and the two masters of the air knew each other back when they were touring on the Vaudeville circuits.

On Wednesday, December 30, 1936 Fred knew that his friend Jack Benny would be listening in to the program and after ten-year-old Stuart Canin played Schubert's 'The Bee', tossed out the insult about Jack's violin playing that sparked the Benny-Allen Feud.  Benny got a good laugh and decided to shoot back his own insult on his Sunday, January 3rd program. This heated volley of insults would continue until Benny finally plays 'The Bee' on February 28th giving Benny a full month to practice the piece, time he needed because he had not been seriously playing the violin for some time.

The frenzy of the feud would subside over the next weeks but never really leave the two programs. Then in 1940, Paramount releases 'Love Thy Neighbor' and revitalizes the the feud. Written by Benny's writers Beloin and Morrow, the film is about Jack's New Year's escapade where he gets into a traffic accident with Fred Allen.

Sadly the feud ultimately ended with the passing of Fred Allen, but it will always be remembered as a highlight of both program