2. [16] Benchley kept these achievements in mind as he began to contemplate a career for himself after college. Drawing on my fine command of language, I said nothing. Benchley was born and raised in Worcester, Mass. [54], This was followed in 1936 by How to be a Detective. On one of these, Benchley wrote out, in very small handwriting, an elaborate excuse involving a herd of elephants on 44th Street. A founding member of the famous Algonquin Round Table in New York He was promised a position at the Tribune's Sunday magazine when it launched, and he was moved to the magazine's staff soon after he was hired, eventually becoming chief writer. WebAlthough by his own account Benchley was not quite a writer and not quite an actor, he managed to become one of the best-known humorists and comedians of his time. [77] The longer, plot-driven shorts, such as Lesson Number One, Furnace Trouble, and Stewed, Fried and Boiled, likewise show a Benchley character overmatched by seemingly mundane tasks. Son of Charles Henry Benchley and Maria Jane Benchley His elder son, Peter Benchley (19402006), was a writer best known for writing the novel Jaws and the screenplay of the 1975 Steven Spielberg film made from it. Visual Arts Center 24 Amelia Drive Telephone: 508 228 0722 Fax: 508 228 9700 Cecelia Joyce & Seward Johnson Gallery 19 Washington Street Telephone: 508 228 0294 Fax: 508 228 9700 Big Gallery They were designed to create a contrast between himself and the masses; the character is often befuddled by society and is often neurotic in a "different" waythe character in How to Watch Football, for instance, finds it sensible for a normal fan to forgo the live experience and read the recap in the local papers. [59], Benchley's roles primarily came as a freelance actor, as his Paramount shorts contract didn't pay as well as feature films. Up there with Dorothy Parker, et. Charles Townsend Copeland, an English professor, recommended that Benchley go into writing, and Benchley and future Benchley illustrator Gluyas Williams from the Lampoon considered going into freelance work writing and illustrating theatrical reviews. Nancy and I talked all the way home about how we, too, might live on the island perhaps wintering there, housesitting for the entitled while plying our crafts. "[36], Benchley was forced to take a publicity position with the Liberty Loan program, and he continued to freelance until Collier's contacted him with an associate editor position. Benchley was cast in minor roles for various romantic comedies, some shoots going better than others. (According to legend, he submitted a magazine piece titled "I Like to Loaf" two weeks after deadline. The situation was not positive for Benchley, as the studio "mishandled" him and kept Benchley too busy to complete his own work. He still completed two shoots in one day (one of which was The Courtship of the Newt), but rested for a while following the 1937 schedule. Paramount did not renew his contract in 1943, and Benchley signed back with MGM with an exclusive contract. [88], Posthumously, Benchley's works continue to be released in books such as the 1983 Random House compilation The Best of Robert Benchley,[89] and the 2005 collection of short films Robert Benchley and the Knights of the Algonquin, which compiled many of Benchley's popular short films from his years at Paramount with other works from fellow humorists and writers Alexander Woollcott and Donald Ogden Stewart.[90]. Campbell Scott portrays Robert Benchley. It was not well received, and it was removed from the schedule. While Benchley's books and Paramount contract were giving him financial security, he was still unhappy with the turn his career had taken. the son of writer and humorist Robert Benchley and the father of Husband of Gertrude Benchley These films were produced more quickly than his previous efforts (while How to Sleep needed two days, the later short How to Vote needed less than twelve hours), and took their toll on Benchley. A theatrical production by the members of the Round Table was put together in response to a challenge from actor J. M. Kerrigan, who was tired of the Table's complaints about the ongoing theatre season. The Paris Review: "The Art of Fiction No. WEDNESDAY, 5th Rodeo & Wood, chop. arged from an Army hospital, where he is convalescing from a minor operation. The Robert Benchley Society. 3 reviews Get A Copy Amazon Stores Published 1956 More Details Edit Details Reader Q&A To ask other readers questions about Robert Benchley , please sign up . A lot of cousins, the present day Rob said, laconically. (New York City, Twayne Publishers, 1968. (New York City: Athena Books, 1989. $(1901$) 18,301.' Paramount did not renew his contract in 1943, and Benchley signed back with MGM with an exclusive contract. They are more bothered when local government fusses about their wishes to gut or tear down older (or really old) homes. Benchley re-entered Hollywood at the height of the Great Depression and the large-scale introduction of the talkie films he had begun working with years before. The Benchley family was attending a public Fourth of July picnic when a bicycle messenger brought the notification telegram. Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle is a 1994 American film that depicts the Round Table from the perspective of Dorothy Parker. URL accessed May 21, 2007. They had a marvelous friendship. Amid accusations that both were pro-German (the United States was fighting Germany at the time), Benchley tendered his resignation in a terse letter, citing the lack of "rational proof that Dr. Gruening was guilty ofcharges made against him" and management's attempts to "smirch the character and the newspaper career of the first man in three years who has been able to make the Tribune look like a newspaper. The Art of Fiction No. The Washington Post, February 18, 2003. Rob Benchley was raised in Connecticut and, as a boy, maybe he was one of the entitled ones. He fit the profile. WebRobert Benchley Treasurer Director Thomas Chalmers (uncredited) Writer Robert Benchley (uncredited) All cast & crew Production, box office & more at IMDbPro Storyline Edit A club's formal dinner has been completed, and there is a pause in the entertainment so that the assistant treasurer can give the report of the club's finances for the year. Though Mr. Altman recounts all the stories, he hardly ever tries to sort out fact from fiction. Be the first to ask a question about Robert Benchley Lists with This Book [3][7], Edmund's fiance Lillian Duryea, a wealthy heiress, doted on Robert for many years, and Edmund's death may have seeded the pacifist leanings seen in Robert's writing. Benchley tackled issues ranging from careless reporting to European fascism,[54] and the publication flourished. I remember a garage loft just across the street where the Benchley did his writing. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. I should be far away in Footscray, a city of Bourke County, Victoria, Australia, pop. The table gained prominence due to the media attention the members drew as well as their collective contributions to their respective areas. '', See the article in its original context from. He also made a name for himself in Hollywood, when his short film How to Sleep was a popular success and won Best Short Subject at the 1935 Academy Awards. Dave Barry, author, onetime humor writer for the Miami Herald, and judge of the 2006 Robert Benchley Society Award for Humor,[75] has called Benchley his "idol"[76] and he "always wanted to write like [Benchley]. He admitted to occasional borrowing of a Benchley topic for his own reflection and writings. Born: 15-Sep-1889 Birthplace: Worcester, MA Died: 21-Nov-1945 Location of death: New York City Cause of death: [35] Sherwood, Parker, and Benchley became close, often having long lunches at the Algonquin Hotel. [14] The election of Benchley was unusual, as he was the publication's art editor and the board positions typically fell to the foremost writers on the staff. WebRobert Benchley. WebNathaniel Benchley died in 1981 in Boston, Massachusetts and was interred in the family plot at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Nantucket. Norris W. Yates, Robert Benchley. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. The most comprehensive listing of Robert Benchley's books, essays, newspaper writings, and drama criticism is Robert Benchley: An Annotated Bibliography compiled by Robert Benchley Society Director Mr. Gordon Ernst, Jr. It also contains a publishing chronology, filmography, and discography. [49] In April 1920, Benchley landed a position with Life writing theatre reviews, which he would continue doing regularly through 1929, eventually taking complete control of the drama section. Benchley took this offer to Vanity Fair to see if they would match it, as he felt Vanity Fair was the better magazine, and Vanity Fair offered him the position of managing editor. Benchley, who had also been offered a syndicated column by Hearst, was able to film the shorts in New York and keep up with his new column. "[20] Things did not improve for Benchley and Obiter Dicta, and a failed practical joke at a company banquet further strained the relationship between Benchley and his superiors. His re-entry into public speaking followed the annual HarvardYale football game in 1914, where he presented a practical joke involving "Professor Soong" giving a question-and-answer session on football in Chinese. [5][3], Robert's older brother Edmund (born March 3, 1876)[6] was a 4th year cadet at West Point in 1898 when his class was graduated early to support preparations for the SpanishAmerican War; he was killed July 1 at the Battle of San Juan Hill. [34], This freelancing attempt did not start out well, with Benchley selling just one piece to Vanity Fair and accumulating countless rejections in two months. An often overlooked influence upon Benchley's early professional career was the admiration and friendship of the Canadian economist, academic, and humorist Dr. Stephen Leacock. He is from USA. [44] In April 1920, Benchley landed a position with Life writing theatre reviews, which he would continue doing regularly through 1929, eventually taking complete control of the drama section. The Lampoon position opened a number of other doors for Benchley, and he was quickly nominated to the Signet Society meeting club as well as becoming the only undergraduate member of the Boston Papyrus Club at the time. Coming, The Russians Are Coming) and many young-adult books. Benchley produced over 600 essays,[86] which were initially compiled in twelve volumes, during his writing career. On graduating from Harvard, where he had earned a reputation as an extraordinary after-dinner speaker, Benchley held a variety of jobs in publishing, business and social service. The Lampoon position opened a number of other doors for Benchley, and he was quickly nominated to the Signet Society meeting club as well as becoming the only undergraduate member of the Boston Papyrus Club at the time. It was not hard to imagine, standing on the bluffs, seeing how far the ocean had already come. From 1914, when he sold his first humorous essay to Vanity Fair, to 1943, when he gave up writing for film acting because ''I don't think I write funny anymore,'' Benchley published more than 2,000 essays and reviews in various magazines and newspapers. The resulting film, How to Sleep, was filmed in two days, and it featured Benchley as both the narrator and sleeperthe latter a role Benchley claimed was "not much of a strain, as [he] was in bed most of the time. traits: fidelity, perseverance and to turn around three times before Amazon.com: The Best of Robert Benchley product listing. The work on The Sport Parade caused Benchley to miss the fall theatre openings, which embarrassed him (even if the relative success of The Sport Parade was often credited to Benchley's role), but the lure of filmmaking did not disappear, since RKO offered him a writing and acting contract for the following year for more money than he was making writing for The New Yorker.[56]. Geni requires JavaScript! Benchley tackled issues ranging from careless reporting to European fascism,[49] and the publication flourished. [4], His father served in the Union army for two years during the Civil War and had a four-year hitch in the Navy before settling again in Worcester, marrying and working as a town clerk. In the summer of 61, I worked worked for bob Clark cutting grass. In 1931, he was persuaded to do voice work for RKO Radio Pictures for a film that would eventually be titled Sky Devils, and he acted in his first feature film, The Sport Parade (1932) with Joel McCrea. His large square face, with the slicked-back black hair, thin mustache and bemused smirk, is a bit more familiar to fans of film comedies of the 1930's and 40's in which he played some version of himself: a slightly tipsy, caustically funny, physically clumsy New York sophisticate. Siasconset. While he completed his year's work, his condition continued to deteriorate, and he died in a New York hospital on November 21, 1945. While Benchley was more interested in writing than acting, one of his more important roles as an actor was as a salesman in Rafter Romance, and his work attracted the interest of MGM, who offered Benchley a lot of money to complete a series of short films. Copyright Jeff Schult. In 1933, Benchley returned to Hollywood, completing the short films Your Technocracy and Mine for Universal Pictures, How to Break 90 at Croquet for RKO, and the lavish feature-length production China Seas for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, starring Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Wallace Beery, and Rosalind Russell; Benchley's character was slurring drunk throughout the movie. In unthinking, stunned reaction, Maria ("Jenny") Benchley cried out "Why couldn't it have been Robert?! [47], Benchley was also hired to help with the book for a Broadway musical, Smarty, starring Fred Astaire. Did he and Charles MacArthur really set Theodore Roosevelt's son's pants on fire while engaging him ''in a lengthy conversation concerning military protocol''? [3] His brother Edmund was thirteen years older. They were among the founders of the famed Algonquin Round Table in 1919. Time Magazine, January 8, 2006. He was He took a position with Curtis shortly after he received his diploma. Benchley enrolled at Harvard University in 1908, again with Duryea's financial help. When a position as press agent for Broadway producer William A. Brady was offered, Benchley accepted it, against the advice of many of his peers. Benchleys novel Welcome to Xanadu was made into the 1975 motion picture Sweet Hostage. Upon learning of her termination, Benchley tendered his own resignation. How to Sleep was named Best Short Subject at the 1935 Academy Awards, while the latter two shorts were not as well received. Benchley died of complications from cirrhosis of the liver in 1945 at the age of 56. Benchley participated in two more films that year: a second talking film he wrote, The Sex Life of the Polyp, and a third starring but not written by him, The Spellbinder, all made in the Fox Movietone sound-on-film system and released by Fox Films. While Benchley, along with many of his Algonquin acquaintances, was wary of getting involved with another publication for various reasons, he completed some freelance work for The New Yorker over the first few years, and was later invited to be newspaper critic. Following his final New Yorker column in 1940, Benchley signed with Paramount Pictures for another series of one-reel shorts, all filmed at Paramount's Long Island studio in Astoria, New York. "; accounts conflict as to whether Robert (who was nine at the time) heard this. He took a position with Curtis shortly after he received his diploma. WebRobert Benchley AKA Robert Charles Benchley Born: 15-Sep - 1889 Birthplace: Worcester, MA Died: 21-Nov - 1945 Location of death: New York City Cause of death: Cerebral Hemorrhage Remains: Buried, Prospect Hill Cemetery, Nantucket, MA Gender: Male Race or Ethnicity: White Sexual orientation: Straight Occupation: Author, Screenwriter [10] Their first child, Nathaniel Benchley, was born a year later. While Benchley's books and Paramount contract were giving him financial security, he was still unhappy with the turn his career had taken. [78] Even the more stereotypical characters held these qualities, such as the incapable sportscaster Benchley played in The Sport Parade.[79]. Its original context from n't it have been Robert? drawing on my fine command of language, I nothing. By how to be a Detective to whether Robert ( who was nine at the age of 56 tendered own. The stories, he was one of the entitled ones starring Fred Astaire Fourth of July picnic when a messenger. 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