Will this show ever be released as full season sets??? - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Benno123 · 03-10-2007, 04:51 PM

I've read that there is going to be an offical release of The Jack Benny Show on DVD. I don't recall where I read this, but if this is true (can anyone confirm?) then maybe a Burns and Allen set will happen afterall!

treky · 03-11-2007, 02:45 AM

well, TV SHOWS ON DVD.COM says they haven't heard that.

caddykid60 · 06-19-2007, 03:13 PM

Hi,

I have all but one of the filmed episodes of B&A...either from TV or Columbia House Home Video. I am missing the final show #291 The Exchange Student. Does anyone have a copy of this episode?

My email is caddykid60@msn.com

Thanks
Mike

stevea · 06-20-2007, 10:03 AM

This is one of the greats of the '50's. There is no demand for it because, progressively, fewer and fewer people even know about it. I agree the later seasons are better. The plots become more interesting with the magin TV in the den. The writing is phenomenal!

So if perhaps a 'best of' were released, with a few episodes, very cheaply priced, maybe some interest would be generated.

If Sony doesn't do anything with these shows (others are Father Knows Best, Donna Reed, and Dennis the Menace) they should let them go Public Domain so someone could do legit releases on them.

TVguyd · 07-01-2007, 03:50 AM

The only half-decent DVD releases I've seen are distributed by a company called Delta. I have 2 volumes, but each only has 4 episodes each...these are earlier shows transfered from kinescopes. I have several VHS volumes on a label called Concord, which are also episodes from seasons 1, 2, 3--all from kinescope and not in order, and unfortunately not nearly all of them. I also hung onto my VHS copies of Columbia & Rhino releases of a few later season episodes, transfered from film.

I wonder if the rights to this program lapsed and fell into public domain?? I have seen a few low-budget DVD compilations on less reputable labels such as goodtimes video (avoid this company--their mastering & tansfering is usually very poor). I would assume that after George Burns died, that his son Ronnie would have inherited rights to these properties, but McCadden Productions may have been sold to one of the big studios, and who knows which vault the originals are mouldering in!

Hopefully, they still exist, they are safe and some studio or DVD company will have the brains to put all the episodes together in season by season volumes. And it's quite a collection too...B & A show ran 1950-1958!!

I'll try to do some research to see where the rights to this great series went...find out if one of the bigger studios owns them and then inquire about it to their marketing dept. In theory, it shouldn't be too hard...once I find out where the films are, the marketing people are usually quite responsive to consumer questions, etc. I've had good
experiences dealing with Universal Home Entertainment's people.
If I uncover anything...I'll post the news here!
Say Goodnight, Gracie...
TVguyd

brtcmfn · 07-01-2007, 11:07 AM

I could be wrong but I thought Sony/Columbia own the rights now- I have sent an email to Sony last year and they said it was not on the planned schedule.

TV Knowledge Fan · 07-28-2007, 11:25 AM

George Burns sold the rights to the filmed (1952-'58) episodes to Screen Gems/Columbia, and they began syndicating them to local stations in the fall of 1958. Today, SONY {who, of course, owns Columbia and its film and TV libraries} owns the series, and they're really not interested in releasing them on home video. Someone would have to be a BIG fan of George & Gracie to force them to do this.....

Eric Paddon · 11-19-2007, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

.... In the '80s, they [rather, RCA/Columbia Home Video] released two episodes from the first filmed season (1952-'53) on videocassette {Sheldon Leonard guest starring in the first one, Jack Benny in the second}, complete with the original opening & closing titles, AND commercials (for B.F. Goodrich and "alternate sponsor" Carnation Milk). There were no follow-up volumes.

Actually, for a while in the early 90s, the Columbia House Video Club *did* make Burns And Allen available on VHS with three episodes to a tape of shows from the 52-53 and early part of the 53-54 seasons in absolutely beautiful looking pristine quality prints, and most of them *also* left the Goodrich/Carnation ads intact (some of the earlier releases did not retain the ads). I ended up with 45 episodes covering Seasons 3 and 4 all told on 15 tapes before Columbia stopped issuing them through the club and they remain a treasured possession of mine.

drewfussclass101 · 11-19-2007, 10:36 PM

hey guys,

i too join in with your admiration for this show. What a classic. While i do not condone or think that "pirating" is right by any means have you checked ioffer.com I was on there last night actually and came across B&A show. Like i said, i do not think that bootlegging is right, but i am afraid that these shows will soon be lost....forever. So until we do/if we do get official releases of the great classics, you may want to check it out.

http://www.ioffer.com/i/THE-BURNS-AN...-RARE-30233366

brtcmfn · 12-26-2007, 08:53 AM

Thanks for the link-
I did purchase the 125 episodes through Ioffer.com- Most are very good quality and there are some that are public domain episodes- but for the price you can't beat at least seeing some more classic episodes. Most the episodes are taped from CBN (Remember this channel in the 80's- before it was destroyed by Family channel and now ABC family)
If anyone that has the complete B@A available to make copies on DVD- I am willing to purchase from you (It does not look like anytime soon that the collection will be released and I gave up on TV Land. PM me and let me know
Thnx

03-11-2007, 02:45 AM	#17
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	well, TV SHOWS ON DVD.COM says they haven't heard that.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

06-19-2007, 03:13 PM	#18
caddykid60 Member Forum Cub Join Date: Feb 01, 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2	Looking for episode 291 THE EXCHANGE STUDENT Hi, I have all but one of the filmed episodes of B&A...either from TV or Columbia House Home Video. I am missing the final show #291 The Exchange Student. Does anyone have a copy of this episode? My email is caddykid60@msn.com Thanks Mike

07-01-2007, 03:50 AM	#20
TVguyd Member Forum Cub Join Date: Jun 30, 2007 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 2	Burns & Allen DVDs The only half-decent DVD releases I've seen are distributed by a company called Delta. I have 2 volumes, but each only has 4 episodes each...these are earlier shows transfered from kinescopes. I have several VHS volumes on a label called Concord, which are also episodes from seasons 1, 2, 3--all from kinescope and not in order, and unfortunately not nearly all of them. I also hung onto my VHS copies of Columbia & Rhino releases of a few later season episodes, transfered from film. I wonder if the rights to this program lapsed and fell into public domain?? I have seen a few low-budget DVD compilations on less reputable labels such as goodtimes video (avoid this company--their mastering & tansfering is usually very poor). I would assume that after George Burns died, that his son Ronnie would have inherited rights to these properties, but McCadden Productions may have been sold to one of the big studios, and who knows which vault the originals are mouldering in! Hopefully, they still exist, they are safe and some studio or DVD company will have the brains to put all the episodes together in season by season volumes. And it's quite a collection too...B & A show ran 1950-1958!! I'll try to do some research to see where the rights to this great series went...find out if one of the bigger studios owns them and then inquire about it to their marketing dept. In theory, it shouldn't be too hard...once I find out where the films are, the marketing people are usually quite responsive to consumer questions, etc. I've had good experiences dealing with Universal Home Entertainment's people. If I uncover anything...I'll post the news here! Say Goodnight, Gracie... TVguyd

07-28-2007, 11:25 AM	#22
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	As I've mentioned in other threads... George Burns sold the rights to the filmed (1952-'58) episodes to Screen Gems/Columbia, and they began syndicating them to local stations in the fall of 1958. Today, SONY {who, of course, owns Columbia and its film and TV libraries} owns the series, and they're really not interested in releasing them on home video. Someone would have to be a BIG fan of George & Gracie to force them to do this.....

03-10-2007, 04:51 PM	#16
Benno123 Jenna Fischer Rocks My World!! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,036	I've read that there is going to be an offical release of The Jack Benny Show on DVD. I don't recall where I read this, but if this is true (can anyone confirm?) then maybe a Burns and Allen set will happen afterall!

06-20-2007, 10:03 AM	#19
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,168	This is one of the greats of the '50's. There is no demand for it because, progressively, fewer and fewer people even know about it. I agree the later seasons are better. The plots become more interesting with the magin TV in the den. The writing is phenomenal! So if perhaps a 'best of' were released, with a few episodes, very cheaply priced, maybe some interest would be generated. If Sony doesn't do anything with these shows (others are Father Knows Best, Donna Reed, and Dennis the Menace) they should let them go Public Domain so someone could do legit releases on them.

07-01-2007, 11:07 AM	#21
brtcmfn Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 10, 2002 Location: colorado Posts: 319	I could be wrong but I thought Sony/Columbia own the rights now- I have sent an email to Sony last year and they said it was not on the planned schedule.

11-19-2007, 10:36 PM	#24
drewfussclass101 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 27, 2004 Location: TN Posts: 156	hey guys, i too join in with your admiration for this show. What a classic. While i do not condone or think that "pirating" is right by any means have you checked ioffer.com I was on there last night actually and came across B&A show. Like i said, i do not think that bootlegging is right, but i am afraid that these shows will soon be lost....forever. So until we do/if we do get official releases of the great classics, you may want to check it out. http://www.ioffer.com/i/THE-BURNS-AN...-RARE-30233366

12-26-2007, 08:53 AM	#25
brtcmfn Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 10, 2002 Location: colorado Posts: 319	Thanks for the link- I did purchase the 125 episodes through Ioffer.com- Most are very good quality and there are some that are public domain episodes- but for the price you can't beat at least seeing some more classic episodes. Most the episodes are taped from CBN (Remember this channel in the 80's- before it was destroyed by Family channel and now ABC family) If anyone that has the complete B@A available to make copies on DVD- I am willing to purchase from you (It does not look like anytime soon that the collection will be released and I gave up on TV Land. PM me and let me know Thnx