Asbestos shingles have sheathed the house since at least the 1940s, and new windows and front door have recently been installed. The original wrap-around porch with intricate fret sawn trim remains in place as does the simple ball-and-stick fretwork beneath the jerkin-head gable. The house is a typical late 19th-century middle-class dwelling in the homestead style with a front-facing gable. (Benjamin Kubelsky later changed his name to Jack Benny). Paulson, his wife Jennie and their children occupied the house until 1909 when it was rented to the Kubelsky family for two years.
At the time of construction, a second "mirror-image" house was built next door at 520 Clayton Street, differing only in the treatment of the attic level. Author tour.Ĭopyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.The two-and-one-half story frame house at 518 Clayton Street was built about 1895 for Peter Paulson, a Danish immigrant employed as a railroad conductor. The daughter's sensibilities, at least as expressed here, contrast sharply with the father's big-hearted outlook on life. And although she professes love for her mother, Mary Livingston, she also criticizes her as pretentious, a spendthrift and generally mean-spirited. His daughter's contribution to the memoir offers interesting if repetitious recollections on growing up in Hollywood and vivid portraits of family friends Cary Grant, Ronald Colman, Lucille Ball and other famous folk. The secret of his tremendous appeal, he reveals-as though taking us into his confidence-was impeccable timing as a comedian and an ability to endear himself to people.
But far more entertaining and moving is Jack Benny's related story, tracing how this one-time vaudeville trouper who left his native Waukegan, Ill., in his youth rose to stardom on radio, in TV and films. When Jack Benny died at age 80 in 1974, he left this unpublished autobiography, to which his daughter adds accounts of the family's home life.
"He was a nice man," writes George Burns in the foreword to this book by and about his friend of 50 years, a sentiment readers will resoundingly agree with.
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