Robert Benchley

I don't know what I am


Robert Benchley
Some Benchley achievements
Some Benchley links on the Web
A bibliography/filmography
Previous Quote


Gluyas Williams's drawings illustrated—and highlighted—many of Robert Benchley's books of short stories.

Gluyas Williams's drawings illustrated—and highlighted—many of Robert Benchley's books of short stories.


Despite his alleged confusion, Robert Benchley (1889-1945):

wrote and acted in the first all-talking film (”The Treasurer’s Report,” Fox-Movietone, 1928)
in 17 years, wrote and starred in 48 short films, winning the1935 Academy Award for M-G-M’s “How To Sleep”
wrote and acted in 38 feature films and wrote partial scripts or dialogue for dozens of others
starred on his own radio show for three years (1938-1940) with Artie Shaw as his bandleader
was a frequent guest artist on other radio shows, such as “Amos ‘n’ Andy” and The Fred Allen Show and recorded a classic version (Thurber’s avowed favorite) of James Thurber’s “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”
in the late 1930s was writing three syndicated magazine columns simultaneously, while making films
published 73 “Wayward Press” (criticism) columns for The New Yorker under the pseudonym “Guy Fawkes,” 1927-1939
from 1920-1929 was the weekly drama critic for Life magazine
was the regular drama critic for The New Yorker from 1929-1940
published 12 books of short stories in 21 years (three more were published posthumously)
published more than 600 stories in various magazines (and had several hundred others which were not published until long after his death).

And this from a man who claimed to be professionally lazy!


“We must be careful of what we eat. We must eat a balanced diet. By a balanced diet I mean no bread, no butter, no potatoes, no meat, no vegetables, no solid food—just a handful of old lettuce now and then or a few dried beans is all we’d better try to take care of.”

“We must be careful of what we eat. We must eat a balanced diet. By a balanced diet I mean no bread, no butter, no potatoes, no meat, no vegetables, no solid food—just a handful of old lettuce now and then or a few dried beans is all we’d better try to take care of.”


The Robert Benchley Society Fan forum for appreciation and discussion of the work and life of Robert Benchley.
The Dorothy Parker Society Devoted to Dorothy Parker’s life in New York
The Algonquin Hotel Landmark hotel that is best known for hosting the Round Table.
Algonquin Round Table Site devoted to Vicious Circle facts
Robert Benchley
Comedic Literature of the Early 20th Century Links to Benchley, Parker, Wodehouse, Thurber &
the Round Table
Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle Review of biography (starring Jennifer Jason Leigh) of the disastrous love life of writer Dorothy Parker, surrounded by wise-cracking literary friends at the Algonquin Round Table in the 1920’s.
Quotations from Chairman Les Page about Les Marsden, actor who has portrayed various
Marx Brothers
The New Yorker
TVNow
lists upcoming Robert Benchley films on television
Al Hirschfeld Signature Series Al Hirschfeld lithographs online
IMDb Robert Benchley Filmography Robert Benchley listings from the internet’s number one movie database
Nat Benchley’s film credits Nat Benchley’s film credits on IMDb
Peter Benchley’s film credits Peter Benchley’s film credits on IMDb
Nathaniel [G.] Benchley’s film credits Nathaniel [G.] Benchley’s film credits on IMDb
Robert Benchley III’s latest book Scallop Season: A Nantucket Chronicle

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