Jack Benny Home (1910)
(home)518 Clayton Street
Waukegan, IL
Website: Jack Benny Home (1910)
Designate a city landmark in 2006, the house at 518 Clayton Street in Waukegan, IL is where Jack Benny lived when he got his first break in show business -- violinist in the pit of the Barrison Theatre in 1910.
Although born in Chicago, Benny grew up in nearby Waukegan, where his family lived in several buildings
On April 3, 2006, the City Council unanimously voted to designate the property at 518 Clayton Street as a City of Waukegan landmark. This is the last building standing in which Jack Benny lived during his years in Waukegan. In 1910, while living in the house, Benny received his first break in show business, obtaining a position as a violinist in the pit of the Barrison Theatre. The house was built about 1895 and still retains its elaborate wrap-around porch with fret-sawn trim. (source: June 2006 Newsletter of the Waukegan Historical Society)
Also of interest: nearby, in Jack Benny Memorial Park, an 8-foot bronze statue of Jack Benny stands, facing the Genesee Theater which hosted the world premiere of his 1939 film, Man about Town. The statue features Benny in his signature stance -- his left hand on his cheek with his worrisome look, holding his beloved violin. The base of the statue includes images of money, porrtaits of Mary Livingstone and Rochester, as well as reliefs of the Maxwell car and his famous money vault from the Jack Benny Show. The statue dedication ceremony took place on June 8, 2002.
Links:
Jack Benny Statue in Jack Benny Memorial Park, Waukegan, IL