Grandpa Had a Long One

"To be a Benny Bell meant to be spirited, witty, funny and sometimes a little crazy. But to be a Benny Bell also meant to be obstinate, paranoid, suspicious and sometimes a little hasty. "Given all the facts about his traits and personality, it is no surprise that one of the great mysteries of Ben's life and career is whether or not he ever stood a chance of becoming the famous Tin Pan Alley tunesmith and vaudeville comic he set out to be. Could he have been one of the select few to schmooze with Sammy Cahn and trade shticks with George Burns? Could he have been a card-carrying Friars Club member who regularly headlined in Miami, Los Angeles, Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas? "Maybe he could have. But he wasn't."