The Memphis Board of Motion Picture Censors banned the film from being shown there, saying about Anderson, "(he) has an important role and has too familiar a way about him. [63][64][65], Anderson, who was the skipper of his own cabin cruiser, was missing and feared lost at sea in February 1946. [15] Anderson first appeared as "Rochester" on the Benny program of June 20, 1937. (Also Benny's trademark cheapness: Rochester comments that he had to buy a toothbrush "on the installment plan", and in the same episode tells an IRS agent how his pay is calculated: Mr Benny pays me so much a month, and then he points out the deductions: so much for insurance, so much for Social Security, an' what's left over is what they call "take-home pay"...Then he points out that I'm livin' in HIS home, so he takes it! [39] After the television show went off the air, it was four years before the pair worked together again. Eddie Anderson (September 18, 1905 Oakland-February 28, 1977 Los Angeles) also known as Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Edward Anderson, Anderson, Eddie "Rochester", Edmund Lincoln Anderson, Edmund L. Anderson, Rochester or Edmund Lincoln "Eddie" Anderson was an American actor and comedian. [4], When Benny and cast were preparing to board the train, Anderson and Benny had their first lines together, with the following exchange: Burnett Funeral Home was in … As a result, his large and luxurious home with a swimming pool where the neighborhood children were always welcome, stands in an area of smaller, bungalow-style homes. They have also lived in Arlington, VA and Caldwell, NJ. When the series moved to CBS television in 1950, Anderson continued in the role until the series' end in 1965. The changing times became very apparent in 1948, when a 1941 script was re-used on The Jack Benny Program. Benny: "Hey Redcap, carry my grips a little higher; there are some things hanging out." While Anderson was born and raised in the Oakland area, he came to the Los Angeles African-American community in the 1930s in search of work in films. Anderson replied, "Hold it, Blue Eyes, we don't do that any more. The newsboys believed those who were able to shout the loudest sold the most papers. In the Depression era, the area had fallen into hard times, with many residents needing to either sell their homes or rent out rooms in them. [33] Despite this, he was so strongly identified with the "Rochester" role that many listeners of the radio program mistakenly persisted in the belief that he was Benny's actual valet. [5] Anderson joined the cast of Struttin' Along in 1923 and was part of Steppin' High both as a dancer and as one of the "Three Black Aces" with his brother, Cornelius, in 1924. Benny claimed it was Rochester's fault and threatens to sue. Those riding the stars' homes tour buses in the morning often saw Anderson sitting on Benny's front steps, drinking from a quart of milk while waving and calling "Yoo Hoo!" (6 total). However, during performances of the radio program staged before armed forces audiences at bases and military hospitals, the appearance of Rochester routinely drew enthusiastic applause that arguably often outstripped that received by other members of the cast, more so than in civilian audiences. The Anderson Estates Since that time, Eddie Jr. has created the Anderson Estates. Anderson failed to attract enough people willing to invest, and he was unable to complete the plan. [62], Since Anderson wanted to build a home designed by Paul Williams, he was limited in his choice of a site for it by these restrictive covenants. Benny thought this was too much money and the role went to Eddie Anderson. 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